Istur´s Places
Baroness´ Palace
Baroness Gelia, Baron of Suress (rumored to be at least 1/4 elven) is rarely, if
ever, seen in public. She trusts her staff to handle all matters with the public.
It is said that her half-breed heritage is obvious and that her
grandparents´ marriage was arranged to settle some unknown dispute between
Hurva and the high elven kingdom that occupies the woods of southwestern Suress.
Her son, Galion is the barony´s Court Representative in Geston and won the
Hurvan Games of 1076.
Beggars Boardwalk
Occupying the oldest boardwalk and piers is a shantytown of Istur´s poorest.
It is difficult to get from the Naval Yard or most of the public and commercial
docks without traversing this section of the waterfront. The high traffic volume
helps support the beggars needs.
Bella´s Book Shop
A pleasant little shop located near Dorvin´s Ice House, this establishment is
owned by a lovely young lady named Bella and her husband, Bruno. According to
local legend, Bruno had once been turned into a hideous beast by an evil wizard,
but was rescued by Bella, the pretty but absent-minded young mage who fell in
love with him. More logical minds, however, argue that this is completely untrue
-- Bella is, indeed, a wizardess, but Bruno was never a true beast, merely a
former thief and/or assassin who was freed of his service to less than ethical
masters by his brave and clever wife.
Whichever the case, there is no doubt that both husband and wife love books, and
enjoy both collecting and sharing them with their customers. Bella maintains
friendships with wizards, sages and scholars all across Hurva, with whom she
trades on a regular basis. Indeed, considering the intellectual climate in
Istur, most of the shop´s business is done on an export basis. Bella is a
scholar in many ancient languages, and often translates obscure documents sent to
her by her colleagues. Bruno has been exploring his natural talents as a
story-teller, and is working on a collection of local tales that is part truth
and part folk-lore.
Cap´n Bill´s Bait Shop (CB II)
Need bait or a good yarn - then Cap´n Bill is the one to see. He´s got
a peg leg and a wooden clamp for a left arm, smokes a darkened meerschaum pipe,
carved like a women (its left breast is cracked off) and still wears his tattered
naval dress uniform. Some folks say that he knows the sea better than any man
alive and has sailed to every corner of the world. Others say he likes his rum
too much and just wants company while he´s whittling. Either way, his
weathered gray shack two miles up the beach from the bustle of town has the best
fish guts to be had.
Constables Garrison
Quick to respond and quite able to put down crime, the 1,100 Constables who
patrol in groups of ten with leather armor, nightstick, crossbow, dagger, are
also known for being quite selective in which crimes they deal with. Commissioner
of Constables Leono also owns several merchant ships and leaves town for days at
a time.
The Customs House (CB II)
Officially called The Department of Customs and Duties handles the inspection and
taxation for all cargo shipped through this port. Merchants can also get
requisite licenses and permissions here. Individuals entering or leaving the port
must check in here. Director Ras Thevis reserves the right to inspect all cargo,
ships, warehouses and individuals entering or leaving via the port. The
Affiliates Amagigo have an adjunct stationed here to receive payment of
spellcasting dues.
Dancing Dragons (Good/Moderate)
A lively jig can be expected most any time at the Dancing Dragons. This dance
hall and restaurant features live music nightly. If you don´t have a
partner, ´dancing girls´ can be rented for individual dances or for the
whole evening. The cuisine tends towards lighter food - lots of fruits and
vegetables. Honey Mead is the house drink.
The Diamond Star (Excellent/Expensive)
Posh luxury suites are complemented with room service and high quality food. All
of the restaurants linens, draperies and tapestries are white and studded with
rhinestones. Pork and chicken dishes are the specialties and a glass of champagne
is complimentary with diner. Wealthy traders favor this inn, because of the
quality and the dress code which excludes less savory types.
D´Menichi´s Villa
Duke D´Menichi, a mountain of a man, has become rich off the backs of the
people of Istur. Granted his title for deeds, rather than bloodlines, he is
sensitive to challenges to his authority. He supposedly doesn´t tolerate any
law-breakers, but that obviously is a farce. Sometimes he can be encountered
galloping his huge, heavy war horse through the streets at breakneck
speeds.
Docks/Warehouses (Doc & Sardin´s, Jensen´s Exchange - CB II)
It just feels like half the city is covered with warehouses. Some of the more
notable ones include: The Ice Pool (The wizard Dorvin freezes pools of water and
the blocks are sold throughout the city. It is also now common knowledge that
Dorvin keeps a number of dangerous monsters in stasis in blocks of ice); Doc &
Sardin´s (Run by dwarves, it offers insured short and long term storage of
valuable goods. Gotha, son of Gimmel, son of Gundel has overseen the safety of
goods for over a hundred years); Jensen´s Exchange (have something to sell,
want to buy something odd, don´t want questions, Heironymous Jensen is the
man to see)
Ebb Tide Temple
The largest of Istur´s three major temples, half of this famous structure
juts over the harbor. Tithes can be given to Jvelto that are washed out to sea
at high tide. The huge blue-green marble pillars that support both the floor as
well as the domed ceiling are connected to floaters so that the entire temple
rises and falls with the tide. There are always a number of sailors, naval
officers, merchants and pirates found here. Some captains insist that passengers
or merchants shipping cargo make a donation before they will weigh anchor.
Read the local myth as to why the massive stone structure really floats.
Ew´s Wood & Bone Works (CB II)
Velaran Ew is a retired adventurer who is renown for his carving of wood, bone
and ivory. Either the master himself or an assistant or apprentice can always be
found at the workbench along the storefront windows. The merchandise also
includes fine items carved in distant lands. The shop tends to be closed when the
weather is bad and no crowds will gather around the windows.
Fallen Stars
An elegant jewelry shop in the wealthier part of town, Fallen Stars boasts a wide
variety of exquisite jewelry, and often handles custom orders from Istur´s elite.
The shop is well-appointed with plush carpeting, cherry wood tables and
comfortable sofas, on which many a wealthy Istur husband can be found lounging
while his wife browses among the well-stocked glass cases. During the weeks
before many important holidays, the tables are always decked with hors d´oeuvres,
and bards are hired to play soft music while the customers shop.
The owner, Petros Dhimani, is a large but soft-spoken gentleman with olive skin
and dark hair just starting to gray around the edges. Rumor has it that Petros
was a former Organization tough who did a good turn for a high-ranking member
when he was in his twenties and was given a reward big enough to retire young.
Petros certainly has the build for such a back-ground -- he stands over six feet
tall and is still quite muscular. Realizing that his appearance might intimidate
customers, Petros goes out of his way to be kind and charming, especially to the
ladies, with whom he is very popular. His shop is rumored to be heavily
protected by magics cast by a long-time female friend who teaches at the College
Amagigo in Tonn. Petros does purchase quality gems and jewelry from adventurers,
pirates and other ³entrepreneurs,² but appointments for such transactions must be
made in advance, and generally are held after regular business hours.
Garsen´s Tower (CB II)
Sitting in the harbor opposite the majority of the docks lies an island at the
mercy of the moons. At low tide, the island and a narrow causeway connecting it
to the shore rise well out of the water. At high tide, the causeway and most of
the island are submerged. The ruins of a tower are just offshore of the island.
The lone tree on the island is a massive oak, whose branches are bent under the
weight of hundreds of gulls at high tide. Legend has it that an arch-mage has
been sleeping for hundreds of years in the tower awaiting his true love to
return. There is a corner of barnacle-encrusted white marble wall (including a
beautiful, now greenish bronze gate), which probably surrounds the tower, on the
island. Anyone touching or going over the gate or wall has been killed by a blast
of magical energy. Due to the island´s isolation, as well as the romantic
legend of the wizard and his true love, the island has become a trysting place
for young lovers to escape prying eyes and parental chaperones. There are a
number of odd flowers, molds, weeds and a poisonous fruit growing on the island
that have been found nowhere else.
Garth´s Stables
Yet another retired adventurer, Garth specializes in warhorses. He prefers to
rent, but on occasion will sell. (Renters must leave a deposit for the cost of
the horse and equipment. in addition to the rental fee) He tends to be generous
with his rates to adventurers and doesn´t ask questions.
The Magical Mermaid (Excellent/Moderate)
From the blue lighting to the coral walls, the first floor of this inn offers
entertainment on most nights, usually comedy or stage magicians. There are
portals in the walls with permanent illusions of fish and other undersea life
that will swim into view when you drop a copper into a slot. If you drop enough
coins, sometimes the ´Magical Mermaid´ herself will swim by.
Merchant´s Hill
Not actually shops, but the villas of the upper class of Istur. Their estates sit
on a hillside that overlooks the city and the harbor beyond. On the crest of the
hill sits Baroness Gelia´s palace, with its thin spires reaching skyward.
Each of the estates has quite a bit of property around it and most are surrounded
by high walls. The families and their trading concerns are refered to by the
primary landholders (House Colnet, House Volenta, House Veneti, House Machi,
etc.) This is some of the only property not owned by the Duke, Baron and/or
King.
The Oasis (Fair/Cheap)
The newest inn and tavern in town, The Oasis is owned by a retired adventurer,
Alanna the Illusionist. It features good food and drink at cheap prices and has
come to be frequented by dungeoneers, pirate captains and some of The
Organization´s white collar businessmen. When in Istur, Temmer the Black can
be found here (see below). Hassan, who keeps the place and tends bar, now only
cooks a few speciality dishes (in particular, his spiced hot prunes), as Alanna
now has hired cooks who provide 'home-style' meals. Hassan has very odd looks
(he´s from an Egypt-esque ravenloft realm) and accent. The shingle over the
front door depicts a desert, though, from this port city there isn´t a
desert for thousands of miles. A minotaur head hangs over the hearth and the
leather chairs at one popular table are made from a baby green dragon´s
feet. Alanna uses her illusions to enhance the atmosphere and the entertainment -
and these embellishments vary based on her mood. On dark nights, when a thick fog
is rolling in off the bay, after a couple of drinks Alanna is known to spin
horrific tall tales to any willing to listen. Even though The Oasis is one of the
safest taverns in Istur, Heronious, a former gladiator in the Dalwan Colosseum is
employed as a bouncer, just in case (he claims to have slain the minotaur on the
street just outside the front door - a likely tale indeed!).
The Pit
There are other gambling houses in town, but none as lively as The Pit. Nightly
dog and cock fights punctuate the festivities. A caged area on the first floor
with an overlooking balcony on all sides gives this establishment its name.
Magically dead private rooms can be rented for private card games at a premium.
Occasionally, illegal duels between willing or unwilling people are said to
occur. No one knows who owns The Pit.
Port o´ Call (Poor/Cheap)
Nestled between looming warehouses, just a block off of a privately owned pier,
The Port o´ Call is definitely the type of place you don´t stroll in by
accident. Offering some of the cheapest drinks, food and rooms in Istur, the
various pirates, grizzled thugs and thick- necked Organization guidos seem not to
notice or care about the unsanitary conditions. Owner Sal Salvatore has chisled
features though is gruff in manners of dress and speech. He is not one to be
trifled with, as the guidos seem to be at his beck and call. Always loud and
racous, the front sticky-floored room reeks of grease and fish, the rear barroom
of sweat and alcohol. The rear bar, known as the Firm Stern, features some of the
most voluptuous and barest dancers in the city. The second floor, has rooms which
can be rented for short-term uses. The moderately cleaner third and fourth floors
are leased long term, mainly to many of the thugs, guidos, and dancers.
Robab´s Fish Market (CB II)
From the lobster and crab tanks at the entrance, to the smells of frying crab
cakes and scallops, Robab and Tilly Wilson run the fish market in town
and the only one to offer seafood so fresh as to still be alive! Built
like a fireplug and nearing age 60, Robab has a reputation for being more honest
than ever. Ask for a pound of haddock and if he knows you you´re likely to
get 1.5 - 2 pounds. Their son, Roscoe and Old Ed do most of the dirty work. Local
women know to stay clear of Roscoe, he fancies himself a ladies man. As much as
Roscoe causes women to hurry through the market, men tend to linger. Patti, a
street urchin that the Wilson´s took in is commonly regarded as the most
beautiful woman in the city. She has large deep brown eyes, flawless olive skin
and long curly golden brown hair. She claims to have wed a mercenary who is
serving overseas. Rumor has it the one time she took a lover, he had the
man´s heart for breakfast. She now insists that she will be ever faithful.
None the less, there are quite a few men who dote over her regularly.
Royal Naval Shipyards
1,600 sailors - Royal Navy Shipyards - Admiral Kells, CO; Port of Call for 3
galleons, 6 great galleys and 9 cogs. The RHN also oversee the enforcement of
the Custom House´s rulings.
Sails of the Everpresent Journeywind (CB II)
Commonly known as Essani´s Sails, Makea Essani´s sails are the finest
to be had in Istur. In addition to top notch normal sails for vessels of all
sizes SotEJ is famous for its magically imbued sails. The aging wind-mage Patel
Chhaya´s enchanting of these sails gives the shop its name. The enchanting
takes place in the open lot next to the shop, where a collapsible mast is
surrounded by a ´fence´ of seven foot tall etched brass rods. Even
though it happens in public,no one has been able to learn Patel´s secret for
enchanting the sails.
The Scotch Woodcock Fishery (CB II)
Primarily a wholesale fishery, Gregor McRoe´s business caters to the various
taverns and inns. This establishment, located at the furthest seaside part of the
docks, also does a high volume of salted and smoked fish. The most repulsive
citizen of Istur, Guter Snype, cleans most of the fish. He´s paid a few
coins + all the fish guts he can eat. At 5´0" and 280+ lbs. Guter´s
only friends are three knives, who he talks to at length. Guter freelances about
town doing the jobs more disgusting than others would even consider. He´s
known to spend evenings ´bar shopping´ (rummaging through trash) and
barkeeps have learned to slip outside to give him a drink so he won´t come
inside. If you need to pass through the port bypassing the customs house and have
cash, this is the place to go.
Soldiers & Sailors Hall
War, Fire and Soldiers, three evils that can be harnessed for good by force of
will, strength of heart and the clear of mind. These are the basic tenets of
Azkal, The Great Warrior. Sometimes this place resembles a rowdy barracks more so
than a place of worship and there are quite often pigs being roasted on spits and
large barrels of ale standing open for all to enjoy in the Hall of the Honored
Fallen. The Azkalites have a zest for life second only to their zest to honor
themselves through battle. You may well find mercenaries and trained officers who
will face each other in battle the next morning fellowshipping here, as only true
warriors can. This is not a place for the meek or the feint of heart. (Think
Klingons)
Strand´s Shadows
Torodin, the patron of thieves and mages has both sects of his church represented
here, though the thieves sect definitely has the larger congregation. (Due to the
number of shops which carry the odd items required by mages, Istur has more than
its share of spellslingers, its just most keep lower profiles here than in other
cities) Silvio Vizzini is the High Priest of the thieves sect and is seemingly
unapproachable to normal folk. Donar Greylock is the serious and reserved High
Priest of mage´s sect. There are at least two dozen priests and half that
many initiates. All who enter must don hooded robes and masks that disguise
one´s general height and weight as well as voice. The sanctuary has no
windows and is moodily lit so as to cast deep shadows across much of the space.
Torodin´s clerics are skilled at interpreting dreams and reading omens and
are oft sought out to reveal glimpses of the future.Even the most devout are not
allowed into the priests´ living and working areas.
Temmer the Black
Not so much a place as a fixture of the Istur, Temmer the Black, real name Temmer Wadsworth
Longfellow, is a bit of an enigmatic character. Dressed head to toe in black, and carrying more
weapons than a small regiment (albeit many of them ornamental as they have soft, silver metal on
their tips or edges), Temmer will talk to you with a rough raspy voice one day, and the next you
will hear him sing a lilting tune with a very boyish almost alto-tenor. Temmer has acquired quite a
following among the women of Istur despite his radical mood swings & bizarre habits. Even while
playing his lute, he won´t remove his left glove. His penchant for black and silver caused him
to be mistaken for a follower of Torodin, except when asked by a young priestess, he reportedly
produced a charm necklace containing a ridiculous number of holy symbols hidden beneath his black
silk shirt and leather vest. Equally likely to smell of garlic as of alcohol (or spiced prunes) he
is known to be the occasional First Mate for Red Francis, a beautiful, though deadly pirate captain
of ill-repute. Though this is may seem odd considering his close friendship with Alanna and other
basically good adventurers, none of his friends seem to think so. Temmer shares the quality with all
bards of being a vast storehouse of tidbits of information & strange tales.
Tony´s Tobacco Emporium
A quaint, little shop near the docks, Tony´s offers a pleasant view of the
harbor, but is situated far enough from the docks used by the fishing boats so
that no unpleasant odors interfere with the enticing aroma of the fine
merchandise. Tony´s offers a variety of high quality cigars made from imported
tobaccos, as well as chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, and hand-carved pipes made by
Tony´s cousin, Micky. The shop is a clean, pleasant establishment, decorated
in green and white with curtains and table-cloths made by Tony´s wife, Angelina,
who can sometimes be found selling her hand-made quilts in The Valley. Tables
are available inside the shop, as well as underneath the awning, so customers can
chat, sample the products, and catch up on the latest gossip. Tony´s is a
popular hang-out for retired Organization members, who can often be found
smoking, gossiping, drinking brandy and playing Nine Men´s Morris. Both Tony and
these older gentlemen all chat amiably with the customers, trading jokes with the
regulars and making an effort to get to know the new-comers. Tony considers it
his personal duty to make sure not only that his customers are pleased with his
product, but to treat them with kindness and consideration, making sure that
their visit to his shop is a pleasant one that they will want to repeat. Tony
always keeps a jar of hard tack candy in his shop to give away to visiting
children, whom he adores, and every year he passes out free cigars on the king´s
birthday.
Torscelli´s (Excellent/Expensive)
The one five-star restaurant in Istur (though some argue that the Diamond Star is
just as good) Torscelli´s caters to the well shod. A full course meal here
could run as much as 50 gp, not including wine. Pasta is included with most
dinners. Torscelli´s has a renowned wine cellar with many rare and exotic
vintages. Proper attire and reservations are required. Antony Toscelli likes to
talk to his patrons - in fact, they hardly ever get a word in when he drops by
their table.
The Valley
A 3 - tiered outdoor farmers market, The Valley is the place to go for fresh
fruits and veggies, meats, dairy products, and the occasional craft items. Trees
shade most of this green in the center of the city and many street vendors grill
tasties here during good weather.
Walleye Pete's
The largest fish market in Istur, Walleye Pete's can be found by the docks. The shop
itself is an open air market with a sturdy roof, crates overflowing with the fresh
catch of the day, and a battered, wooden counter where customers pay for their
purchases. The modest dwelling behind the market is Pete's private residence,
although much of the ground floor is used for accounting and shipping purposes.
The amount of sea food for sale at Walleye Pete's is amazing. Ranging from fresh sea
bass and shark to monster shrimp and Istur's famous spotted crabs. But it's the
charismatic, jovial employees who keep the customers coming back. Each and every
worker at Walleye Pete's operates with the enthusiasm of those who are determined to
enjoy both their job and their fellow man. They spend their working hours teasing
both each other and the customers, all the while doing their jobs with a certain
flair. For those wanting to be prepared for the experience, read more on the
employees of Walleye Pete's.
The Well-Turned Heel
A small but respectable ladies´ dress shop located near The Valley, The
Well-Turned Heel always keeps a few gowns on stock for last-minute occasions, but
carries a much wider stock of fine material, from which most gowns are made to
order. The store also boasts the largest selection of ladies´ shoes in
Istur, keeping many on stock and also offering custom-made shoes -- whichever the
lady chooses, the store´s owner promises to be able to match any dress
perfectly.
The Well-Turned Heel also has a secret stash of merchandise offered only to
special customers who can be trusted not to leak information to the wrong ears,
thereby ruining the shop´s respectable reputation. A secret door in the
fitting room leads to a back room where ladies can browse among a wide variety of
alluring lingerie and evening wear (Most of the tavern dancers in Istur buy their
costumes here.).
The store´s owner and proprietress is Chasiya Wyn. A handsome woman in her
mid forties, Chasiya is tall and slender, with long chestnut hair, green eyes,
and a pale complexion. She has a rich, sultry voice and is said to be quite an
excellent singer. Chasiya is very private and keeps her past a closely guarded
secret. Some say she is a retired bard, some that she was a call girl, and
others believe that she is the illegitimate daughter of a nobleman. Others claim
that Chasiya´s funds to purchase her shop were a reward for concealing the
parentage of her toddler daughter, Suzetta, a charming, outgoing child with red
hair and freckles who closely resembles her mother and is much fawned over by the
shop´s customers.
Whatever the source of her income, Chasiya is well liked by her customers, with
whom she is always pleasant and sociable. She enjoys chatting with her customers
and sharing small talk, but tends not to pry into the ladies´ personal
lives. Chasiya lives above her shop, and always offers tea and pastries to her
customers.
Whale´s Eye Inn (Fair/Expensive)
Located right on the boardwalk in the heart of the commercial piers, the
Whale´s Eye Inn is considered by all to be highly overpriced for the
moderate quality of the fare and accommodations. Sails, ships wheels, mounted
fish, nets and other nautical bric-a-brac obscure the view between tables and
dampen the clinking of dishes and the hushed conversations. In addition to the
many ship captains, influential merchants and craftguildsmen, Shifty Nicco
himself is known to frequent this establishment. The entrance is usually obscured
by stacks of crates or barrels coming through the port. The weathered shingle has
no words, just the close-up image of a great gray whale´s eye that some
swear watches them as they come and go. Quite often, a small group of large and
unconversant men hang out just by the front door. The harborside rooms are quite
popular with captains wanting to keep an eye on their ships.