Corinth

Corinth

The City-State of Letters • Astrid’s Birthplace • A Cultural and Academic Hub of Westwynd

Corinth is known throughout Westwynd as the **City-State of Letters**, a settlement whose identity is rooted in scholarship, archival tradition, and the written word. Its scribes, teachers, and scholars shape nearly every aspect of civic life, and its people hold a deep belief that preserving knowledge protects the future.

Though not a magically powerful region, Corinth’s commitment to learning and recorded history has made it a haven for researchers, budding philosophers, and young prodigies — including **Astrid Myriad**, who was born and raised here.

History

Corinth began as a small settlement centered around a communal scriptoria where early settlers preserved stories and histories during eras of political upheaval. These early traditions evolved into the core identity of the city: a place where writing, knowledge, and study were treated with near-religious reverence.

Generations later, Corinth grew into a respected academic center despite its limited magical heritage. Its people valued discipline, rational thought, and debate — qualities that would both empower and later endanger the city.

A Tradition of Learning

Corinth’s cultural life revolves around its academies, debate halls, and community archives. Children learn to read and write earlier than in most regions, and scribes maintain detailed public records that preserve everything from crop yield to genealogy.

This belief in the permanence and sanctity of recorded knowledge influenced Astrid’s early development, nurturing the same hunger for understanding that would later drive him toward forbidden subjects.

Corinth’s Role in the Tale of Astrid Myriad

Although Astrid Myriad was “just another student” within the city, his later journey would transform Corinth’s place in history.

Upon Astrid’s return with **The Runaways**, Corinth erupted into celebration, hosting a grand parade and festival in his honor:

The Festival of Saint Myriad

This multi-day celebration publicly honored Astrid’s survival and supposed heroism.

Privately, it masked a far more dangerous operation.

The Cult of the Lord of Faces

A hidden sect of the Lord of Faces used the festival’s commotion to attempt a dangerous ritual involving the

• • Deck of Many Things**, an artifact carried by **Ixhel**, first owner of the White Flame.

Their intent was to exploit the chaos to strengthen their patron’s influence and potentially reclaim Astrid.

The Runaways’ Intervention

The Runaways uncovered the cult’s plan. Realizing they could not halt the ritual alone, they formed a temporary alliance with **Dragon Bayle**.

Together, they delayed the cult long enough to prevent the Deck from serving as a planar conduit.

Government Structure

Corinth is governed by the **Council of Letters**, a group of elder scribes and educators responsible for archival preservation, education oversight, and legal matters involving written works.

Their leadership style is administrative rather than authoritarian, intervening only when knowledge, records, or civic memory are at risk.

Major Factions

• **Council of Letters** — civic leaders and archivists
• **Scriptoria Guild** — scribes and record-keepers
• **Inkbinders** — restorers and preservers of damaged texts
• **Quiet Archivists** — custodians of restricted or dangerous writings

Institutions of Knowledge

Corinth is home to numerous centers of learning and preservation, including:

• **Central Scriptoria**
• **Hall of Questions** (public debate forum)
• **Archives of First Settlement**
• **Academy of Letters** — Astrid’s childhood school

Laws and Customs

Corinth’s legal system prioritizes protection and preservation of writing and recorded memory.

Common customs include public recording of major life events, communal copying exercises, and laws barring unauthorized destruction of texts.

Major Locations

• **Central Scriptoria**
• **Festival Square**
• **Hall of Questions**
• **Outer Quills District**
• **Academy of Letters**
• **The Old Reservoir** — where Astrid and Lear fished as children

Notable NPCs

• **Cryo**
• **Mina**
• **Lear Myriad**
• **Members of the Council of Letters**

Adventure Hooks

• The Festival of Saint Myriad is revived annually, though some fear remnants of the cult still linger.
• Scholars whisper of a missing card from the Deck of Many Things hidden in Corinth’s archives.
• A student claims to have discovered one of Astrid’s early journals.
• Archivists disagree over restricted documents tied to the Soul Harvest.

Notes

Corinth remains defined by its devotion to letters and learning, though the Festival of Saint Myriad forever marked the city’s connection to Astrid Myriad and the influence of the Lord of Faces.