Torin City "The Light on the Hill"
- HeavenlessStar
- Mar 30
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 5
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Torin City: The Light on the Hill
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Danger: Low
Inhabitants: Torinian Humans, Harpies
Torin is a very large city with a population of about 200,000 humans and an uncertain number of harpies, both giant and human sized. While many harpies leave the city limits and take up residence anywhere from Mount Litocoro to the Pyrale Mountains, Torin is still considered their home so it becomes hard to gauge the number that come and go on a daily basis. The enormous city walls are guarded heavily by both humans and harpies from the many predators that roam the island, especially the airborne variety. The inhabitants of Torin have developed a tight knit flock mentality under the leadership of the quiet, yet intimidating, harpy matriarch Ourana. They have become protective of each other, though the humans and harpies have endured quite a few growing pains from their originally clashing cultures. And some of the Torinian humans are still skeptical about how much they should consider harpies their friends, asking the question, "Are we really their flock? Or are we their captives?"
[Architecture & Major Locales]
A city on a flat mountain top large enough to accommodate a number of giant harpies and hundreds of thousands of people seems inconceivable, but that's what you have in Torin. Due to their help in rebuilding the city after past battles, the harpies have areas where they are able to reside within the city walls. Most will spend the majority of their adult life outside the city walls, on the mountainsides, to keep from over crowding and damaging the marvelously constructed buildings of the Torinians. In somewhat of a miraculous coincidence, what we would call "Greco-Roman" design is clearly visible in the city. The craftsman turned grand-architect, Amardes Archeladon, had always claimed to be inspired by his dreams which he described being "as vivid as day".
THE TORINIAN FORUM is an expansive district full of marketplaces. Some might call it Torin's "downtown." It is a significant social meeting place offering many activities, even philosophical debates. One of the Forum's most prominent frequenters was Heseodorus, affectionately known as "the Great Storyteller". When he spoke, the Torinian humans and harpies alike would stop to hear what he had to say. Some of his many stories were told in the form of poems or songs while he played a melody on his lyre, sometimes creating a party-like atmosphere. Whether in the streets, in the Forum, or in the Theatre of Torin, Heseodorus drew crowds in the thousands. As he was famously quoted at a party long ago, "I do not create these stories of giants, heroes, and villains... nor do I know if they are true or not. I'm only sharing with you what was shared with me."
THE TEMPLE OF THE EIGHT is very large temple, to which thousands of faithful make the journey daily to give thanks to their venerated ancestors who watch over them.
THE HALL OF ELYSIA is a temple dedicated to all the Torinians that fell in defense of the city, the Hall of Elysia is constructed of stone, marble, crystal, and gold. In the center of the round building stands an enormous sculpture of crystal and gold depicting Prince Rhodes Torin and Pyros Taio bravely leading a unit of fierce warriors into battle. Along the walls are etched the names of all those soldiers that gave their lives to protect the Torinians. The names of the Elite soldiers, or those that passed away taking the final test to become an Elite, are placed higher. The Hall has a large, gold trimmed, circular opening in the ceiling called the Sacred Gate that is directly under the land in Heaven where the fallen Torinians are believed to reside. They are able to ascend and descend to and from Heaven through this opening.
THE ASCELEPEION OF GABRIELLE EPIDAURUS is the medical center dedicated to the young girl who had lived her life serving the sick and wounded. She is also one of the eight venerated heroes of Torin's people. It is a hospital, a spa center, and shelter.
OURANA'S COURT is an enormous circular building where the harpy matriarch Ourana often resides to speak with the human leadership of Torin. The top of this building has a cloth canopy that can be opened to allow Ourana to come and go. Inside the building, the place where Ourana sits extends deep into the mountain so that humans can meet her at waist-level. Naturally the immense building took many years to construct.
PRISCILLA'S TEMPLE is much like Ourana's Court. The people are able to seek the Wrath Maiden's wisdom and have their fortunes read. Priscilla often has days when she isn't in the mood to give consultations and has to cut off visitations for fear of infecting the people of Torin with her particular mood.
THE THEATER OF TORIN is where dance, concerts, stage plays, and even stand-up comedy can be enjoyed by thousands at a time. Popular draws at the Theater of Torin are the comedic antics of Mocking Harpies, Dione and Eva (who also show up anywhere alcohol is served), the acting performances by the gorgeous actress Nikela, and the beautiful songs in the enchanting voice of the giant Rock Harpy Harriet.
THE GLADITORIUM is the Colosseum-styled arena that seats up to 60,000 people as they are entertained by sports, Hypogryph races, fights, and even battle reenactments. Here, the multi-talented Nikela is also a big draw as she is one of the most popular gladiators in the history of the arena. Trademarked by her long spiral hair, the elite warrioress rarely loses a battle. She is quite the celebrity. Most would call Nikela the most beautiful female in Torin, behind Eos who happens to be a giant Golden Harpy.
Although it doesn't happen as often now, the biggest draws are always the contests between a Torinian warrior and a small predator that had been captured near the city. The predator is often injured or inhibited in some way, putting it at a serious disadvantage that the warrior would exploit. There is no sympathy for the predator, only a spectacular death before the eyes of a cheering blood thirsty audience. The arena is a popular place for the executions of criminals to take place. The harpies would play a game of "Yrucrem Ronoh" above the arena with the terrified criminal. The game involved two teams of harpies and the object of the game was to score points by successfully tossing the criminal into the goal (which is the mouth of the "goal keeper" on their own team). Most Torinians swore off watching those spectacles, but the allure of watching some prisoner get his comeuppance is too much for some others to resist. And there are those who are admittedly attracted by morbid curiosity.
THE ZOOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF TORIN - Managed by a "flea bitten twit of a hairless monkey" named Sophethia Korele, the Zoological Society started as only a nursery for young harpies. Now, it also collects fauna for research, and preservation; sometimes they are put on display for Torinian people. The veterinarians there are also known for treating the ailments of Torin's resident harpies, though many have suggested ending this service as a few dentists have been victims of accidental swallowings.
Sophethia joined the Zoological Society after service as a legionnaire in the Torinian legion. She had recruited other former legionnaires to aid her in capturing more species. They had managed to rescue a lost young Reindeerataur, whom they named Nona, and she has grown to giant size in captivity. Make no mistake, the Torinians consider Nona to be a predator, not a person, so she isn't treated well at all by anyone other than Sophethia. Nona accepts her life in captivity as she has known nothing else.
CAMPUS TAIYO (THE LEGION TRAINING FACILITY) - Named after the venerated hero, Pyros Taiyo, Campus Taiyo is where Torin's Legions are trained for roles as soldiers protecting the city from outside threats or upholding the law with the city walls. The fierce Demon Harpy named Demona oversees both the training of human soldiers within the city and harpy warriors outside the walls. She also works with her human subordinate officer to create ways that the humans and the harpies can cooperate in battles. She is a very intimidating presence. She has warned Elite Legion candidates that doing anything treacherous or dishonorable during their final trial will result in them getting devoured on the spot.
[Government]
With the deaths of King Cretes and his son Prince Rhodes after their attempt to force the harpies to leave Torin years ago, the harpy matriarch Ourana promised to honor the requests made by a group of people selected by the Torinians. This select group became Torin's first senate.
THE QUEEN OURANA - As the head of her flock of giant harpies, Ourana is recognized as an immovable figure among the Torinian people. She has immense power (and with that control), much to the dismay of Torinians in the early years of the harpy occupation. With the passing decades, she has experienced a change of heart and her image softened from "overbearing tyrant" to "firm ruler." In the present, the people generally have no issue with referring to Ourana as "the Queen."
THE SENATE - Led by a descendant of King Cretes Torin who is named Cornelius Torin, this elite collection of citizens consists of military members, scholars, doctors, and more. They hold Ourana to her promise to give the people a voice.
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