Themiscyron – Gateway to the Jungle
The largest of the port towns along the southeastern coast of the island of Therarask, Themiscyron occupies a narrow strip of land between a small teal-colored Bay and the ever-encroaching advance of the Jungle. In recent years, the Jungle has begun to consume the outer portions of the town, but the people seem unconcerned – it is a natural progression after all. Instead the town has begun its coexistence with the Jungle, earning it the nickname the “Gateway to the Jungle”. Ferries from Tel’Rhea and the northern coast of Caliban often bring travelers and tourists as well as their wealth. Besides the towers, there is very little obvious police or guard presence. People are generally left to their own devices here.
As with most of the island of Therarask, the people here are very laidback, open, and accepting. They tend to be very nonjudgmental so long as you pursue your pleasures and desires without interfering too severely with others. While some may enjoy the mellow, relaxing atmosphere of a tourist and service-based port town, others may find that it’s often hard to get people to have any sense of urgency or to take matters seriously if they don’t particularly care too. Responsibility is a… loose concept here, per se.
If people don’t want to do something here, they see it as their religious obligation to NOT do the thing.
Arriving in the Port City
Large wooden boats decorated with splashes of green, pink, red, white, or a mixture of colors bring people to and from the mainland of Dremora. Half of the vessels fly flags with symbols of the mother goddess Tel’Rhea, while the other half fly flags bearing symbolism of the God of Pleasure. Occasionally, you can spot a ship bearing symbolism from other regions, but these vessels rarely operate as ferries and are, instead, more likely to be merchant vessels bringing wares to sell or looking to purchase before starting out on the next leg of their journey.
General Information on the Ferries:
- Travel from the northern coast of Tel’Rhea to the nearest port (Themiscyron) on Therarask is approximately 1 day.
- Fees vary from 5 copper (for a normal seat) to 5 gold (a small personal room)
- Normally, ferries run every two hours to accommodate the large amount of tourism traffic to and from Pleasure Row. However, due to the weather change, the ferries are only running twice a day.
The Docks
Arriving at the docks is a hectic and colorful affair. The city of Themiscyron itself is composed of buildings in various colors with streams of silk drifting in the breeze between them. Despite the overcast sky, the city seems to still be alive. People dressed in colorful clothes and adorned in various levels of copper, bronze, and gold jewelry line the docks and the nearby streets. Some carry with them flyers and signs, while others push carts or hold trays with items atop them. In the distance, people peddle their wares and services in front of tents. The locals are poised to strike the moment tourists land here.Amidst the crowd, there includes the following:
- Escorts from Thraso's Rest pass out tokens for discounted services. Why rush to Pleasure Row when there are delights here to experience first?
- Merchants from Otreran's Market offer samples, peddle wares, and entice tourists to visit the market itself for more splendors!
- Ascetics covered head to toe pitch an alternative route: the path to true pleasure through discipline and reflection.
- Local guides – primarily tabaxi – find their assigned tourists or attempt to sell their services to the unsupervised, novice tourists of the island.
Otreran Market
The area is also filled with the sounds and sights of the Jungle, including flora and fauna. Over the years, the Jungle has begun to encroach, partially encasing some buildings and filling in the space between. It is not uncommon to find a colorful bird perched on the railing near your table while you grab brunch or to find a large feline crossing the sturdy fines above the market square. Generally, the denizens of the jungle care little for the people of the port city… so long as they are respected.
The Cat's Pajamas – A small boutique on the first floor of a three-story building draped in colorful silks and fabrics in red, orange, and pink. The upper two stories feature a small café for shoppers to grab a snack. The boutique features locally made clothing that’s generally feline themed with a small selection of jewelry.
Deep Sea Aphrodisiacs – the quaint tent in the center of the marketplace is selling a variety of aphrodisiacs acquired from the sea. The owner, a tabaxi woman by the name of Saril, claims that they’re the most potent aphrodisiacs from the seas around Therarask.
Gella's Golden Arms – A blond-haired human runs a shop in her grandmother’s (and her) namesake. She is a blacksmith and leatherworker who mostly makes ceremonial and decorative pieces. She doesn’t make magic items, but she does do fine work.
Thrasos' Rest
Thraso’s Rest is the largest escort establishment, inn, club, and tavern in Themiscyron and is named after the supposed god – believed to be Therarask by the locals – that assisted Themiscyra in establishing the port city. The building itself is relatively large and sprawling, decorated with marble statues adorned in bronze, copper, and gold jewelry. Fancy fabrics and silk hang from balconies and separate rooms. Inside, the various facets of the establishment are easily accessible, but separated from one another. The inn occupies the entirety of the second floor. The tavern, club, and escort house all occupy approximately a third of the lower level with employee access through hidden and secret passageways throughout.
Featured Drink: Spiked hot cocoa in honor of the winter months!
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City History & Founding Lore
Themiscyron is the largest port city on the coast of Therarask, enriched by its close position to Tel’Rhea and thereby, the gateway of the rest of Dremoran continent to the heart of the Jungle and to the splendors of Pleasure Row. Upon its founding, there was a good 3 miles between the city’s edge and the jungle’s edge. Now, the jungle has begun to merge with the northernmost parts of the city, partially consuming the marketplace. Perhaps in a few more centuries, Themiscyron will be completely consumed by the jungle, like many other settlements before it. However, for now, it remains one of the most popular ports.
Long ago, before the Dread King’s War, there were four tabaxi siblings that lived on Pleasure Row: Themiscyra, Penthesilea, Kreousa, and Bremusa. They all sought to be the gem of Pleasure Row and their rivalry burned so hot that they were ordered to cease or leave. Gifted with the innate ability to travel the jungle, the siblings agreed to each travel in a different direction from Pleasure Row.
Bremusa, the youngest, travelled North and risked passing through the Golden Mist as she was emboldened by her arrogance. If she made it to the northern coast... no one knows. Kreousa, the second youngest, travelled West. It is said that they found the ruins of a small village once home to many young blood witches. They rebuilt atop of it. According to legend, the settlement still exists today, though only women inhabit it... and these women have been imbued by the ghosts of the past with small bits of blood magic. Penthesilea, the second eldest, travelled East. After drifting slightly North, she came upon a peninsula where she established the "New Pleasure Row". Today, the town is more commonly known as Thesilea. It has a matriarchal society and incorporates a mixture of Tel'Rhean and Therarask culture. Themiscyra, the eldest, travelled South. Supposedly, Themiscyra built the port city with her own hands, imbued with the passion, drive, and skill by Therarask. Legend says that Therarask visited Themiscyra in disguise, introducing themselves as Thrasos. Together, they constructed the city that would become the gateway to the island.
Saril
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