Jewelled
of Souls
Within
Dalton there is a curious city, one that few people of a reputable
nature ever venture into. It is a city surrounded by a stinking
peat bog swamp that serves as a tomb to a long dead but restless
army. It is wreathed within a murky fog that seems to make
night linger eternally.
Viewed
from above one would note that this sprawling ruined city
has little form. It is a mess of twisting streets and irregular
gothic style buildings centred around a hill. Upon the hill
is a building that does not belong in such a place –
it is a palace fit for a fairy tale, complete with high towers
and banners that flutter in what little wind blows through
this city. Even down in the maze of streets that palace can
be seen. It rises up through the ever lasting fog cloud, the
strange glimmer of the eternal twilight that hangs over the
city shining against its whitewashed walls.
In
those dark streets below the palace anything and everything
can be found for a price. Dark alleyways lead to hidden dens
of debauchery. Taverns and whore houses line every street.
Smugglers, traders, drug dealers, thieves, murderers, beggars
and prostitutes of every size, shape and species crowd the
streets. They come here because money flows freely or because
they have no other place to go.
Despite
the bustle of the streets the dark houses here are silent.
Those who lived in this place are long dead, leaving their
homes undisturbed – furniture remains as it was long
ago, rotten food sits uneaten on plates. Were it not for the
newcomers this place would be deserted for all but the dead.
Here
everyone is welcome no matter what their belief, their race
or their intent. They are welcome so long as they have money.
If they have no money they are welcome to earn it. If they
cannot earn it then they are welcome to die in the gutter,
for even their rotting bodies are prized commodity in this
place.
Within
this great city anything can be bought or sold. Men and beasts,
dark magic and children. Nothing is sacred here but money.
Those who posses it can live life here like a god, doing as
they wish with whoever they wish with no consequences whatsoever…assuming,
that is, that they can hold on to their money. Thieves and
rogues are plague here, hunting the streets in packs.
While
this city may seem like a place of chaos there is order. In
the darkness you may sometimes see hungry eyes watching or
hear the shuffle of feet upon the road behind you only to
turn and see nothing. The children of House Melancholy are
everywhere.
The
children of House Melancholy are practiced necromancers and
control the dead to their own ends. They appear weak and flawed,
but the creatures they command will fight until they can no
longer walk.
Assuming
one can dodge the thieves and avoid dark alleyways where some
dark hearted creatures might run them through without the
dead seeing, this city is a place that is safe for all, no
matter what hides within their hearts – Good or Evil.
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