IC 002: New Digs
Precarious lives up to its name, at least to all appearances. The bases of the towers in this part of Dura might once have sat directly upon the plateau that supports the rest of Sharn, but no longer. It would appear that enough weathering and erosion has occurred beneath them over the centuries that it was necessary to build buttresses beneath them, curving out from the cliffs, and under the titanic towers. It's disconcerting, and most people prefer not to think about the forces involved and what would happen if those supports ever gave way.
There are advantages, though. The towers that make up Precarious - and, above it, Tumbledown and Overlook in Middle and Upper Dura - now stand directly above the newer sections of Cliffside, which enables magical and mechanical conveyances on the undersides of the towers to move goods (and brave people) directly to and from the waterfront district.
The party made it to Precarious a few days ago. There are inns in this district, just like most places in the city, but it was easy enough and cheaper to use their own supplies and get some kip in a less-traveled hall or corner, and probably attracted less attention. It also kept the group hungry for their own space.
It's not hard to find a space in the city to call one's own. There's enough space in Sharn for every inhabitant to live in a palace of rooms. The trick is finding rooms that are safe, comfortable, practical and convenient. The party managed, well, parts of some of those.
The space consists of three levels, though it’s nowhere near the full diameter of the tower. The highest level has several spaces that work out well as personal quarters. Below those is a relatively open space. The bottom space is also made up of several rooms, but these are currently crowded with detritus: old furniture, chunks of masonry, broken tools, and plenty of rats, both alive and in some state of mummification. Still, no one else appears to be claiming that volume.
Through the middle of the space is a central shaft, leading to a well at the bottom and opening above into it’s unclear what. Not the sky, but some apparently endless source of moisture. Water drips down from it constantly, though never more than a moderate rainfall. It’s not pure water and it smells a bit, but it’s not sewage either. The well, Sietnyas finds, could offer a rapid and unexpected means of escape, even for the dragonborn.
Outside of this space is… more tower. Each level has doorways leading to passages that radiate away. Echoes and smells filter into the space. The space is at the edge of Precarious and Lower Dura, so most of those impressions are those of civilization: talking, animal sounds, work odors. These pathways make it hard to secure the place, but also fairly easy for someone to detect anyone or anything approaching.
Precarious isn’t known for its food, but what food can be found is simple and hearty, with the occasional exotic item that has found its way up from the docks. However, even this option begins to drain the group’s funds faster than they’re being replenished. The party is enjoying their last meal before they’re going to have to start bringing money or other arrangements their way.
Status:
District: Precarious
Ward: Lower Dura, near Cliffside.
Party: Eating out.
