Places
The Traveller's Rest
(Because sooner or later, everyone comes to the Traveller's Rest)
The Traveller's Rest is in the gem district of Athkatla near the Temple District. It is a large 3 story building made of whitwashed stone. The entrance is a pair of huge double doors made of stained oak. When both are open the entrance is a full 16 feet across and 12 feet high. They open into a well appointed entry chamber that has a small room with a guard set aside where guests may check any item that they are carrying. Another pair of double doors lead to the Inn proper. When entering the Inn proper, guests first notice the large firepit that dominates the center of the room. It measures roughly 12 feet by 8 feet and is used for cooking, light and warmth. Two slaves with permanent Protection from Fire enchantments work within the flames tending the days meal and moving foods from the coals to servers.
The Inn itself is built of oak and edged in cherry wood throughout giving everything a warm brown glow. It is carpet in a with a thick red carpet of about 8 inches depth. To the left of the entryway there is a depressed area filled with pillows and cushions in front of a small stage. This is a common social area where patrons can eat and converse in a relaxed setting. The Rest will often have a local bard performing at the stage and patrons will gather on the cushions to eat and listen.
To the right of the front door there are several semi-private tables and booths where patrons who wish privacy can congregate. The tables are thick and heavy with heavily padded easy chairs. Just to the left of this area is the central staircase that leads to the second and third floors. It is made of a rare green marble imported from the Jungles of Chult and features carved bannisters made of cherry.
Opposite the front door is the bar. It lines the far wall and is backed by a mirror that runs its length. There are always several patrons sitting here or standing with a foot on its polished brass rail. Larus, the proprietor of the Traveller's rest, takes great pride in providing imported and rare drinks from far away lands. As a result, there is a huge selection of wares available. The far right end of the bar sports a tobacco bar with various plants and herbs for smoking.
The Traveller's Rest is staffed by over 40 slaves ranging from 12 years up to 40. Traditionally Larus will grant a slave freedom at the age of 40 but many will stay on afterward helping with the many tasks that running the Rest requires. Slaves can be identified by the brass bands that they wear around their wrists. Larus works very hard to insure that they are well cared for and, as a result, they are all healthy and strong.
The rooms in the rest are large and airy and have a windows with balconys to help ease Athkatlas warm Summers. Each room has its own fireplace and a seperate room for bathing. The bathing rooms have large tubs that are filled by servants from downstairs. Each bathing room is equipped with a wide variety of soaps, salts and perfumes.
Meals at the rest are considered one of the finest experiences in all of Athkatla. Marielle, the head cook, prides herself on varied menus but it's the specialty dishes that really shine. Most notable is the Roast Beef with Spiced Potatos.
The Vale of Summer
The Vale of Summer is located in the Cloud Peaks just north of Athkatla. It is only accessible by two means. There is a narrow area to the West where ship borne traffic can drop off passengers and a narrow mountain passage to the East. As a result of the limited access, the Vale has gone largely undetected by the residents of Amn. No ship traffic has reason to put in to the West and travellers see nothing of interest from the East.
The Vale is several miles wide and is very active geologically. There are many gysers and hot springs. As a result, hot ait is trapped here and the Vale is usually ten to fifteen degrees warmer than areas on the other side of the mountains. The Vale is dominated by a large river that flows down from the high mountains from Northeast to west. The river is created by runoff from the mountains and is quite cold year round. It flows West toward the sea until it hits what used to be a canyon to the sea. At some point the walls of the canyon collapsed and formed a large lake that borders the mountains to the West. The water flows through here and out to the sea.
The are three large conifer forests in the area that possess abundant game. The lack of large predators in the area has allowed the dominant mammals to grow quite large. There are several herds of deer and wild horses that roam the area.
Beside the lake there are the remains of a settlement. Up until the time when the Foretold arrived and freed the undercity, refugees would congregate here for mutual defense from the demons and undead that radiated forth from theundercity every night. After the freeing, the city was abandoned for the more hospitable confines of the undercity.
The dominant area of the Vale is the Undercity. An ancient human settlement that was lost over a 1000 years ago when a great earthquake and volcanic eruption caused it to collapse back into the mountain that it was next to. What humans that survived migrated South and settled what would one day become modern Athkatla. The undercity is accessed by a large cave opening in the side of a mountain. Within, a thriving village exists that gets very little sunlight from the outside world. Once a home to demons, the Foretold quested within to find the means of returning their teammate Devin to life and closed the portal that allowed them access. Freeing those who had been enslaved by the demons for decades. Here, Humans, Elves, Dwarves and Orks live and work together in peace. A peace brought about by the union of three tribes.
The first tribe is Clan Foehammer. A dwarven clan led by Thane Nehera. The Foehammer clan was enslaved by the demons that once held the undercity and served them for over 800 years. Oddly, none of the Dwarves that were enslaved aged during that time. It was if they had simply gone to sleep and woke up in the future. Tough and hidebound, Nehera's clan is having the most trouble living with humans, elves and orks on their doorstep. The Clan never lost their ability to weave magic and Nehera is well known for his alchemical skills.
The second tribe is the Horseclans led by a human named Aeryk. Also enslaved by the Demons, the horseclans are nomadic in nature and are having a hard time living within a community. Their riding skill is unmatched however and their ability with animals is well known within the Vale. Aeryk is quite old but wise and even handed. His tribe respects him a great deal.
The third tribe is the glue that holds everything together. Led by Sheshair, an Elven Priestess of Ilmater, this tribe is a collection of refugees who escaped demon influence during their reign in the undercity. Humans, Dwarves, Elves and Orks are accepted equally within this tribe. Sheshair is a just leader and commands great respect from all that she meets.
Currently the Vale is run by a tribal counsel made up of Nehera, Aeyrk, Sheshair and a Dwarf named Galen who lived among Sheshair's tribe as thane to a loose group of Dwarves.