Tusaari

Tusaari once sat proud on a peninsula jutting into the sea. It was the capital of Kaleina, and the heart of its culture and politics. Tusaari Castle dominated the skyline from its perch on a cliff overlooking the crashing waves.   In the summer, it was a bustling harbour that saw travellers from hundreds of miles away. In the winter, the harbour filled with ice and market stalls filled with local wares - and especially the hauls from ice fishing.   Tusaari was the last stronghold in Kaleina before the exodus. It filled with refugees fleeing the Forest and the uhaaki. Food shortages, overcrowding, and unrest made it seem to be splitting at the seams, especially now that the city gates were kept permanently closed to keep out monsters. When King Makoeai made the decision to relocate the entire country to Lake Olla, the population of Tusaari was considered the entire nation (though survivors from other communities eventually made it to the lakes and rejoined the reborn country).   Tusaari was left behind to be swallowed up by the Forest. Today, bloodsap trees grow through cracks in the cobblestones and ivy covers the castle walls. Many personal belongings were left behind in the exodus, making it a treasure trove for brave scavengers. Trips to Tusaari to recover lost gold, rare books, or forgotten pieces of art are always lucrative, but incredibly dangerous.