Fisz

A city of stone walls and brick homes, fed by steam works and ingenuity, little remains of the history of this city as a trading post between nomadic tribes.

Fisz was once a sleepy community created by the old and infirm of several of the nomadic tribes that wandered the tundra to function as a trading post. As one of the southern-most portions of Estrella with the necessary geography to make for a safe harbor, it naturally became a brisk trading port. Of course, then the Shattering of the World happened, and the cold turned from dangerous to downright lethal.

However, necessity is the mother of invention, and where Frozmoth has geothermal energy to tap, Fisz did not. Garret Coppertop changed all of that, however. He built the Fiery Walrus, which provides Fisz a steady source of both hot water and steam and allowed the port to not only survive the Endless Winter, but thrive as a year-round port and trade hub for Frozmoth. The city has grown into two separate sections, Upper and Lower.

The upper and lower sections of the city are connected by three things: a series of steep but manageable switchbacks which was once the main way to get up and down the side of the cliff but is now more of a scenic walk; the steamy falls that diverts overflow from the Fiery Walrus down into the harbor and provides for a hot water source which is used by both the townsfolk and helps keep the harbor free of ice even in the worst of winter freezes; and the impressive steamwork Harbor Elevator responsible for moving goods quickly up and down the cliff face, owned and operated by the firm of Gearheart & Goldberg, one of many investors in the town and shipping magnates of good repute.

Upper Fisz (Clifftown)

Upper Fisz -- or Clifftown to the locals -- is built on and into the bedrock cliff which has been innervated by steam pipes from the Fiery Walrus. The main thoroughfares are warmed by these underground pipes so that it does not develop ice even in the worst snows. These same pipes feed through and provide steam and hot water for not only the buildings, but also the very walls of the city to keep the highly trained and well armed guards safe and comfortable even in the worst winter storms.

As such, there is the occasional hazard of a blocked pipe or damage causing a steam vent which can scald the unwary. Repair teams respond to such issues quickly, and visitors are notified to both avoid and report suspicious bulges or outpouching. Groups of young humans and dwarves and gnomes generally find their first jobs being used as "Steam Rats" to squeeze their small bodies into the tighter areas to assist with assessment and repairs.

Barracks

The barracks of Fisz are unique in that they are composed of two distinct units: the Clockwork Guard, and the conventional guards known as the Touchstones after their main benefactor. Touchstones commonly are accompanied by one or two clockworks when walking duty shifts, and the clockworks are commonly employed as shock troops or first-line infantry with support from the more highly trained Touchstones.

Earning a place within the touchstones is seen as a mark of prestige, as the clockworks make untrained guards unnecessary. It is not uncommon for the Touchstones to be hired by the wealthier residents for use in securing highly valuable cargo in transit, who in turn hire adventurers as the clockworks are a pain to take too far from the city. Some adventurers even come from the Touchstones themselves, usually as indentured servants whose training is paid for by years of service.

Council Chambers

The seat of power within the town of Fisz, the Council of Seven meets in the Council Chambers in the Gold Room to discuss matters of state, trade, and local events. The council chambers are quite well insulated not only against the cold, but also against prying eyes and ears, employing both mundane and magical means to ensure the privacy of the discussions therein.

Council meets as a whole weekly, with all seven councilors in attendance, where the council as a whole spends the first and last portion of the day in private discussion, with six candle marks devoted to listening to petitions from the townsfolk. The closest most folks will get, however, is to have one of the dozen or so vassals discuss on behalf of the councilors, such as Lady Matoya Bailey, for example.

The Council Chambers also house an extensive library, one wing of which is dedicated to the preservation of contracts and other legal doctrine, while the other wing is full of the results of magical and historical research. There is a fee to gain access to the library, and staff on hand to assist those who need help with research or translation.

Cloudwatch

TBD

Fiery Walrus

TBD

Northgate

TBD

Fisz Harbor

TBD