Parnassus

The abandoned city of Parnassus on Coricyan, fourth planet of Cleodora, a small system in the western part of Beyond close to the borders with the Oikumene... it's a place of beauty for the accidental tourist and sheer mystery for any historian or archeologist. The city is literally abandoned. There's nothing there that would give away a hint to its former inhabitants. No book, no digital record, no shred of paper, nothing... Almost like the whole city was immaculately cleaned before its inhabitants left.

Parnassus was probably built by humans, although scholars are still debating the origins of its founders. Current estimates say that the city was built between 1000 and 500 years ago.

The buildings of Parnassus are organized in concentric circles, with each smaller circle elevated over the previous one giving Parnassus a cone-like shape. There are 9 circles. Each circle shows a slightly different and evolving architecture and during its build different materials were used. Most commonly found are limestone, wood (ash and oak are frequently used), rendered concrete and glass. The smallest top circle has the famous glass citadel in the centre, a true masterpiece of craftsmanship. In the citadel, positioned on a high pedestal made of black crystals, is a black sphere is sitting. Its purpose not yet discovered...

The different levels are connected through wide stairs and terraces. Although there are a numerous individually recognizable buildings (one can only guess as to what their purpose was), each level looks strictly organized almost like it was made up of one building.

Work is underway to investigate the grounds below each level but this has not yet led to any sensational discoveries.

Parnassus is - as of 1503 - registered as a class 1 listed object and is currently under the care of the archeological department of the Sea Province University.

- Excerpt from "Parnassus, mystery city on Corycian", a dissertation by Helen Pyloun, archeologist, Sea Province University, Avente, Alphanor.