| Type | Realm / land of the immortals |
|---|---|
| Inhabitants | Immortals, gods and other magical beings |
Contents
Location
Starside lies beyond Stormside and serves as the land mortals enter during the Questral. Only challengers who survive the Culling can pass through the gates into Starside. Immortals, gods, and magical creatures inhabit the land, which contains distinct regions and settlements such as the Traveling City, the Beast Tree, and the Land of the Gods. Mortal challengers cross Starside hoping to reach the magic at the end of the Questral and return to Stormside with a cup of it.
Description
Starside stretches across a vast magical landscape filled with very different environments, cities, and territories. Dangerous wilderness separates settlements inhabited by immortals, while powerful families and gods control other regions.
Magic shapes nearly every part of Starside. Ancient weapons choose their own wielders, magical creatures form bonds with challengers, and powerful immortal families rule through the Great Houses.
Starside also poses constant danger to the mortals who enter during the Questral. Challengers must survive hostile creatures, rival competitors, difficult terrain, and threats from the immortals and gods who live there.
Relevance
Starside serves as the central setting of the Questral and the main stage of Aris Agron’s journey. Aris enters the land for more than the magic promised to successful challengers: she wants to find the goddess who destroyed her village and killed her family. Along the way, she forms alliances with mortals and immortals, bonds with a silver dragon, learns more about the gods, and uncovers the truth behind events that shaped her life. Starside also brings the goals of the major Questral competitors into conflict. Zane Sterling seeks magic for Helmspeak, Kira enters to save her sister Anise, Harlan Raker wants to reclaim his lost divinity, and Cadoc Bolter pursues the power and immortality waiting at the end of the Questral.
Notable Locations
| Beast Tree | The Beast Tree plays a major role during the Questral, giving challengers the chance to encounter and bond with powerful creatures. Aris and Zane separate here. Zane bonds with a massive Helmhawk, while Aris bonds with a silver dragon. |
|---|---|
| Traveling City | Faelings inhabit the Traveling City, including Este and her sister Gallie. The city takes in Aris after she is injured and later treats her again after another serious injury. Anyone who chooses to leave through its gates gives up the right to return. |
| Land of the Gods | The Land of the Gods connects directly to Starside’s gods. Aris travels there to search for answers about her family, the goddess who destroyed her village, and the prophecy surrounding her. |
| The City on Fire | Aris crosses The City on Fire during the Questral and later fights Cadoc Bolter above it. Cadoc’s fire-breathing dragon gives him a major advantage, and the confrontation leaves Aris severely injured. |
| Vander Evren’s Estate | Vander Evren lives at this estate and brings Aris and Harlan Raker there after Aris summons him. He allows Aris to stay in the castle but confines Raker to the stables. Aris later attends a ball at the estate that draws her deeper into Starside’s immortal politics. |
