Wending

## **Intro**

Wending is a Chalcedonian town which is situated on a natural nexus of magical ley line energy.

Its nearest neighbours include Ossan, which is roughly four hours by boat to the north-west, and The Dark Quarter, which is closer still.

The nearest Court City is Telarum, which is to the south-east of Wending.

## **Description**

Wending is described as a "decent-sized town," but is compact and thus fairly quick to traverse. It is located in a large cavern which is not far underground, with some small breaks in its ceiling which let in a little surface light. It is bisected by a river, the two halves of the town being connected by a bridge.

The northern half of the town includes the Merchant District. This is the side on which the docks were originally built, and so hosts most of Wending's shops and storage yards. It also contains the North Square, which has some places to sit, lamps, and trees with black leaves.

The southern half of the town includes the Residential District, as well as the Old District, where the Festival Square can be found.

Wending's architecture mirrors that of Paeleuah. The cobblestone streets are well lit with both mundane and magical lamps. The buildings are painted in light colours so that they are easy to see in the gloom. Most of the houses in the Residential District look to be of similar shape and style, as though they were all built at the same time, but older buildings can be found in the Merchant District.

#### **The Festival Square**

The Festival Square is adjacent to the river in the southern half of Wending. It is the primary location for Wendingsfael celebrations.

The area is surrounded by buildings, and is well-lit by both lampposts and floating orbs of magical light. In the centre of the square is a statue, which resembles a spire with a star atop it, and which is marked with a symbol that was not recognisable to the party. It is presumed to date back to the founding of the town.

#### **Foraging Fields**

Much of the town's food supply (including bushels of gloamberries) is gathered by foragers who collect food in and around the forests west of town. These are rather more well-tended than the southern forests, which the townsfolk typically avoid.

The foraging fields are not fully farmland but nor are they fully wild. Some bushes have been planted on purpose and the bioluminescent plants seem to have been cultivated to provide the area with sufficient light. The area hosts some buildings for storage and where the workers take their breaks.

#### **Aqueducts**

West/northwest of the town, close to a waterfall, there is a network of aqueducts. They are of varied heights of around twenty feet and supported on pillars. They have covered portions at intervals and can be accessed by ladders.

## **Population**

Wending's residents are very varied. The town hosts a large Paeleusian population, some humans of Shirali origins or descent, a considerable number of dwarves, and a surprising number of rarer non-humans, including tieflings, aarakocra, and lizardfolk.

## **Notable Locations**

##### **North of River**

* The Golden Hammer (smithy + armoury)
* Polska's (magic shop)
* The Spinneret (tailors)
* Shrine to Errant

##### **South of River**

* Festival Square
* The Moonlight's Rest (inn)
* Wending Townskeep
* The Wending Archives
* Sanctuary of Mayadine (outskirts)

## **Notable People**

*(for all known residents, see Residents of Wending)*

* Krill - innkeeper
* Yen'sal - archivist

## **History**

Wending was founded "a couple of centuries" ago by a party of seven adventurers. This group had been employed as mercenaries to eliminate a group of cultists - The Cult of Nera - who were using the area's unique ley line energy to fuel a ritual. Having triumphed over the cult, the adventurers went on to found the town of Wending.

It is possible that a number of these adventurers may have been tieflings, as a list of their names (recorded in a book in the Wending Archives) included several traditional tiefling 'virtue' names.

## **Culture**

The use of magic is evident everywhere in Wending, which has a strong focus on enchantment and illusion magic.