The Town Of Pel
General Information
Pel is a town which now lies on the edge of the fallen Empire of Brentlin. Including the outlying farms and estates it numbers about 1000 souls, the majority of which are humans. It was not always so. In the past it was an important trading post with the provinces on the other side of the Straits of Mallrar.
When the empire lost control of the Undra Peninsula new, stronger walls were built around the town and the sprall of buildings beyond the old walls were destroyed to leave a clear zone around the town.
This part of the Empire is held by the Pheonix Clan and the palace is occupied by Mekumo Asako IV.
Places Of Renown
Palace Isle
Palace Isle floats at the centre of Palace Lake and a tall wall runs around the perimeter of the island. Two bridges, the Sun and the Moon, join the isle to the rest of the town. The lake and the island are artificial. They were created on the instruction Mekumu Isawa III over eight hundred years ago. The palace is much younger, the two previous having burnt down.
The first two hundred years ago and the second only seventy years ago. The latest palace is if anything more ornate than those preceeding it, the gilded pillars and
crimson roofs a striking contrast to the lush green of the lawns. The towers on the wall are mainly ornamental, but there is room for a quartet of archers under the conical roof of each.
Very few of the townsfolk are ever admitted within the span of the walls, the servents are born and brought up within the palace complex itself and are fiercely loyal to the family. They occupy the building at the northern end of the island, a building that is only slightly less impressive than the main palace complex. By tradition the noble family always leave the palace via the Sun Bridge and return via the Moon bridge, to do otherwise is said to bring down a curse upon the family.
The Golden Lotus Tavern
The Golden Lotus is an average tavern in the Trader's Quarter, serving slightly better than average food with a staff of five watched over by the innkeeper Wu Pen.
Dawn's Blessing Tavern
Hun Li is justly proud of the food served in this tavern situated at the southern end of The Arbor. The setting and the quality of food pushes the prices up so that only the richest people in Pel ever stay here and Hun Li is happy to keep things this way. He takes care when chosing staff, again only the best will do and the thirteen cooks, maids and other servants are well paid as well as proud of thier positions. They are encouraged to make sure that the guests are happy at all times.
The Cup of Woe Tavern
It may not be much to look at from the outside but this tavern on the northern edge of Moonshadow Park serves some of the best food in Pel. It is rumoured that Hun Li from Dawn's Blessing disguises himself as a labouror and visits the Cup Of Woe once a month to sample new dishes created by the cook and owner Shi Lang. She specialises in eel and snake dishes served in spicy, sticky sauces. Getting a table here is easy as none of the patrons have much time to spare to linger long over a meal. If the area was not so rough more visitors would come from the richer parts of town but Shi Lang does not mind. More rich visitors would spoil the atmosphere. Her seven strong staff work hard and some have gone on to work at more up market establishments after receiving a good training from Shi Lang.
The Luck of the Ancestors Gambling House
Gambling is popular with the people of Pel, both rich and poor. The rich see it as a way of spending time and having a good time in the process. The poor see it as a chance to gain enough coins to move out of the squalid hovels into better accomodation west of the river. The Luck of the Ancestors caters to the poorer people of the city and the most popular games are games of chance rather than games of skill. Occasionally cock fights are held in the dirt paddock at the rear of the building.
The Tengu's Voice Taven
This tavern, situated near the south east gate in the heart of the Foreign Quarter is run by Mog Yak-rui a sour faced dwarf. A former trader he decided to open the taven when he realised it would make him more money, at less risk than shipping turnips and ploughs from town to town. Despite his appearance Mog is a friendly fellow and the inn is better than the usual trader's stop. Mog was fed up with thin beer and greasy soups, damp beds and no baths when he was a trader and decide that simple traders deserved better. He is always short staffed as the young people he employs get seduced by the tales of adventure told by the traders and go off to be caravan guards never to return.
The Dreaming House of Madam Jujen
Dreaming Houses used to be common throughout the old Empire but have now become rare as the ruling elite frowns upon the time wasted by those who partake of the sweet smoke. In a well run house the dreaming smoke can bring release from pain and worry or give you an insite into your future. In a bad house the visions that come with the smoke are more akin to nightmares than dreams. There are now more bad Dreaming Houses than good but Madam Jujen is one of those rare good houses. She sources the smoke leaves from a secret location in the mountains and makes sure that her patrons do not overindulge or mix the leaves with other substances. For a reasonable sum you can rent a room and an attendant for a few hours to have your dreams in private of for a lower price you can recline on a couch in the communal room with other like minded dreamers.
Its situation near the Outsider's Market means that she occasionally gets bothered by drunken traders from outside the empire but her guards soon knock some sense into those who come to cause trouble.
Further Details.
The Fire of Purity Tavern
An every burning beacon atop the roof of this large tavern at the southern end of the Grand Market is a familiar landmark for those regular visitors to the town. Zhan-Shi Wang Kong makes sure that the tavern is always well stocked with food and drink sourced from the best stalls in the market as well as from his own secret sources. It is said that every visitor should endevour to eat at least one meal at the Fire of Purity, just so that they can say they have done so. The fire on the roof was set up by the original owner originally to roast chestnuts in the courtyard one bitter winter but when a travelling Shugenja of the Phoenix clan visited and enjoyed the experience she blessed the fire and cast a permenant image upon the roof of the taven in the form of the burning brazier.
The Cherry Blossom Brothel
Every town, village and city in the old Empire has at least one brothel, they vary in quality like the inns and taverns and it is is always a good idea to ask the locals or more experienced travellers before visiting one for the first time. Run by the petite Ying Jun, the Cherry Blossom is fairly middle of the road. It is clean, only moderately expensive and not frequented by rats or rogues.
The Arbour
The Arbour is a long thin stretch of wild wood preserved by the town elders when the walls were constructed as an area of contemplation. In the artificial lake at the southern end is a statue of the current Clan Chief's great grandfather Mekumo Asako II. Birds and animals that live within the woods and are protected by law and by a shugenja of the Scorpion clan. It is a popular place for young lovers and older couples reminising of times past.
The Grand Market
This is Pel's largest market and goods from all over the Empire are sold here on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The northern end is given over to agricultural produce and livestock sales, the south to spirits, dairy products and prepared food, the smell of which draws great crowds especially on chilly autum afternoons. The rest of the market is occupied by coppersmiths, potters, tinkers, sharpeners, cobblers, booksellers, coopers, leather workers, outfitters and weapon sellers. Some have permenant shops along the western edge of the market which double as thier workshops others have shops elsewhere in the town. Needless to say the Fire of Purity Tavern and the Cherry Blossom Brothel both do good business on market days situated as they are at the southern end of the market near the grand fountain.
The Outsiders' Market
This is a smaller market with around 20 stalls, less than half of that at the Grand Market and it only opens on Mondays. Many of the same sorts of stalls are present but in smaller numbers. The quality of goods can be as high as that at the Grand Market but the prices are lower as the rates for stallholders are lower. Most of the stall holders will retire to the Tengu's Voice tavern at the end of the day to discuss the day's business with other traders.
The Northern Market
The Northern Market is the same size as the Outsider's Market but a few more stalls are crammed in giving it a claustrophobic air. Built in the Trader's Quarter this market is stocke with gods from the Empire and opens on Tuesdays. The stall holders have aspirations to pitches in the Grand Market but few are likely to get one. The goods for sale are much the same as in the Grand Market but of a lower quality and price. However a smith does good business in his semi permenant pitch next to the wall.
Moonshadow Park
Moonshadow Park is another area of wilderness within the town walls. However this area was not planned. Several times construction has started here only for a fire to burn down the buildings or most recently a swamp to open up and swallow the hastily constructed dwellings. Those that live in the Workers Quarter belive Moonshadow Park to be haunted by evil spirits and do not frequent it except on nights of the new moon when they offer up gifts to try to appease the spirits.
Adventure Hooks
- Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
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Several apparantly random murders have taken place in the town. Eventually the killer is caught red handed and after a struggle it appears that he is under the influence of smoke from Madam Jujen's Dreaming House. Someone has been spiking the leaves brought in by the merchants. The smoke apparantly makes the victim exceptionally strong and violent so the PCs are hired by Madam Jujen to find out who did it and why.
- That's The Spirit
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Strange lights are seen in Moonshadow Park and children are going missing from the Worker's Quarter. Then on the night of the new moon a convulsion rocks the swamp and a strange and ancient temple rises from the mire.
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c. A.D. Jones 17/06/06