Epic Level Handbook

CHAPTER 6:AN EPICSETTINGsuites above. Chindra is not a smuggler, but she isblackmailed by Oslahn Turvae (NE Male humanFtr10/Rog10), the mastermind of the operation, to providethe smugglers with memberships to the club andto keep quiet about their presence in her establishment.He is able to threaten her because he knows hertrue nature (see below) and has promised to reveal herlocation to her former djinni master should she refuseto cooperate. So far, she has kept up her end of the bargain,since the smuggling does not adversely affect herbusiness, but she fears being implicated if the smugglersget caught. This is why she maintains good relationswith the Union Sentinels and why she keeps hernose out of the smugglers’ affairs as much as possible.In her opinion, the less she knows about what thegroup is up to, the better.Chindra is an outsider, born of geniekind. She wassold to another djinni prince and raised in his palace onthe Elemental Plane of Air. When she was old enough,she escaped and made her way to Union, where she hasmade a fair living for herself in the Perfumed Quarter,though many years passed from the time she firstentered the city to now, when she enjoys her current successas a preeminent business owner. She searches constantlyfor some easy way to free herself from thedesigns of Oslahn. Doing his bidding is too much likedoing the bidding of her former prince.TAVERN QUARTERThe Tavern Quarter might more properly be referredto as the Adventurers’ Quarter, for it is to here thatmost of that sort make their way when staying inUnion. Both taverns and inns abound in this district,serving all manner of visitors, from merchants to sellswordsto the occasional officer of the Blood War.Anyone seeking suitable companions to join in a quest,or an extra able-bodied henchman or two, can usuallyfind them here.Rates for rooms vary widely, for the accommodationscover everything from flophouses for the down-ontheir-luckto luxurious private suites for those with cointo spare. Some places are reputed for their fabulous opulenceand extensive amenities, comfort to rival amonarch’s bedroom. Several of these locations are maintainedby private patrons, with their rooms held inreserve for any possibility of a visit. Other hostelries areequally well known for their lack of much more than aspace on the floor and a roof overhead. As can beexpected, these dubious establishments have a reputationfor taking advantage of the unwary; more than onestory has surfaced concerning a tenant disappearing orlosing what few valuables he had. The wise patron keepsone eye open when she sleeps.Many pubs serve up a wide variety of meals in theTavern Quarter, everything from thin broths at thesoup kitchens to sumptuous multicourse meals in privatedining rooms in the exclusive clubs. Certain establishmentsmake it a point to provide unusual or exoticdelicacies for their most discriminating foreign patrons,bringing the freshest ingredients into Union from thedistant outer planes. It is said that, were you to actually beadmitted to every place you visited, you could dine on adifferent dish every night and still never sample the completemenu available in the district.The Broken BladeThe Broken Blade is a fair-quality inn and taproomwith common accommodations and common meals.The Blade is located in a section of the Tavern Quartetthat caters to mercenaries, ruffians, and shady confidencemen. The proprietor, Dedrig Forl (NE malegnome Com10), is an apathetic man who does whatlittle is necessary to maintain the establishment. Hisfood is adequate, if bland, and his customers tend to beregulars who turn a suspicious eye on newcomers.Dedrig keeps a handful of rooms available for thoseregulars when they pass through Union, so he only hasa large dormitory room available for others who wantto stay the night. Of course, about the only peoplewilling to risk their valuables (and their necks) in suchan unsecured place are sell-swords, near-vagrants, andfugitives without much to their names (epic charactersare unlikely to seek this establishment out). More thana few guests have disappeared in the night at theBroken Blade.The truth is, the Broken Blade is a front for a small cultof followers of Erythnul. The leader of the cell is PonsasGnerl (CE male half-ore Clr31/High Proselytizer 1), anextremist zealot who maintains a private room at theBlade and is plotting to overrun Union when the time isright. Ponsas has Dedrig completely charmed intobelieving that Ponsas is residing at the Broken Bladewhile waiting for a very important visitor and should notbe disturbed (this is not entirely a lie; Ponsas is waitingfor a battle champion of Erythnul’s to arrive and lead thefight). Ponsas uses his suite as both a meeting place anda private temple to his god. So far, due to the heightenedwariness of the Union Sentinels, Ponsas has been loathto make a move. But, he preaches to his faithful followers,the day is coming. Soon.TEMPLE QUARTERBecause Union is a crossroads in the broadest sense possible,it is a given that creatures of every faith and devotionpass through. No specific religion is officially heldin higher regard than any other by the city, althoughsome faiths have much larger followings than others.Temples devoted to the more organized and lessdestructive faiths exist in this district of the city. Religionsfrom every corner of the universe have a footholdhere, and the mercanes tolerate no strife between worshipersof different viewpoints. At the first outward signof trouble, Union Sentinels move in to begin crackingdown on potential threats.There is more to the religious situation in Union thanjust the prominent, open faiths on display in the Temple266