Paragon Bay

Paragon Bay is the only large city on the tropical Aurelia Archipelago. About 3 million people call these three islands (Soleira, Lunaria and Stellara) their home, and nearly 2.5 million of them live in Paragon Bay.

Known as “The City of Supers” (or “Supervillain Central”, depending on who you ask), Paragon Bay is famous for having the highest concentration of superheroes and supervillains in the world. Maybe not so weird, since Paragon Bay is the only city in the modern world that was actually founded by supers.

The city was founded nearly 300 years ago by refugees fleeing the rule of Lord Waric in Ecanria. Leading them were two legendary heroes: Seraphim, an immortal, winged heroine, and Paragon, a techno-magical cyborg who gave his life during the Blackstone Invasion of 2341. Seraphim still watches over the city, while Paragon’s legacy is remembered in statues, stories, and the name of the city itself.

Paragon Bay is a place of contrasts. The colourful heroes (mostly female) are a constant presence, doing their best to help, serve and protect the citizens of the city… but so are the many villains, lurking in the shadowed alleys or behind corporate boardroom doors, ready to corrupt, enslave and create havoc… and preferrably defeat, enslave or mind-control some citizens and heroines while they’re at it.

The Paragon Bay Safety Council makes sure that every visitor is shown the mandatory safety video explaining what to do during a supervillain attack. The rules are simple: stay calm, do not get involved, and if you find yourself hypnotized, imprisoned, or transformed into a mindless minion or sex slave, just stay calm and obey your Master until help arrives.

The rest of Aurelia:
Silvercliff | Stormwatch | Cantena

General

Population: About 2,478,900

High Chancellor: Elysia Verenthia.

Mostly located on the Southern part of the island of Soleira, but with one-and–a-quarted district located on the islend of Lunaria, Paragon Bay is an independent city-state which, along with Ecanria, Oceandria and Tir’Galdur, is counted as one of the four “Powerhouse Nations” of the modern world.

Even though it’s much smaller than the other three in both area and population, it’s home to a huge number of powerful supers, metahumans and supernatural beings… and unlike the other Powerhouse Nations, Paragon Bay is not closed off from the rest of the world and does a lot more international trading and business. With its booming entertainment industry and the fact that this is where Westwood Inc has its headquarters, Paragon Bay is often said to be the “entertainment capital of the world”.

When people still hesitate to visit, it’s because of the many supervillains and tendency towards superpowered battles. While it’s actually pretty rare for civilians to get killed in a supervillain attack, a large percentage of the populace has been mind-controlled or enslaved by a villain at least once… and supervillain attacks are they’re common enough that the city’s laws include a “Supervillain attack Clause” — nobody can be fired or docked pay for missing work hours caused by a supervillain attack.

The city is split up into 14 unique districts, each one governed by an elected District Chancellor. Above them all — and the highest authority in Paragon Bay overall — is High Chancellor Elysia Verenthia and her cabinet. High Chancellor Verenthia has held the post for several decades and was in fact the main force behind the initiative to officially split the city into disticts. She’s a professional, measured and stoic woman, and said to be a close personal friend of “Grandmother” Grace Westwood.

District 1: Central Heights

Population: About 301,800

Chancellor: Marissa Argent

Central Heights is the glittering heart of Paragon Bay, and along with Starlight Views it makes up what’s known as “Central Paragon.” Central Heights is where you find the city’s administrative and commecial centres… but to the general piblic it’s more about soaring skyscrapers, luxury hotels, the high-end shopping and vibrant night life. And of course Westwood Tower, which is almost a small tower-shaped districts onto itself, and is the main heart of Westwood Inc as well as the home to much of the Westwood family as well as hundreds of people in their employ and their families.

Central Heights is a place where money talks, and glamour is the currency. Chancellor Marissa Argent, a “close and personal friend” of “Grandmother Grace” Westwood, keeps one perfectly manicured finger on the pulse of the city at all times.

District 2: Starlight Views

Population: About 199,600

Chancellor: Vivienne Harlow

Starlight Views is Paragon Bay’s cultural crown jewel. It’s not quite as glitzy as Central Heights, but is still considered part of Central Paragon, and the people who live here pride themselves on living in the “culture hub” of the city. Westwood Inc’s main movie studio lot is lovated in this district, as is the Westwood Performing Arts School… and the “Playwright’s Hub,” which is the common name for the theatre district. If you’re a stage actor, you haven’t truly made it until you’ve been on a Playwright’s Hub stage.

Artists, actors, writers, directors, and people who aspire to be either of those things, make their home in Starlight Views. Chancellor Vivienne Harlow, a former stage actor herself, rules it with a dramatic flair and a love for the spotlight.

District 3: Steelhaven

Population: About 504,600

Chancellor: Alexandra Forge

Steelhaven’s the second largest of the districts if you go by area, and by far the largest if you go by population. Over half a million people from all walks of life live here; from upper- to middle class citizens, and even a number of lower-class citizens in the more affordable housings… steel structures and factories which have been repurposed into apartment buildings, and which are the origin of the district’s name. This is also where you find Rainbow Lake, the largest lake in Paragon Bay.

Chancellor Alexandra Forge is a rmetahuman and a retired super with the ability to not only turn her body into living steel, but also psychokinetically control and manipulate all forms of steel, allowing her to reshape, repair, or create steel objects at will. Before the Blackstone Invasion she used to patrol the district as the superheroine Forge, but after the invasion she was weakened and her powers were limited. She decided to retire and instead went into politics, eventually becoming the District Chancellor of Steelhaven.

District 4: Emerald Hills

Population: About 128,200

Chancellor: Isabella Veradine

The richest district of Paragon Bay, bar none. This is where the wealthy elite lives, with their gated communities, sprawling mansions, luxurious estates and wide boulevards. Emerald Hills is generally the districts that’s least troubled by supervillain attacks — not that supervillains never show up here, but magical barriers and high-tech defenses (paid for by the rich citizens) make Emerald Hills the hardest district for any supervillain to target. The Westwoods have their estates here; the family members who don’t live in Westwood Tower live here in Emerald Hills.

Chancellor Isabella Veradine is the epitome of high society: glamorous, cunning, and never to be underestimated.

District 5: Aurora

Population: About 178,200

Chancellor: Dr. Julian Cross

Aurora is one of the more peaceful and bohemian districts of Paragon Bay; a district of intellect and artistry, where cobbled streets wind between cozy cafes, charming bookshops, and bustling open-air markets. At its heart stands Aurora University, a bastion of learning where scholars debate philosophy, magic, and science. It’s a place where poets recite under gaslit lanterns, street performers juggle flames and illusions, and curious minds drift from lecture halls to poetry slams. But beneath the district’s charm, rival schools of thought clash, and the pursuit of knowledge can be as dangerous as any weapon.

Chancellor Dr. Julian Cross, a former professor with a sharp wit and sharper instincts, governs with a mix of intellect and charm. He’s equally at home giving a rousing lecture or negotiating a delicate political truce.

District 6: Crystal Seas

Population: About 150,100

Chancellor: Adrian Clearwater

Back when Paragon Bay was split into districts, Crystal Seas was actually part of the Bayfront district… but after a few years, and thanks to campaigning by wealthy citizens, Crystal Seas was split up from Bayfront to become its own district. Today, it’s known as Paragon Bay’s sunlit playground, a district of golden beaches, crystal-clear waters, and luxury seaside villas. It’s the second richest district… it’s a bit of a common joke that the people who live in Crystal Seas are the ones who weren’t “quite rich enough” for Emerald Hills.

Crystal Seas is also the most popular tourist spot in the city, which certainly contributes to its wealth. But beneath the idyllic surface, it’s a district divided. Wealthy residents enjoy private beach estates and exclusive clubs, while surfers and beach bums scrape by in the vibrant but struggling boardwalk communities. Tourism brings money, but it also brings trouble — and not just from the occasional supervillain attack.

Chancellor Adrian Clearwater is a former athlete turned charismatic politician, who rides the waves of public opinion with the same ease he once tackled ocean swells. His charm is legendary, but those who mistake his laidback attitude for naivety soon find just how shrewd and cunning he can really be.

District 7: Mystic Grove

Population: About 150,100

Chancellor: Selene Whisperwind

Mystic Grove is a district shrouded in mystery and intrigue, where magic is not just a curiosity but a way of life. Ancient trees loom over cobbled streets, and ivy-covered walls conceal enchanted gardens and hidden parks. Rumour has it that some of the alleyways shift, guiding the lost to strange destinations or hiding the paths of the powerful. Mystic Grove is also known for its unique architecture and, surprisingly, its whimsical street art, which may or may not be magical.

Many of the mystical and magical heroes and villains of Paragon Bay operate here, as the district is the home to the Coven’s Refuge, the main gathering place of the White Coven — the primary organization for magic-users and mystical beings in Paragon Bay, and the city’s first line of defence against magical/mystical threats. On the whole, only magic-users, or people accompanying magic-users, are allowed inside Coven’s refuge… the exception is Monkaya and her mother Sadie, who thanks to their connection with the Familiar Four, have been granted permission to come and go as they like.

Chancellor Selene Whisperwind is a woman of mystery, a serene and soft-spoken enchantress who seems to know every secret whispered on the breeze. Her influence is subtle but far-reaching, and even the city’s most dangerous magicians are careful to stay on her good side.

District 8: The Warrens

Population: About 252,100

Chancellor: Lance Vireo

The Warrens is the poorest and least-developed district in Paragon Bay, and if it hadn’t been for Blackstone, it would also would have been the most dangerous district. Smuggling, illegal trades, gang wars, human trafficking and sex slavery is just part of everyday life in the Warrens. The heroines who operate here work overtime, but still can’t put a dent in the district’s criminal activity. But at least in the Warrens, the crime and crime families here are at least mostly human (or metahuman) and not demonic.

The Warrens are a tangled maze of narrow alleys, overcrowded apartments, and bustling street markets. The scent of spices, grilled meat, and incense mingles in the air, while graffiti-tagged walls tell stories of defiance and struggle. It’s a place of contradictions — harsh, dangerous, but full of life and laughter.

Chancellor Lance Vireo is a street-smart survivor who knows every gang leader, every back-alley shortcut, and every trick in the book. A former gang leader himself, he’s managed to balance his district’s chaos with a rough kind of justice, a protector in a world of predators.

District 9: Bayfront

Population: About 77,900

Chancellor: Nikolai “Nick” Havik

Bayfront is the largest, but also the most sparsely populated distict of Paragon Bay’s districts. It’s the only district that spans over two islands, with the larger Bayfront North on Solaira and the smaller, more peaceful Bayfront South on Lunaria.

Especially after Crystal Seas split off to become its own district, Bayfront is mostly made up of docks, shipping industry buildings and factories… and more abandoned warehouses and factories than any city district really has any right to have. Of course, many of those abandoned buidlings are still very much in use… just for shady deals by supervillains and crime rings. Because despite is low population, Bayfront is the third most crime-ridden district in Paragon Bay, just behind the Warrens; corruption is commonplace, and the local underworld has deep roots.

Chancellor Nick Havik is a grizzled survivor of the docks, a man who knows every back alley and every shady deal in his district. He’s one of the longest lasting District Chancellors in Paragon Bay, but his legal team insists that this has nothing to do with corruption, and that the rumours of him being heavily involved in smuggling and human trafficking are not true.

District 10: Phoenix Heights

Population: About 127,700

Chancellor: Evelyn Emberly

Phoenix Heights is the second smallest district in area. Before the Blackstone incasion it was named Cinderfall, but early in the invasion the entire district was destroyed by the Black Fire, killing hundreds and leaving thousands homeless. After the invasion, though, Cinderfall liteally rose from the ashes as the new district, “Phoenix Heights,” where gleaming arcologies of glass and steel stand as a testament to resilience. Since the invasion, Phoenix Heights has become home to many world-class research labs and hospitals, which lead the city in cutting-edge medical science.

The district’s streets are a mix of sleek modern plazas and quiet, reflective memorials to the heroes who fell during the invasion. Nighttime brings a breathtaking glow as the arcologies light up, and the air hums with the faint whisper of energy fields.

Chancellor Evelyn Emberly is a passionate, fiery leader whose determination is matched only by her vision. A survivor of the invasion herself, she is fiercely protective of her district and pushes relentlessly for innovation and progress.

District 11: Dragon’s Roost

Population: About 102,900

Chancellor: Seraphina Drakar

Dragon’s Roost is a district of old-world grandeur, where Ecanrian architecture rises like the bones of ancient dragons. Towering spires and grand temples cast long shadows over cobbled streets, and crimson banners flutter from balconies. Legends and ancient traditions are alive here, whispered by the wind through the mountain passes.

Some say dragon blood runs through the veins of the oldest families families, and serpentine statues seem to watch those who pass by. The Celestial Monastery perches on the highest cliff, a place of ancient wisdom and martial training.

Chancellor Seraphina Drakar is a dignified, almost regal figure whose silver hair and piercing eyes lend her an air of ancient wisdom. She is a master of tradition and diplomacy, but beneath her calm exterior lies a draconic temper that few dare to provoke.

District 12: Sanctuary

Population: About 23,500

Chancellor: Henry Dales

Apart from Bayfront South, this is the only district on Lunaria. Sanctuary has the smallest number of inhabitants of the districts and is known for its “small town” vibes. It’s a quiet district where cobbled streets wind between cozy cottages and flower-filled gardens. It is a place of calm, where families gather for picnics in sunny parks, and children chase fireflies by the lakeshore.

Despite its small size, Sanctuary is fiercely independent, with a strong sense of community. It is known as a safe refuge, not just for its residents but for those who need a place to hide or recover. Heroes sometimes retreat here to heal after brutal battles.

Chancellor Henry Dales is a kind, fatherly figure who knows everyone by name. He walks the streets with a smile, settles disputes over tea, and is always ready to lend a hand. But beneath his gentle exterior is a shrewd negotiator who won’t let anyone threaten his district’s peace.

District 13: Moonstone

Population: 177,800

Chancellor: Ravenna Caster

Once a crime-ridden slum, Moonstone has transformed into a bustling district of neon lights, sleek skyscrapers, and thriving nightlife. Not the biggest business district in Paragon Bay, but home to the Wilde-Rose Industries, who have helped transform the district from a lower-income place with high crime rates to a far safer and more attractive place to live. The downside is that it’s right next to Blackstone…. and that for some reason it’s impossible to get a decent slice of pizza.

But for all its neon-gloss and stylish clubs, shadows still lurk beneath the surface. The old gangs haven’t disappeared — they’ve simply grown more sophisticated, slipping into corporate boardrooms and hacker collectives. Moonstone is a district where ambition shines, but betrayal is always just a heartbeat away.

Chancellor Ravenna Caster is a sharp, ambitious figure who rose to power by playing both sides. Charismatic and cunning, she knows how to leverage secrets and favors, and she has a talent for making friends out of enemies — or making them disappear.

District 14: Blackstone

Population: 104,400

Chancellor: It switches too often to bother keeping track.

Blackstone is the “Dark mirror” of Moonstone. During the Blackstone Invasion, this district was created by dark mystical beings. It’s a mirrored image of Moonstone, with the exact same streets and buildings, except mirrored. Blackstone is far the most dangerous, corrupt and twisted district of Paragon Bay; demons and monsters are often seen, kidnappings and sex slavery flourish, and it’s unsafe to walk the streets at night.

But the housing is really cheap… and there is a shining beacon of hope in Ermine, the White Vigilante, who patrols the district at night and does her best to keep innocents a little safer. Also, nobody knows why, but Blackstone has the best pizza in Paragon Bay.

Blackstone goes through District Chancellors like a fashionista goes through outfits. They get killed, or corrupted, or they step down before they have a chance to get killed or coerrupted. Blackstone doesn’t even bother holding elections anymore; new Chancellors are appointed rather than elected. Sometimes just the person unlucky enough to be in the same room when a new Chancellor is to be appointed.

Silvercliff

The largest town on the Aurelia Islands outside of Paragon Bay. Being closest to the Zenith Institute, many scientists and their families live in this town.

Stormwatch

The second largest non-Paragon Bay town on the islands, built around and named for Stormwatch Lighthouse.

Cantena

The smallest of the three big towns, and the only town on Stellara Island.