Ceannis

Government includes a Senate and a President who serves for a six-year term.

Formerly a monarchy until Leachtric (a reincarnation of Rhódon) established democracy.

A large part of the Ceannic military. Each Order is named after one of the cardinal constellations.

Order of the Axe: Elite rapid-response force. They have the highest physical recruitment standards of any Order, which even their partnered mages are required to pass, and they're trained to work in any environment, fight with any kind of weapon, and use any amount of force.

Order of the Compass: Pathfinders and wilderness-tamers. They protect trading expeditions, both domestic and international, and keep border settlements and roads safe. In previous centuries they were also a major player in Ceannis' colonization forces.

Order of the Chalice: Exclusive to knights who can draw heartswords. The Chalice is the first line of defense against magical threats that require close-quarters combat. Every team is partnered with at least one mage – who may also qualify as a knight, but it's not necessary.

(Some people have the misconception that heartsword-wielders can get into this Order without passing the rest of basic training. If they bring this misconception into combat, they learn better very quickly.)

Order of the Horn: Essentially the Secret Service. Bodyguards to high-ranking Ceannic politicians, diplomats, judges, asylum-seekers, and anyone else in danger of politically-motivated attack.

Secret Order of Monster Hunters: Not officially knights, but then again, they don't officially exist. They handle assassinations and other not-necessarily-legal secret missions.

Capitol city. Built on the shores of Sapphire Lake, astride a river that feeds into the Gulf. In the broader jurisdiction of Rosedale County.

Bordered by Thunder Oak Reservation, a protected forest area and national park.

Faces Violin Reflection Waterfront, a protected coastal area, on the far side of the river. Back when Central was much smaller, there was a similar-sized city in this area, but it was wiped out and has been mostly left to get re-wilded instead of rebuilt. (The Eastern Watchtower is one of the few structures there today.)

The boundaries of Central include the following locations, organized by district, and with references to notable storylines where they were seen:

• Home of Tansy and Larch (Family Dinner)
• Starburst Academy, attended by Hyacinth and her friends
• Chrysalis Special Needs Day Camp, attended by Hawthorn during the summer (Family Deserts)

• Castle Crossing Training Center, where Gerri currently teaches combat to young military recruits (Leaves That Are Green)
• EMTEC, or Everlasting Moonlight Test and Evaluation Center, providing resources, education/training, and regular check-ins for magical girls (Haven't You Noticed)

• Government-managed apartments of Thorn, Juniper (No Moss), Violet and Rowan (Time and Tides), Birch and Annie, and Kale
• Crown Hill Stables, where Caoimhe and her foal reside (An Incredibly Platonic Storyline)
• Crown branch of the Rosedale Library, right across from Thorn and Kale's building (Borrowing Limits)
• One of many locations for S-Mart, a chain grocery for imported Sønska merchandise, frequented by immigrants and expats (Something's Cooking)

• Presidential Palace, where Olive Romarin lives and works (Homecoming)
• Royal Ceannic Opera, where Leachtric was performed (The Show Must Grow On)
• Second Life Resource Center, which provides services for long-runners, especially recently-reincarnated ones (The Perennials)
• Falling Stars Iuilic Center, which includes educational exhibits about Iuilic history, and hosted karaoke during Summerfest (Summer Sunshine)

• The Sønheim Embassy complex, where Leif works and lives. Has heavily warded walls to keep intruders out, and Sønheim's native magic in
• Embassies for other countries, which don't need the elaborate setup, and are just in rows of normal buildings

• The famous National Aquarium (Fish Story)
• Garden Street train station, serving the aquarium (Fish Story)
• Old Castle Museum, a historical and educational site, on the side of Crown Hill facing the water. Converted from (you guessed it) Central's old castle
• The Western Watchtower, at the mouth of the river

Burnspoint: Major hub of the entertainment industry. Past setting of production for Hedge and Grassie; current setting for Magical Crime Law Investigation Squad.

Limestone Cliffs: Low-income neighborhood on the shores of the Gulf, where Violet grew up. High tide reaches more than six feet above ground level, so the first floors of the buildings are all well-sealed, with the entrances on the second floors – along with a system of walkways that are used when the streets become canals, and lots of stairs, ladders, and bridges keeping everything connected.

Peacockton: Coastal town where Thorn's team was stationed before being moved to the steppes.

Sapphire Lake: A body of water the size of Ohio, and the second-largest in Ceannis. Central is one of its coastal cities.

The Steppes: Semi-habitable territory at the edge of The Desert, which used to be populated by a mix of nomadic tribes with no clearly-defined territories. Conquered by Ceannis (and other border countries) around the time technology advanced to the point where the area could be made livable for non-nomads. Still a source of hereditary ethnic tension, although not enough to inspire a well-organized separatist movement.

Ville-de-Prince: Prestigious university. Its graduates include soundboard operators.

Kolpovision: Annual multinational song contest, full of OTT outfits. Ceannis won twice during Olive Romarin's first term as president.

Soul Masquerade: Harvest festival. Everyone dresses up as their favorite characters/creatures.

Summerfest: Biggest annual holiday. Celebrated by wearing flowers, eating sweets, singing karaoke.

Vyrvatsya: Six-day Iuilic festival celebrating the escape from the Horn Kingdom, starting when the big moon is full. Celebrated by eating easy-to-carry foods and lighting moon-phase lamps (traditionally with candles).

Queen's Anniversary: Also just called The Anniversary, this holiday commemorates the marriage of Rhódon, founding Queen of Ceannis, and Sotetsu, the Time Mage. It is a celebration of couples, with some people going so far as to celebrate fictional romances that have a personal significance to them. Celebrants sing and provide gifts of candy and flowers.