The River Island is my first collected district of City'26 from Wogatišpurk, the River Pearl, which I was working on before I even learned of the challenge.
While I enjoy writing and through it, getting lost in the city, it is also quite exhausting and time consuming. I will reevaluate how I write and publish further parts of Wogatišpurk. I am not writing a gazetteer (or am I?).
But now I invite you to the noisy, crowded island streets, filled with cargo, rushing merchants and the political life of the city.
Atmosphere and architecture:
Tall wooden cranes tower above the busy docks on the north side of the island. Flocks of cormorants and seagulls circle above as teamsters unload large crates from ships into warehouses. The heart of the River trade. Small, specialised stores sell exotic oddities and curiosities; vendors sell the hottest, freshest items at the Fish Markets; and wholesalers are where local merchants and businesses procure their goods. Light flashes from the towering, ancient lighthouse towers above it all, reflecting on the horizon, as the river spills further than the eye can see.
Three bridges connect the island to the city. The river between swivels with sloops, barges, and small boats, which the locals use for fishing or to deliver special cargo to the city. Their homes, low, narrow, and clustered on the west and south sides, in the crooked streets and open yards filled with playing children, clothes lines, animals, and the occasional vegetable patch. To the south-west, figures watch the waves of the busy river from the park bench to the ringing of the church bells…
The smells of the River pervade the air. Fish and mud mix with a combination of aromas from all over the world. Birds' screeches interlace with merchants peddling their wares and the shouts from a drunken brawl. The city guard patrols can be seen patrolling the full street, as well as the odd-looking individual.
Pieces of history:
The River Island has always been one of the keys to the success of trade in Wogatišpurk. It offers a safe, relatively sheltered harbor on the powerful river, making it integral to the city's life. Along with the Old Town and the Castle Town, it is one of the oldest city districts. Before integration into the Empire, the Shipwrights Guild administered the island, and it retains some influence and importance to this day.
Much of the island has been repeatedly rebuilt over time. The expanding and changing docks, the floods, fires, or just whims of the powerful decided so. Of the three bridges that connect it to the mainland, the Crayfish Bridge is the oldest and considered the “people's” bridge, which connects to the Vydrica district. The Pike Bridge, not much younger, bears the label of the “Nobles” bridge, due to its central connection to the Old Town. The far youngest of the bridges – the Eagles Bridge, built as an exemplary piece of architecture from the Age of Wonders, connects it to the industrial Hearth district.
Economy and society:
The economy of the island lies, unsurprisingly, in the port. The River Port is the biggest dock in the whole northern part of Tonava and a major trade hub. Arguably, the most important one in the empire. Wogatišpurk is one of the rare places where trade with the eastern banks of the Tonava takes place. All sorts of exotic, wondrous, and near-mythical items arrive from the East. And all of it comes through the island. If you want to be the first to get in on any of it, the Fish Market is your destination, with goods literally coming off the ships there, before they can be found anywhere in the city. If you are lucky.
Most employment can be found in the docks or in the adjacent industries – transportation and storage of goods, wholesale and retail, especially. The Shipwrights Guild aside, many businesses have their offices near the River Port, drawing significant workers from other parts of the city. There is, as one would expect, a vast hospitality and entertainment industry. Pubs, inns, and boarding houses thrive, especially on the south side of the docks. Local guides and petty peddlers fill the streets around the docks.
Local residents hail mostly from the southern part of the island, around the Small Port. Those who do not find work in the Docks, fish, or act as couriers, often of more illicit goods. Many locals live in small brick houses or in shacks on the south side. Though a new development, funded by the Church, is offering rental apartments.
Landmarks and Points of Interest
The Lighthouse and River Fortress – Landmark
Far taller than any of the ship's masts is the ancient and majestic tower of the Lighthouse, clad in white limestone, with horizontal stripes of deep black granite. It’s, now electric light is crucial due to the prevalent fogs on the river, which come at any time of the year and can last for weeks. While the tower has been reconstructed many times, it is as old as the city itself, while some claim it to be far older than that and that it hides many secrets and ancient passages, even to the Depths. Its fortified riverfront also serves as a dock for naval ships. The smaller stone and brick buildings in its courtyard house a contingent of the River Marines – a prestigious unit and one of the two military garrisons in the city.
Emporium of Things Most Peculiar
A small shop with dusty storefront windows, with exotic and rare items and goods. Some whisper that the former, well-travelled sailor Klásko Sviačik can procure banned, illegal, magical items. It is a must – destination for any seeker of curios.
The Red Pike
The notorious inn and tavern is known for being spacious and accommodating. Literally and figuratively. It’s two stories, provides space for large numbers of people and entertainment, while providing ample opportunity for more discrete meetings with members of its diverse clientele.
The Red Pike is known for its buttery Crayfish porridge, crunchy Catfish tenders, fragrant River stew, fluffy white bread, and shockingly affordable house wines.
Fish Market
Located just outside the Lighthouse’s walls, at the meeting point of the three major streets. Despite the name, fish are only a minor part of its trade. The market is sought out by those who want to get their hands on goods fresh off the ships, before they are shipped off to warehouses and other markets in the city. The domed, hexagonal Central hall is where the most prominent traders peddle their wares, while the surrounding square is often flooded with small stalls and carts, from new, aspiring distributors.
Shipwrights Guild
The Guildhouse can be easily spotted from afar, as the roof is modelled after the massive burlak ships, traditional to this segment of the River. Made of, supposedly, fireproof wood, it has surprisingly endured centuries. In pre-Imperial times, the Guild governed the island, and to this day, they retain control and administration of the River Port. This makes them key in the trade and local politics. If you need anything done on the island, you will probably end up below their crowning roof.
Port Authority
The River Port is the designated docking area for all trade vessels as well as large and medium-sized passenger ships. It is always full, bustling, and docking spots for new ships can be hard to come by. While the Shipwrights Guild technically oversees the River Port, the actual daily logistics and decision-making is handled by the Port Authority – appointed by the Guild, the City, and the Imperial corporation.
It is housed in an unusual curved building, whose second story consists of a semi-transparent blue-glass dome, topped with a small glass cupola. Permits, logistics, and even disputes go through the Authority first, and its function is often a thorn in the eye of the Guild's leadership.
The Small Port
Also known as the Folks Port. Locals moor their barges and small fishing boats here, setting out daily to get their hands on fresh fish, both for trade and sustenance, or to serve as couriers to the mainland. Especially for discrete operations. The Small Port is also a place where small passenger ships are allowed to dock, making it a perfect mingling place for those who care not for exposure.
St. Valdas Church
Situated in the new St. Valdas Quarter, a recent housing project of the imperial, Trifaced Church, to extend its benevolence onto the masses, the church is dedicated to St. Valdas – patron of the Net catchers. While built in the contemporary, more rounded architectural style, it retains all the sacral set pieces necessary for a patron church, most prominently altars to all three Facets of the God.
The surrounding district is bustling with the voices of children, whose young parents were the primary recipients of the rental housing run by The Church. The courtyards are therefore full of life and movement, and in sharp contrast to the old fishing homes that line most of the south-western side of the island.
NPCs
Captain Laine
First Captain of the River Marines.
Late thirties. Strong, sporty build. Bronze skin. Wrinkled face. Dark-green eyes. Dirty blond hair, cut short and curly. Known for having wide and frequently changing culinary habits. Gives off a strong and stern personality.
The captain grew up in a refugee family from the far west of the empire, a family of many kids, where money was often sparse. In her youth, she began gambling to support herself, a habit or vice that has been with her to this day. Fear of being exposed as an addict has led her to develop manipulative behaviours and, most recently, a mild paranoia. True, if someone were to gain a hook on her, through her gambling addiction, her position could be easily compromised.
Klásko Sviačik
Proprietor of the Emporium.
Early sixties. Compact build. Red-brown skin. Puffy Cheeks. Brown eyes. Shaggy, shoulder-length black hair. Prominent goatee. Suffers from frequent headaches. Fears snakes.
Once a well-travelled mariner, and the son of a famous travelling cobbler's mother. He used his vast connections in distant corners of the world to open a store of curiosities. Eventually, he became bored with his merchant life. What still keeps him in the city is a prophecy he came across during his travels, which spoke of opening the Hidden Vaults in the Depths below Wogatišpurk. And the fear of it coming true. The store serves as a front to supply those seeking to go into the Depths with equipment and protection of wondrous and magical nature. And also to those willing to pay the often steep prices for exotic, esoteric, or occult curiosities.
Unbeknownst to himself, the illegitimate child of lord Bratawis. Making him a potential heir to not just fortune but also political influence.
Guildmaster Šulislav
Guildmaster of the Shipwrights Guild.
Late middle-aged. Big build body. Pinkish skin. Narrow face with light-green eyes. Dark brown hair, unkept and in surprisingly poor condition. Zones out during conversations.
The Guildmaster is a proud, ambitious man who has made it known that his goal is to restore the Guild to its historical position. This potters' child has been, since his late childhood, receiving “prophetic” dreams of glory and importance. They are the driving force, his motivation to strengthen the guild ,and ultimately to rule (or at least govern) the River Island. There are a few lengths Šulislav would not go to in order to achieve this grandiose vision. For one, he has established connections with Well Organised, the crime syndicate.
Hypermobile and an active and accomplished sportsman, even at a higher age.
Cousin Sáva
Independent entrepreneur. Thief.
Early twenties. Slim, lanky. Olive colored skin. Narrow, honey colored eyes. Curly medium-length, dark ash brown hair. Known to have grand, often unrealistic plans and ideas. Ambidextrous. Speaks energetically.
Hailing from the Krobúz district, Sáva has taken the River Island to be the home ground for their business. Known in the docks as a person who can procure things, how they get them is untold. Usually by their nimble hands. Their clientele consists mostly of out-of-towners – merchants, travellers, visitors. Addresses people familiarly as cousin. Their actual family knows of Sávas business, as either looks the other way or provides them with support. Not usual for religious folk.
A member of the Community of the Honest Coin, the free-thief confederation. This is only known to those closest to them.
Talis Malškins
Head of the Port Authority. Diligent administrator. Gnome.
Mid forties. Tall for a gnome. Grayish skin color. Wide, purple eyes. Crew cut hair. Very polite and very technical in communication. Adept historian. Fidgets with jewelry.
While gnomes and other non-humans reside more in Wogatišpurk than perhaps anywhere else in the Empire, it is still unusual to see one in a rather high public position. Talis achieved his position through very diligent work, strict application of rules and regulations, and not sticking out too much. What he does not like is those who do the opposite. This has brought him into conflict several times with the Shipwrights Guild and their Guildmaster, who seek to gain more political power on the island. Talis has decided to do his utmost to ensure the Port Authority retains the administration of the River Port.
Kosma Kansk
Corporal of the Swamp Rats Company. Local of the Island. Pissed off.
Mid-twenties. Tall. Olive colored skin. Tattoos. Round, honey-colored eyes. Straight, wheat blonde hair to the collar. Talkative and angry.
Growing up in the fisher slums of the island was no easy task. More so for a strong girl with an even stronger moral code. Struggling to find work and to escape family life and suitors, joining the Swamp Rants mercenary company a couple of years ago was a way out. Since then, she has travelled north and east, gained strength, experience, and risen to the rank of corporal. While her unit is back in the city, Kosma has taken to training local women and girls – mothers, carers, doc workers, sex workers, and all – in self-defense and basic combat. Partially due to the Swamp Rats connections and support of the Solar cause. Partially, because she has seen too many lives ruined by misogyny and violence.
Encounters
Day:
1. An overturned wagon on the road to the warehouse. As teamsters argue with the owner of the cart that caused the incident, two quick, shifty figures move to “harvest” the spilled goods from damaged crates. Mostly foreign textiles, clothes, and fine leathers.
2. A young girl peddling a “protection necklace from authentic River pearls” to those who look non-local – especially non-humans. The necklace is a guaranteed fake.
3. Three members of the Tovariš Trade Union hand out leaflets to dockworkers and teamsters at the river port, as a patrol of the city guard hovers by.
4. Four youths shout “funny” racist abuse at visibly non-local-looking travelers disembarking a passenger boat. One of them has a visible brown V tattooed across the chest and collar bones.
5. Smells of saffron, lemon, and butter spread in the alley, as two young criers attract potential customers to taste “Finger-licking, delicious, buttery river crab. Unrivaled by any in the city.” The cook, their mother, Jaská, working out of a small courtyard, obviously not born in the city. The crab is delicious and affordable. The discussion – about all she’s heard from her clients, news gossips and the occasional secret.
6. Water splashes as it falls from a lavishly decorated balcony of a business's building overhead, onto the head of a beggar below. Curses and shouting follow from both below and above. The company claims the beggar is harassing their clients. The beggar, Aídas, claims the company caused his destitution and just wants to spread the truth.
Night:
1. Three lanky figures, moving with the agility of youth, run from an alley, followed by wheezing, clanking security guards from the Guild. The guards claim that the trio defaced the well in the courtyard of the Shipwrights Guildhall and dropped something down the well afterward.
2. A door slams as three voices engage in a heated argument. The topic – gambling debts. Threats from both sides escalate until blades are drawn. A quick scuffle ends with one body dropping on the floor. A masked and cloaked figure rushes away, putting away their blade into a scabbard, bearing River Marines insignia.
3. Four youths (same ones as from the day encounter), one of them brandishing a knife, sprint down an alley, shouting curses. They were chased by three brawny sailors spewing threats. Clear signs of a recent brawl.
4. Stones fall, tools clank, and hushed commands are muttered by a dilapidated building. A group of five or so figures has taken to planting flowers, decorating, and quickly renovating this abandoned building. When discovered, they watch the party in silence before getting back to their task. It needs to be done before sunrise.
5. Lamplight illuminates a courtyard in the south of the island. A dozen local women are engaged in training in self-defense and basic combat, led by a tall, tattooed, well-equipped, and well-trained woman, Kosma.
6. An impromptu musical performance and small street party are broken up by the city guard. The small band of musicians flees along with the dispersing crowd, as the guard struggles to capture and question the remaining youth.
Adventure hooks
1. Cousin Sáva, who is an actual cousin of one of the PCs, sent a message late last night. To meet them at the Fish Market, early morning. Sáva arrives late, visibly anxious, looking over their shoulder, and carrying a large, cloth-covered box. The box and its contents absolutely need to get to the Narrow Room in the New Town, at the latest by dusk. There are a few problems:
A. The Box is wanted by the city guard, who are actively patrolling the streets and checking people at the bridges.
B. Sáva just narrowly escaped two enforcers from the Well Organized syndicate. Something about a deal gone wrong, but more are coming after them.
C. Oh, and the box contains a rare, precious, and rather volatile plant that releases dangerous, infectious spores. If they don’t get it to the right hands soon, it will cause at least a minor catastrophe.
2. A nervous, northerner ship captain paces outside the Port Authority. The docking rights for his cargo ship, previously granted by the Port Authority, have just been revoked by the Shipwrights Guild. Is this just some power struggle in the docks? Or does someone want to block his delivery of natural insulation materials from entering the city and market? He doesn’t have the time to find out, as he needs to get back on his ship, but he will gladly pay anyone who can sort out the situation.
3. Bi-weekly, high-stakes, very exclusive gambling tournaments take place in the Red Pike. Masked participants take up one of the big private chambers, fully catered for the evening. The job is to find out who the participants are and any other information.
4. Recently, the well in the courtyard of the Shipwrights Guild was defaced with tags of – Imperial Lapdogs, Rebuild the Guild, Šulislav the Delulusional, and with laxatives dropped into the water supply of the building. The Guildmaster wants answers! It is true that recently the Guild has entered into a closer agreement with the Imperial administration, giving them more administrative responsibilities and representation on the City Council. But what citizen could oppose that? Well, maybe those ungrateful Browns… or those Solars and their friends in the Union…
No comments:
Post a Comment