Junon
Location: The Center of Valanthus
Description: The flow of the Junon river rushes Southwest, winding its way through the Mesan-flatlands and beneath the heavy, angry brow of Volkain's Rage, the everlasting storm that whirls and whips at the flat grassy fields that stretch throughout the center of Valanthus. Junon rises from the shoreline of the river, creeping up into the sky with needle-thin towers wrought of stone so precious and thin that it seems like glass to the touch. Cobbled streets wind and twist like a disoriented spider web through the ancient citadel. The city itself has stood for more than a thousand years, its attitude much like that of its patron god, Volkain. Over time it has changed rapidly and violently again and again, just as the very wind that drives the worshippers of Volkain to the massive temple at its center.
Key Points: The Temple of Volkain- is a ghostly thin needle of a structure that rises from the very center of Junon, its point reaching far into the clouds. It is a marvel of architecture and so strongly enchanted that the few occasions Volkain's Rage must pass over Junon even its deadly hurricane-like winds fail to effect the temple. Worshippers from across Fou Lu pilgrimage to this testament to Volkain's will to assure their God of their devotion.
Districts and Divisions: The entire city of Junon is cut into five districts, each vital to the massive communities continued survival.
The Temple District- is at the very center of Junon, sporting the Temple of Volkain as its centerpiece and many other temples to the other gods as well, though Volkain's has always stood tallest and proudest among them. Surrounding the temples are broad open areas of tree-dotted parks and neatly trimmed hedge-mazes that lend the district an atmosphere of peace and contentment.
The Capital District- is the brain of Junon if the Temple District is the heart. All matters of state and law are carried out in the blue-marbled buildings that rise up on a hill just North of the Temple district. The Capital District is the highest point in Junon and houses the Royal Palace and the King's army on retainer along with all the members of the Kings Court, whose estates line the capital district and enhance its beauty with their some-times vast hanging gardens.
Market District- is the center of commerce and the economy that had driven Juno's great spires higher and higher into the breast of Volkain's sky over the thousand years of the city's life. Its streets and crowded and twist and turn, housing thousands of shops and shacks. The Market District rests eastern-most in the city and includes the docks that overhang the fast-flowing Junon river. This district, excepting the Temple District, is perhaps the best defended in the city. King Junon I, founder and first ruler of the city of Junon once said that "Commerce drives a kingdom. Cripple the economy and you cripple the entire nation." and elaborated the dock-side defenses with walls and a retainer of air-magicians whose powerful enchantments have made certain that the city has never fallen in all its time.
The Residential District- is the home to all the varied and many citizens of Junon. It is by far the largest district and unusual in that rather than many separate homes all the citizens live in tall complexes of apartments. Since the revolution of Mechanical knowledge, many of these complexes have installed complicated systems that ferry tenants from the bottom floors to the top and vise versa.
The Military District- is the smallest district and breathily open the skies. The structures it contains are the barracks and training centers for all the diverse military power of the city.
Population: Approximately five million. Junon is by far the largest city on Valanthus and considered one of the largest on Fou Lu.
History: Junon has stood undefeated for 1700 years. It was founded by King Junon I and has been ruled by his blood line indirectly for its entire history. Cousins and brothers have squabbled over the throne on a hundred occasions but the city itself has never fallen to an outside host. It rose to become the most successful capital city in Valanthus history with the destruction of Draenor during the Battle of the Apocalypse and has retained the title unerringly since. The strict devotion of the Kings of Junon to the air God has made for a political atmosphere nearly devoid of corruption or strife. The citizens have lived peacefully for the greatest part the city's history despite its involvement in many wars over the turning pages of time.
Military Strength: Junon does not boast as massive a military force as one might think. Rather than a host of many soldiers and magi with poor training and a low budget the city has elected to maintain a much smaller force, but each and every of the Defenders of Junon are elite and blooded veterans. It takes years to become a member of the City Guard and only through hard training and innumerable tactical drills. The Captain of the Guard is a position high in the city hierarchy and even more sought after than the positions of some generals because the Captain is an on-hand advisor to the King at all times. The fine control and the place of status that a Guardman holds have diminished crime in Junon to almost nothing.
Empire: Junon is the official capital of the Empire of Althena. Mostly because it's the only city in the empire. Junon has served as a meeting place for peaceful talks of politics between races and empires all across Valanthus and even Fou Lu since it rose from the river-banks.
