A GUIDE TO
by Tolger Applewyne
(Author: Andy French)
"Ah, welcome traveller! You are
here for the Coronation of King Mykel Endarr I'll warrant, yes? Or maybe I should say re-Coronation,
yes? As am I. As is everyone in this
massive throng of wanderers, travelers, sight-seers and wonder-seekers. My name is Tolger Applewyne, and Hobling though I may be, my short legs have
carried me across Avalon time and again.
I have seen many cities, great and small, but my favorite in many ways
is still
"This sea of tents, wagons, carts, and lean-tos is temporary, of course. Do you really think the Royal Guard would tolerate such a horde of rag-tag vagabonds and their trappings inside its glittering City? No, indeed! Normally, these are simple plains full of prosperous farms. But for the Coronation, as some half a million folk gather, they become by necessity a camping ground for those who have not the funds or the connections to sleep in Evendarr City itself. The same thing happened several years ago when King Joseph was crowned. Maybe you yourself will sleep here? Or maybe you have gold? Ah, it is not my business. Only, perhaps, when I have guided you well, you will spare a coin for the best guide in the City? Maybe, maybe not. Time will tell, yes? Walk with me now, west, to where the Royal Highway becomes the Royal Way, the grandest boulevard in the entire Kingdom, nicknamed - and rightly so - 'The Street of Wonders'.
"The River? Ah, yes - the Velowyn - it rises in the mountains just behind Castle Evendarr, and flows all the way north to the Old Capital of Cwyll. We must cross it here, but there is no fee, for the Royal Way is the only proper way to enter the City by land. Long, long ago it was decided that no one, not even the meanest and lowest commoner, would be refused the King's Grace. Our River is our great defender, though. See, further east, how it goes from sluggish wandering to sudden rushing? That is the work of the Dwarven Stone Mters who laid the bones of our City. They harnessed the power of the River from where it comes out of the mountains, and they made it a tool, a shield, a weapon, and much more for us. I do say us, yes, for I was born in Evendarr City, and its air is the first air I breathed. However far I travel, this is still my home.
"Look now, west, along the Royal Way. Yes, it climbs! You've noticed. That is because the City is built on hills. Seven hills to be precise, with different districts on each, and the River flows between them all, acting as a picturesque decoration, but in truth being our great shield. The streets of Evendarr City arch up and over the River in many places, and canals have been built as well. If necessary, we could collapse those bridges to stave off invaders, or at least I believe that's what the Dwarves had in mind. But the walls of Evendarr have never been breached, and no enemy stands poised to invade her, so for us the River and bridges are just enhancements to the loveliness of a City known for its beauty.
"Yes, that really is the Royal Palace all the way up at the top of the Royal Way. A King - I forget which one - built the Royal Way to allow for long, long processions heading from one end of the City to the other. And though there are stairs on the sides of the Royal Way here and there, the whole thing is one long ramp so that horses and carriages and such can make the journey. But your legs are strong, yes? And the carriages for hire are quite expensive. And I could use the exercise, so perhaps we'll walk. Besides, there is much to see and if you're not careful, the carriages will take you past some of the finest sights in the City and never even tell you they're there.
"Now that we're over the bridge, you can truly say you've been in Evendarr City proper, yes? And this is the Outer Harbor district, where some of the finer merchant and shipping companies have their offices. River trade is quite common with us, and if you crane your neck to look over those fine buildings, you can just make out the docks, yes? Be careful of that area. There's cheap enough lodgings about, but river-sailors can be an unruly lot, and you're as likely to have a tankard of ale busted over your head as have it served to you. The island you see just past the docks is not much better, being known popularly as 'The Rain Gutter'. Every city, no matter how glittering, has its seamier side, and those areas are ours. Let's move on. There are fairer places to see.
"The statues you see on the sides of the Royal Way are quite nice, aren't they? I don't know whom all of them are. Kings and Queens, Princes and Heroes, but I don't know all their names. Every once in a while a new one is added. I imagine it must be quite an honor to have your statue put up on Royal Way. Not for me though, I'm just a simple wanderer. But look again. Notice the row of tall columns on either side as far as your eye can see, the ones with the fanciful creatures holding the round globes. Each one of those globes holds a Magical Light, and there are hundreds of them - on every main thoroughfare, in the plazas and the little squares, along the canals. At night, it's as though the stars themselves came down to admire our great Capital. It's truly a City of Light.
"Ah, there. We've crossed into Lowtown - named, of course, because this is the lower area of the City, speaking strictly in terms of physical height. Rain Gutter is lower still, and between that fact and the myriad of little canals, it gets its name. Some King's project was Rain Gutter, but no King goes there now. Leave it alone, that's my advice. Lowtown's a nice enough area, though. Here's where most of the folk of Evendarr City live. They aren't rich folk, but even the poor have nice homes and a few little shops. There's a Hobling Quarter in Lowtown, and a Mystic-Wood Elf Quarter, and a small Dark Elven Quarter where they've roofed over the whole area. Even some Half-Orcs have settled in. We prize our diversity here and everyone is considered equal. It's where most of the breweries are, too, and where quite a few traders stay. There are some nice little inns, too, like 'The Tipsy Tinker' and 'The One-Eyed Troll'.
"Look off to the north. See that island? That's the Crafters' District. Want to commission something to be made? Want to have a house built, or a ship? That's where to go. There's a strong Dwarven community in the District, and the competition can be quite fierce. There's more to be seen to the west, though, so let's keep going.
“The odd island to the south is the Academy, as we call it. There's more than a few colleges and such there, including a branch of the Royal Mages' Guild. They're a very careful Mages' Guild, I must say. I think they live in constant fear of blowing up something important and being thrown out of the City, but that's just my opinion. In any case, we don't get half the crazy Mage stunts here that I've witnessed out in the further flung provinces. Shall we continue?
"Yes, another bridge, and now we're in Midtown, or 'the Mercantile' as it's often called. See these bustling side-streets? The Mercantile is the place to spend your coins in Evendarr City. You might find bargains in other districts, but nowhere will you find the craftsmanship and quality of Evendarr's wares. The merchants of the Mercantile are renowned for their scrupulous honesty and desire to stand behind their products. They will give you guarantees upon guarantees, and they can almost always be trusted. Almost. Heh.
"If you left the Royal Way and explored this island, you'd find that, towards the west, the finer shops proliferate. We do a brisk gem trade with the Dwarves of the Mountains, and some of the finest jewellers and gem-cutters in all of Avalon reside here. Press as far north along the island as you can, and you'll find Iron Street, where many blacksmiths and armorers make their residence. More Dwarves, yes. And, of course, the further west you follow Iron Street, the more expensive and fine the shops become.
"Look now to the south, and you can see Hightown. Named, not surprisingly, for its physical height as well as its lofty social nature, Hightown is what most folk think of when they think of Evendarr City. The eastern portion of the island is called 'the Colony', and there one will find oneself inundated with art. Street performers are very common there, as are conservatories for music and acting. That's where the Royal Bardic Guild is, too. There are many parks and lawns, and a large Elven district. Some of the greatest sculptors, painters, actors, composers, and writers in the Known World got their start there. Why, I saw the great Sir Lawrence of Talbotston there, practicing his enunciation, before he had even gotten his first major part in a play. The western part of the Island is Hightown, proper. There are fine shops there, and some of the oldest and grandest homes in Evendarr City, some of which are now Inns. If you have gold to burn, go there and look for famous names like 'The Golden Harp', and 'The Twelve Duchies' - even though there really are eleven Duchies, Blackstone County and Tyrangel - and even 'King's Rest', where both King Roderick and King Richard are said to have taken their meals from time to time.
"Before we cross the bridge from Midtown to the Royal Isle, I will call your attention to two things. First, notice the Grand Amphitheater there by the bridge over to the Colony. It is the ambition of every great performer in Evendarr City to cross the bridge from the Colony and perform there, for the Amphitheater is used only by command of the King. Now, look cross the Bridge into the Royal Isle. See all those Gargoyle heads spewing water from the lower side of the Royal Isle? That's where the portion of the River that flows under the castle is vented, and it makes quite a terrific roar. This bridge is called the Bard's Bridge, and many great orators and singers have honed their presentation by practicing here, trying to drown out the sound of the water with their voices. Or so the tales say. Let's cross.
"Ah, that's better. They're very loud, yes? Now, this is the Royal Isle, on the fifth and lowest terrace. There are five terraces, yes? And they rise up like a wedding cake, until one gets to the First Terrace, which is the Royal Palace. To your left you can see the Elven Glade, where the visiting nobles of the Elven Kingdoms have brought many exotic plants to form a sort of arboretum. And to your right are the gates of the Royal Menagerie, where one can see all manner of strange beasts. Those houses that stretch along the terrace are estates of the Five Old Families, and other rich and important Houses.
"The Fourth Terrace is largely dominated by the Crystal Fountain, which you now see stretching out before us. We shall have to walk around it, but it is no chore. That great building to the left of the Fountain is the Royal Museum of Arts and Sciences, where presentations of Magick and Art are brought together. We will probably not be admitted any higher on the terraces, but this one is nice, and it also houses the Royal Academies of Healing, Science, Astrology, Art, Music, and History. The great embassies are here as well, and the Fourth Terrace reflects this with its strange melange of architectural styles. The view from the Fourth Terrace is said to be one of the finest in the City.
"If we were able to go to the Third Terrace, we could see the great Ducal Households with their finely tended yards, and the lesser County Courts, which are still finer than many of the estates these nobles have back in their own lands. The Second Terrace has the four new Principality Palaces as well as some of the Great Houses of the Five Old Families. The Second Terrace also has the Presentation Portico, the biggest open area in Evendarr City, where Royal Proclamations are given before the Town Criers bring the news to the rest of the City. You can see the Great Pavilion where the Coronation is to be held. It was built especially for the occasion. Isn't it magnificent, with all the flags and banners and arms of the Kingdom and of the noble visitors from so many other lands, flying in the breeze?
"And the First Terrace, of course, is the Royal Palace. If you look carefully up, you can see where the newer portions of the palace have been attached to the old Keep, which was built round to symbolize the new unity of the Kingdom some almost six-hundred years ago. It is very beautiful, yes?
"Well, my friend, this is the end of the tour, and you will get no further along the Royal Way without noble sponsorship. Perhaps you liked the trip? Perhaps you will be generous to your humble guide, my friend? Yes? Yes! Ah, thank you, my friend, most generous. Well, now, enjoy your stay in our City. Be well, and good journeys to you."
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