Zephyr’s Fountainhead
The picturesque hamlet of Zephyr’s Fountainhead is located amid the highest peaks of the Cloudsea Steppes adjacent to an Air Elemental Node called the Wind Well. Clouds often float below the altitude of the village giving the impression of islands on an ocean of soft white clouds. Proximity to the Wind Well has had a dramatic effect on the environment causing some landmasses to float among the clouds rather than fall as the steppes collapse. The village occupies a large steppe while smaller structures on adjacent steppes are reached by rope bridges.
The entrance to the village is dominated by the ancient Ginzang monastery where monks practice focusing their Ki to invoke the elements. Beyond the monastery is a market square with stalls where merchants hawk their wares and street urchins beg for coin. The locals are a fair mix of Air Genasi and Humans with a few Aarakocra thrown in likely amounting to sixty full time residents. The town is comprised of three tiers each with apartments of white stucco siding and red tiled rooves.
Air Genasi are a very transitory people, so many come and go over the years. The citizens who have settled down occupy the highest tier of the town next to the market square and monastery. The locals tend to be middle aged or older Air Genasi along with Humans and Aarakocra of all ages. The remaining apartments are available on a first come first serve basis, and these tend to be occupied by younger generations of Air Genasi who are more prone to wanderlust.
Zephyr’s Fountainhead gets numerous unusual visitors as the Wind Well is a permanent rift between the planes. Many elementals attempt to sneak into our plane and create mischief while a handful come through to visit their Air Genasi kin. The Ginzang monks are sworn to defend the Wind Well from elemental intrusions and monitors extraplanar visitors diligently granting only a fortnight stay. The Principality of Andimar is a small Cloud Giant fiefdom located in the Cloudsea Steppes, and occasionally some of their nobles visit town to trade or watch the arena fights.
Type
Hamlet
Location under
Comments