Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #285

Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #285 

October 13th, 2023 

• Number: 285 

• Name:  Deep Dive on a Site of Interest: Tolfastun – Part 5 

• Location: Northwest Tuton Maug of Noldrune, southeast of Anum Taag 

• Population (approx.): 511 (Elven Enclave) 

• Brief: Business conducted within the walls of Tolfastun reflects the dual nature of the citadel. The merchant’s circle, about the main level, reflects the typical artisan and service establishments found in any town or city. Traditional shops feature wares common to the area brought in by local farmers, foragers, hunters and trappers. Bakers, brewers and chefs buy from the shops to serve visitors and locals with no desire or time to cook for themselves. Crafters build anew or repair the old across the spectrum of needs. But there is a small group of “venture” merchants who specialize in the rare and unique, most of which do not have a storefront but interact with clients behind the closed doors of their apartments or the private rooms of taverns and inns. These merchants trade in clues, stories or rumors, provided through interactions with the scholars and seers of the guilds and via examination of relics found in the hidden or unexplored levels by scroungers and workers in the underdark. Information in hand, the merchants mount ventures to the far corners of Aenwyld in search of riches and artifacts. They depart in all fashion, whether by foot or horse out the gates, via airship from a landing pad atop the Sky Guardians Aerie or in rare cases, via Wayfinder at the waypoint. 

• Reyxina (Xina) Eylesh, 101, female High Elf, is a bodyguard for a wealthy merchant, Crajeon Oakenbreeze, 175, male High Elf. She is tall and lithe with a thin waist but muscular upper body. She has long lavender hair that cascades down her back. Her silver eyes size people up when she first meets them. Xina wears leather armor pants and a heavily enchanted chain shirt. She is skilled in various weapons but favors broadaxe and ninja throwing stars. Her temperament is gruff and abrupt until she knows what you want, and then she is open and friendly. 

• Xina enjoys working for Crajeon but has recently been getting death threats. He sells various items, and most of them are pretty expensive. He also will take commissions to locate particular items. Xina has discovered that some items are obtained through less than honorable means. She is okay with that, but it does make her job more difficult. To better deal with the newer threats, Xina has enrolled in some martial arts classes in the evenings and is enjoying those. 

• Xina lives with Crajeon in a large residence in the Elven enclave of Tolfastun. She has a small room near her employer to get to him quickly if he needs help. On her days off, she spends time with her father, Valar, male High Elf, 230. The two of them enjoy playing trivia games at the local tavern. Xina also gets together once a week with her friend, Vallee Quieri, High Elf, 98. They enjoy crocheting together and talking about the goings on in Tolfastun. 

• Geography: Traditional merchants, as previously described, occupied the circle about the main levels of the citadel (location 5 see below). Specialty venture merchants, such as Crajeon Oakenbreeze, own apartments on the upper levels of the Elven and Faeries residences (location 8 see below) with prime views of either the central chamber or the exterior (as Crajeon prefers). Some also, like the Arcane Guild, maintain their own secret vaults in the depths of the underdark (working with the deep folk to ensure privacy and safety). Crajeon, and his fellows, are some years of negotiation, have access to a landing platform atop the Sky Guardians Aerie (location 4) for departure via airship or diskcraft.