What If Metropolis? Art Of

Diomira: Travelogue

Diomira, the city located to the east, what a sight to behold! From the bustling market streets, to the crystal theatre located deep in the heart of the city, to the surrounding mountain range perfect for hiking. There is something for everyone to experience in the city of Diomira. The city, said to be crafted by the hands of the Gods themselves, stands tall in the luscious green lands and surrounding mountains. Known for its overwhelming riches and mysterious power source rumoured to be a gift to the people for their strong belief in their Gods. Those fortunate enough to be able to afford the cities extortionate prices, will have memories which last a lifetime, however those not as fortunate will see a much darker side to the city.  

I ventured into the city in the month of September, when the festival of lights begins. People from all walks of life gather on a golden evening to celebrate the Gods win over darkness, praying that they will bless them enough to find fortune for the years to come. I entered from the drawbridge suspended over a moat of mud. Surrounding the grand gates to the city, were a series of shacks, awkwardly constructed with a multitude of scrap materials. The people dwelling within the shacks looked even more worse off. I didn't want to linger for long so continued along the drowning path, carefully avoiding the mud soaked puddles.  

I continued on towards the city, the once silhouette of dome like shapes had now transformed into a towering figure. Each roof screamed for my attention as the sun reflected off and bounced back into my eyes. With each step I took I felt my feet give out a sigh of relief as the worn out mudded tracks of a path that used to be, turned to a silky smooth lead paved path. The roaring of the city began to get even more intense as I approached the market place. To my left I could see a collection of terrace houses and to my right was the bustling market. My nose suddenly became overwhelmed with a assortment of exotic smells, each one with their own unique scent. My stomach began to ache, reminding me that I hadn't eaten since the evening that past. With this new found goal in mind, I decided to venture into the swarm of people, hoping to locate the source of delicious scent.

As I neared the stall however I was greeted by the unwelcoming ruckus of a shop owner chasing out a set of poorly dress people he addressed as "filthy vermin". Startled by the shock I froze in place, his words echoing in my ears. Filthy? I looked down and notice I was covered head to toe in mud from my long days travelling. I though to my self, maybe I should change and then come back.

As the sun continued to lower behind the mountainside, there were still many sights the city had to offer which I had yet to see. The grand hall located in the heart of the city, the clocktower, the statues of the gods and of course the crystal theatre. The streets were now dense with people roaming the stalls and chatting to one an other. I continued although the path and through another set of gates, more grand than the ones previous entered through. I had finally made it to the main part of the city. The reason I had ventured this far in the first place, to Diomira the city of 60 silver domes. Up close the domes were impressive, each handcrafted to the slightest detail to make them distinct to the owner request. Some were onion shaped, others were a more traditional style, however they were all comprised of silver which was polished to perfection. From a glance I was able to see all the way down the road I had just ventured up, crowed still swarming the stalls in the background. I admired the impeccable craftsmanship for a few more moments, before continuing on to the right, towards the crystal theatre. 

As the day slowly died I had managed to see an assortment of sights I could have only dreamed of, now however was time to rest from a long days travel. I still needed to change my clothes from before but got side-tracked with all the excitement in the city. I finally arrived at the place I had seen in a travel magazine. It was magnificent. Hotel Diomira. I had heard countless tales about the service and how it is like being treated like a god. After all this walking I feel like I could do with some relaxing. I pressed on forward to the front desk and presented myself in front of the bell. After only a few seconds of pressing the bell I was greeted with a huge smile from the hotel staff. I explained that I was hoping to get a room with them reply with every single option, grandmaster, twin bed, a room with an ensuite. As I glossed through the room selection my eyes suddenly locked onto the price. 1000 gold per night! With panic engulfing me I turned back to the kind staff member and asked if they had anything cheaper. The look of disgust on their face is something I will never forget. In a swift action they prompt the nearby security guard to escort me out and ended things by saying "We don't serve your kind".

Tire, cold and most importantly hungry I wandered the streets in desperation. Everywhere I turned someone wanted some sort of unreasonable price. I was now just following wherever my feet took me, not taking notice of my surroundings. As I continued to walk I felt that uncomfortable feeling in my foot again when I realized I was back at the outskirts of the city. Left with not other choice I approached one of the shacks and slowly knocked on the door. A painfully skinny elderly man answered. I explained to him my situation and offered what little gold I had to stay with him. After looking me up and down he excepted and led me into his home. It was extremely cramped inside and I could still feel the winds through the cracks in the wall. I was dark and cold but at least its a bed. 

I spend the remainder of the evening chatting to the old man over the fire. As I laid down in the homemade bed I made on the floor, I thought to my self is this really the city of the Gods?