The Village of Nicosa

Description

Nicosa is a large ⚖️Cin’Darian village, located 500 miles (20 days land travel) south of 🏢Orhaz in central 🗺️Bordair. Nicosa lies at the ford of the Lusitania River, where the southern road crosses wagon trails from Hiln to the east.

House Marcellus is the Decimus with a controlling interest over the area.

The provincial governor (Propraetor Cornelia Marcus) runs an extensive bureaucracy from city hall on the eastern bank of the Canlis Lusitania in the Domus Nobilium district (nobles' quarter).

Around 600 people live in the village and its environs.

Notable Places

Nicosa has several notable landmarks:

• Steam-veiled Wharves: Nicosa’s docks stretch along the Lusitania River, where steam-powered barges ply their cargoes. The air is thick with the scent of coal, spices, and adventure. A small skyship port extends like a spindly bridge over the river.
• Cobblestone Quays: The town’s waterfront boasts cobbled streets, their stones worn smooth by centuries of bustling trade. Merchants haggle over all manner of goods, while sailors swap tales of bandits and hardened guild mercenaries.
• Clockwork Caravans: Nicosa’s market square buzzes with activity. Caravans, powered by intricate clockwork mechanisms, arrive along the four roads. Their wares include fish and ores (from Hiln), silver, stone and gemstones (from Morta) and all manner of produce from 🏢Orhaz.
• The Brass Gull Inn: A three-story tavern stands at the heart of Nicosa. Its brass-plated facade gleams in the sun, and the aroma of spiced mead and roasted venison wafts from its open windows. Travellers gather here, sharing rumours and secrets.
• Mist-shrouded Bridge: The Lusitania River is spanned by a stone bridge, its arches wreathed in perpetual mist. Locals say it was built by sorcerers, and that crossing it at midnight grants glimpses of otherworldly realms.
• The Yards: A small gnomish enclave from House Ignatius maintains a thriving cluster of workshops in the south of the town, with a never ending supply of engineering and smithing work to be done for the wagoneers.
• Luminous Lanterns At dusk, Nicosa’s streets come alive with magical lanterns. Each one contains a captured will-o’-wisp, casting an ethereal glow. The townsfolk believe these spirits bring luck and ward off shadowy creatures from the forest.
• Cornelius’s Square: A squat town hall lies on the west bank of the river, a stone’s throw away from the bridge. Named after the town's first mayor, the current governor is a disinterested House Marcellus magistrate (Corvin Florus), who has a particular penchant for spiced tea..
• Nirwood Forest: Surrounding the town to the southeast are the edges of the vast Nirwood forest. The moss-covered fir trees of Nirwood stretch far into the mountain kingdom of Morta. These ancient trees are said to harbour dryads, goblins, and forgotten ruins. The cobbled road to Silfast plies heavy caravan traffic, each one guarded by well paid and well equipped guild mercenaries.

Other Notes

• Our heroes have not yet visited Nicosa