🌟 Aurelia, The Shining City of Truth

Founding & Purpose

Aurelia was the first city raised by Aurix, the Golden Guardian, when he declared himself protector of Gold Land. Its white walls and gilded temples were meant to be a beacon of truth, law, and justice—a haven where the weak would be safe and the wicked punished.

For centuries, Aurelia thrived. Crime was low, the people were prosperous, and trials in the Hall of Truth (always enforced by Zone of Truth) became legendary as examples of perfect justice.

But ideals are easy to carve in stone, and harder to keep in flesh and blood.

⚖️ The Rot Beneath the Gold

Aurelia’s system of absolute truth and law began to warp as men and women with wealth and influence found ways to twist it.

Zone of Truth Courts: Once seen as flawless justice, now manipulated. Nobles hire spellcasters to bend wording, bribe clerics to phrase questions in misleading ways, or intimidate witnesses before they even enter the circle.
Nobility’s Shield: In theory, all are equal under Aurix’s law. In practice, nobles claim they are closer to the dragon and therefore embody “higher truth.” This gives them leeway to escape punishment with technicalities.
Corruption in Gold: Bribery is hidden behind “donations” to the Cathedral or “gifts” to judges. Some priests quietly enrich themselves, claiming Aurix blesses their excess.

Example:

A commoner caught stealing bread for his family might be executed for dishonesty… while a noble caught embezzling millions in trade taxes could argue he was “reallocating resources” for the greater good.

🕊️ Life in Aurelia Today

The Commonfolk: Still believe in Aurix, but whispers grow. “If truth is absolute, why do the rich never hang?” Many are loyal, but cracks of doubt spread.
The Nobility: Lavish, powerful, untouchable. Some genuinely serve Aurix’s vision, but others exploit it. A few rival houses use the courts as weapons against each other, dragging truth into blood-feuds.
The Clergy: Split between faithful zealots who try to protect the weak, and ambitious priests who see faith as a ladder to wealth and power.
The Shadowed Ward (Slums): Here, rebellion ferments. Secret cults and exiles whisper that Aurix is blind, or even corrupted. Some dream of overthrowing the golden order entirely.

🏛️ The Golden Laws of Aurelia

“Truth is Sacred. Law is Eternal. Justice is Aurix.”
Every citizen is taught these words since birth. On paper, the laws are noble:

No Lie Shall Be Spoken in Trial. (Enforced with magic.)
No Weak Shall Be Oppressed.
Every Oath is Binding. (Breaking an oath is the gravest sin.)
The Dragon’s Word is Final.

But in practice:

Nobles twist “oppression” to mean anything that threatens their order.
Oaths are exploited—merchants trap commoners in unfair contracts that are magically binding.
Aurix speaks rarely, so “The Dragon’s Word” is usually interpreted by his clergy and nobles… conveniently in their own favor.