[HEADING=1]A Wanderer's Romance[/HEADING]
[HEADING=2]Bastion Isle, Just After Dawn[/HEADING]
The sun rises low and heavy over the port of Bastion. The night fishermen are pulling into port, carrying what was caught in the night, while the craftspeople and homemakers of the town are rising and beginning their day.The town of Bastion is beautiful in the soft dawn light. The keep which gives the island its name, having stood for as long as anyone can remember, rises dramatically on a cliff overlooking the port, while the normally quaint and sleepy town itself is beginning to look festive, as the King's workers quickly festoon the walls and roofs of the town with brightly colored ribbons and banners, much to the delight of the children. Today is a day of celebration, it seems. Some you might speak to would tell you that this is a hitherto uncelebrated birthday of a local saint, while others mark it as the day of the current King's ascension to the throne. Yet others claim it to be the day of creation of this particular island. In short, it is certainly a new holiday, but exactly why it is being celebrated is up for debate.
The town is roughly divided into three segments, plus the keep. You have the port, the Battlebones Square and surrounding shops and taverns catering to warriors, and an area of residences.
The Bastion Keep is a soaring, imposing structure built of locally mined gray stone. It overlooks the port and hangs on a cliff directly over the Battlebones district, with long, twisted stairways leading up from that district in addition to the long road that leads around the cliff from the port.
The keep is currently closed to visitors, as the King prepares to appear in front of his people later that day. Those wishing to visit are turned away at the gates, and must wait to see the King later, or find another way inside.
The keep is currently closed to visitors, as the King prepares to appear in front of his people later that day. Those wishing to visit are turned away at the gates, and must wait to see the King later, or find another way inside.
Bastion's port is fairly simple, with around half a dozen piers stretching out into the deep bay. This area is policed heavily by armed guards, on watch for pirate attacks or other nastiness. The port is busy, as one might expect of a thriving trade town. The night fishermen are coming in and unloading fish, many of them leaving crates full of fish with a lone figure at the end of a pier, who sits, cleaning fish after fish with quick, easy motions. Asking around might tell you that this is Lu Fen, a local warrior who gave up wandering and now simply cleans fish after fish.
A merchant ship also pulls into port, heavy with cargo and passengers. A sharp-eyed viewer might notice a very antsy looking captain pacing on deck, speaking rapidly to a very, very anxious scribe. A passenger aboard that ship, the Lady Heron, might have heard of a theft on board, but it isn't clear what was stolen.
A merchant ship also pulls into port, heavy with cargo and passengers. A sharp-eyed viewer might notice a very antsy looking captain pacing on deck, speaking rapidly to a very, very anxious scribe. A passenger aboard that ship, the Lady Heron, might have heard of a theft on board, but it isn't clear what was stolen.
Battlebones Square is the local dueling stage, and as such, attracts most of the wanderers in the city. It is surrounded by a rough and tumble part of town, with passions often running hot just beneath the surface. This district makes up the northern half of town, under the looming shadow of the keep.
The Keepview Inn is closed, with guards redirecting potential customers to other nearby inns. The rumor on the street is that a murder went down there last night, and the guards have no idea who might have done it in the chaos of the Battlebones district.
In the local cemetery, a Master of Earth magic is performing a fell ritual to return his dead love to life. Elsewhere, a street vendor is cackling at having passed out a hunk of rose quartz as real Origin-touched crystal, making a huge sum of money in the process.
The Keepview Inn is closed, with guards redirecting potential customers to other nearby inns. The rumor on the street is that a murder went down there last night, and the guards have no idea who might have done it in the chaos of the Battlebones district.
In the local cemetery, a Master of Earth magic is performing a fell ritual to return his dead love to life. Elsewhere, a street vendor is cackling at having passed out a hunk of rose quartz as real Origin-touched crystal, making a huge sum of money in the process.
This sleepy area has no real name, lying across the bay from the Battlebones district. Here, craftsmen ply their trade and live their lives, children and dogs play, cats sun in the dawn light. It is a safe, peaceful place, with wooden houses and narrow, winding streets.
However, through all of this is the undercurrent of tension. It seems a vicious duel took place in the middle of the district earlier in the night, and, it seems, ended in betrayal, as the corpse found afterwards had an arrow lodged in its spine. The man who found the body was one Pome, who runs a small, quiet merchant's inn named the Origin's Rest. Otherwise, this sleepy district holds little of value for travelers and adventurers.
However, through all of this is the undercurrent of tension. It seems a vicious duel took place in the middle of the district earlier in the night, and, it seems, ended in betrayal, as the corpse found afterwards had an arrow lodged in its spine. The man who found the body was one Pome, who runs a small, quiet merchant's inn named the Origin's Rest. Otherwise, this sleepy district holds little of value for travelers and adventurers.