Magincia
Lifestyles of the Rich and Magic in MAGINCIA
By Penn-Hedley III
As we all know, the road to riches in the World of Dreams is paved with pixie dust. Magic, especially that of drug-dealing alchemists has created an entire generation of conspicuous consumers. Nowhere is that more evident than in the tropical paradise that is the setting for the town of Magincia.
As I began mapping the city, I began from the West (Moongate side). At first, I thought the town was virtually deserted, and was struck by the stark appearance of the shops (the first I mapped was the "lone ranger" standing in the middle of an otherwise empty room). I soon found that the local inhabitants prefer the shops plain (except magic shops, of course) so that the contrast is more obvious to the lavish extravagance of their dwellings. These are found to the East and South (for some reason, they prefer having the prevailing breezes FROM the ocean and TOWARD the swamp, rather than the other way round.
The shopping is not merely Spartan, it is sparse. The only competition is in the magic trades, with 2 mages, 2 scribes, and 2 alchemists. The barkeep is a famous gourmet chef who caters the garden parties, making do with nothing but seafood from the lobster fisherman and fancy pastries from the baker. Naturally, there is a jeweler, boutique tailor and investment banker and a tinker who makes almost exclusively vaults and padlocks. The local healer is a posh clinic with an well-stocked apothecary and a veritable herd of medical specialists, giving them plenty of spare time to see to their constituency's elective surgery desires. The ranger deals in exotic furs (mostly from endangered species).
The one vendor serving the average citizens is a handicapped veteran who operates a tiny provisions convenience store in the back lobby of the bank building.
Here you will find none of the open community crafting centers. If Magencians are going to "do it themselves" they want to do it in privacy. There is one loom and wheel at the tailor and an oven at the baker, but all other facilities are locked away behind the "no-trespassing!; tradesmen will kindly use the rear entrance" signs.
That is awkward for local "commoners" who are not rich enough to own their own forge, since there is no local blacksmith or armourer. Since the wealthy already own everything, there is no need for architects dealing in real estate, and so on. It must be remembered that the "magic rich" are still unaccustomed and somewhat uncomfortable with their wealth. Give them 5 or 6 generations and they will surely become -hrrmph- -er- ...very, very, old.
