• The magnificent city of Perithyst was crafted entirely from the world's most precious gemstones. Travelers from all over the earth would come, just to walk along its glimmering edifices and marvel in its brilliance. Unfortunately, with all great beauty comes great jealousy, and with the many travelers came many thieves. Each day, more and more was stolen from the city, from ancient sapphire idols to the very emerald bricks that paved the roads. The problem eventually threatened the city's very existence, and the governor of Perithyst, Lord Tourmaline, decided enough was enough.

    At the governor's behest, the entire city was severed from the mainland and cast into the sea, forever to float hidden amongst the waves. The townspeople were overjoyed to be finally rid of the thieves, although they dearly missed the friendly travelers. Lord Tourmaline and his people lived peacefully within the walls of their adrift city for many years to come.

    However, as the years passed, the tales of the marvelous Perithyst spread. Elders who had once seen the city themselves told legends and myths to their children and grandchildren. Perithyst could never be tracked down after so many years on the sea, but if a man did ever find the city, he would be granted innumerable treasures, greater than any have ever seen.

    A young sailor named Felspite was one of many to hear this tale. However, Felspite was a very brave and arrogant man, and he believed that if anyone would find the floating city, it would be him. He spent the last of his money on the best ship he could buy, which although proved to be slightly small, it could be manned by him alone. This was important, as he did not want a crew that would insist on taking part of the treasure from him. The wealth of Perithyst would belong to him and him only.

    Felspite sailed the seas for many weeks, and just as his food supplies were beginning to dwindle, he saw a slight gleam in the distance. The gleam was not a blue or green or even purple that he was accustomed to seeing while on the water, but in fact it was a spectacular red. In the light of the moon, this could not be possible unless the source was the city he had been searching for all this time. Without a bit of uncertainty, Felspite directed the ship towards the gleam and sailed through the night.

    The sun was just beginning to rise as Felspite lashed his ship to the broken shore of Perithyst. The morning light illuminated the city in a dazzling spectrum of color. His mind was in awe of not only the beauty of the city, but the immense riches it would lead to. Felspite hurriedly climbed from his vessel and made his way to the hall in which the governor resided.

    Lord Tourmaline, an old and frail man, was indeed surprised to see a new face after so many years of seclusion. However, he was not at all startled when the man insisted that, because of his great trials in finding the city, he would be offered excessive amounts of the city's wealth. After all, what use could the town have for all of its jewels if it were just to float idly in the sea?

    The governor's first thought was, of course, to deny the offer. Then, upon a moment of thought, he reconsidered.

    "You are entirely correct in your reasoning," he said warmly, "You are welcome to take anything from the city that appeals to you, as long as it will fit on your ship. Take as much as your vessel will carry, sailor, for we do not receive many guests and are happy to oblige our visitor's wishes."

    Felspite grinned wickedly, believing that he had just been offered Perithyst in its entirety. He quickly sprang from the hall and made his way into the town, grabbing whatever objects he could reach and lugging them back to his boat. The townspeople were very distraught by this newcomer and his greediness, and ran to notify Lord Tourmaline, who simply advised them to make way for the man and let him do as he pleased.

    It was not long before Felspite's tiny ship was full to the brim with various gems and statues and tablets. Treasures of all sorts were stacked in the cargo hold and piled upon the deck. His vessel was full, yet he was not yet satisfied. Trip after trip was made back into the town, only to grab more and more of its glistening stones and shove them hastily onto his ship. As the sun began to set, Felspite laid the last item on the deck. The once breathtaking city of Perithyst was left a mere shell of what it once was, stripped of every bit of salvageable gems. What once was a beautiful city was now thrown carelessly onto the ship, set ablaze by the evening sun in a flurry of glimmering color.

    "Thank you, governor and people of what once was Perithyst. I have taken all that I may and bid you a fond farewell as I make my journey to the mainland," Felspite called into the dull gates. He undid the ties that bound his vessel to the city, and cast off triumphantly.

    However, he did not move very far. Even with the wind in his favor, the ship would not travel more than a few meters from the ledge. In fact, he could have sworn he was beginning to sink! His pathetic vessel, under the weight of Felspite's treasures, could not stay afloat and began to dip deeper and deeper into the sea. He was left to the mercy of his own doing, as the ship had moved just far enough to prevent him from getting back to the city. Felspite wailed and moaned as the water engulfed him, banishing him to the cold waters with the embodiment of his greed.

    The townspeople of Perithyst, expert divers as they were, spent days returning the city to its former brilliance. With the water-logged wood from Felspite's ship, they constructed a detestable, ugly monument in his name. It was placed just outside the town, on the ledge upon which the ship had once been docked. The vile thing stood out against the town's beauty, commanding attention away from the ruby spires and topaz gates, to warn all newcomers of Felspite's fatal mistake.