Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #304

Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #304 

November 1st, 2023 

• Number: 304 

• Name: Deep Dive on a Site of Interest:  The Gateway Complex – Part 3 

• Location: Western Gold Mountains northwest of the City-State of Carasta 

• Population (approx.): 155 (Downslope aka The Lower Levels) 

• Brief: The Gateway Complex began as a simple wooden, then stone, barrier across the mouth of the crevasse. Passive defenses and simple observation proved insufficient when, as the ancient archives of the Arcanist’s Guild (a subset of the Arcane Guild devoted to pure research on magical structure and phenomena) related, a rather large and unhappy herbivore transited the Gateway and plowed through the walls and ran amuck downslope for several weeks until caught. The Builders Guild was hired to fill the crevasse with a massive, reinforced gatehouse with guard posts on either side. This was the first portion of the Main Level. In the years to follow, structures have been crafted into the sides of Nuan Malie, above and below the gates. Above the gate, looking inward, is a lookout which, as the main observers present are Arcanists, appears more like a luxurious lounge. Present, preternaturally it appears, to observe most recent transits of note, including the Deva Iysel, was Vakas Firfate. 

• Vakas Firfate, 275, male High Elf, is a powerful Mage and a member of the Arcanist's Guild. He is tall and slightly stooped from bending down to Human's level. He wears his brown hair short and has dark blue eyes. Vakas wears long green robes with a collar and the mark of the Arcanist's Guild on it. He uses a birch staff that has runes engraved all over it, a present from his grandfather. Vakas is aloof with others unless you get him talking about portal magic, and then he is pretty effusive. 

• Vakas came to the Gateway on an order from the Arcanist's Guild. He is very proud to be chosen. The Complex contains a vast library of portal magic, and Vakas is studying it fervently. Vakas was born with the unique gift of sensing extra-planar entities. He uses this gift to alert the Guild when something new arrives through the gate. 

• Vakas lives at the Bored Librarian Inn. Every afternoon at 4 pm, he meets his best friend, Keaven Gemgift, 280, male High Elf, for ale and the daily special. The two of them talk over the day's events and play a round of chess or go for a walk. Vakas just started dating Enrie Oakheart, 172, female High Elf. She works as a librarian and has helped him find books and scrolls that he needs. 

• Geography: The Gatehouse of the Gateway Complex (location 2 see below) is the largest and oldest building of the main level. It has been rebuilt several times and is continuous enhanced by the onsite Builders and Arcanists as the Gateway can have some unusual effects on its surrounds. It features 2 massive vault-like doors with a trap and portcullis laden passageway in between. Guard positions are built on each side with the Arcanists Lookout above on Up 1 (the 1st level above). Vakas’ residence, the Bored Librarian Inn (location 3 see below) is 2 levels below the main level (sometimes called Lower Level 2, Downslope 2 or simply Down 2) and just a bit north. There are two main elevators (locations E) and a half-dozen staircases that connect the lower, main and upper levels.