Trivantis

While the city is massive and hosts many small schools taught by individual teachers, there is no government supported institution of magic. It has only been within the past few decades that magic of spell and ritual has entered the empire - the magic of men and elves.

While there is plenty of magic here, for the monster people it is largely innate talent with elementalists and sorcerers, with less spell casting than 'human' and 'elf' magic - wizards and witches. It's looked down upon as a lesser art by some cultures despite the power such honed magic can achieve - they claim mages must borrow or even steal the magic from the planet instead of bringing it from inside themselves in unison with life.

It is despite this an art gaining rapid favor and increasing interest. That being said, there is greater resistance against certain kinds of 'human and elf' magics, driving certain spell casters underground.






While the flavor of culture is roughly comparable to the 11th-12th centuries, technologically society is closer to the 14th and 15th, with an 'early' renaissance of sorts happening currently. The existence of magic and the functional nature of alchemy has inspired much in the way of alternative developments. There is a good deal of 'magitek' in early development.

There are some races whom excel in working with mechanics; alchemy has allowed for alternative power sources and golems and 'clockwork' machines are not unheard of, many reverse engineered from lost technology left by ancient races. This has allowed for some impressive advances in prosthesis and weaponry.

A common art accompanying clockwork engineering is glass and crystal working - great advances have been made in regards to making lenses to manipulate sight, light, and magic. The Greater Sphinxes are masters of intricate glasswork and are credited with the invention of and more recently the distribution of eyeglasses to correct both near and far sight - an art which they jealously hoarded the secrets of for some time. Something that very potentially contributed to the legendary aim of their warriors in flight, who are known to wear strange and elaborate helms.

No use of steam power, but there is the glory of indoor plumbing and running water! There are sewers, sinks, and toilets to accompany the bath houses and fountains. It's largely comparable to ancient Roman sanitation with notable improvements including greater maintenance of the aqueducts, cisterns, and sewers. The people of Trivantis also have methods heating their floors. All around those with elemental magic are vitally useful in the workforce and greatly contribute to the function and improvement of these luxuries.

It is worth mentioning that in a world where alchemy functions as a true 'magical science', the discovery and exploration of gunpowder has been going on for some time - and they aren't the only examples of explosive developments. What count as the equivalent of early 'firespears' from the east pale in comparison to some of the destructive inventions made by their mages. "Greek Fire" is a much more formidable incendiary weapon.

Gunpowder is not common, but also not unheard of - fireworks and cannons are more than acceptable, as are simplistic guns making use of magitek. With alternative power sources and elemental magics in combination with the allowance for clockwork machinery, gunlike weapons are likely to exist.

With the assistance of certain magics, alchemical wisdom, and even rare plants not found in our world, medical procedures and knowledge have also made rapid advancements - in some respects alarmingly so, as it is not unheard of for an individual to have a replacement organ or limb. This is a culture that even has some vague comprehension of evolutionary science and basic genetics.