Avale - Neighborhoods

An alphabetical listing of all the neighborhoods of Avale with a short description and all points of interest (PoI) to be found there.

Abrinol

This formerly mainly industrial neighborhood now has a largely gentrified eastern side. To the west many manufactories can still be found. It is named for one of the three Hundred Mile Islands.

Happy Soles

Dolac is well-known for its shoemakers and this is the most popular shoe shop in the city. They promise to provide you with better footwear than you have ever worn, and they usually deliver. It can be found in the Abrinol neighborhood on Provender Way.

Sulla Arena

Bordering Sparrow Hawk Square in the Abrinol neighborhood, Ashy Arena is more popular than the Dolac character might suggest, weekly prize fights draw large crowds. Though the locals might not want to admit it, they can be a bloodthirsty bunch. The expansive training grounds are full of hopefuls who have come from near and far.

The Otteun Hetwoman, Mera Tellmacher, is short and squat but quick as water, she spent many decades honing her skills at the original Sulla Arena in Midtal.

PoI

Messengers Coalition, Ropemaker Way

Inn - The Steaming Pot

Shrine - Ehlonna

Bow Valley

Known for Manette Creek which winds it way along the valley further north into the city. This neighborhood is mostly industrial, including many paper-markers, interspersed with lower class housing and some middle class housing at the northern end.

Vulpine Count

Even though this newspaper proudly proclaims in its masthead to be many centuries old, in reality it was resurrected from centuries of inactivity only twelve years ago. The rights to it were bought by businessman Bert Ursa whose parents immigrated here from Haza. The paper focuses mostly on national news and is well known for its shouty headlines and cheap price. The latter is due to the fact that the Guilds sponsor it to make sure it publishes only the news they want to see. The offices are found above their printing presses on New Rampart Street in the Bow Valley neighborhood.

PoI

Cemetery - Babbling Brook

Inn - Grey Minstrel Inn

Cegir Town

Very much a middle class neighborhood though some more expensive homes can be found near the border with Downpark. It is know for its bookbinders and booksellers.

Thal Sivale

On their first arrival here, the thal had Quiver Hall built, some would classify it a small keep. It's located on Blue Feather Street in the Cegir Town neighborhood. Most of the inside of the building has never been seen by outsiders, it is rumored to contain a small jungle.

The half-elf Uidor Calaudra has recently been appointed to the top position. On his arrival he purchased a hunting lodge where he now fêtes all the movers and shakers in town.

PoI

Barber - Hair Me Out

Center City

In the early days of Avale the seat of government could be found here, now it's a middle class neighborhood where many of the Docami live. Numerous bookkeepers, notaries & scribes can also be found here.

State Museum

Even though the name suggests otherwise this museum is almost completely funded by the guilds. Entry is free and there are many different exhibits ranging from art to science. There are also impressive botanical gardens. Find this expansive building in the Center City neighborhood.

Clover Hill

An upscale neighborhood that is home to many embassies and specialty food stores.

Hythe Maritime Services

The company is run from Sealy House on Rampart Street in the Clover Hill neighborhood, a very well preserved example of Empress Acilia architecture. They own a large number of warehouses in the new port and rent out many of them.

Nominally run by Gerrut 'Keeper' Hythe, this family scion can very rarely be found here. He travels on one of the company ships whenever he can get away with it. And when he is in town, he spends much time trying to innovate and improve Hythe's ships, warehouses, and other properties. He has a large workshop where he can be found most evenings. The actual paperwork is done by his good friend, Jer Lobs, she likes to paint whenever she's dictating letters.

PoI

Perfumer - Smells by Design

Dawnbloom Heights

An upper class neighborhood known for its architecture and absurd prices for "top of hill" homes. Many law-firms can be found near the border with Uppark.

Companions of Elric

The branch operates out of one of the city's most beautiful buildings, Lertey House, a shining example of Empress Acilia architecture. Located on Diolkos, one of the town's majestic avenues in the Dawnbloom Heights neighborhood, the property was donated by one of their biggest benefactors, Helena Lertey. The Companions are very popular with those outside of the guilds. The branch also manages its own warehouses, distributing non-perishable goods to other branches.

It is run by Dyn Anuvien, a man of infectious enthusiasm who visits orphanages every week to entertain the children with his juggling and acrobatic skills. Shipping and all related matters are handled by Melui Coudoarluth, a half-elf former sailor and swashbuckler.

PoI

Alchemists & Apothecaries - Herb's Store

Cemetery - Mother Mensual

Downpark

Said to be 'less stuffy' than Uppark this neighborhood has a lot of (upper-)middle class housing next to all the services that a seat of government attracts. Many glaziers & mirrorers can be found here.

Halls

Pronounced 'Hawls', this is the center of city government. Found on the Skirtin in the Downpark neighborhood, this former marketplace is now a warren of buildings where the city Elders and a corps of civil servants run the city. There are nine Elders who are elected every four years by all official guild-members in the city from a list put forward by the guilds.

Lirr

The Lore Repository, located on the corner of the Skirtin and Mint Plaza in the Downpark neighborhood, is a massive building of early Miforan architecture. However, over the years style elements of the prevailing tastes have been added. The outside now includes sweeping pilasters, gargoyles reading books, and carved pages that look to float down to earth.

Inside there is little room for frivolous decoration as bookcases fill nearly all rooms floor to ceiling. The exceptions are the four reading rooms, each decorated to evoke a different season.

Overseeing the smooth operation of the church is High Priestess Sarah Cockrell who also runs various business interests and thus relies a lot on her assistant, Priest George Bannerman.

PoI

Bank - Pursue Hickory

HQ - Humtache, Watch Plaza

HQ - Guild of Glaziers & Mirrorers

Fabrics

Much of the neighborhood consists of weavers, dyers, tailors, and clothes stores. Large warehouses dominate the riverfront. Other businesses here include furriers and instrument-makers.

Istus

Based out of a former weaver's mill, the Sanctuary of Serendipity in the Fabrics neighborhood has become very popular in a short amount of time. Many Dolac resonate with the message of stoicism and acceptance though this hasn't stopped them from asking for divinations.

The temple was founded by Blunt Grobi, a slight but outspoken man, former Master of the Weavers and Tailors Guild. He converted his building and left the guild, though he has not stopped trying to convert many of his old colleagues to worship the Colorless and All-Colored.

PoI

Clothes - Save Nine

Farmhold Hamlet

As the capital grew it, subsumed a number of villages near it, including this one. Over the centuries this neighborhood has changed completely and is now a bohemian hotbed, very much looked down upon by all the other inhabitants as it is as far from the 'proper' Dolac lifestyle as one can get.

Fort Read

The Avale Armed Forces headquarters, there are more officers than enlisted personnel here.

Fractures

For a part still an agricultural neighborhood with many small farms to the east, known for its mushroom cultivation. Around the university many businesses have sprung up; hostels, taverns, laundries, brothels, and more.

Avale School of Business (ASB)

While many of the larger guilds prefer to train their people in-house and keep their trade secrets to themselves, business in all its forms is the lifeblood of the country. It should come as no surprise that this university was founded here and attracts the best teachers and eager students. It is located on Nusreds Way in the Fractures neighborhood.

Gill Gardens

This upper class neighborhood is also known as the Sea of Green. Many public gardens and parks are dotted around and the large estates all have their own grounds.

Resa's Rest

Resa's Rest on Witter Street in the Gill Gardens neighborhood was the first brothel opened by the mysterious Resa. It took a few years before it became successful but once it did, they expanded to other cities at a rapid pace. Over the years they bought both neighboring buildings and the current place is as luxurious as they come, quite the opposite of the Dolac national character.

These days it is managed by Minoa Axel, an mid-thirties woman of classic beauty who used to work for Thal Lithel.

Hookville

Known for it's slaughterhouses, this neighborhood is where most of the livestock trade takes place. About a third of the area is low class housing.

PoI

HQ - Guild of Stevedores

Jeoran Terrace

This neighborhood, two thirds industry and one third low class housing, is filled with manufactories of all stripes. It is known for its metal works, smiths of all stripes, and armorers.

Ulaa

The Tabernacle of Industry is a massive temple in the Jeoran Terrace neighborhood. The original building was severely damaged in a fire and then rebuilt only to suffer a collapse. It has been rebuilt twice more and three additions were added as the city grew, producing a building of no less than six architectural styles.

Foreman Kazrik Jadrerlig, a dwarf of advanced years, has spent most of his time spreading his faith throughout the country and is now teaching his successor, the half-orc Knaraugh Vodis. He can't stop telling anyone who'll listen that she is Ulaa personified.

Kalehaven

A mix of warehouses and industry such as basket weavers, masons, and soap-makers can be found here. A number of piers are the main ingress for any ship-bound freight destined for the city. Also known for The Coop; the large produce market where most of the city's grocers buy their goods.

White Bridge

This large, grey stone bridge in the southern Kalehaven neighborhood connects the rest of the city with Sevso Island. The large span is full of shops and eateries built on either side of the roadway. The middle of the bridge has a semi-permanent wooden covering that can be removed when a sea-going ship needs to pass.

Abraxis Combine

Headquartered in Scatterstrand Mansion, an Independence architecture building on Raykiss Boulevard in the Kalehaven neighborhood that used to belong to the playwright Justus Delvon. Abraxis is here in full force as they want to protect their access to the Tal river. They have numerous warehouses in the new port and even a few private piers.

Leading the large contingent is a former Ott general of the engineering and magic branch, Nera Holt. She surprised many when she started taking classes at the Avale School of Business, immediately after moving here.

Kesslia

An upper-middle class neighborhood with beautiful, tree-shaded avenues and brooks. Home to many a professor and high ranking Docami.

Venture Hall

These somewhat ramshackle premises on Freddis Avenue in the Kesslia neighborhood is where the Adventurers Association is run from. The association managed to create a near total monopoly on adventuring contracts in the capital but in doing so have created a fair playing field for both clients and contractors.

Kipfield

Home of skinners, tanners, and leatherworkers, the smell takes more than a little getting used to and the low class housing is cheap because of it.

PoI

HQ - Leatherworkers Guild

Little Perches

Formerly a low class neighborhood, it has gentrified into a middle class neighborhood with many specialty stores, taverns, and eateries.

Longsee

A little less industrial than Kalehaven, this neighborhood none the less still contains more manufactories than housing. Bowyers, chandlers, and cobblers are found here.

Pheld Ceramics

Started by the Pheld family many centuries ago, these artisans are still at the top of their field. Quality comes first in every aspect and the prices reflect this. Still, demand for original Pheld far outstrips production. They are based in the Longsee neighborhood, next to Prosper Park.

PoI

Fishmonger - For Cod’s Sake

Inn - The Other Inn

Lost Bay

Abyss Annex is the unofficial name for the Old Yards and Lost Bay neighborhoods that house the poorest of the poor, most not originally from Dolac. Crime is high here but so is ingenuity. It is bisected by the Sito Road which runs north through the Kalehaven and Jeoran Terrace neighborhoods.

Mimico

One of the later additions to the city, it was built containing middle and upper class housing interspersed with many small gardens to give it a more bucolic character.

Narrow Park

Manicured to an inch, this park is full of water features and paths for a gentle stroll whilst discussing matters of import.

New Dunum

Created when Emperor Avale conquered the city, the neighborhood was of the highest class, filled with astounding buildings. Over time it has become middle class with only some of the old buildings still surviving. Many of the more successful shipwrights and cartographers have historically lived here.

Bowman-Outersea Cereals & Commodities

This was the first country the company expanded to, taking over the Radcliffe Flax Company. These days they are based out of Walachria Court in the New Dunum neighborhood. This building of early Miforan architecture was long in the possession of the Imperial family and many emperors used it to house their mistresses. The BOCC warehouse space in the port rivals that of their GICOM operation, of late they have been trialing a magical fire suppression system here.

Everything is overseen by Dolac-born Ken Rane, a man who prides himself on his appearance and is an ardent gakker player and philanthropist.

PoI

NPC - Hirsute Looking Glass

New Prospect

After years of protests from Mimico residents this neighborhood was finally built. It contains mostly (lower-)middle class housing and to the west an area was reserved for wagon-makers and caravan suppliers.

NoGWay

The short name for North of Grove Way, it used to be part of Longsee. Now it is a mostly middle class neighborhood though it has retained its cluster of alchemists and apothecaries.

Kasarian Embassy

Through some creative law-making the Dolacs have made it very expensive for the Kasarians to keep an embassy but they apparently think it worth the cost. A century ago their new building was completed, located in the North of Grove Way (also known as NoGWay) neighborhood, near the waterfront. It was designed in the New Avale style, featuring light colored bricks and many horizontal elements.

A tiefling woman, Orixes Scoch, has been the ambassador here for a long time. Her skin is a light mauve and she has a band of small horns running around her neck, though she always keeps those covered. She's a Three-Dragon Ante fiend in desperate need of new opponents. Two people report to her; Kyreth Calinax, a forty-ish, gregarious human man who seems to frequent every tavern in town, and Oramyr Noxor, a tiefling woman of indeterminate age with a smoky black skin, it is unclear if this is her natural hue, and her pointed-teethed smile doesn't invite any questions.

Oakhurst

Known for its breweries and distilleries at the south end, the rest of the neighborhood is filled with (upper-)middle class housing and the shops and eateries that come with it. All on meandering streets with plenty of green.

Thal Lithel

Based out of Elassidil Villa, on Falanae Avenue in the Oakhurst neighborhood, a large, wooden building with not a single straight angle, designed two centuries ago by Meril Ilbenalu, the famed architect. This is the thal's largest operation and it runs quite a few manufactories, competing with a number of guilds, making them not very well loved by them but very much appreciated by their workers, who didn't join said guilds for one reason or another.

Very much in the thick of it all is their leader, Gweithiril Calear, a half-elf master artisan who visits her charges daily. She likes to spend time on the Tal estuary in her kayak; an elven, lightweight single-person canoe.

PoI

Entertainment - Catifras Theater

HQ - Brewers Guild

Restaurant - Feywild Shroomhouse, Korb Street

Old Yards

Abyss Annex is the unofficial name for the Old Yards and Lost Bay neighborhoods that house the poorest of the poor, most not originally from Dolac. Crime is high here but so is ingenuity. It is bisected by the Sito Road which runs north through the Kalehaven and Jeoran Terrace neighborhoods.

Parade Fields

Historically this is where the army would present its forces to the monarch and (foreign) dignitaries. These days it's mostly a large field used for whatever purpose one needs.

Pell Point

Here there's still some of the old fishing village that was the start of it all. While almost everything moved to the new port, net-makers are all found here, and there are still a few piers where fishing vessels dock and unload their catches to immediately be sold at auction. The few upper class buildings in this neighborhood are all in the hands of businesses, the other housing is a mix of lower class and (lower-)middle class.

Bajakian Ferry

This ferry is powered by horses who run in a treadmill on the ship which powers two paddle wheels, one at each side. The ferry departs from the Pell Point neighborhood, travels to Sevso Island, from there to Klara Island, then doing the same trip in reverse.

House Ditta

Gander & Empty Shipping was the first large acquisition done by House Ditta, giving them a stepping stone in Dolac and other countries south of the Sarodin Sea. Ever since they have been headquartered in Gander House, a late Miforan architectural style marvel on Talview Road in the Pell Point neighborhood. The place has been extended twice over, leaving it without its impressive gardens.

Officially in charge is Hazan Urska Pogas, a woman with a sharp nose for a deal, and host of weekly parties that everyone who is someone wants to be invited to. She leans heavily on local boy made good, Travis Newell, an orphan who started out as a pickpocket, joined the Guild of Stevedores, working his way up the ladder before joining House Ditta.

Prester

A neighborhood in decline; these days it is known for its many flophouses where down on their luck sailors spend their time ashore. This brought with it many, many taverns, brothels, and other businesses of ill repute. Businesses that can be found here are paint makers and outfitters.

Admiralty House

This imposing building on Anchor Avenue in the Prester neighborhood couldn't be more mid-Miforan architecture. As the name would suggest, it houses the Admiralty, who have been fighting for relevancy more and more over the years. Budget cuts have meant they haven't just lost ships but even had to cede a wing of the building to the Docami Budget Office. The navy are frantically looking for threats, real or imagined, to prove their worth in a time of peace.

Proviso Place

Though next to two of the less fragrant neighborhoods of the city, Proviso Place is not too badly affected thanks to it laying in something of a bowl. Formerly mostly full of warehouses, many have now been converted into middle class apartments. It is known for its many theaters and niteries.

Scarlet Bonnet

This former warehouse on Culvert Street in the Proviso Place neighborhood is now a meeting hall and restaurant. It's many halls and rooms are in great demand for guild meetings and other commercial endeavors.

Sevso Island

This island was reclaimed from the river at great expense after the city was conquered by Avale Sevso. It was the first of a number of islands that were connected with boat bridges to the western bank of the estuary. These days the island is a large neighborhood with low to middle class housing and one of the few locations in the city where the imperial name remained. It is connected to the city by the White Bridge.

PoI

NPC - Alun Djames

Uppark

Full of imposing stone buildings, this neighborhood contains upper class and (upper-)middle class housing, the other half is dedicated to keeping the wheels of power spinning.

Domicile of Diligence

Found on Torch Way in the Uppark neighborhood, this colossal building of stone and glass is a new addition to the city and is the seat of the national government. The Council of Torchbearers meets here weekly and most of the building is home to the hard-working civil servants, the Docami, who are tasked with executing the wishes of the council.

Inner Court Arcade

Found in the Uppark neighborhood on Lock Street, this is one of the most exclusive malls in the entire country. Built in the days of Empire, the marbled floors reflect the glass ceiling in this two-story shopping paradise. Marble statuary flank the expensive stores that can be found here.

Abjura Dolana

In the city of trade there is a higher than average demand for spellcasters and the lodge here is a sizeable one. They are housed in a monumental, stone building on the corner of Karmad Square and Grocer Street in the Uppark neighborhood, a typical example of early Miforan architecture.

A half-elf originally from Sormark, Maeras Shaeremae, is the Magister. She has a weak spot for bards and there are few nights she can't be found in one or more of the city's taverns. Three Sentinels serve under her. Phiceli Zercoderes is a gnome who has worked at every single lodge in the organization during her long career, she has decided to retire here. Knut "the Cute" Culler is from Loveria, which will not come as a surprise, and no one, except him, uses the ridiculous nickname he gave himself. However, no one can deny his skill at transmutation magic. Linca Rozic hails from Haza and she has an interest in dreams and oneiromancy.

Pholtus

The Basilica of the Blinding Light is one of the largest buildings in town, a grandiose structure built in the Ome style architecture that was popular in the centuries after the Collapse, found on Karmad Square in the Uppark neighborhood. Pholtus worship having fallen as much as it has, most of the building is now rented out to the Guild of Bookkeepers, Notaries & Scribes.

With Pholtus being the royal family's official religion, and thus the state religion, Cardinal Assessor Marius Limes keeps trying to bring his god to the forefront of any state affairs but without much success, even dispensing justice has been taken over by the guilds and the Docami to a large degree. He is a confidant of Queen Helia and spends much time at her palace.

PoI

HQ - Guild of Bookkeepers, Notaries & Scribes

HQ - Guild of Cartographers & Surveyors

Woodfall

This neighborhood is known for its many migrants from the Hundred Mile Islands, Ogren, Tilgay, and other exotic places. Numerous woodshops line the streets here; furniture makers and more general carpenters. On Langspelme Road stands the recently built Endorn Theatre, named for the former boss of the Guild of Woodworkers who was instrumental in its construction. Promise Fields is filled with people at all hours and gakker is played here, the local team is called the Bolters.