Aspenwall
Forming the outer ring of the city and serving as the first line of defense, the Aspenwall takes up the largest amount of space and is the border of the city to the outlying forest. The trees are thick, tall, and very strong naturally, and they have been imbued with High Elven, and Wood Elf magic to make them very durable. Very few know how to access the sections of Aspenwall that allow travel to the forest; all travel goes through the main gates.
Aspenwall houses the three military guard towers known as the Bloodstone Spires, The Topaz Nest, the Alora Stables, the Jade Leaf Market, an inn and gambling house called The Twice-Cut Emerald, and the Moonstone Halls School of Magic. It also contains the solitary crystal mine, the first of the Six-Spire Mines .
The Jade Leaf Market is an open market, with tents covering it during the harshest winter months. All manner of items can be bought but there are few oddities or eccentric items found. The Elves leave that to Hollow's Point to provide those interested. There are some strange items that can be found by traveling merchants who visited Aspenshield but most find there is better business elsewhere. The market caters mostly to the Elves who live there and to some visitors. The largest market of crystals can be found in the Six-Spire Crystal Emporium, at the heart of the open market. A series of tents, tables, and stalls display many different crystals as cultivated directly in Aspenshield, or procured from travelers to the city. Other merchants sell art, food, tools, supplies, and books.
Illyrio’s Bright Blades is a unique weaponsmith shop that crafts and supplies crystal weapons, most often swords. They also adorn standard weapons with intricate crystals and gems for power or aesthetic. Illyrio is a High Elf that has been perfecting his art for over a century. He weapons and designs are in high demand and many warriors make the trek to Aspenshield just to secure one of his swords. He has two Elf apprentices that work the shop with him, Aster, and Palen, and one Forest Gnome apprentice named Jeannie Thistlebottom.
At the eastern end of the Aspenwall lies the prestigious hall of magic – The Moonstone Halls. Merain Moonshield is the headmaster of the school and is extremely well-versed in all things crystal. He has attuned to most, if not all, types of crystal during his long life and tenure at the school, and he is very fond of sharing his knowledge. Merain is very cautious of sharing crystal magic with those that are unworthy, and the entrance exam is extremely difficult. Most non-Elves do not bother but there are some practitioners of magic that recognize the power of crystals and look to Merain to further their knowledge. He is equally hard to all his students, Elves, or other, and he ensures that everyone that leaves the school shows the proper respect for the power they now have. While the Moonstone Halls and the Conclave of Magic are not aligned, there are those from the Conclave that like to learn as much as they can from Merain. He does not afford them any special treatment but they are typically better equipped to learn from him than many others. He has declined any offers to join the Conclave as a specialist, preferring to pave his own way. There are a few apprentices under him that show great promise but Merain does not look like he is leaving his post anytime soon.
The Twice-Cut Emerald is an inn and gambling house that is situated northeast of the market. It functions as an inn, most notably for visitors and travelers and it can house a large number of people. Aspenshield has some smaller inns and boarding houses but the Twice-Cut is by far the most popular amongst foreigners, or those Elves who like to let loose a bit. The proprietor is an Air Genasi by the name of Larence Whisperwind. He is assisted by his wife Tashia Whisperwind, his cousin Took Whisperwind, and his niece Pasha Whisperwind. They do their best to make the Twice-Cut a fun and entertaining establishment, and there is little trouble that happens here. Occasionally some visitors may get out of hand but Larence and Tashia are very good at calming people down. The food they serve is good but not fancy. They stick to mostly local dishes with some modifications of their own.
The Six-Spire Mines has one building within the Aspenwall section of the city, at the most eastern edge of the wall. This lone building produces more crystal than anywhere on Starhelm, and is dedicated to that sole task. The individual crystal masters that are proficient in encouraging specific crystals to form are some of the most well-respected members of Aspenshield’s citizenry. While they cannot create specific crystals, they are adept at increasing the likelihood of those crystals to form within the mine. They are constantly studying, attuning, and experimenting with their specialized crystal to further their success. They are in high demand from those who need particular crystals to power their spells, effects, or just desires for beauty.
The Bloodstone Spires guard the entrance, the northwest edge, and the northeast edge of the Aspenwall. These towers can be seen from almost anywhere in the city, giving the people a sense of security and safety. Alongside the southern spire, at the entrance is also the Alora Stables, which hold the famous Moon Horse cavalry of Aspenshield. Horses can be seen on display often when people travel through the main gate. At the western spire, rising slightly above the tree line is The Topaz Nest, guarding that area, in concert with its partner spire. The shadows of the owls can be seen over Aspenshield often, sometimes gracing the citizens with an aerial show.
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