Floating City Platina



Platina (プラティナ～, puratina) is the highest settlement of the ones located in the First Tower of Ar tonelico, and as such, it's the only large town located in the Upper World, and it's considered a holy land by the members of the Church of El Elemia.

This city is the birthplace of the characters Lyner Barsett, Misha Arsellec Lune and Sonnet.

Foundation
Platina has existed since the end of the Second Era, after Mir's Rebellion had finished, and Mir was sealed within the Crescent Chronicle.

After these events, the survivors of this brutal war, in which half of the land that remained in Sol Ciel was lost as half of the Wings of Horus was dropped into the Sea of Death, signed a pact with the members of the Teru Tribe about the measures that were to be taken to avoid the outbreak of more catastrophes, and marched on to the upper zones of the Tower, and built this city in there. Likewise, they isolated themselves from the rest of Sol Ciel by sealing off the warp gate in the Frozen Eye, and making sure that no airship could arrive to the city, so no one from the Lower World would come, discover Mir's existence, and try to awaken her.

They were called the Apostles of Elemia by the people of the lower world, and were said to be the people closest to the Goddesses of the Trio of Elemia. It could be said that these claims are partly truth, since they are commanded by Shurelia, whose true name is Eoria, and is regarded as a Goddess due to being a Reyvateil Origin, and the Tower Administrator. However, given that these myths have actually existed since long before the First Era, she was just named after the Goddess, like the other two Origins.

The reason why this city was built here is because it's located just above the Symphonic Reactor, which is the place where Mir, even after being sealed, sent her Viruses to be materialized into the real world, and attack the people. This was why the inhabitants of Platina created an specialized military force to combat them, composed by both humans and Reyvateils, and were put under the orders of Shurelia and the Platina Commander: the Knights of Elemia. Thanks to their efforts, the life on Sol Ciel remained peaceful for most of the Third Era, until year 3770 AD came forth...

Events in Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia


Features
Despite being considered as the cultural and administrative centre of Sol Ciel, due to the fact that its inhabitants were under forced isolation for almost 300 years, most of the people haven't developed culturally or technologically as much as the inhabitants of places like Nemo or Firefly Alley. However, given that they were led by the Administrator of the Tower herself, they have enjoyed quite a peaceful life, so they actually didn't it to do so either, and could live well with the technology that was left over from the Second Era, and they are the only ones to have preserved some of it.

Currently, Platina is the only city in Sol Ciel that has the technological equipment necessary for creating Pureblooded Beta-Type Reyvateils, as also being the only place in which new Hymn Crystals and Hymmnos Extract Songs can be made. On the other hand, however, they have never developed the usage of Grathmeld, so it could be said that their technological growth is somewhat stagnated.

Being located so high in the Tower, just below of the Blastline, and a few hundred meters before reaching space, the temperature regulator from the Musical Corridor doesn't function as well as in the Lower World, which makes Platina the coldest city in all of Sol Ciel. It's pretty common to see glaciers and ice forming in the walls of the Tower that can be seen above the city, but it also gives to this place an unique beauty, due to the reflection of the sunlight in the ice and the metal walls.

Apsaranika Park
The main plaza of the city, where most of the inhabitants come here to relax for a while after shopping, working, or simply coming for a little walk. The Funbun Seller also makes his business here, so it's pretty common to see Lyner around buying them. The stairwell located at a side of its entrance lead to an underground tunnel connected to the Symphonic Reactor, the Gather Airport, and the doors that lead to the uppermost floors of Ar tonelico. The most defining icon of this place would be the Statue of the Songstress and the Guardian, located in an slightly higher point of the plaza.

Linkage Inn
An extremely high-class Inn, equipped with all of the commodities that a traveler could wish for. There is also a Grathnode Crystal shop within it, so its visitors can also make preparatives for their next journey. However, and as Aurica herself said it, it's quite an strange occurence to have an Inn in a city that has not received visitors for most than 300 years.

Gather Airport
Accessed by the same underground tunnel that leads to the Symphonic Reactor, this place is where the airships used by the people of Platina are located. This was the place in which Lyner took the airship in which he went down to the Wings of Horus.

Department Mall
The largest shopping complex in all of Sol Ciel, containing some of the most high quality weapons and armor. It also holds inside a Fancy Shop, stocked to the brim with items and sweets made especially for girls.

Grand Cathedral
This is where the executive power of Platina is located. From this place is where Lyner's father, Leard Barsett, and Shurelia, rule Platina and command the Knights of Elemia. This place was the center of many important events during Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia.

Apsaranika Park: Funbun Seller
