Bridge District
This district, encompassing the area of the huge bridges that span the river, as well as the great Central Island between them, is considered the heart of the city. The two bridges are constantly filled with traffic, and both are covered by elaborate wooden superstructures lining both sides of the main thoroughfare and that contain numerous shops, inns, and residences. Many of the city’s most influential and popular temples are found here, most notably the Temple of Mitra, widely considered to be Westden’s patron deity.
Infrastructure
King’s Bridge
This bridge is named for an ancient bandit king who first built a bridge and keep on this location centuries ago. In accordance with the pig keeper’s prophecy of old, the bandit king’s name has been forgotten in association with the bridge and most folk just assume it to have been erected by some Foerdewaith overking or other in olden times. The bridge itself is some 400ft wide, with both flanks crowded with shops and apartments stacked one atop the other so that someone walking across the bridge is barely aware that they’re on a bridge at all. The span soars in a gentle arc above the western Great Amrin River just to the north of Merthan’s Island reaching a height of 120ft above the water at its center and 70ft at either end. The bridge is also sometimes known as the Gatehouse Bridge for the famous inn that stands at its western end.Lyre Bridge
Lyre Bridge, like King’s Bridge, has its length crowded with all manner of shops and structures that occupy the majority of its 400ft width. The slope of this bridge is somewhat steeper than that of King’s Bridge in that its center rises higher above the river to accommodate the majority of the river’s water travel, and its ends are closer to water level due to its lower banks. At its center the span reaches at height of 140ft, and its ends are a mere 35ft above water level. However, its 1600ft length keeps the slope from ever being too steep to negotiate by cart or beast, even in the iciest weather. The three great stone pylons that support the bridge along its length were built by the Silverhelm dwarves and sunk deep into the bedrock of the river’s floor to provide stability with even the fiercest flood waters and in an architectural feat to rival even that of the Great Bridge to the south.New Gods Avenue
In stark contrast to the ruins of the Old Temple district, this street is lined with new, beautiful, lavishly-designed shrines and temples to the patron gods of Westden.Inn on the Bridge
In the early days of Westden, this stout gatehouse protected the bridge and the main entrance onto the Central Island. Consisting of two strong towers connected by a walkway, the gatehouse withstood several attacks by the city’s enemies. As Westden grew, the gatehouse became less and less important and today the two towers are covered with ivy and serve as one of the city’s premiere inns. Barracks have been replaced by luxurious guest rooms, the mess hall has been converted to a lavish dining area, the dungeon is now a wine cellar, arrow slits now bear fine glass panes, and the entire place is decorated with a martial flair, an echo of its previous life. The inn’s rooms are lavishly furnished with mahogany and ash beds, tables, and chairs. The walls of the inn are equipped with a system of brass tubes that open into each room, and each room has a number of small brass orbs, each with a different room number and rune inscribed on it. These orbs are dropped down the tubes to request service, based upon the specific rune — one for clean sheets, one for a meal, one for hot bathwater, and so on. This remnant of the keep’s old communication system serves the guests well. Goled (male dwarf) is a former soldier who retired when he lost several fingers from one hand, and purchased the gatehouse from the city. Long in disrepair, the gatehouse was renovated by Goled and his dwarven relatives to become a near-legendary inn that is famous even in many foreign lands. Goled is a member of the Stoneworkers Guild, which often holds its meetings here. Rooms at the inn vary from 2–10gp per night depending on size and accommodations. Meals are 2–8gp and always feature different cuisine. Fine wines including Vinewood Old Vintage (20gp per bottle) and ales such as the inn’s specialty, Drawbridge Dark (4sp per mug) are also served. The ubiquitous Brin Zwiescher Ale is absent from the menu, as Goled finds the stuff all but undrinkable.Happy Feet
This small brick building contains all manner of shoes, boots, and slippers from nearly giant size to those so minute only a fairy could wear them properly. Thay (male halfling) works here at all hours of the day and night, happily whistling and humming to himself. He has no time for swindlers or thieves, and more than one would-be robber has been found unconscious on the city street. Constantly happy, always joking and telling horrid puns, Thay has become something of a fixture in the neighborhood, selling shoes of all kinds for slightly higher (up to 25% more) than standard prices.Light of the Truth-Speaker
Amazing almost beyond description, the Light of the Truth-Speaker stands like a beacon among the splendors of Westden. High Harpist Jared Strahn and 8 Brothers of Song (male human) lead services here. More performance hall than formal church, the auditorium is commonly used for public recitals and debate. The grounds are covered in lush shrubbery, and a winding walkway leads up to the temple’s main door.Temple of Skilled Hands
Dre’uain the Lame, god of craft, is arguably second in popularity only to Mitra among the folk of Westden. The Temple of Skilled Hands serves as the center of Dre’uain’s worship in the city, and is a popular destination for craftsfolk of all sorts. The temple itself is an imposing hall of grey stone, its exterior carved with images of creation and craftsmanship. The entire structure was built without the use of a single nail; rather every piece of stone and wood was carved and fitted together flawlessly. Hundreds of artisans labored for years on the temple, and the finished result is one of the most remarkable structures in this part of the world.Shrine of Baccho
This small marble building is carved with images of beautiful nymphs and youths frolicking among wild beasts, drinking from jugs of wine, feasting on grapes, and the like. Drunkards and vagrants often mill around the shrine, hoping for free handouts, which the priests and devotees of Baccho occasionally give. Inside, the air is thick with purple lotus smoke. Upon the marble altar is a great golden goblet, the Cup of Baccho. The cup is filled each morning by the priests, and those who wish to gain the god’s favor come here to drink from it. Worshippers include tavernkeepers, decadent nobles, and those who simply want to have a good time. Merchants who serve wine, ale, and spirits come here regularly, fearful that without the Bacchus’ blessing, their business will fail. The shrine is tended by Tobias Dricken (male human), a wild-looking priest of Baccho with dark hair and an unkempt black beard. He is assisted by four temple maidens called the Maena (female human). The Maena serve wine from the Cup of Baccho to all guests. They are charming and lovely unless angered, at which time they activate their rage abilities and attack their foes savagely. They wear thin silk robes and cloaks made from the pelts of leopards, an animal sacred to Baccho.Shrine of Freya
This temple is a peaked longhouse with end caps carved into the shape of dragons. The walls are decorated with stylized wheat sheaves, and inside a large statue of the goddess is always adorned with fresh flowers, even in the depths of winter. A large log fire always burns in the center of the longhouse. The shrine is tended with care by Zoey (female halfling), a young woman who has been known to venture out of the city with adventurers, leaving the care of the temple to her acolytes. She sees this as a good opportunity to spread the word of Freya and to learn of events outside the city. Zoey is a kind-hearted woman, and offers healing free to followers of Freya, or those of good alignment. She is a great hater of the undead. Being an occasional adventurer, she is known to raise dead heroes of like alignment for a compensatory donation to her shrine.Shrine of Gromm
The storm god, Gromm the Thunderer, has only a handful of devotes in the city, and these maintain this small, open-roofed shrine. Worshippers and those who seek the gods favor pray before the statue of the god, leaving small offerings in the form of hammers carved from stone, gold, food, and ale. During stormy nights, this shrine is said to be the scene of spectacular lighting strikes. Magnus the Lawbreaker (male human) is the high priest of the small group, and is usually found here or nearby.Temple of The Spider
This temple is in the shape of an enormous black marble dome, with silver inlay forming a web all across its surface. Stone spiders crouch where gargoyles would normally be found on other temples, and the place is tended by mysterious black-clad priests and priestesses. The deity known only as The Spider has a small congregation, and few admit to worshipping here. The temple was built many years ago, and so far the priests pay their taxes to the city and do not bother anyone. Inside the dome is a maze of hallways and circular rooms. In the exact center is a hemispherical crystal chamber, and in the center of the chamber is a great globe containing a black metal statue of a spider. High priest D’banrah (male elf) has convinced his congregation that this statue is actually a material manifestation of the Spider.The Pearl Earring
This small jewelry store in the Bridge District is run by Levis Prochnov (male human). Levis specializes in pearls of various types, including necklaces, earrings, rings, and any other items that can be crafted from pearl, seashells or mother-of-pearl. His shop is also popular with arcane spellcasters, who buy pearls from him to use in spell preparation.Eldon’s Residence
Eldon (male halfling) has written many novels and plays in this small bookstore. His best-known works are biographies of famous city bards and heroes; he is a bit of a muckraker, and his works are full of descriptions of illicit affairs, murders, personal problems such as gambling and alcoholism, and other scandalous matters. The nobles don’t think much of Eldon and his works, but he continues to be popular with the common folk.Shrine of Tykee
Another of the local churches-on-the-rise, the Shrine of Tykee is a small building on the west side of Central Island. The shrine’s proximity to the Fortune’s Fool Casino and Fatima's College contributes to its foot-traffic immensely. High Priestess Hellen Fortuna (female halfling) is not above adding a little “showmanship” to her services, and many bards have taken part in her sermons. Her few acolytes on-premises offer blessings to those making their way to the Fortune’s Fool or to students heading in for exams or recitals at the college. Hellen Fortuna seeks to gain prominence in Westden, and is frequently found blessing the city watches to have “the best of luck”.Minotaur Meats
This unfortunately-named establishment is the home to one of the finest butchers and smokers in all of Westden. Jaikson the Man-Bull (male human) is a barbarian of the northern plains that has taken his experience of smoking and salting meats and brought these newfound delicacies to the “big city”. Sausages, jerkies, salted and dried trail rations, and prime, thick-cut steaks are his specialty. On occasion an old acquaintance of his, a barbarian wanderer called Ostag, stops by Jaikson’s shop, and they end up drinking late into the night swapping tales of the old days — Ostag bragging of all the times he has saved Jaikson’s life and Jaikson bragging of all the times he has killed Ostag. As a side business, Jaikson has hired a former food-cart worker, a halfling named Rebekka (female halfling) to help him establish a “meat-on-a-stick” franchise, featuring sausages and jerkies on short skewers. The franchise has proven to be extremely popular with college students on the go, and late-night revelers stumbling home.The Monkey Sees
This small, out of the way shop is fairly well hidden from the rest of Westden. Known only to a few regulars, this esoteric curiosity is accessible through a single, sinister-looking alleyway on the south side of King’s Bridge. The door to the shop lies beyond a stone arch, and in the keystone of the arch is a carved alcove holding a lifelike baboon statue for which the shop is named. This sculpture looks down with a malign intelligence, an ankh clutched to its breast in one hand, a scribe’s stylus in the other. Boasting a collection of occult items and books to rival that of Thilo, the shop is part library but even more so a curiosity shop of the strange and macabre. Proprietors Hoge (male human) and Deagle (male human) are an eclectic duo bordering somewhere between expertise and madness. They are the stuff of legend in after-hours horror tales at the college, and to visit there shop after dark is a common challenge for younger students. Deagle is arguably one of the best-read booksellers in the city and specializes in creatures both mystical and mundane, and while Hodge purveys a laconic demeanor regarding his gifts, he is actually an accomplished medium and can commune with spirits quite readily.
Location under
Comments