Clinkwell
Between the soft red sandstone of the Cliffs of Talbourne that Phelandrian's use in nearly all of their buildings and the salt filled air blowing in off the Eldorian Sea, the various edifices in the city always seem to need some sort of repair. Be it masons or carpenters, ceramicists or plasters, Clinkwell is the heart of the construction trade that keeps the Jewel of the Empire worthy of its moniker. Along its narrow lanes, perpetually dusted white with powdered lime and flecked with sawdust, they ply their trade: hewing stones into precise shapes, cutting timbers for beams, molding tiles for roofs, and preparing the secret mixture once wetted and hardened lines the inside of almost every city home. Toted to job sites by none other than the Porters' Guild, day laborers, who gather in the shelf's each morning seeking work, expertly fit these finished materials into the latest remodeling project. Despite its grime and noise, the district hums with pride; apprentices jostle for work with master builders, and foremen gather at sunset in the smoky taverns that cater to weary hands and thirsty throats.
Between the various unions of craftsmen, porters, and laborers, Clinkwell exists under the strictest regulations of any shelf, with leaders from each group meeting regularly in the back room at one of those same taverns for a hearty meal, a few mugs of ale, and to ensure that everyone involved in the trades get their fair share of coin. Even the Thieves' Guild sends its own burly representative, an often quiet but ominous presence reminding everyone that projects without the Guild's protection tend to run into unexpected accidents and delays. With all so much structure around the business of Clinkwell, the Lionguard finds little reason to patrol the shelf. Other than the occasional traffic of guardsmen travelling up from the Sluice or down from Amberlane, they rarely visit, the various trades relying on the Thieves' Guild to discipline anyone who disturbs the shelf's codes of conduct.
An Afternoon in Clinkwell
Many of the craftsmen themselves link in Clinkwell, making their homes on the floors above their workshops, their children often seen tearing through the streets or in the Shelf's small park, planted decades ago in space laid out for a second square. Some day laborers - those with seasons of experience or with their own crews - often let floors higher up in the same buildings. Common laborers, however, find the rent too much coin for their means and often trudge up from their homes in the Sluice below, happy to trade the foul odors of the undesirable trades for a bit of dust in their noses. With its focus on manual work - both skilled and unskilled - the shelf has become home to a number of expatriate communities, boasting the highest percentage of Ork and Khadra citizens in the city.
Founding Date
circa 600 AC
Type
Neighbourhood
Location under
Included Locations