Juno

The Ancient Land
The city of Juno is possibly the oldest in the Republic...at least, the oldest still existing. It is a true marvel, a massive city lifted high above the land it once rested on thanks to the power of dozens of powerful mages and ancient runic magic long forgotten. Known as the Heart of Ymir, millenia of magical knowledge has been used in its creation.

Juno is known for its powerful magics, thanks to the gorge below. Emanating from within the gorge are immense amounts of magic, constantly bathing the city with more power than almost any other location in the world. The Gift permeates the area so greatly that even those visiting will possess a small amount of magical talent as long as they are in the city, and almost any child born in the area will be Gifted in some form. Due to all of this, Juno is home to one of the most famous and prestigious magical academies in the world, bringing students and professors from all around and housing quite possibly the largest library known to man.

The city isn't all academics, though. Thanks to its location, Juno is known for its sweeping views of the mountains below, as well as the heavy snowfalls covering the area from late Fall to mid Spring. A few quiet parks throughout the city provide a place to relax and enjoy the surroundings, and Schwarzwald's Junian Symphony Orchestra calls the city home, providing some of the finest symphonic work around.

Juno is also a nearly crime-free city, and possesses almost no lower-class inhabitants. The city prides itself on its quality of life, providing numerous affordable homes and inns, along with offering high-paying jobs that keep the citizens almost completely in the upper-middle-class or above. Juno is not overpopulated, however, providing what has been planned out as the perfect amount of homes, and city-run airships provide transport to other locations for those unable to find a house or apartment in the city walls.

After the velare invasion, Juno is notable as one of the few free cities left. Detonating the bridge leading to the mountains below, Juno has secured itself as only accessible by air or mage-gate, and the city's defenses are more than enough to repel any assault by the velare air armada. Currently the city retains its location high above the mountains of Schwarzwald, though rumor has it the massive island is able to be moved with its connection to the land now severed.