Doom Lounge; Creative Writing Project

WELCOME TO PRAXIS CITY

"If you catch yourself thinking the whole town's gone mad, it's probably just you. Then again, this is Praxis City." - Ooda Cobblepot, proprietor of Ooda's Bakery.

Although the city is ruled by Praxis, a young adult gold dragon, most of the decisions come from the town council, and at its head is Whel Donmillion, the Royal Governor, a representative of the Kingdom of Aug. The ohter main council members are Jovan Petrovic, the High Priest of Saint Kord; Sister Dalla, the High Priestess of Saint Yondalla; the elven mage Ganron; Colonel Ian Silverthorn, elven ranger, Garrison Commander and Military Adviser and the Druid Cedric. The other council members (with less influence) include guildmasters, the heads of the noble houses and a few wealthy merchants.

Population and Districts
The population of Praxis is thought to be around 8,180 people. One third of the population is human (2,700); one third of the population is Halfling (or Folke, as they prefer to be called (2,700); and the remaining, in order, are Half-Orc (2,180); Elven (300); Dwarves (200); Gnome (100). Other races in the city include an Ojedan, one kobold sorcerer and one centaur bard/ambassador.

The districts of the city include the following:

The Noble's District - The Noble's District is located west of the Merchant District, and to the North of the Four Corners, in close proximity to the Meeting Hall (pictured to the right.) This is where the noble estates are situated, as well as the homes of the wealthy and the services that cater to them. This district is well patrolled by both the Town Watch and armed servants of the Noble Houses.

The Alleys - The Alleys are the places to avoid. Filled with beggars and the mentally disturbed, this is also the main conduit to the sewers below. There is an illegal Opium Den tucked away in the basement of an old hotel, accessible only through the Alleys. Known as the Iron Dragon, it is a haven for the disenchanted, and the end result of the illicit Opium trade within Praxis.

Folketown - Folketown is full of the Shire Folke, the Sanctuary of Saint Yondalla, and several Folke business establishments. This part of town is famous for its gardens. Folke are commonly farmers, merchants and entertainers - a cross between the nomadic view of the halflings in 3rd edition, and the traditional Tolkien Hobbit. The main religion is Trugod, but there is a strong druidic tradition to the Folke; many families worship both religions, going to Trugod services and praying to the Earth Mother during farming season. They also celebrate the holidays of both religions.

The Bay Market - Located east of the docks, and just south of the Merchant’s Quarter and Alley District, the Bay Market is where fishermen, shrimpers and sea-traders peddle their wares. The smell of fresh fish and exotic products from the Homeland and other colonies make this market a colorful place to visit. The Bay Market also has better artisans and industry than the Farmer's Market. The Market itself is a collection of stalls, some set up from fish hawkers and visiting ships. The stalls are surrounded by more established shops, luring locals and visitors alike to their mostly high quality wares. Includes:

Arabella’s Silver Shoppe - located in the Bay Market.

Broad Street - widest street in town, runs parallel to the docks, separating them from the Bay Market, up to the Warehouse District and Orc Quarter beyond. The largest sewer collection point of the city as well.

Crissany’s Critters - Crissany Umbertoe’s pet shop. Specializing in Chicoran parrots, Chicoran parakeets, Chicoran Sloth Lizards, land octopi, and the more traditional pets. She has an almost exclusive trading partnership with the frog-like Ghrom.

Earwig’s Fur Trading Stall

Hesting’s - Madam Hastings sells scented candles, herbs, incense, and little porcelain cat statuettes on the edge of the Bay Market, next door to Patricia’s.

Latti’s Cheese Shop - popular for cheeses and local gossip for some of the womanfolk -- although this is less the case since Madam Latti’s daughter turned up pregnant from the blacksmith's apprentice.

Montres - a skilled goldsmith.

Opa’s Stall - elderly healer that everyone calls Grandfather.

Ooda’s Bakery -- Folke-owned bakery in the Bay Market, by Ooda Cobblepot. Considered by many to be the best in town.

Paer’s Trinkets - a popular stall operated by Paer, a very elderly stallowner

Patricia’s - sells dried fish and polished stones her son collects, in a red house on the edge of the Bay Market.

Sailor’s Walk -- windy path around the edge of the Bay Market, leading from the docks.

Salming’s Salmon - hawking fish since 1720, this shop has stalls outside of it to sell from the Fisher’s Guild.

The Docks, on the Cochtys River, and overseeing the Great Ocean, include:

Customs House - in the center of the docks, and between the docks and the Bay Market.

Doom Lounge - a seedy yet oddly compelling bar

House of Bath - Bath house located near the Docks,to the South of the Bay Market.

Exchange Building Town Watch headquarters. In the basement is the Jail, and the Watch Detective offices.

Poison Apple Tavern - owned by Cadessi entrepreneur Jakta Legare, base of operations for the Danger Guild, a collection of bounty hunters and Northlander mercenaries.

Red Rum Inn -- boarding house across from the Doom Lounge. Owner Fafnir Savage. Managed by Burg’s mother, when she is out of the kitchen.

Some of the Ships that visit or have visited the Docks include:

The Bracing - Whale hunter, former ship of Athel Seldan

Cinder - Small cargo vessel built of darkwood, captained by Zek Stark. Suspected of smuggling to Innsmouth and Oristo.

Chicoran Belle - Fafnir's old ship. Confiscated from Fafnir due to a misunderstanding involving the escape of contraband monstrous spider cargo while in port in Praxis. Currently used as a passenger transport between the Kingdom of Aug and the colonies.

Crescent Moon - In His Dragon's Service, protecting Praxis from pirates and enemy ships. Sponsored by the House Tisdale, Captained by the dashing Athena Fikaris.

False Idols - cargo vessel and suspected smuggler.

Feral - brigantine

High Treason - privateer Captain Berellian Frale. Ship that rescued Psyche and Jot Savage from the Isle of the Dead.

Rebel Law - cargo vessel that goes between the Southern colonies.

Tussey Belle- Fafnir Savage's first ship. Impounded after Cadessi Navy found Cadessi refugees in his hold.

The Farmer's Market - Near the Portcullis Gate, The Farmer's Market is where the farmers and native traders sell their products. Livestock is also in abundance here. This area also has many retail shops. While some craftsmen and tradesmen work here, there are far fewer of them than there are at the Bay Market. Includes:

Hobbs Bakery Shop - owned by the Folke Hobbs Crossfoot

Nozzle and Lugnut Mechanic Shops - two Gnome businesses located on the east side of the Farmer’s Market. Two brothers that compete against each other. They fix anything from wagon wheels to saddles.

Traveler’s Lodge – a way station for out-of-towners hoping to hawk their wares at the local Farmer’s Market

Four Corners - the street intersection that is known as the Four Corners of Protection. Includes the Church of St. Kord (spiritual protection), the Citadel (physical protection), the School of Conjuring (magical protection), and the Wanderer College (protection by knowledge).

Citadel - warrior training academy. Northwest pillar of the intersection known as the Four Corners.

Library, Great (also known as the Bardic Library). This large library is located on the campus of Wanderer College. Includes two stories, and a maze of bookshelves. Several hidden passages are said to exist in the library, but this may just be the imagination of bards in training. The Library Custodian is Katya Savage. Its regulars include Sage Octavius Savage, the ghost Vigfus, and Acolyte Sanna.

Saint Idarian’s Monastery - near the Four Corners, just west of the Wanderer College.

Saint Kords - the northeast pillars of the Four Corners.

School of Conjuring -- also known as Ganron’s Tower. The southeast pillar of the Four Corners.

Wanderer’s College - the home of the Library. Instructs bards and grade school. The southwest pillar of the intersection known as the Four Corners.

Vicinity of the Four Corners:

Meeting Hall - located between Farmer’s Market and the Four Corners. Where Town Council and Assembly is held.

Newt’s Brew - small, hole-in-the-wall bar that caters to wizard apprentices. Newt and his clone run an almost tidy bar among an illusion of an ogre at the bar, an unseen servant waitress, a billiard table with wands instead of cue sticks, and other “gifts” from appreciating patrons. Due south of the Four Corners.

Gnome Street, or Rainbow Row -- shops and manors of tabby, faded paint of bright pink, yellow, green and blue. Includes :

Belly buster (piano builder) Shop

Confectionary Shop

Endor’s Weapons Shop - Sign of the two crossed blades, next to Mull Manor on Gnome Street. Endor is Fook’s overweight brother, and has been accused of illegally supplying natives with weapons, although no charges have been able to stick. Usually attended to by two attractive indentured human servants.

Guenache’s Victuallar . Gnome grocer on Gnome Street. Blue store under the sign of three apples. (Editor’s Note: “Guenache” was actually the name of a dwarf jester who is said the haunt the old home known as “The Castle” in Beaufort, South Carolina)

Haberdashery - the town’s finest

Mull Manor -- Pawnshop, Locksmith, and Clockmaker shop of the gnome Fook, son of Mull. Located on Gnome Street, adjacent to the Bay Market. Fook’s wife has passed away, and he has hired the indentured servant Jessafine to look after his son, Baby Neral. The half-orc Wart is his stable boy for one bad, broken-down pony. Wart also helps with the heavy lifting.

Tinker’s Shop

Merchant Quarter:

Casa Bonita - Manor of Captain Athena Fikaris. Located in Merchant's Quarter.

Dragon Tooth Tavern -- hangout for dwarves. Inside is a large, open, has doric columns on the walls, and covered in a fresco of the Dragon Tooth Mountains. Located on the Southeast portion of the Merchant Quarter.

Grimke Manor - the lavish manor of the former lead caskmaker/barrelmaker of Praxis City. Currently ran by the Widow Margaret Grimke, and, according to Fafnir Savage, it is entirely too filled with mastercraft furniture and smells like mothballs and must. Also the home of Midge Grimke, Annabelle Grimke, and guarded by seasoned warrior Rastis.

Manor Doby - adjacent to Elf Hill, the home of a Rug Merchant Renik Doby, aspiring social climber, and member of the Weaver's Guild.

Manor Vercona. Gyda Vercona is a tanner by trade, and rather prosperous until she became an unfortunate victim of the opening trade between the native human tribes, and their cured hides. One of several tanners, Old Maid Vercona had cut costs by bringing her work home with her. Already eccentric with her abundant collection of cats and habit of talking to herself in quite ugly conversation, the presence of drying hides in her former parlor had ensured she would be once and for all taken off the list of friendly visitors and polite company of her neighbors.

The Orc Quarter - The Orc Quarter is home to the city's Half-orc population and is considered be the slums. Although all Half-orcs are descended from other Half-orcs for many generations, they are still commonly referred to as Orcs by the other residents of Praxis. In the Homelands, three Orc invasions left many Half-orc children. These children were taken care of by Church orphanages, but Half-orcs are treated like second-class citizens. Half-orcs make up the common laborers and dockworkers of Praxis City. Criminal activity is fairly common in the Orc Warren but is only evident on the gang level of violence. Although regularly patrolled by the Watch, non-residents and non-Half-orcs are recommended to stay clear of the Quarter after dark. Eddie's Tattoo Shop is on the border of the Orc Quarter. Although one of the few Half-Orc owned businesses, every sailor knows this is the place to go for a quality tattoo...and occasionally a little information on what is going on in the Half-Orc community, for the right number of coins. The Gideon House is the community outreach center in Orc Quarter sponsored by Saint Kord's; ran by the Half-Elf Sera, it is the tiny point of light in a sea of misery. Hell's Belles is a Half-Orc burlesque bar, and the roughest place in the roughest part of town. The Orc Cafe is the only restaurant within the Orc Quarter, caters Half-Orc cuisine to Half-Orc patrons. Others are not welcomed (not that the smell of Orc-smoked pig is that appealing!)

The Sewer - The Sewer is based on an old cavern system that existed before Praxis City was settled, a base for the elusive Etiwah native human tribe. Prone to flooding from the high tide, these caverns were thoroughly explored and converted to become the sewer system for Praxis City - however, several creatures have made their home in the Sewer, including dire rats, large spiders and "Sewer Worms" (smaller grey cousins of the dreaded purple worm). These creatures are tolerated because they rarely venture outside the sewer, and serve as a defense from below.