Barstone

**Barstone** is a port city of the DKE, sitting on the northeastern coast of Ekrustia, south of Fioe and Eastpar.

It receives traffic via the Stonewash river on which it sits, and is connecting the continental DKE trade with the incoming one from the eastern continent Bellost and Splendor. It is the southernmost harbor of the DKE on the eastern part of the Ekrustian coast - to its south the rocky coast gets dominated by a mountain range, south of which is the free port of Three Cliffs.

Barstone has a large lighthouse able to survey the coast on a great distance, up to the mountains to the south. All of the city is built on the northern part of the Stonewash, as the river is too wide to be bridged at its mouth.

## Northshore

Northshore is the sea harbor of Barstone, with all docks there the property of Citizen Barstone. When Ascension arrived in mid-3061, the harbor had a section for merchants which also held a Bank Goldship; there was a section for the sailing ships of the Barstone fleet, with the flagship being a frigate-sized three-master, and there were sections for fishermen and even largely unoccupied mooring spots on the far side.

Large parts of Northshore are described as a slum for laborers and fishermen. Known inhabitants are the young orphan girl Nicket, and the tavern owner Jer who takes care of homeless children in return for them doing errands and bringing guests to his establishment. Another inhabitant there is Caleb, owner of a rowing barge for rent.

Northshore's buildings get more representative the farther they are from the harbor, and in the better parts there are many warehouses, street merchants and wealthier crowds. Northshore borders directly on Hightown, but high walls prevent access to Hightown from the seaport part of the city.

## Riverside

Riverside is a commercial shipping district and generally wealthier than Northshore. It is located roughly to the south of Northshore.

The Bank has set up an enclosed compound further up the river, which also has a Teleportation platform. Estervale and likely Ambermar, Goatcrossing, Bowcraig and Eastspar could be in teleportation range - or not, like Fioe which doesn't have such a platform.

## Hightown

Hightown is the place where the elites are living, separated from the rest of the city by very thick walls. While the rest of the city is accessible to every person, entering Hightown is restricted to both locals and foreigners unless they can provide proper papers or let themselves subject to a search. Guild plates count as proper documents, allowing free roaming for adventurers. The Watch has no part in guarding the city, which is done by the Citizen's constables instead.

Hightown holds the Citizen's palace in its center; businesses, restaurants and craftspeople shops, and an access for Delving in the western part, right next to the local Guild branch.

The small Watch outpost in the northern part of Hightown had only three officers in 3061: Fields, Sana, and Mattem. The Watch doesn't have much importance in Barstone, and Barstone is also not a priority city for the Watch - to the point that officers are begging affluent Guilders for anything they can spare.

As Barstone is an expensive place to live in, it has a large opulent Guild branch where low Bronzeplate clerks aren't likely to find employment. The Guild is surrounded by a palisade, and has several large buildings: A dormitory, a tavern, a Havenheild Outfitter and various other shops, large training grounds, dueling rings and a Monster pit/arena with (among others) a Fatbird and a slime. This also serves for entertaining the larger population. The "Delving" is right next to the Guild, accessible via horse-powered winch-lifts. It goes down very deep and reaches a ranked zone of six, but is close to rank seven - and considered the most promising (public) Delving in the DKE. There are also three lairs, managed by the Guild. The complex's capacities served 300 bronzeplates and also 5 silverplates. Local Guild leader is Everiss. Other Barstone Guilders include Tiller and Twoah.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Chapter 202
2. ↑ Chapter 191
3. ↑ Chapter 204
4. ↑ Chapter 194
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Chapter 203
6. ↑ Chapter 184