Werms Adventure - Web of Ostigaar (2)

The haunts of Ostigaar are deep in the lowest levels of city structure on Eindar Pillar.  Here is a cross section of the pillar.

Cross section of the existing (and ruined) layers at the Neck

The layers that are marked, A-E, are all currently in use.  Those that are marked, S-Y, are all in ruins.  And layer Z represents the top of the pillar, and any long abandoned layers that may have been dug down into the rock.

This cross section, is of an area called the Neck, that connects the wide part of the Pillar with the southern most tip of the pillar, where it is narrowest.  At this point shown, the viewer is looking north, directly at the narrow part of the Pillar.  Here, the rocky surface, the part in the diagram above marked Z, is approximately a quarter of a mile wide.  South of the Neck, there are a number of towers, and connecting bridges over to the Mound of Etro.  North of the Neck, most of the higher structure of Eindar Pillar exists.  The picture below is an artistic representation of the area in question.  The red line approximates the view above, although the tower (represented in the drawing above by E, is actually somewhat south of the red line).  The layers in the picture below should not be taken too literally, they just show the different groupings of upward growth on the pillar, that show where the buildings artificially rise up above the pillar.  This gives the viewer, on a day with few clouds among the buildings and pillars, the impressions that mountains of buildings are growing up all around.

Overhead view showing the Neck (red line) in relation to surrounding city

If you can see the cross hatching on the tops of the pillars, each square represents, roughly, 60 feet across.  The bridges between the pillars in the diagram represent the normal methods of connecting the different sections of the city in these parts.  There are numerous ways of flying, but this isn't available to most common citizens - only those who own a winged mount, or some device capable of flying (such as a carpet, ring, or potion), or the lucky few (less than 1%) who are spell casters.  The round towers are official city towers, built along the edge of the stone pillars, to keep an eye out on flying traffic, as well as observe the bridges and other foot traffic.  They are depressingly similar in construction, being all built according to established patterns and architecture, and feature broad flat roofs suitable for the gryphon riders of the city guard to easily land and take off.

The immenseness of the stone structure within the city should become apparent from considering that this picture represents only a small section, yet already shows a massive amount of city growth.  It should be pointed out that this stone growth represents the concerted effort of over 1200 years of building, often with magical aid, or assistance from beings (dwarves, gnomes, others) that work with stone almost as easily as others work with wood.

Current Layers -
A. Smith Roundabout - Craftsmen and fine metal smiths.  Some sales shops, and some workshops.  This area represents a large amount (in terms of wealth) of the expensive trade from this part of the city, as such it attracts a fair amount of notice from the guard (at least the foot bound members of the guard).
B.  Jeweler's Plaza - Used to be fine (expensive) homes of local smiths and jewelers.  Have dropped in price, ever since stone columns were erected to build the "Smith Roundabout" above the main plaza of this level. The fountains still run, but the luster has gone out of the area.
C. Torbin Hall - There is a fighter's hall, incorporating some walled in training grounds, and barracks for bravo's and trainers that choose to live here.  Much like a smaller version of the Fellowship of the Shield (located over on Avin Rock).  Some of the training ground is in the part of this layer that still opens up to the sky.  The other section contains the home of a sage-philosopher, Echy Feranz, who corresponds regularly (by means of hired messenger homunculus) with the Archivists of Parn Tandalorn.  The remainder of this layer is filled with expensive homes, but not those with walled courtyards or gardens - more of the simple type of home that a secluded professional would dwell in.
D. Arbu's Run - This layer contains what were once expensive villas, when it was the topmost layer in this part of the city, but has since been largely subdivided and now most of those villas are filled with cheap apartments and small rooms for rent.  One part of the Run, however, has a very large pool, with a number of lovely (or once were lovely) fountains feeding it.  These are fed by a magical source, and there are spouts spilling water down to the layers below it (down to S, and through to U and W), still, from when those layers were still actively used (before they became ruined).
E. Fin Dorbin Tower - This is one of the towers of the city guard, added to every couple of centuries, iun height - but unlike the covered over streets of the city, the towers remain in use.  This one is filled with the homes of members of the city guard, and contains a number of basic services useful to the guard - such as smiths, training flats, eating areas, etc.

Ruined Layers -
S. Monk's Vault - There was once a monastery here, with a number of buildings, monastic cells, chapels, and even a scriptorium.  It is widely regarded with superstition by the urchins, thieves, and lunatics that wander these ruined levels.  There is a large colony of giant rats, and some say were-rats, that dwell in the area.  It is not known the real reason the urchins avoid the monastery, but talk of a ghost is common.
T. Herb Market - This was once a very up scale herb market, but has since, along with the rest of the layer, gone into ruin.  The whole area is now overgrown with bizarre plant life, including a number of large and dangerous fungus species, as well as mushrooms of a variety of types and sizes.  The area is quite dangerous, and no catalog has been made of the incredible creatures that are said to inhabit the subterranean jungle.  Rain spouts on the exposed edge continue to collect rain water and feed it into an ingenous stream and reservoir system, that runs down into level W, feeding the aquaduct system that is also fed by the water supply from layer D above.
U. Wizard's Warren - This part of the city once housed the home of a wizard, named Atosh Idor, but he is long dead.  Unfortunately, the beings that created, and some that he would summon (he was a corresponding member of the Summoning school, found on Ancro Pillar) are still around.
V. Old Aery - This was once the chief gryphon aery for the city guard, marked by the very high pillared openings to the open air on the eastern edge.  These days it is home to a small tribe of goblins that tend a nesting pair of wyverns and their young.  In a curious relationship, the goblins capture food for the wyverns, and in turn are not only not eaten, but the wyverns serve to scare off all but the most dedicated of goblin exterminators.  They keep to themselves, mostly, or else the city guard would have long ago (perhaps?) mounted a determined effort to expunge them.
W. Catacombs - What was at this level of the city, and when it was here, is unknown, but this layer is full of small closed off areas, with curious furnishings.  Urns, giant jars, great water cisterns, and so on.  A wide variety of different subterranean creatures dwell here now, making it quite dangerous to move through.
X. Haunted Music School - This was once the location of a number of different structures, including a large music school.  A curious musical instrument built out of the curious tusks of giant animals, hollowed out, and activated with some sort of flame (regular? magical?  unknown).  The layer is now the home to a wide variety of different undead beings, and other dangerous denizens.
Y. Harmalan Estate - The estate of one of the leading families of the founding of Werms is located on this level.  They owned a wide variety of small industries, including some gardening of obscure and magical plants; the tending of small but very dangerous (although valuable) magical animals, and other related efforts.  The haunts and holds of the ancient buildings, although frequently crumbling, are now the home of Ostigaar and her minions.
Z. Dungeon Layers below Harmalan Estate.

Details on levels Y and Z will be coming soon, to complete this adventure.