The city of Celest was built by the merians on an island in the Crystal Sea in the aftermath of the Vernal Wars. It acted as the capital city of the Holy Celestine Empire, which spanned the entire Basin of Life and had many protectorates, including Magnagora, Gaudiguch, and Hallifax. Its most notable ruler was Emperor Ladantine VII, who initiated Project Cosmic Hope and was responsible for unleashing the Taint upon Lusternia. When he was corrupted by the taint and became one of the undead, he led an army to battle against his own daughter, Princess Marilynth, for control of the Pool of Stars. Marilynth used the Pool of Stars to become a Vernal God, and then destroyed the Pool so that her father could not exploit its power. This decision ended the Taint Wars but decimated the city of Celest, bringing about the downfall of the Empire.
Years later, the city of New Celest was built to the west of the site of the original city, on the shores of the Inner Sea.