1) The Port District of Arrabar is honeycombed with canals, leading to a large “turning basin” just south of the Warehouse District. So many buildings can be said to be “waterfront” that someone looking at the admittedly stylized… #Realmslore
2) …published maps of Arrabar will think are several streets inland. You can visit the Crying Claw by boat, tie up there, and depart the same way. Garbage/trash is taken away by “narrowboat” barges, out to sea and down the coast… #Realmslore
3) …for dumping, in a noisome monster-infested bay called “the Shallows.”
These buildings look like they’re several streets inland because they ARE several streets inland: aside from a “light well” opening down into that turning… #Realmslore
4) …basin (and which is smaller than the basin), almost all of the canals have been roofed over, giving the buildings in the area deep cellars, and streets run atop these roofs (and rainwater flows down through gratings to empty… #Realmslore
5) …into these canals).
So like real-world modern Chicago’s Loop area, with its multiple levels (there are streets under the surface streets), Arrabar’s webwork of canals underlies its streets and keeps goods shipping traffic… #Realmslore
6) …moving (you could run an entire campaign down there; the city polices the area heavily to keep boats from blocking canals to cost competitors money by preventing their timely movement; for the same reason, fishing from… #Realmslore
7) …boats, as opposed to with a fishing rod, from a balcony or window, is banned in the canals and turning basin…despite the rumored lurking aquatic monsters).
Collectively, the canals, docks, and basin are known locally as… #Realmslore
8) …“the Netherwaters,” but in daily speech this has been shortened to “Nethers” or just “Below.” It’s where “bad people” (low, criminal, and even misshapen) live and work, so many Arrabarrans never mention it at all. #Realmslore
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
1) Meanwhile, in Ath Cliath…
“Old Cunning” Flann was a wizened Hibernian merchant of unknown but great age and legendary wiles, notorious for his swindles and financial successes. Ere the Norse came to Ath Cliath, … #AthCliath#FateOfTheNorns
2) …Flann had risen to become the largest landlord in the city, though he was still usually to be found in his “boneyard” or walled compound of high-heaped old junk salvaged for resale, as filthy as ever. #AthCliath#FateOfTheNorns
3) After the One-Eyed King took the throne, Flann sold up, slowly and carefuilly disposing of his city properties at high prices. So when he died some days back, in his bed and apparently of old age, some folk… #AthCliath#FateOfTheNorns
1) The King does miss it, but he’s busy sighing, shaking his head, and asking, “Who shut all of you in the crypt? As opposed to any of my hundreds of closets and antechambers and robing rooms and—and—” #epicfantasy
2) “—other handy chambers,” Wolf steps in smoothly to finish the royal sentence, “that lie waiting, scattered across this vast and overblown labyrinth of a Palace?”
“Halark of the Howling Abyss,” the Dark Sister replies coldly. #epicfantasy
3) “And who by the Sacred Stumbles of the Gods,” the King rasps, “is Halark of the Howling Abyss?”
“He’s the archwizard who lives in this Palace. You Kings of Neverune are merely unwitting guests.”
“WHAT???” #epicfantasy
1) The Dark Sister smirks. “I’ll say this for you, Wolf: you lie, swindle, cheat, and murder with a certain style.”
“Deeply Oily, I call it,” Chantratha murmurs. As some charred clothing falls away, laying bare one shoulder. #epicfantasy
2) “Time to go shopping,” the ghost suggests, pointing at Chant.
“Believe me, when I find a suitable selection of clothing…”
“Like this?” the ghost suggests, her shadowy self swirling into a plunge-front high-collared gown. #epicfantasy
3) “I was thinking more black velvet-covered plate armor,” Chant replies rather grimly. “Bristling with magical powers. And a codpiece. I’ve always wanted a codpiece.” #epicfantasy
1) Halthandrus Saerrentaun, an aging, rotund man-mountain gourmand, glutton, and jovial friend-to-many (who behind his affable manner is a coldly ruthless friend of none) is the patriarch of the Saerrentaun family, whom he… #Realmslore
2) …dragged up from somewhat-prosperous-but-ambitious to the heights of wealth and power by acquiring city properties and businesses in return for paying off the debts of those who sold out to him. He maintains bitter rivalries… #Realmslore
3) …with the Malraun and Brevvesk families (also wealthy and successful owners of webs of diverse businesses), and these three families own the largest towers—in girth as well as in height.
A fourth family, the Immurtalans, … #Realmslore
1) Hi!
Due to the longtime dominance of elves in Loudwater, the now-city (though in population it’s shrunk back to town size) looks like a garden, with winding paths and streets, many trees and garden beds, and manicured lawns and… #Realmslore
2) …bowers (as beautiful and garden-like as the best parts of Everlund and Silverymoon).
From the earliest times of local settlement, elves beautified the few local natural caves (mainly narrow crevices in Standing Stone Hill)… #Realmslore
3) …with planted mosses, hanging plants, piped trickling water, and faerie fire lighting effects; these were the earliest grottoes/grottos.
As Loudwater expanded and more gardens were built as residential neighbourhoods, … #Realmslore
1) Meanwhile, in Ath Cliath…
A man was killed at the bridge construction site today when a crane, suddenly relieved of its load of building-timbers, briefly became a “teeter-hurler” and catapulted him from his crane… #AthCliath#FateOfTheNorns
2) …unloader’s perch atop the crane across the rooftops of the city. He crashed onto the roof of a building and was “smashed like a hurled egg” against it. Much to the astonished displeasure of the occupant of… #AthCliath#FateOfTheNorns
3) …the attic right under his landing-spot. Who after a raging tirade, has been drinking steadily ever since. The King’s soldiers haven’t yet released the name of the dead unloader. #AthCliath#FateOfTheNorns