The Well of Urd

The Well of Urd is where the Norns reside, it's a large floating island that's mostly populated with residents of other planes and spheres. Those who survive the portals, or are here on purpose, end up on the island if their ship remains intact. It's not uncommon to find any race, any class, here. It's a center of divinity too, as the Norns are ancient guardians of fate. They read the ebbs and flows of the universe, knowing the past, present, and futures of all. However, the rules that govern such knowledge are strict and largely unknown. The Norns cannot answer direct questions about the future, and they will obliterate anyone who tries to force information out of them with overwhelming magical might. All knowledge imparted must come at a price, and the price paid will be given an equivalent response directly tied to the personal value of the offering. Even the Gods aren't exempt from this rule, as the famous tale of how the Great All-Father Odin gave his left eye to the Well of Urd to receive the secret knowledge and wisdoms of the Universe.

The Norns have never turned anyone away, although it's not too uncommon for those who visit them in the Inner Sanctum to receive unsatisfactory answers, or responses they were not expecting to their questions. The whims of Fate are truly mysterious. However, any act of violence against them results in the instigator's immediate death, so even the most hot-headed warriors are recommended to remain passive.

The vast majority of the population on the Well comprises the poor and stranded, people looking for a way home or simply waiting for another portal home to open for them. As such, most dwellings are apartment-like, only meant for temporary residence. Closer to the top of the island near the sanctum is the more beautiful side of the city, where the wealthy and divine reside. This is where you'll find colleges devoted to the craft of divination, and plenty of mages residing. The lower on the island one goes, the more likely you are to encounter more of the unsavory sorts. Einherjar only really enforce the topmost portion of the city and island, so the lower parts are quite populated by Devils and Demons, plus evil-aligned outsiders like efreeti and the like. Succubus brothels aren't uncommon, and the most poor of the poor generally live in the slums at the bottommost tip of the island.

## Government

All are tolerated within the city so long as they obey the laws of the city which are as follows:

-No killing within the City

-No violence within the City

-No slavers/slaves

-No refunds

The city is operated and managed by the Cult of Fate, followers of the Norns and an arcane sect comprising mostly of Wizards, Sorcerers, Warlocks, Witches, and Diviners of Fate, Clerics and Paladins aren't unknown to reside here either. Clerics of Odin make a pilgrimage at least once in their lifetimes to visit the Norns at the Well of Urd.

Any patron can pay for the knowledge of portals and when they'll open, but an active forceful opening of a portal is extremely pricey. As a result, there are many people stranded on the Well. However, there are free shuttles down to Midgard for those who wish to make a life down on the disk. This is often a last resort, as Midgard has many dangers of its own, it's a place where the strongest survive, but any are welcome to prove their worth.

The Cult has also instigated a pay-wall between the people and the Norns themselves. It is 500gp per question for the Norns, and the enforcement of this is quite strict.

## Prejudices

Any that existed with the residents before they came to the port city. The city itself is Neutral on all fronts.

## Crime

Einherjar are the primary enforcement in the city and the island on the whole, these are quasi-immortal berserkers, holy and blessed, undying, and hand-chosen by the Valkyrie. They do not tolerate disruption of the rules and will punish any who are caught breaking them with lethal force, however they are warriors at heart. They can be bought to look the other way with good mead or a game of physical combat, depending on how good the characters are with their wits or brawn.

## Climate/Geography

A space port, it is always Spring-weather. Light jacket weather at worst, tank-top weather at best.