Overview
Valcirae is the capital of Erenmyr, a large inland city hidden within a massive forest and partly built into ancient trees. Orin lives and teaches there; divine mages reinforce the city's shields, and Valcirae Magic School trains students and keeps archives. The city is difficult to spot from airships.
Cityscape
Valcirae lies far inland from Erenmyr's northern coast, behind swampy terrain and forests of pine and towering willow trees. The route from Deylin's Village runs west through dense forest, rolling green hills, and violet wildflowers. At high speed, Lythariel can reach the city by shortcut in a few hours.
The city has verdant streets, flowering vines, homes grown out of ancient trees, and sunlight filtering through the canopy. It also has inns, an airship dock at the back of the city, and forest paths leading toward Lirathen, the western coast, and the hidden island route.
Magic and School
Valcirae is a haven of divine mages. Orin teaches and works from the city, heals Eira's exhausted mind inside Valcirae Magic School, and organizes the city's defense when two shadows attack Valcirae during Eira's flight west.
Valcirae Magic School shares the city's living-tree architecture. Its corridors pass under entwined branches, its stairways are carved into living wood, and Orin's office is naturally formed inside one of Valcirae's massive trees. The school archives lie in a hidden inner sanctum beneath a towering trunk, reached through a glowing passage and a polished wooden stair.
Valcirae relies on magical defenses. The city is heavily shielded, and divine mages strengthen its glowing city shield when attackers arrive.
History
After the Atraxi arrive in Xalmyrra, some settle in Valcirae. Others remain in Irrathis or move to Varentis. Their language spreads through trade and cultural exchange until it becomes Xalmyrran.
In Deylin's year-812 cycle, Valcirae was Erenmyr's ancient capital and had already been lost to darkness centuries earlier. In the current cycle, Valcirae remains Erenmyr's active capital and contains Valcirae Magic School and its archives.
After shadow mages pursue Eira from Deylin's village, Deylin sends Cassian and Lythariel west through Valcirae to find Orin. Orin heals Eira, gives the group a short rest, prepares the city's defenses, and sends them onward toward the western coast. Valcirae survives the cataclysm mostly intact. Nearby villages are hit hard, and the surrounding routes show blackened shards, dried lava scars, and charred ruins.
Afterward, Xarion and Xandor visit Valcirae to question Orin and inspect the school archives for records about Lythariel. Lythariel was a former Valcirae Magic School student who left. The archives hold a sparse record under her name with no last name and recent ink. During Nerissa and Gabriel's attack on Erenmyr's northern coast, Valcirae remains the closest large city to the coastal battlefield. It lies far inland.