Bisected by the great Thaydin River, the Grand City of Pervima is a major city on the continent of Tryemys. Surrounded by flat land used for farming outside of the western and southern walls, the city is bordered on the north by the Naigalan forest, and the ruins of Fort Peligos at the foot of Mount Valerian can be seen from the eastern guard towers. Because of its location on the Thaydin River, the city is a trade hub and home to members of every civilized race on the continent. Dominant among the myriad races are the Crailin, a human offshoot that are known for their exceedingly long, nimble fingers, the bluish hue of their skin, and pupil-less eyes that change color during each of the six stages of their lives.
During the initial planning of the Grand City of Pervima, following the destruction of the Feraxid by Sidis Pervima's forces at Fort Peligos, the Crailin were consulted extensively because of their knowledge concerning the Thaydin River. Sidis Pervima, hero and founder of Pervima, rewarded the help of the Crailin by setting aside a large swath of land inside of the marble walls for them to call home. Few citizens of the city know, or even guess, that Lord Sidis Pervima has ruled the Grand City for nearly three thousand years. The graves behind the Pervima manor, marking the resting place of each Lord, are empty, and Sidis must fake his death and the rise of an heir every ninety years or so through the use of his powerful magic in order to maintain the facade of a perfectly normal ruler.
The Garden of Colored Melody and the Forest of Whispered Thought
The only wild growth within the high marble walls of the Grand City of Pervima, the garden and the forest constitute three square miles of space that is surrounded by ornate silver fencing. There are two entrances, one from the north and one from the south. The garden acts as a buffer between the forest and the city on all sides and the great number of flowers and interesting plants draw residents of Pervima for morning strolls, afternoon naps, and lover's meetings. Those who walk the garden during the early hours of the morning, when all is still and quiet, have reported hearing a melody, the barest whisper of a hum, that seems to sway back and forth with the wind. Most who have heard it say that they would gladly have listened to it all day, but the noise of the city as it wakes always drowns out the soft music. Nobody tends the garden and yet it always seems maintained; the hardiest plants for the season will appear in place of those that have withered, and anything that is picked or destroyed is replaced in its full glory the next day.
The Forest is only rarely entered. Those who stray close to the densely packed trees often hear voices with the rustle of each branch. Those who have entered the forest to do it harm have either returned in a state of madness or have never been seen again.
On cloudy, moonless nights, the people of Pervima have seen lights of different colors glowing amongst the garden and the forest, but talk of the Fay has discouraged all but the bravest from investigating.
Lord Pervima’s Manor
Set atop a hill that overlooks the city, Pervima Manor is the home and resting place of the ruling family of the city. It is an impressive three story structure with a tower in the rear that looms another thirty feet above the main complex. The expertly crafted stonework of the building is untarnished and, at dusk, can just barely be seen to glow a soft magical blue. The steepled roof is broken only by the addition of a few chimneys that rarely issue any form of smoke. The windows are tall and broad but dominated by heavy black drapes. The focus of the well maintained lawn and gardens is a large fountain topped with a statue of the original Lord Sidis Pervima, founder of the Grand City of Pervima. A plaque at the foot of the statue reads “To our Generous and Gentle Lord – A Dedication from his People."
Citizens are welcome to visit the complex at all hours and meet with officials that speak for Lord Pervima during the day. Lord Pervima himself only holds court immediately following nightfall, which most believe is due to his busy schedule during the day.
Behind the tower of the Manor lies a plot of land that is thought to hold the remains of each Lord to have presided over the Grand City of Pervima. Thirty headstones, each crafted from the same stone that the manor itself is made of, are arranged in five lines. The Lords of Pervima have been well known for the privacy they maintain regarding their personal lives. No public weddings take place, yet there is always an heir, and no one from the city has ever been invited to the funeral of a past Lord. Most citizens overlook the peculiarity of it because every Lord of Pervima has been a gentle ruler during peace and a ferocious defender of the city in times of strife.
The Retaw Inn
Built almost entirely on top of the Thaydin River, the Retaw Inn is believed by most to be magically anchored to the small plot of land that part of the building actually occupies. As the largest, most well supplied, and easily accessible place of refuge for those who travel by way of the Thaydin, the Retaw Inn is a constant source of light and sound within the Grand City of Pervima. Eight stories tall and built from almost every conceivable material except for leather, each floor is offset from the floor below it in a way that makes the entire building appear to be reaching across the Thaydin to the opposite shore.
The first three floors of the inn are dedicated to food, drink, and entertainment. Griff's Grub and Grog on the main floor is especially well known because it is the first place that visitors see, and the last place that troublemaker's see before Griff, a nine foot tall iron golem and owner of the inn, tosses them into the river through a window behind the bar. Most visitors count this among the many available forms of entertainment at the Retaw Inn.
The other five floors are made up of visitor rooms, staff rooms, and meeting spaces. Unique to the buildings construction, the Retaw Inn also boasts a harbor below the main floor for all but the largest ships. This eliminates the need for long voyage sailors to carouse the streets of Pervima looking for a fine drinking establishment.
As a hub of activity on the Thaydin, the Retaw Inn is also the most lucrative center of information in all of Pervima. Those who want news from the farthest shores need only buy a drink for somebody from a given area and they'll be sure to learn whatever it is they want to know, plus a little extra.
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