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Belisaerecity

Belisaere, by Josh Wong.


Belisaere is the capital and biggest city of the Old Kingdom, located on the northeastern shore of the country. It stands on a circular peninsula in the middle of a large bay and is named for the the Belis Mouth inlet and the Sea of Saere.[1]  At the center is Lake Losaere, and the Royal Palace, along with its underground reservoir containing the Great Charter Stones, is in the northeast of the city.[2]

The city survived, some might say barely, during the Interregnum, where it was protected from the Dead by the flowing water of its ancient aqueducts. (The Dead can no more pass under water than they can pass over it.) Still, the city during that time, while having parts that were frantically busy during the daylight hours, was nearly abandoned at night. Dangerous and horrific sights were commonplace, such as Free Magic necromancers walking the streets and enslaved children being used as bait for the Dead, and any homes outside the aqueduct protection were abandoned and filled with Dead creatures hoping to catch a citizen unawares. The final regent went mad and burned down the Palace twenty years previous, leaving only ruins.

Sabriel[]

Beliseare

Belisaere is protected by aquaducts. By Bryce Homick.

As Sabriel, Touchstone, and Mogget approach Belisaere, they enter the Sea of Saere by passing under a centuries-old massive boom chain that guards its entrance. Due to the aquaducts flowing through the city, a part of Belisaere continues to work as a small seaport with a number of human inhabitants. While the three manage to find a safe inn for the night, there are still many hazards. Touchstone suffers culture shock at this huge difference from his own memories of Belisaere,

Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr[]

Belisaere has nearly returned to its former glory with the help of King Touchstone and Queen Sabriel; the Dead are purged from the city limits and the Palace rebuilt. The population has increased and the city has flourished into a bustling metropolis. King Touchstone has also mended the broken Great Charter Stones with his own blood and years off his lifetime.

Belisaeremap

Belisaere in the time of Clariel.

The city also celebrates multiple yearly, ancient festivals. Clariel mentions the Midsummer Festival on several occasions, and in turn, Touchstone recalls dancing the Bird of Dawning.

Clariel: The Lost Abhorsen[]

Many small details of Belisaere are known from Clariel: The Lost Abhorsen, which takes place 600 years before the other books in the series. As such, it's unknown how much has remained and in what form. For example, in Clariel's time, Belisaere was protected by both aquaducts and by tall walls surrounding the entire city, but these walls, which required constant maintenance, probably did not survive intact to the time of Sabriel.

In Clariel, as King Orrikan refuses to rule, the city (and indeed, the country) is run by various guilds and guildmasters, with Guildmaster Kilp being the most powerful and ultimately trying to stage a proper coup. He fails, and the Royal line continus unbroken with Orrikan's granddaughter Tathiel, who had avoided taking the throne for many years.

Clariel herself loathes Belisaere and wishes to leave it as soon as possible.

References[]


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