Oddstoke

Oddstoke is the second third city in Elphora, with a dedication to Eris, Goddess of Deception. The city is somewhat built into the mountain range bordering with Zelindra, and is reasonably hidden being inside of a forest. The city in known for it's large mining population, mining coal. It also has a prison mine, where dangerous but non-magical criminals are sent to serve time. The prison population in Oddstoke is very large. The entire prison is underground, built into the mountains, and the inmates don't see the sun again until they have served their time. It has very harsh conditions. The city itself is made of lots of winding staircases, narrow alleyways and darker corners. While this might be scary for some, and may encourage crime, the locals enjoy it. There's lots of shortcuts and hiding places. The city covers a large area travelling vertically up the mountain but isn't very wide. Oddstoke is a mostly human population, although it has a higher density of changelings then anywhere else in Elphora. Most try to assimilate with humans however ones that don't want to or are caught out as changelings (If someone is suspected of being a changeling with good evidence, a chunk of their hair is cut, then they are kept in a holding cell for 24 hours - the length of time it would take for the hair to return to its natural form if it was changeling hair) they are pushed to live in a slum area of the city, which can then be more difficult for them to escape the situation. Changelings face a discrimination here that they do not tend to over the rest of Vanor but it is one o the only known places with a dedicated and exclusive changeling population, so despite the subpar living conditions a number of changelings chose to live there. A unique changeling culture seems to be developing. It is well know that the people of Oddstoke are very superstitious. There are many legends and tales of what lives up the mountain range, with each local giving different stories of the horrifying monsters that live up the mountain. All locals refuse to climb the mountain range. Due to the superstition it can take a long time for the people of Oddstoke to accept newcomers, although once accepted the city has a strong community feel to it. Oddstoke has a constant mist over it. This can be off putting for new arrivals, but the locals believe that this is Eris' way of protecting them from whatever lives in the mountains, to keep them hidden. Oddstoke is a popular place if you wish to have your fortune read, with many fortune tellers of different mediums being available. There is an abandoned building in Oddstoke that intrigues travellers and tourists but that locals don't seem bothered by. No one can name what it is or used to be and none have ever stepped inside. It's not uncommon to see people camping outside the city: it is pretty much the only way to get in and out of Zelindra but some people are hesitant to stay inside the city walls. It is not uncommon to get Zelindran residents travelling by boat through the city, so there are the occasional merchants that trade from the river. On the 5-6th of Rison (month 4) Oddstoke hosts Erleen (the fools fair) to celebrate Eris. The leader of the city is Duchess Inka Nethersworn, who is pushing the local fear of the mountains, as well as trying to inspire more hatred towards the changeling population. She and her family live in Palace Castia

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