10.2.2 CELEST, RESURGENCE OF THE LIGHT
Out of the ashes of the fallen Holy Celestine Empire, which saw the
destruction of the imperial capital on the Isle of Celest, survivors fled
as far from the Tainted area as possible, relocating to the western side
of the Inner Sea. There, the Celestines and Aquamancers consecrated a new
Pool of Stars, once again establishing a connection to the Light, and thus
arose New Celest to challenge the darkness. Paladins were re-established
as the Holy Warriors of the Light, charged with protecting the fledgling
city. However, the peoples of the Basin of Life did not flock to New
Celest as they did to Celestine Empire of old. Wrongly or rightly, they
blamed the Empire for the Taint and the name of 'Celest' still held bitter
memories. Nevertheless, New Celest struggled and survived, yearning for
the days of old and hoping to see the return of the Empire's former glory
when all the Basin of Life was united under the Light.
The nexus of power in New Celest is the Pool of Stars, located in the
center of the city's hub. It simultaneously exists on the elemental plane
of water and the cosmic plane of Celestia.
