Vasa (Vahssa)
A large portside town in northern Aguorn. Designed around the main pier street which extends from the docks to the outer edge of the town boundaries in a perfectly straight line. The docks are perpendicular to the end of pier street, almost mimicking the anchor kiln that lies on the horizon. The streets that make up Vasa are diagonal to Pier Street with occasional bisecting back-lanes. To outsiders, this town can be a maze but locals know to describe by the names of the intersecting streets for locations.
Commerce and retail are based by the docks or Pier Street. Manufacturing and construction areas stay near the water’s edge to enable easier loading onto ships. Most businesses here have a front side shop for residents also, the Vasa motto is “home first then outwards”, businesses that are located on the docks must help or offer goods and services to the locals too. This is a strict requirement that has made it easier for local trade but foreign trade and companies have to make an effort to support townfolk’s needs. Local shipping companies here can bring visitors to The Anchor, with regular ferry times for those who can pay.
Businesses in Pier Street include florists, carpenters, fishmongers, butchers, tailors, and grocers. Many taverns that are world-famous are located on Pier Street. Visitors can listen to seasongs and stories here in a wildly-known cheerful atmosphere. Certain streets coming off are more adult-oriented after dark, attracting other types of tourists as they pass through the region. The last day of the week is when most businesses reduce the prices to sell stock that might be expiring soon, this day makes the main shopping areas very busy. Pier street features a ship museum also, detailing Aguorns History of seafaring.
Residential areas are towards the outskirts of the town. Some small housing is available above shops but generally owned by the family running the business below. The residential areas tend to be two or three-floor semi-detached buildings with a family or person having an entire floor to themselves in the property. The inner townhouses are older and smaller and are owned by the working class, whereas the newer and more spacious housing is built in the middle to outer areas of the town. There was a problem with vermin before in the older parts of Basa, imported and bred Norr Felyn have been very handy here and are company for the locals on the boats and at home.
Running from the west is the river Shurr. This runs through the center of town before joining the sea. There are many canals and bridges that lay on the Shurr. The famous Church of Waek is surrounded by the river Shurr, at a part where the river diverged to form a little island. The church is not extremely tall but is slightly sunken in the ground to have access to the river. The church floor has pipes to the river that can be opened and closed and has a shallow water level so the feet of the congregation are submerged when they sit and pray.
The Shell is a 15-minute walk from the docks along the southern beach. It is a tourist spot, causing pilgrims to pass through regularly or families and people from the town who go to the beach to walk. Some local businesses have incorporated The Shell and The Anchor’s shapes in their creations and wares that are sold in the area.
Farmland is too wet near the ocean, so it's towards the west of the town, the fields have mini canals from the Shurr to help irrigate them. The clean water of the river and mild climate has proven great conditions for the ground-vegetables which make up a staple in the diet of Aguornians, and with sea trade - foreign nations also. Vasa is a self-sufficient town in terms of produce and trade, and a destination for many Aguornians seeking to have a good life.
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