Xenos

Xenos is on the island of Elysium, southwest of Novia, and is a critical juncture on the Path of Truth.

The city sits on sheltered cove on the Bay of Storms. This area is important because this is where you need to hitch a ride to Artifice. But to get on board, you need to win the lottery first. So good luck!

NPCs

 * Chancellor Notus
 * Greedy Pilgrim
 * Lustful Pilgrim
 * Despairing Pilgrim
 * Envious Pilgrim
 * Kiakis
 * Faun
 * Crafting Trainer, Crafting Merchants and it looKs like most recipes
 * Alchemy Merchant
 * Fish Merchant (just fish no bait)
 * Blacksmith Merchant
 * Public Vendor where crafting stations are located up the stairs from his location.
 * Ship Captain
 * Cooking Merchant

(list needs sorting and proper linking)

Animals

 * Shepard Mutt
 * Watcher
 * Cat
 * Husky Mutt

Lore
The main attraction of the port-side entrance is the Forum of the Lottery. Here visitors to Xenos from across the world gather to participate in the Lottery in the hopes of winning the great prize, a ticket of entrance into mysterious and miraculous Artifice itself! On approach to the outer arches, flaming braziers atop stone pillars light the great statue of the Titan of Truth, which seems to welcome visitors as they enter below. Beyond those arches is a cultured garden walk, where participants and bystanders gather in conversation while awaiting the ceremonies.

Another set of inner arches, formed by the mighty bases of aqueducts that feed water into the city from the forested hills south, is topped by huge statues depicting the satyrs which are said to roam the far northern mountains of Elysium where they tend to the grounds surrounding Artifice’s magical golden entrance. Past hanging crimson banners can be seen the amphitheater of the Forum, also lit by large flaming braziers and lanterns suspended above the curving stone seats, where gathering guests will sit once the Lottery begins. This area also hosts fountains fed by water falling from draconic gargoyle heads, much like Artifice itself.

One of the first things visitors understand is the fact that the culture of Xenos is ancient, predating the cataclysm, and that many of Xenos’ structures are actually built atop the foundations of the ruins beneath. In many cases, the most glorious of these were incorporated into the more modern architecture. There are few places you can gaze that won’t hold details of the old world, both small and large. The very entrance is no exception, for across the old road from the caravans of merchants lay a ruined courtyard surrounded by columns, its original use long forgotten. Further along the path into the city proper, past tall and imposing aqueducts, grand roads lead up steep hills that wind their way through several of the richer neighborhoods, whose fantastic views are now graced with sculptured foliage, stone arches, and pillars topped with braziers. From the ground springs forth old stone retaining walls, granite stairs, and evenly-paved roads like those of ancient Pompeii. Added to that are publicly-maintained decorative flower pots, shrubs, and trees, which the proud owners of those houses enjoy gazing upon as they frame their view of the sparkling sea beyond, with the masts of tall ships rising from the harbor. At the top of this grand avenue, a partial circle of arches gloriously frames various angles of observation across the sprawling city itself. A fitting view, indeed, for those of such wealth and extravagance that can afford to live in the wondrous city of Xenos, gateway to the pleasures of distant Artifice!

Trivia

 * Chancellor Notus mentions that he is the overseer of the Artifice Lottery and mentions Boreas.
 * When Xenos was added in Release 28, it was a clone of Solania. It was revised for Release 32.
 * Right before persistent, Xenos was uncloned and some modifications were made to it for specific plot points. A polish pass was done beginning in Release 36, and should be complete by Release 38.
 * The developed areas of the Xenos region has a “Greco-Roman” feel to its architecture. For the capital Xenos and its surrounding environs, there would also be a bit of old-world Italy in the mix, just for the sake of variety… Like Rome in our world, Xenos should evoke the feeling of new architecture have been built within and upon the ruins of the older civilization that once thrived there. Since Xenos is not quite as huge as Rome, however, additional inspiration is drawn from concepts of what Pompeii must have been like in its hey-day, before the terrible destruction of Vesuvius…