The picturesque town of Riverbend is something out of a fairytale: built out of the ruins of a yuan-ti settlement, Riverbend retains much of the white marble architecture of those serpentine conquerors. Travellers are greeted by flowing arches and vaulted ceilings. Which is not to say that the human settlers have not added their own signatures: stained glass and carved wood are the hallmarks of their artistry, nowhere more celebrated than at the Hall of the Minstrel, on Riverbend's north bank.
There are three main avenues through Riverbend, and rather than having one focussed marketplace, those wide streets are the venue for the sellers and buyers of the goods of the surrounding country. There is no town hall - a situation unusual for the towns and cities of Endon - but rather they use the old yuan-ti amphitheatre. They are not democratic, far from it, but the presentational hall at the amphitheatre is the workplace of the officials of the town. The guardhouses can be found on the north and south gates. Large, blocky towers house the soldiers of the king, and watch over the highways that lead into the city.
The college of the arts is located at the Hall of the Minstrel, and many artists and students fill the streets. The vineyards around Riverbend attract merchants, connoisseurs and drunkards alike. Riverbend is a cultural and magical hub, full of travellers, with a high concentration of elvish inhabitants.
On Arrival to Riverbend
"Slender arches and white marble dominate the skyline of the City of Minstrels: music fills the air, colours dance across the streets, scents of spices and wine waft on the wind, and everywhere, everywhere, can be seen more travellers coming to the centre of culture and art. On the hillside to the north, the Hall of the Minstrel reaches into the clear blue sky, glass windows glittering in the sun."
A City of Entertainment
Riverbend is known far and wide for the diversions and artistry that it plays host to. It considers itself the cultural capital of the Kingdom, and it is true that it is host to many of the most famous and illustrious establishments.
Davulin's Luthiery. As a city famed for its music, it perhaps comes as no surprise that Riverbend is home to some of the finest musicians and luthiers in Endon – none as celebrated or awarded as Davulin.
Hall of the Minstral. The Hall is the largest building in the city, and, like many of them, is built of soaring, pristine marble. Classes and lessons are held there for minstrels to learn to ply their craft, and as such the city is known for the musical competitions that are rife.
The Wasp's Arena. Nestled against the west wall of the city is the Wasp’s Arena – for a long time, the most gruesome and bloody arena in the kingdom. Now, however, it is home to tests of strength that prove individual valour and prowess, and, of course, entry is voluntary.
Pilgrims to the Arts
Because of its reputation, the thriving trade of fine wines and elegant goods, and the establishments themselves, Riverbend attracts thousands of travellers each year - many to trade and sell, and many seeking their chance at fame and fortune. There are inns and stables across the city, catering to different clientele.
Knife and Fork Inn. This is, in contrast to the much more famous Light on the River, the most disreputable inn in the city, and for good reason: it is the local front for the thieves’ guild - though the guild in this city has always had a reputation for being more immoral than usual. It is a particular venue for sex trafficking and child prostitution.
Light on the River Inn. This inn is the most famous of Riverbend’s inns, and is home to the Golden Pin - the competition that all Endonish bards live for. Those who perform at the extremely discerning inn and gain the approval of the audience leave with a small golden pin, which they can present to any establishment in need of a minstrel as the highest of praise.
The Services of Specialists
Though the reputation of Riverbend is of a city inhabited almost entirely by outsiders and hopefuls, there are a large number of locals that make their living off of those unfortunates. They work in the taverns, muck out the stables, and trade the coin from the pilgrims for the city.
And so, as any city does, Riverbend needs those services that all cities require: the specialists that make sure that the locals can continue to survive in the cultural capital.
Lykomedes' Tower. The wizard’s tower is the major go-to for anyone in need of a magical fix in Riverbend, but be warned: even if the wizard is in, unexpected or unwelcome visitors have been known to face very strange obstacles inside the tower.
Melusine's Apothecary. The druid’s shop is a more down-to-earth place to buy herbs, local maps, and ask the advice of the local witch. The druid herself is often away, but when she is in, the flowers outside the shop are always in bloom.