Sammsted
The Edge of Civilization
"Oh winds, carry me low
To the lands men fear to go,
Where the danger creeps from below,
Carry me forth to Sammsted."
As far as the people of the Meridian know, their world is limited to the bountiful land known as the Continent. Around it, the surrounding Ocean stretches towards the horizon as far as the eyes can see; that's why the shores of the Continent are oftentimes called 'edges'. The Other Side of the World is special in that regard because of its unique geography and because it houses the locus of all manastream leylines; many old stories refer to this place as a 'gateway to another side', a place where myth and reality clash and shift around each other.
In that regard, Sammsted is referred to as the 'edge of civilization', the last familiar place you will see before venturing forth, the last chance to turn back and return home. Beyond the welcoming inns and good-hearted villagers, the road goes straight into the wild forests of the Rift, and not for long - one of the many reasons these areas are dangerous is the lack of roads (or even paths) for people to walk through. Adventurers weak of heart will usually spend a few nights at a local inn, then head back towards civilization; only the bravest, the most foolish, and those who have nothing to lose venture forth.
Demographics
The small population of Sammsted is made of mostly old people - both villagers that have lived here their whole lives and ex-adventurers that have decided to settle somewhere far away from their past. People come and go every day - young and bold adventurers, Exarhi research parties, brave merchants looking for rare materials, sometimes simple travelers looking for new thrills. It is, perhaps, one of the only places in Meridian where one can find elves, kirfolk, dwarves and humans share a table and drink all night long. Being so far away from the other countries, Sammsted has grown into a hub for the rejected, the hated, and those who are simply looking to go as far away from their old homes as possible.
Industry & Trade
Because Sammsted doesn't produce anything, the villagers use the touristic value of the region to their benefit. The most lucrative job is that of innkeeper and waiter, for obvious reasons; there are also many Rift guides, life-hardened survivalists that can safely take others closer to the Rift canyon. Some royalty and nobility choose to take trips to the Other Side of the World in order to brag about it; although their patronage is rare, their employment can provide enough gold to live comfortably for a few months.
Infrastructure
The infrastructure of Sammsted is very old, yet the buildings stand strong even hundreds of years after their construction. The technique used by those ancient settlers has been lost to time and now it is a research topic for some of the students of Exarhi University. Small mana veins seep through the stone-cut bricks, binding them together and providing mana insulation, keeping both the structure and its inhabitants safe from overexposure.
The newer buildings are made of wood most of the time - local flora has adapted to the harsh local environment and is more resistant to the strong winds, heavy rainfall and wild mana fluctuations. While these houses should be usually far weaker than rock or brick buildings, because the stone reinforcement technology has been lost, local wood is far superior around these parts.
Aside from inns, Sammsted features an old mana-fueled smithy. Adventurers should always check if their weapons, shields and armor pieces are in top shape before venturing forth (or walking back). The smithy is owned by a blacksmith family who carry the responsibility of keeping both the villagers and the travelers safe through their work.
Comments