The City of Bastian

Bastian is a city of four districts: Dockside, Oldtown, The Merchant Quarter and Highbridge.

Dockside:

On the western banks of the river Lauter sit Dockside at the mouth of the river leading out to the long sea. Here the lower classes work and labour, scraping to earn an honest; and sometimes dishonest living. Up steep banks well-trod, long stairways lead to Old town.

Oldtown:

A slum by any other name, Oldtown is, never-the-less, the beating heart of Bastian. Whether the nobles choose to accept it or not, the majority of the population of Bastian live within Oldtown, in cramped terraces, lean-tos, and shanties. In amongst the bustling housing sits taverns, markets and gambling dens. Distinct regions have formed within Oldtown as well as criminal gangs carve up their little empire amongst themselves, frequently fighting over turf and coin.

Anything and anyone can be found in Oldtown, providing you don’t have a mind how you get it.

The Merchant Quarter:

Over a curved, sloping glass bridge connecting Oldtown to the upper districts sits The Merchant Quarter. A relic of a former civilisation, scholars have long pondered on the ornate bridge’s origins and architecture, but none have ever come close to discovering the truth.

Its presence indicates the transition from slum to wealth in the city of Bastian and it’s common to see trader carts bustling over the bridge at all hours from the port, usually with a contingent of guards in tow as they navigate the treacherous streets of Oldtown.

The Quarter itself is home to the wealthy merchant class of Bastian. Grown fat off the city’s success, they trade and sell goods from the surrounding lands and shipping routes, living in affable town houses. Counting houses, bars and boutiques line the streets and an increased city guard presence lends credence to the rumour that even the sewers of the Merchant’s Quarter has guards…

Highbridge:

At the highest point of Bastian, over another small bridge, this time of human design, sits the verdant district of Highbridge. Through as spacious as the three districts below, it shares it’s space with a very low amount of buildings. The Viscomtes palace overlooks a cliff into the bay and it’s lavish parties are known to be the talk of the city. Small villas through the green gardens of Highbridge house some of the wealthiest nobles of Bastian. Many of these families have long and storied histories and can trace their lineage back centuries. It is even said some of those villas lay empty, devoid of occupant after their former owners fell from grace. It’s rumoured that with enough money and favour, anyone could become a noble in Bastian.