The Beacon

Location at which all civilized, sentient life arrives after being Shunted. Small, independent settlement equipped to provide a night or two. Can provide basic supplies and adventuring gear, and has a small self-sufficient economy to provide for itself without much help from the main cities.

All civilized life is transported here when they are released from timelock.

The Beacon consists of three concentric rings. The innermost circle at the Beacon is paved with stone and with a thick wooden wall. The portal itself is within a small circle that is also circled by a wooden wall; once released from timelock, one is apprehended and detained by local soldiers. Orientation is given, then they leave the innermost circle. This donut of space between both walls contains a handful of government buildings. The main governing building is here, along with the barracks, armory, and vault for the Beacon. There is also a shelter here for citizens to hide in during sieges. The shelter has a long tunnel that empties into the nearby river - it has a false wall that is obvious once broken, so it’s a one-time thing for citizens to use to escape, not a reoccurring entryway. Everything else in the Beacon exists between the outermost wall and the donut wall.

There are a handful of forges in the Beacon that are tasked with arming the settlement soldiers. They also maintain a small surplus of gear for new adventurers. There is, however, one main forge that handles complicated or important tasks. The two dwarves that run the forge are unlikely to make custom items for anyone that they haven’t gotten to know quite well, as their impact on the community is great and they cannot help everyone. Most of the other dwarven smiths moved to Shattered Mountain to join the other migrating craftsmen in pursuit of training and fame. The agriculture division is managed by Herb Harrington, a farmer and early inhabitant of the Beacon. When temperatures began to fall, he mandated the construction of large greenhouses. The constant military presence of the Beacon made it an ideal candidate for a library, and thus the New World Library was built by Enlana Feynor. Anyone who Shunts in with books is heavily encouraged to donate them for copying. The original book is eventually returned along with one free copy as compensation. Military scouting missions are coordinated or personally carried out by Rosilia “Rose” Vayadril, a wood elven ranger. The Beacon has a medium sized market that creates all sorts of home goods and goods for travelers. Magic items are considered priceless, even minor ones.

The Beacon only has two magic users in their entire population. One can only cast low level transmutation and abjuration magic, and spends all of his focus on an Alarm system that is spread outside the settlement to warn of invaders. This allows them to farm outside their walls without employing extensive scouts to reduce raids. The other magic user is a Spellcasting Druid that came across a fey spirit by chance. This Druid chooses to meet their abilities completely secret because they fear how the settlement will treat them after the fact.

There is an empty area in the Beacon that is dirt and grass. It is a giant circle that is set up for large traveling caravans or nomadic groups. They can set up their own tents. Basically allows groups to make encampments inside the city as opposed to outside the city. The city also uses the space for public projects on occasion, such as festivals, tournaments, or military training events.