Golden City

The Golden City is the capital of Aurelia. The city is protected by large, white walls and floored with cobblestone streets. The Glass River flows through the Golden City, with the harbor opening into the Transparent Sea. The harbor contains warships, merchant vessels, and fishing boats. A large, lower class occupies the slums known as the Dross, giving the city a constantly dirty and spoiled odor. It also contains a shopping district known as the Agora. The golden palace is its crowning achievement, housing the royal family. Built above the original stone castle, which was burnt down in a fire, it is an enormous crystalline structure with numerous towers, bridges, and turrets in addition to large, domed ballrooms and various wings. It contains 600 rooms, military and servants' quarters, three gardens, a game park, and two stables.