Fiorlond
In all of Doriande, you will not find a college for mages. And yet, you will find them in abundance, working their magics for the likes of lords and the wealthy.
Far more interesting than their sorcery, however, is their origin. In our awe at their craft, we often forget to ask the simplest question of all: where did you learn all this, mage?
Fiorlond is the name of a mythical city, supposedly located in the western reaches of the Dorian peninsula, concealed by the dense canopy of the Whispering Forest and the surrounding mountains. According to legend, the city was founded by mages drawn to the region by its unusual magical potency. With their newfound powers, the settlement is said to have grown rapidly into a true arcane fortress, protected by a multitude of measures. Powerful magic is believed to shield it from both mundane sight and divination, while a shape-shifting dragon guards its only known entrance.
The city does not appear on any historical map, nor has its existence ever been conclusively confirmed by practitioners of magic. Scholars have long debated the matter, with Grunor Hena Clayhut among the most prominent advocates for Fiorlond’s existence. Her Nexus Theory proposes that certain locations act as focal points where magical forces are stronger than anywhere else. If such a place existed, she argues, it would be only logical for mages to claim it for themselves and to conceal it from the wider world.
Some witnesses of the Battle for Fiorlas recount tales of magic-wielders emerging from the Forest to assault the Army of Father War with great ferocity. These testimonies are often cited by scholars as evidence for the presence of a hidden settlement within or beyond the Whispering Forest, from which these mages might have come. Others reject this interpretation, suggesting instead that the mages merely sought temporary refuge among the trees before the final confrontation.
Those who oppose the city’s existence often argue that, were Fiorlond located within the Kingdom of Doriande, it would necessarily owe allegiance to the Crown and thus be no different from any other city. This position is frequently countered by speculation that the King may indeed be aware of Fiorlond, yet lacks the means to subjugate it. In such a case, denial would remain the only viable official stance.
Demographics
Scholars who accept the hypothesis of Fiorlond’s existence estimate its population at roughly one thousand inhabitants. The majority are presumed to be mages of some discipline, while the remainder are believed to be responsible for the city’s everyday functions.
Legends describe its society as a form of meritocracy, organized not into rigid classes but into tiers of ability. Each individual is said to contribute where they are most effective. Those with the greatest magical aptitude naturally rise to positions of prestige, while others are assigned more mundane, and sometimes trivial, roles necessary for the city’s continued function.
Government
The true difficulty posed by Fiorlond is not whether it exists, but what follows if it does. An autonomous and concealed city of mages presents a problem for which no charter in Doriande was ever written. It cannot be taxed without being acknowledged, defended without being exposed, or ruled without conceding that forces exist within the realm that predate the realm itself.
According to legend, Fiorlond was founded by a cabal of mages who established themselves as its ruling body, known as the Hyjstrej, or High House in Old Dorianic. The most prominent mages are said to ascend into this council, which governs the city collectively.
Defences
Powerful wards are believed to protect the Lost City from even the most potent scrying magic. Its inhabitants may see the sky above them, but no one may observe the city or enter it from above. The only known passage lies through a mountain pass. Those who seek entry must speak to the mountain itself. The mountain judges. The mountain decides.
For the mountain is not made of dirt and stone,
but of scales and wings and fire-breath.
It devours all but the purest souls.
Legend holds that the collective power of Fiorlond’s citizens deflects all attempts at intrusion, whether magical or mundane. Magic beyond comprehension is said to turn away any who approach uninvited.
At the heart of these tales stands an ancient shape-shifting dragon, bound to the will of the High House, whose wisdom serves as the final measure of those deemed worthy of entry.
Industry & Trade
Despite being a legendary city of mages, scholars speculate that Fiorlond cannot be entirely self-sufficient. It is thought that the city seeks to exert subtle influence beyond its borders, whether to shape events to its advantage or to acquire rare materials and artifacts unavailable within its walls.
For this reason, mages who vanish on prolonged journeys are believed to be agents of the High House. Such individuals are said to travel between Fiorlond and the wider world, carrying intelligence, currency, or goods, before returning unseen to the city.
History
Ancient tales from the tribal era speak of individuals gifted with miraculous powers who entered trancelike states during nights of the full moons. These figures would vanish into the Whispering Forest, braving its dangers, and were never seen again. They are often regarded as the first to reach the site where Fiorlond would later be built.
Another story tells of a wizard who came from another world and another time, seeking peace. According to this tale, he alone founded the city, shaping it through singular will.
Hena’s Nexus Theory offers a more gradual explanation, suggesting that the site’s magical concentration drew wandering mages over generations, eventually leading to permanent settlement.
Some traditions claim that the mages of Fiorlond took part in the negotiations that led to the Alliance of the Forts, aided in the construction of the Gate of Kherawyn and fought alongside the Dorians during the Second Invasion of Doriande for the Dorians. For these deeds, they were allegedly invited to the Coronation Day, where they met with the King and entered into a secret pact ensuring the continued protection of their city.
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