The Ageless Promise

Advised by Ulric not to land at Xin-Edasseril, the group rowed ashore on a pebble beach and crossed the island on foot to Skarvik. Looking for a passage towards the continent they ended up working for Kael Vire and the Knot, who in return found them a berth on the Daughter of Black.

Skarvik is not what you would expect. It rises along the coast like a cascade of light: pink and white stone houses, open terraces, rooftops of dark rose (gilded in the richer districts), narrow but well-kept streets climbing between stairways and elegant arches, and the sea always in view. The air smells of spices, sweet wine and salt.

Beneath the beauty lies something older: foundations of smooth black stone, runic symbols built into the architecture, proportions that are a little too perfect. The whole city stands on top of ancient Thassilonian ruins.

Magic everywhere

Here magic is visible, normal and commercial: lamps that light up as you pass, fountains that change colour, light illusions such as fish swimming through the air or constellations projected in the night clubs, arcane messengers, levitating cargo and small constructs doing manual work. Magic is simply technology.

The harbour combines mechanical cranes and magic, with automated loading and discreet, efficient security; the ships are elegant, with alchemical and magical engines and professional crews.

Society

A tourist city of nobles, rich merchants and wealthy travellers. People are polite but distant, dress refined and wear jewellery, and everything has a price. Here people don’t survive: they spend.

Notable places

• The Grape Cart: the inn run by Jobb, where the group stayed.
• Kael Vire’s villa: home of the head of the Knot.
• The ruins outside the city: ancient Thassilonian structures full of mechanical remains and automatons, where the group recovered the Knot’s shipment.

People

Jobb, Kael Vire, Rosa