Ya know, I was googling about real world city of gold, just seeing if there was any lore out there to connect/draw on..and lookie what I found:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_My...Cities_of_Gold
Anime, from the 80s. And seemed to be popular amongst people now in their 40-50s when they were kids. (See also Nadia: Secret of Blue Water)
Plot:
In
1532 (whatever year it is), a Sharlayan
Spanish orphan named Krille
Esteban joins the WoL and crew
Mendoza, a navigator, and his associates Sancho and Pedro, in their search for one of the Seven Cities of Gold in the New World, hoping to find her
his father. They are joined on their quest by Wuk Lamut
Zia, a Turali
an Incan girl, and Erenville
Tao, the last descendant of the sunken empire of
Mu Whatever Solution 9 Is.
The series is a mix of ancient South American history, archaeology, and science fiction. During their journey, the travelers encounter the tribes of Tural
Mayas, Incas, and Olmecs. They discover many lost technological wonders of
the Mu Empire Solution 9, including a solar-powered ship (the Solaris) and The Golden Condor, a huge solar-powered ornithopter (mechanical bird), capable of traveling considerable distances under the sun's power alone. They are constantly pursued by antagonists, who are also in search of the Cities of Gold.
The Seven Cities of Gold were built by the Emperor of
Mu Solution 9 out of fear that a global war would destroy all civilizations. Such a war actually broke out, destroying the Empires of
Mu Solution 9 and Atlantis when they used the "Weapons of the Sun".The Seven Cities of Gold hold copies of books in their "Universal Libraries" as well as powerful artifacts, including the "Great Legacy", an Aether-rector (MAKO?)
portable fusion reactor. Other elements of this technology turn up in unexpected places, like the Solaris on Erenville's
Tao's home island, Krille's
Esteban'sand Wuk Lamut's
Zia'smedallions as keys to the Cities, and Erenville's
Tao's jar as an important piece of the Great Legacy.
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there's more...but I thought this might bring a laugh.