Illumina, called the Star of the Earth, is a beacon of hope in a darkened world. Heralded as a center for culture and the arts, Illumina is also the seat of two of the world's three major religions, and the city of heraldry for the Demon Hunter Ranks.

Founded by Lazarion Taranes a scant two centuries after the resurgence of mankind into the world, Illumina is also one of the Seven Wonders of the After-Catachysm World. A city crafted entirely of blue and white crystal, glass, and marble, Illumina is the most beautiful city in the world.

Testament to the Old World Faith, the Illumina Cathedral is the tallest structure in Illumina. Granite, marble, and stained glass dominate this Gothic cathedral, which situated in the center of the city is easily a square mile in length and width.

The Cathedral is open to the faithful three-hundred-sixty-five days out of the year, and twenty-four hours a day. Parishoners seeking shelter in bad weather are allowed shelter in the cathedral if the city's inns are filled. There are at least six Knights on duty, guarding the Cathedral at all times.

An annex to the Illumina Cathedral, the Demon Hunter Annexes are devoted to the management, history, and function of the Demon Hunter Order. Here lies the main office of Lazarion Taranes, his Child of Light, and the offices of various high-ranking officials of the Demon Hunter Order.

Though very beautiful, with inlaid marble flooring and beautiful painted ceilings, the Annexes are rarely seen by any but those whom spend their days there, or the Knights who attend Lazarion.

Located further out in the city, the hunter archives consist of two, graceful, crystalline towers, connected by a glass hallway that acts as a bridge between the two of them.

Contained therein, it is said, is a copy of nearly every nonfictional textual work in the known world. Records of hunting, methods, techniques, copies of treaties, the like... Along with records of every graduating hunter class from the various academies, and a record of every hunter that's ever entered any order. Only open to hunters.

There ARE strict rules governing behavior in the Archives, mandated by the old sawhorse of a librarian, an elderly gentleman named Grant Shriver, (called Mr. Shriver or else!) and breaking those rules is most... unpleasant.

The hunter academies, one for each class, will be described in further detail on a seperate page later on.

Each academy, though unique and beautiful in their own, particular ways, have a few common trends. Organized like a cross between bording schools and college campuses, the student body therein ranges from the very young (those who've been adopted by the hunter ranks as children) and those who are nearing completion of their training (late teens to early twenties). Each school consists of the main building, where classes are taught lecture-style, up to nine outside training arenas, where students are taught everything from swordsmanship to archery to endurance building. They also, usually, have obstacle courses, and in buildings set a short ways away from the main building, structures that are heavily warded that are used for magical instruction.

The academy campuses also feature the dormitories for the students; usually two to a room; while the halls are coed, the rooms never are. Usually, as students are paired into training partners, the two in the room will do quite a bit together. There are dining halls attached to each dormitory hall, and students eat there.

There are often at least two gardens attached to the academies, where the students may spend their off time and often times where a few fine arts classes (yes, they _are_ required curriculum) are taught. There are also class-specific libraries attached to each academy.

The academies will be discussed in specific later.

In this case, gardens in the plural form is REALLY intended. Illumina has around... forty or fifty different gardens, and all are organized in different, beautiful schemes. Just about every flower in the known world, it's said...