Prologue: Vadhudra
From a distance, Vadhudra seemed to be an unremarkable settlement in many ways. Like many cities in the realm, Vadhudra was encircled by a great wall that surrounded the oldest part of the city. These walls were remnants of a much bloodier era when rakshasa demons roamed the lands freely. Where once these stone fortifications protected the inhabitants of the city, they now served as a spot for gazing tourists to walk and take in the incredible views surrounding Vadhudra. From atop the walls, visitors would see the picturesque forest that just kissed the outer part of the settlement. Through the forest, a large river flowed into the city through locks and canals in the wall.
The Mahi River ended in a grand waterfall that debouched into a wading rock pool that emptied into the sea. The Mahi River Falls was a hot spot for the locals as well as tourists. The fishing was excellent and being so close to the sea provided the city an exceptional location to collect salt, a valuable commodity sold to merchants, travelers, and tourists. It was a beautiful area made gorgeous by the sound of the waterfall and the tang of the sea in the air. The waterfall and wading pool were some of the more famous landmarks in Vadhudra. On any given day in the summer, it was bustling with the sounds of happiness as friends and families swam in the wading pool or picnicked on the banks and at night it was a tranquil place with conversations around bonfires as the waves softly broke on the beach.
The inhabitants were set up similarly to the other cities in the realm. There were subtle but marked differences as you traveled from the top of the hill down through the varying social and economic structures of this modest but lively city. The wealthy merchants and Nobles took up residence in the colorful high-class Rainbow Ring neighborhood atop the plateau within the walled old city, centered around the grand palace where the Duke and Dutchess resided. The remaining populace were divided into familiar classes from there. The area would grow from vibrant, to dull, to threadbare as you descended the hill from the wall towards the outer edges of town. The moderately wealthy lived in neighborhoods just outside the wall, further down were the various guilds, craftsmen, and shop owners; then came the farmers on humble little estates on flat farmland. A distance away from the farmlands lived the poverty-stricken in rows of sprawling makeshift houses. Finally, you would arrive at the outskirts; less civilization, where the trees grew thick and few dared to live. Any further than that, you would find yourself in the deep woods of the Amrol Forest where the wood elves lived and wild beasts roamed.
The citizens of Vadhudra were mostly human. Occasionally, especially in the bustling marketplace, you could happen across elves or dwarves peddling some exotic wares from faraway kingdoms. Non-humans were uncommon but not a rare sight as the river made for a fine artery for trade ships. Those who did visit on mercantile business often found themselves staying a few extra days to take in the serene beauty of the old city. The traders were responsible for the moderate influx of tourists in the last decade through word-of-mouth advertisement. Additionally, those visitors encouraged by the merchants in turn spurred others and so Vadhudra became a popular tourist site. This encouraged the townsfolk to open shops that were curated to give tourists an unforgettable experience. Vacationers now had their pick of bakeries, cafes, delicious home-made goods, breweries, shops that sold colorful novelty trinkets for souvenirs, artisanal crafts, and various forms of entertainment to attract customers; all enhanced by local flavors, art forms, and specialties.
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Past the clearing where many events and town festivals were held, there was a naturally occurring twisting passageway that took you down an incline and behind the Mahi River Falls to a solid wall. This hidden path had been discovered centuries ago by the Vadhudra’s first inhabitants. The founding settlers carved a small tunnel into the side of the stone wall and out the other end. Here, a staircase and railing made of solid stone had been meticulously and painstakingly etched into the mountainside leading to the soft sand of Mandvee Beach.
Carved with basic tools and rudimentary magic, the passage and stairs had taken many years to complete. Its early purpose had been to save the townsfolk from having to make the arduous and often dangerous journey around the cliff face down to the ocean to collect salt, fish, and other resources. Now its primary function was so tourists and locals could get drunk, fish, and sunbathe. What was once a treacherous three-day journey had been cut down to a lazy half-hour’s walk.
Stories were shared and passed along once again by visiting tourists, and many flocked to see the Path of Stone. New and veteran tourists still marvel at the construction prowess of the founding settlers to carve through solid rock as they appreciate their short, pleasant walk to sunny Mandvee Beach below.
Mandvee Beach was a small slice of paradise. A tidal pool of clear blue water lent visitors to the beach a superb view of the various sea life the ocean had to offer. While some local fishermen jealously guarded their lucky spots others took the initiative to form businesses where they took visitors on a fishing tour to their sweet spots. Daily catches were sold readily in the market or directly to restaurants, providing the city with yet another revenue stream.
Vadhudra was a humble but bustling community encompassing the “best of all world”: beachfront, tranquil forest, trading hub, open farmland, and city living. The duke’s soldiers were plentiful, well-trained, and very efficient. When vacationers and merchants came into town, so did their gold and goods...a fact not lost on the duke. He made certain that his people and visitors were very well protected. There was always a high presence of guards and thus crime was sporadic but not entirely non-existent and usually included pick-pocketing and general thieving.
When crime did occur it was usually a wandering or lost tourist. Where there easy marks there would be criminals to take advantage. Violent crime was well outside the realm of the ordinary though. And very seldom was there anything worse than a fight between hormonal young men who had a glass too much to drink. Sadly though, once in a blue moon murder did occur, but the perpetrator was usually apprehended quickly and punished swiftly. In Vadhudra the severity of the punishment received was directly related to the severity of crime committed.
It was a time of economic growth and unprecedented peace. Except for the occasional thieves and bandits there hadn't been an attack or a war to fight in nearly a century. It was one of the perks of living in a seemingly ordinary place...no one was interested enough to conquer it. It was just a safe, albeit humdrum, place to exist if you were a local.
