Tresthove
Tresthove, also known as the Cinder Pearl of the Sea (Seódantaínn in Elvish) is one of the major port cities on the turnwise coast of the Cainsang Concord, located close to the hublands on the shores of the Silver Sea. It is the primary seat of the Great House Van Reysburg and the capitol of the Vermillion. It lies directly rimwards of the estuary of the Dawnshine River. The city's population is mostly made up of elves and humans, with half-elves and the occasional halfling sprinkled throughout; however, a great many creatures of the feywild flock to the city in droves, seeking the Halcyon Spring in its center as a site of pilgrimage.
Description
The city is built almost entirely out of embertree wood, which is golden-colored, fireproof and gives off warmth when wet, keeping the living conditions in the city amicable despite the precipitation-prone climate of the region. The wood-shindled roofs are often painted red, making the cityscape resemble the red and gold embertree forests that the Vermillion is known for. Many of the houses and towers of the city are built on stilts as a method of avoiding both the ever-encroaching swamp outside the city walls as well as the frequent floods. The city is almost always shrouded in fog, both due to the combination of a coast, swampy terrain and a river next to it; in part, however, this is artificially encouraged through enchantments laid on the region, since even light moisture is enough to keep the embertree buildings at a cozy temperature. The city exterior wall has many gates and archways with portcullises and heavy-set floodgates that are held up by chain mechanisms inside the walls and guarded by the Vermillion Wardens. Towards the coastline, the walls slowly diminish in steps and extend out into the ocean, forming a seawall with an enclosed harbor basin. The wood-paneled marble walls are painted, etched and engraved with scenes from the city's history. During floods, the walls ward off the water from all sides, augmented by enchantments set deep in the stones themselves. Sometimes, the connection to the surrounding lands is severed entirely, and the city stands as an isolated island for a time, only reachable by water vessels. The city is roughly divided into three districts, called the Advent, the Nadir and the Shoals.The Advent
This part of the city encompasses the harbor district with a sprawling labyrinth of quays, docks and wharfs. The air is filled with bustling activity, as ships constantly dock and leave, spewing forth travellers from distant lands, traders and merchants, adventurers and feywild pilgrims. The latter arrive on strange ships fashioned from unknown types of wood, never explaining how they got there or where they depart to when their time to leave comes again. Legend has it they emerge from the mists in the Bay of Mirrors. The city's largest commercial areas are found in the Advent, which is illuminated by ever-lasting lanterns, enchanted, floating glass orbs burning with cold, golden fire within. The port is overlooked by the Noonray's Lighthouse, a temple to Pelor.The Nadir
The largest part of Tresthove, the residential areas of the wealthier citizens are found here. Towering above all is the Cinderkeep, the residence of Great House Van Reysburg, fashioned entirely from emberwood, marble and glass, with seven spires reaching towards the sky. In the Wildmother's Square in the center of town is the Halcyon Spring, an dodecagonal basin filled with neverending freshwater, under the branches of four great embertrees. This serves as a public temple to Melora, Sehanine and Corellon (the three deities most connected to elves and the feywild) at the same time. Legend has it that the three deities guided the first elven settlers to the location where they founded Tresthove; Corellon guided the elves through the wilderness, Sehanine showed their path with moonlight and Melora filled the spring with everlasting water. The Halcyon Spring's water never freezes during winter, and at night reflects the moon and stars brighter than they are in the sky, illuminating the great embertrees from below. Droves of feywild creatures congregate here, especially during Selenian Equinoxes, to observe various religious ceremonies. Some fill small bottles of the water to take to their home plane with them and brew medicines from. Others throw coins in the pool or add drops of water to it from springs in their homelands. Annually on the Night of Solace (Corevar 24.), the citizens of Tresthove gather at the Halcyon Spring to honor and remember those that died during the year. Floating candles engraved with the names of the departed as well as prayers to the gods are lit and set to drift on the waters of the spring.The Shoals
Close to the wall and the river are the Shoals, the less wealthy area of Tresthove. While crime is kept low through frequent patrols of the Vermillion Wardens, poverty still runs through these streets. Still, there are many artists to be found here, playwrights and troubadours, painters, actors and poets. The largest open-air theater of the city, the Crescent Court, is found here, where many famous artistic careers were forged in the applause of the crowds.
Type
Large city
Owner/Ruler
Characters in Location
Comments