Hello, Readers! Clevenger here! In my last post, I covered the magic system of Sainan and how it impacts the story of the “War of Night.” This post, I wanted to dive deeper into the tapestry of the Khorric Federation and particularly, Highston.

Now, I have to tip my hat to Greyson who birthed the idea for the Federation and Highston. The overall political structure, Guilds, governmental oversight, and social structure were all his ideas. I had the honor of coming in and adding a bit of shine. Architectural details, some city layout, district names, and nuances in where Skyfallen and Magic were used throughout Highston where I got to put my thumbprint on the setting.

So, why Highston? What was the vision? As the character arcs developed, Greyson and I knew we needed a city that wasn’t just a backdrop. We needed a place that felt alive. We needed a place where the struggles and their victories would resonate. What’s more, we needed a setting that gave us depth to build the series off of as well.

The Heart of the Federation

Highston is the sprawling capital of the Khorric Federation. The presence, the over-abundance actually, of EVERYTHING we see within the Sainan world is available to be seen. Every race, Skyfallen technology, magical spells used for cleaning tables and lighting lamps, educational institutions, and so much more are common place within the boundaries of this metropolis. It is a beacon of power in the realm.

This abundance serves the story in many ways, but it’s absence serves it later in the series. By exploring locations such as Altazio and Essenbeck, you see the simplicity of those realms. For characters such as Symon who has grown up surrounded by diversity, his rich friends view these regions as “quaint” and “backwater.” The “city person goes to the country” trope is a rich mechanism that is often present in movies, but conspicuously absent in Fantasy storytelling. “Chosen One” stories often have the simple farmer who becomes King… it was fun to reverse that and explore the worldbuilding by “taking away.”

A City of Contradictions

The wealthy of Highston also served to provide us stark contrasts within the city itself. Seeing the opulence of Symon’s friends, the Nobility, and master of the criminal organizations known as Bright Guilds, makes the impact to our characters much more potent when we take those things away. Through Jesse and Thorn, we see what life at the bottom is like. The resentment between the “haves” and the “have-nots” is clear and a well-spring of conflicts both large and small that provided us a wonderful growth arc for Jesse and Symon.

The presence of both sides of Highston allows for the city to be a boon to our characters in one moment, and the obstacle the next. But it’s not just “classism.” Highston also, while boasting about the diversity, still harbors prejudices that run deep. Races such as Goblins are seen as “uncivil” and often treated harshly within the city. Seeing Thorn deal with limitations because of her skin helps highlight her friendship with Jesse and Symon who see her value as a friend and companion.

The Influence of Magic

Because magic is so prevalent within Highston (and the Federation), we wanted to explore the regulations and structure that a government could employ around it. The building of the Federal Academies, the Elysium Magi, and the Friars drew rigid boundaries around what magic is viewed as within Highston’s eyes. Every spell, every action is regimented. Those who have power enforce these rules to control who CAN have power.

And where there is LEGAL magic… there is ILLEGAL.

As our boys explore their arcs, the magical underpinnings of Highston play a crucial role. The power dynamics, the reasoning behind them, and the limitations of magic are all echoed within the growth of Symon and Jesse. Symon slowly learns that blind obedience to the rules is not all it’s cracked up to be, and Jesse learns that there are consequences for straying too far outside the lines.

Curtain Call

Highston is more than just a setting. She’s a character unto herself. The city is a multi-faceted, sometimes loving, and sometimes ruthless mistress that watches our heroes on their journeys.

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