It is often called the City of the Moon, but Lunaris is a moderate-sized town, with little in the way of landmarks or works of great art. There would be no reason at all for such a grand and mystical name, were it not for the castle that lies at the centre of the city.

The city was a hamlet for most of its history, merely a stopover for travellers passing between the towns of Lodban and Endon's Pass, but when the stone walls were raised by Lord Lunaris in 730AS, the town began to grow. It is now the last stop for the ferries upriver to the east, as the waters become too thin and treacherous to pass any further.

Travelling to Lunaris

Lunaris is a grey town, slate roofs huddling under the teeth of the mountain peaks above them. Its people forever look upwards: up to the Castle of the Moon, its towers rising two hundred feet above the rest of the town; up to the mountains, to Endon’s Pass; and up to Agdu-Stein, visible on a clear day, watching the lands below. The pine forests of Firbost are the main source of any wealth the town has: hunters, trappers, and furriers send their goods downriver to the market at Lodban.

Culture within a Culture

The people of Lunaris are, it is generally agreed, strange – even by the measure which is the put to the people of Endon. Lunarians are open, friendly, and welcoming to all, perhaps to a fault, but it is rare, even unheard-of, to find a Lunarian who has moved away from the town. The art made by the people is different – a form of painting that uses varnish and dyes – and the music played on the streets by pipers is intoxicating and unlike anything else in Endon.

The City of the Moon

Lunaris is a town unto itself: proud and aloof, the inhabitants have a long tradition that sets them apart from the other inhabitants of the Kingdom of Endon. They do allow travellers to move freely through the town, however, and to several of their most significant locations:

Brothel. A small, inconspicuous building near the centre of town, the brothel is not only the place to find alternative entertainment, but is run by women who provide shelter to women seeking safety from their abusers – including a goblin female by the name of Calla Darkearth.

Castle of the Moon. The castle around which the town grew, it is truly ancient, with crumbling walls and weathered battlements. The gates, old oak as hard as stone, always stand open, and the main hall is used as the town hall for Lunaris.

A fortress of the early days of Endon, the Castle of the Moon is a dark and brooding fortress, designed not to look majestic or beautiful, but to discourage the looker from attempting to get in. It was always the military base for this part of Endon, until the last Lord Lunaris died in 781AS. The Castle, bewitched with old magicks to open and close only at the behest of the Lord Lunaris, became unusable for defense, and so the Kings of Endon had Fort Chantal built.

Lunaris Church. The largest building in the town save the Castle, the cathedral was built of solid bluestone in the days when a place of worship was also expected to be a place of safety. The walls are thick and high, and it is kept by the Abbot, who goes by no other name.

Trade and Enterprise

Lunaris, like many towns on high roads, does depend on the trade from the many travellers that pass through. The road that leads from Endon's Pass to the capital wends through their town, and they take what opportunity they can to trade with caravans and travellers.

Broken Helm or Stallion Inns. There are two main inns in the town, the Broken Helm on the western gate, or the Stallion on the east. The Broken Helm plays host to the working-class locals, who will give the opinions of most of the lower-class townsfolk. The Stallion is more for the travellers, merchants, and out-of-towners, who give a more unbiased opinion. Each will give different information if scouting out the patrons.

Dixus' Delights. For those that seek magical items - or mundane items of rarity and interest, the store run by the gnome Dixus Bellowgand is the ideal destination. It contains a large number of knick-nacks, mementos, and a few artefacts of actual use.

Fire and Anvil Forge. All forges do good trade, and though the Fire and Anvil mainly deals in cart repair and parts for workers, they do have a selection of weaponry and armour, for a reasonable price.

Lands around Lunaris

No town is an island, and this shares that trait. While the Lunarians may attempt to distance themselves from the other settlements throughout the Kingdom, they cannot help their proximity to the wilds around.

The Iron Mountains and Endon's Pass. The high peaks that form the Embrace of Giant legend rise over the town in the near distance, and on a clear day from the high towers of the Castle of the Moon, one can make out the shape of Agdu-Stein, the fort of the Stone Giants above Endon's Pass.

The White Downs. The rugged, chalky hills of the White Downs have been inhabited for millennia, and evidence of that extends up their glens and dales. Small villages are numerous, as are the individual farmsteads - all beautiful, all vulnerable.

Lord Gladsvain's Hall. According to local myth, there was a lord who ruled the area many years ago. In the bronze age of heroes, he had a hall up on Gladsvain's Ridge, the hills above Lunaris that stretch to the mountains. The hall has been lost to time, however, though its discovery may herald some issues. (See The Goblin Problem.)

Dwarrow Henge. The henges and standing stones of the Giants are the source of much myth and legend, but they themselves are solid and real. One such example of this age of prehistory is the Dwarrow Henge, a circle of standing stones in a cave to the east of Lunaris. While the Henge is of little interest to the locals, its power occasionally draws academics and mages who seek to study or use the power themselves.