Iron Step

Population:

 * Approximately 17000; mostly human, some dwarf and gnome.

Government:

 * Two factions war openly for control of the city, an order of sorcerers and arcanists and several wealthy aristocrats.

Notable Places:

 * The Sapphire Fang: A grand elven tavern, kept by a bronze dragon named Sisabi.

A few NPCs:

 * Kathel Jamoor: Female Human Cleric, Neutral. Kathel is exceptionally beautiful, with braided copper hair and gray eyes. She wears splint mail and wields a flail.
 * Balda: Male Human Assassin, Good. Balda has braided white hair and gray eyes, and a magical scar on his face. He wears leather armor and wields a short sword and dagger. Balda is friendly and eccentric.
 * Leony Ason: Male Human Fighter, Neutral. Leony is fey in appearance, with messy brown hair and large green eyes. He wears banded mail and wields a fauchard-fork. Leony is hunting the dragon who slew his mentor.

Notable Places:

 * The Theatre of Phosile: A large theatre of stone walls, home of a thieves' guild pretending to be actors.
 * The Tailors Guild House: An ornate half-timbered building, decorated with finely carved friezes.
 * A ruined tower of blackened stone walls, said to be haunted by spectral swords and spears.

A few NPCs:

 * Wyny Wente: Male Human Professional, Neutral. Wyny has braided copper hair and soft blue eyes, and a flat nose. He wears modest garments and a feathered hat.
 * Debert: Male Human Artist, Good. Debert has a long face, with braided copper hair and gray eyes. He wears well-made clothing and a silver amulet. Debert has an animal companion, a red firedrake named Waroua.
 * Thildra: Female Dwarf Cleric, Neutral. Thildra is rough in appearance, with short copper hair and soft amber eyes. She wears plate mail and wields a quarterstaff. Thildra is quiet, and says as little as possible.
 * Narvi: Male Dwarf Necromancer, Evil. Narvi has blonde hair and green eyes, and an unusual scar on his arm. He wears modest garments and wields a short sword and sling. Narvi seeks to master the secrets of chaos magic.

Location

In a caravan ward, near the town wall. Its neighbors include a stinking oxen pen and the workshop of a female human carpenter named Maly.

Description

The inn is a single storey timber and brick building, with a reinforced wooden door and a smooth stone floor. It was once a barracks, and has a collection of arms and armor. Accomodations consist of a single large room with wooden cots and wooden cots near the hearth.

Innkeeper

The innkeeper is a tall male dwarf named Axif.

Menu


 * 1) Stewed Sausage and Dried Parsnip, Tankard of Mead (10 cp)
 * 2) Salted Pork and Blue Cheese, Tankard of Mead (9 cp)
 * 3) Boiled Mutton and Onions, Tankard of Cider (10 cp)
 * 4) Boiled Eggs and Cabbage, Tankard of Cider (11 cp)

Patrons


 * 1) Gonerdhin: Male Elf Fighter, Neutral. Gonerdhin is tall and slender, with brown hair and hazel eyes. He wears splint mail and wields a warhammer. Gonerdhin is wrongly sought by the Princess of Ilienor for treason.
 * 2) Ealhsig: Male Human Fighter, Good. Ealhsig has blonde hair and gray eyes, and a cropped moustache. He wears chain mail and wields a long sword and shield. Ealhsig is talking quietly with a male human aristocrat.

Rumors


 * 1) Someone has stolen a ring of keys from the Thieves' Guild.
 * 2) A swarm of gargoyles prowls through the Cela Downs.
 * 3) Ravens have been gathering at the Cathedral of Angels.
 * 4) A horde of orcs and ogres has gathered in the Lost Temple of Hanoba.
 * 5) Sueda is enslaved by faerie folk.

Notable Places:

 * The Empyrean Theatre: A two-storey timber and brick theatre, within which time seems to pass more slowly.
 * The War Merchant: The cluttered shop of a male human weapon merchant named Bertio, known for his collection of strange and exotic blades. It is rumored that the weapons are those of fallen warriors, stolen from distant battlefields by dark magic.
 * The Harlequin's Pub: A grand dwarven tavern, built atop an outcrop of quartz crystal.

A few NPCs:

 * Reward Yarror: Male Human Aristocrat, Neutral. Reward has uneven golden hair and soft blue eyes, and a flat nose. He wears fine raiment and a sling of vials and potions. Reward is hunting the sorcerer who murdered his family.
 * Hilda: Female Human Fighter, Evil. Hilda is common in appearance, with uneven red hair and blue eyes. She wears chain mail and wields a ranseur. Hilda is dishonest and violent.
 * Tane: Male Human Fighter, Good. Tane is youthful in appearance, with straight blonde hair and soft green eyes. He wears splint mail and wields a halberd.

Notable Places:

 * The Crossed Arrows: An elegant commoner's tavern, decorated with stained glass windows.
 * Enen's Pottery: The workshop of a female human potter named Enen, known for her fire-resistant stoneware scale armor.
 * Wynna's Woodwork: The workshop of a female human woodcarver named Wynna, who also brews potions and elixirs.

A few NPCs:

 * Anet: Female Human Scofflaw, Neutral. Anet has red hair and narrow green eyes. She wears well-made clothing and a wooden holy symbol. Anet is searching for the lost elven kingdom of Helliene.
 * Helpre: Male Human Entertainer, Evil. Helpre is rugged in appearance, with silver hair and amber eyes. He wears modest garments and a silver holy symbol. Helpre seeks revenge against the sister who betrayed him.
 * Wilhye: Male Human Fighter, Good. Wilhye is rough in appearance, with silver hair and amber eyes. He wears chain mail and wields a bardiche. Wilhye seeks to prove himself to his peers.
 * Rine: Female Human Fighter, Neutral. Rine has messy copper hair and amber eyes. She wears plate mail and wields a ranseur. Rine seeks to destroy the race of ogres.
 * Ilys: Female Human Priest, Neutral. Ilys has long silver hair and amber eyes, and a sharp nose. She wears tailored clothing and a feathered hat.
 * Eryn Selley: Female Human Assassin, Good. Eryn has white hair and large brown eyes. She wears leather armor and wields a dagger. Eryn is haunted by the memories of a past life.

Notable Places:

 * The Pirate and Flask: A modest elven inn, said to be a front for the Thieves' Guild.
 * The School of Artifice: A small school of witches and wizards, built within a floating tower.
 * The Verdant Pavilion: A two-storey half-timbered theatre, home of a male human named Athyes and his trained chimera.

A few NPCs:

 * Cyne: Male Human Merchant, Neutral. Cyne is heavyset, with brown hair and amber eyes. He wears well-made clothing and riding boots. Cyne seeks only fame and glory.
 * Mary: Female Human Illusionist, Good. Mary has thick red hair and light blue eyes. She wears topaz robes and wields a quarterstaff. Mary is a terrible liar.
 * Imeldas: Female Elf Professional, Neutral. Imeldas has brown hair and hazel eyes, and pointed ears. She wears fine clothing and a silver amulet. Imeldas holds a grudge against clerics.
 * Lesym Nolle: Male Human Merchant, Evil. Lesym has a narrow face, with brown hair and soft amber eyes. He wears sturdy clothing and several small tools hang from his belt. Lesym seeks to discover why he cannot remember anything from yesterday.
 * Phely: Female Human Thief, Neutral. Phely is short and thin, with white hair and brown eyes. She wears leather armor and wields a short sword and dagger.
 * Gifu: Female Human Fighter, Evil. Gifu has a square face, with short black hair and bright gray eyes. She wears chain mail and wields a ranseur. Gifu is slothful and reckless.

Notable Places:

 * The Keystone of Ariel: A giant white keystone hangs in the air high above the street, fixed and immovable. It is said that anyone who touches the keystone is protected from evil for a year and a day.
 * Elmed's Pewter: A neglected pewtersmith's workshop, sheltered beneath the wings of a pewter dragon.
 * A ruined keep of blackened stone walls, said to be haunted by the demons summoned to destroy it.

A few NPCs:

 * Narder Righte: Male Human Fighter, Neutral. Narder has a round face, with short gray hair and amber eyes. He wears chain mail and wields a military pick and shield.
 * Cecie: Female Human Necromancer, Evil. Cecie has brown hair and hazel eyes, and a beaked nose. She wears dark robes and wields a dagger. Cecie has a terrible sense of direction.
 * Eudith: Female Human Fighter, Evil. Eudith is tall, with tangled auburn hair and narrow green eyes. She wears plate mail and wields a battle axe. Eudith has an animal companion, a gray wolf named Orehrt.

Notable Places:

 * The Fool and Cauldron: An elegant adventurer's tavern, known for its invisible food and drink.
 * Greenhome: A single storey stone-walled building which has been completely overgrown by flowering vines scale-like leaves thorny vines writhing vines. It is the home of Ayabal, a young green dragon and sage.
 * The ruins of Elyn Tower.

A few NPCs:

 * Ralphye: Male Human Artist, Evil. Ralphye is repulsive in appearance, with silver hair and brown eyes. He wears well-made clothing and a feathered hat. Ralphye is searching for his lost sister.
 * Erild: Female Human Artist, Good. Erild is short, with brown hair and light blue eyes. She wears fine clothing and numerous rings. Erild is a terrible liar.
 * Aged: Male Human Scholar, Evil. Aged is fair in appearance, with long auburn hair and dark hazel eyes. He wears tailored clothing and a silver holy symbol. Aged is fanatical and selfish.

Notable Places:

 * Riffolk's Armor and Shields: A modest armorer's workshop, decorated with a collection of shields from many kingdoms.
 * Brytha's Folly: A tower of hewn stone stands upon a rise in the land. It is named after a local adventurer named Brytha, who entered it many years ago and has not been seen since.

A few NPCs:

 * Ealchfrild: Female Human Fighter, Evil. Ealchfrild has a square face, with blonde hair and hazel eyes. She wears plate mail and wields Sublime Ascendance, a finely crafted hammer wrapped in fine steel wire. Ealchfrild has an animal companion, a black wolf named Sarry.
 * Hone Hyne: Female Human Aristocrat, Neutral. Hone is exceptionally beautiful, with golden hair and gray eyes. She wears fine raiment and jewelry.

Notable NPCs:

 * Wine: Male Human Guard, Good. Wine is common in appearance, with cropped blonde hair and brown eyes. He wears studded leather and wields a long sword. Wine has been hunting the notorious highwayman Brythe for many years.
 * Leane: Female Human Guard, Good. Leane has silver hair and brown eyes, and a distinctive scar on her arm. She wears studded leather and wields a short sword and shield. Leane is known for her jeweled sword, a gift from the Lord Mayor.

Notable Places:

 * The Maiden's Tavern: A heroic adventurer's inn, built atop an outcrop of hewn and rune-carved stone.
 * The Sage and Flail: A fanciful dwarven tavern, decorated with stained glass windows.
 * The Oculus of Night: A dome with a circular opening at its center, supported by a ring of caryatid columns. The sky seen through the oculus is perpetually dark, marked by strange constellations of stars.

A few NPCs:

 * Rine: Female Human Mercenary, Evil. Rine has a round face, with matted auburn hair and large blue eyes. She wears scale mail and wields a battle axe. Rine suffers a traumatic fear of open spaces.
 * Gery: Male Human Professional, Neutral. Gery is rugged in appearance, with blonde hair and brown eyes. He wears fine clothing and carries a fine stiletto. Gery secretly serves Emos, an ancient god of evil.
 * Abel: Female Human Scholar, Evil. Abel has copper hair and amber eyes, and numerous distinctive tattoos. She wears tailored clothing and numerous rings. Abel has an animal companion, a ginger cat named Robert.
 * Gerey: Male Human Entertainer, Neutral. Gerey is rugged in appearance, with matted copper hair and large brown eyes. He wears tailored clothing and a leopard fur cape. Gerey speaks with a stutter.

Notable Places:

 * The Empyrean Theatre: A two-storey timber and brick theatre, within which time seems to pass more slowly.
 * The War Merchant: The cluttered shop of a male human weapon merchant named Bertio, known for his collection of strange and exotic blades. It is rumored that the weapons are those of fallen warriors, stolen from distant battlefields by dark magic.
 * The Harlequin's Pub: A grand dwarven tavern, built atop an outcrop of quartz crystal.

A few NPCs:

 * Reward Yarror: Male Human Aristocrat, Neutral. Reward has uneven golden hair and soft blue eyes, and a flat nose. He wears fine raiment and a sling of vials and potions. Reward is hunting the sorcerer who murdered his family.
 * Hilda: Female Human Fighter, Evil. Hilda is common in appearance, with uneven red hair and blue eyes. She wears chain mail and wields a ranseur. Hilda is dishonest and violent.
 * Tane: Male Human Fighter, Good. Tane is youthful in appearance, with straight blonde hair and soft green eyes. He wears splint mail and wields a halberd.