Kermish is a merchant city. Situated along the Barma river, Kermish sees most of the trade headed to the coast to be shipped to the northern realms. The city is divided into a large market, a temple district, a citadel where the Duke holds court, merchant housing and upper class hospitality, and the docks and slums. The climate is similar to the Mediterranean/Middle East. Located in the heart of Amank, the weather in Kermish is often hot, and the city roads are largely made up of packed dirt. The buildings of the market district and the middle-income and wealthier areas are made of large natural stone blocks and beige or white marble, while the warehouses at the docks and the buildings in the lower-income areas of down are mostly wooden structures. The visual aesthetic of Kermish is largely beige and brown; akin to something one might see in the middle east.
Approaching Kermish traveling north along the King's Road from Southport, one is first struck by the fortress and the four temples that preside over the settlement. As the eye drifts down from the horizon, a bustling market lies partially obscured by warehouses and crowded buildings that rise away from the banks of the Barma River. The road takes you over an old stone bridge, and to the west you see clusters of tents and ramshackle wooden buildings, with poor wretches watching the road and approaching travelers to beg for coin; others crowd around the road the runs parallel to the river on its northern bank, hoping to be favored by a copper or two tossed from incoming river barges. As they approach, you catch the strong scent of sweat and excrement.
The Slums
The slums are located south of the Barma river. The air hangs heavy with the smell of human sweat and excrement. Rough wooden huts and canvas tents filled with holes are scattered about. The ground is hard-packed dirt and there are no roads.
The Docks
The docks are interspersed with a couple dilapidated ale houses and suspicious inns, the nearest of which is labeled the Bargeman’s Pole. The air smells of mud, fish, and unwashed flesh. The King's Road and the Barma Road join to head off to the West, where they will diverge once more as the King's road continues north and the Barma road follows the river to the ocean. Large warehouses sit just behind the docks, with dockhands busily moving cargo to and from them to waiting riverboats.
During the day, dock workers are busy unloading barges and carting goods off to the warehouses, or securing loads that will continue on out to see. Tough looking men and women guard cargo obscured by canvas tarps both on and off the boats. The west end of this district is home to the tanners, dyers, and other more pungent businesses.
As you pass through the docks and to the west, new foul odors assail your senses as you come upon the tanners and dyers. They ply their odorous crafts downriver from the rest of the town, keeping the river water relatively potable for the town's residents.
The Low District
As the road to the west of the docks winds its way upwards it passes through an area known to city residents as the low district. Kermish is constructed on a gently sloping hill, and these lower portions near the docks are home to the peasants, dock workers, and the families of polemen who work on the barges that pass through town. The low district is also home to the city administration building—which houses the jail, the vault where the tax money collects, and some offices for city officials—and the guard barracks. A local apothecary sells remedies and, for the person, poisons. The houses are clustred close together and narrow alleys create loose connections between the roads.
The Market District
Two roads wind their way upward toward the market district from the east and west sides of the docks. The southern end of this district is crowded with many two- and three-story buildings, all of which lean out precariously over the streets below, the upper levels being larger than the lower. Many people dressed in simple wool or linen clothing crowd the streets and make their way from shop to shop, running errands and taking care of the day's many tasks.
As you continue traveling northward, the ground continues to slope gently upward and the buildings straighten out, as do the roads. The bustle of shops gives way to the peace of small, middle-class estates to the west. To the east stand some of the most prominent establishments, including the farrier, blacksmith, and cooper to the south, and the tailor and bath house to the north. Settled in amongst these establishments is a modest yet comfortable inn with a sign depicting a grazing goat.
The northern end of this district comes up against a tall stone wall, behind which the temples stand. This northern edge is home not to buildings with permanent shops, as the southern and eastern portions were, but rather to many tents and stall, forming a large open-air market where people of all social statuses mingle. Amidst the cacophony of voices, you manage to make out the occasional words of the loudest hawkers; they wax poetic about the quality of their fruits, fish, cloth, and jewelry, among other things.
The market district backs up to the north side of the docks along the river. The southern end of the district is made up of small, run-down shops that sell lower quality goods. The streets in this area of town wind back and forth amidst dilapidated buildings 3 stories high.
Further north, the ramshackle homes and shops give way to rows of sturdy, 2-story buildings that line three broad avenues. These buildings house the shops that sell higher-quality goods to the middle class, patricians, and knightly classes. During market days, tents are set up down the center of each avenue.
Katrina Woodleaf owns the General Store/Trade Depot along the eastern edge of town near the market. The building is three stories tall in the tudor-esque style that contrasts sharply with most of the town. It is in exceptionally good repair and appears spotless. The first and second floors of the shop contain all manner of general trade goods, all marked at 125% market value. Katrina lives on the third floor.
Barda Lundrem sells jewlery from one of the larger buildings in the market place. He always has two body guards stationed visibly at his booth, and secretly employs two more who move discretely through the crowd. In addition to jewlery, he secretly sells illicit magic items. An arcane magic user can make a DC 20 persuasion check to get Barda to admit that he is a dealer. Barda's shop is neat and orderly, displaying a variety of rings, necklaces, and bracelets from simple, 10gp silver bands to extravagant 1000 gp necklaces and torques.
Miska Strongarm runs the blacksmith shop on the east side of town near the lower end of the Market District. Her shop is mildly untidy, as she works endlessly to supply the Duke and his men weapons and armor and making ornamental pieces to sell to travelers. She is a fair and straightforward salesperson and sells her inventory at 100% the market value.
Ellesh owns and alchemy shop in the Low District. The shop sells healing potions and other alchemical formulations openly, and also carries a secret stash of potions magical effects, as well as some magic items. Elliot is very risk averse and will not talk about his black market items until he knows he can trust the person asking.
The Gentle Goat Inn
Approaching the Gentle Goat Inn, you see that it is lovingly maintained, and is perhaps the cleanest public building in all of Kermish. Intricate fretwork in the style of the central Raegarian Empire ornaments the eaves and lines the overhanging portions of the upper floors, highlighting the fine craftsmanship of the architect, though it does seem somewhat out of place on the stone structure. From within, the gentle tones of a lute float through the air, and time seems to slow for a brief second as you feel a strong compulsion to enter and hear more.
The Gentle Goat Inn is run by Ami and Denny at the edge of the market district. The Inn is a solid wooden structure and is immaculately maintained. The taproom is filled with the scents of roasting meats, and strong spices. Rooms are 8sp per night. A meal is 5sp and ale is 5cp-1sp (depending on the strength of the beer). Wine is 1sp-2sp (depending on the quality).
The bar spans the western wall of the room and tables are scattered throughout. Built-in wooden booths ring the common room, a luxury that costs an additional silver piece per person (minimum 4). There are 10 rooms to rent.
The Temple District
Guards stand watch at the entrance to the temple district, allowing only clergy and nobility to pass between designated prayer times. Walking along the street that cuts through the center you are struck by the stark differences between each building. The temple to Berrn is low, barely 5-feet high and set into the ground. Stone steps lead down into a square building half-buried underground. Across the road to the east sits the temple of Fuerren, tall and also square, though the east side of the courtyard remains open so as not to block the light of the rising sun. A great bonfire can be heard roaring from within the courtyard. To the northwest sits Bealda's temple, a simple, curved building in front of a carefully maintained pond. Opposite that stands the temple of Amna, the tallest of the buildings. The round tower ends in a tall spire, accessible only by ascending a narrow set of stairs around the outside.
North of the Market District sits the Temple District. The Temple district is surrounded by a low, stone wall. Trees line the wall and beautiful gardens are cultivated between the buildings. The main road from the Market District open into the Temple District. Temple guards stand watch at the southern gates to the district and patrol the grounds. Commoners are permitted within the temple district during prayer times, while guildmasters and wealthy merchants are permitted free movement during daylight hours. Each aspect of Elem has their own temple in the district and their own prayer time: Fuerren at dawn, Amon at mid-morning, Berrn at mid afternoon, and Blannen in the evening. Prayers are well-attended, though the wealthy are more likely to attend the prayers of Amon and Berrn and skip those of Fuerren and Blannen. The north end of the district is marked by a higher wall that separates it from the palace grounds.
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