"Easy there, traveler! Here, take my hand-- we wouldn't want you sailing all that way over the Smoldering Seas just to fall at the docks!

First time here, I take it? Not hard to tell; newcomers are the ones who are surprised at gaining sea legs after traveling over molten rock. That, and your eyes keep straying to the waves of glass encroaching our gates.

Welcome to Floi Glér, the Bay of Glass! Aye, it was once Gimstein, although that was centuries ago, before the lands erupted and burned the sand surrounding the walls to glass. Quite the apocalyptic spectacle, so I've heard. But, the tieflings of the city turned the end into the beginning, and carved out a new path for the citizens. No finer glass blowers and cutters this side of the globe, no mistake about that.

I can see by your plump purse that you have some coin to spend! Perchance that was the cause of your stumbling before! The best place to spend it would be the Amber Alley, right across from us. See those hanging drapes? Right through there, you'll find the best spices and glassworks this side of the Seas. But if you're looking for more precarious goods, well... the market for that won't be on the streets, my friend. No, you want the Hushed Auction, hidden beneath the city, run by the Lady Lagartia who forces every visitor to wear masks and speak with their hands only... Or so I've heard. What's with the look? I've only heard the stories, never been myself. Although, and you didn't hear this from me, I hear Lady Lagartia and the legendary Rik'ti Tavi meet quite often there, and Rik'ti doesn't have to hide their face!

Oh, you've heard of them? Yes, Rik'ti Tavi runs the Den of Dice, north west side of town. They have all kinds of card tables at your disposal, and the place has the best view of Mirror Cove in the evenings. And every once in a while, Rik'ti will play the tables. They are as skilled with their cards as you've heard, I can assure you that.

Hm? That temple ahead? Oh, that's where the Lagoon Sentinels stay. Why the city uses them as the city guard, I will never understand. They should just stick to maintaining the hot springs. A bunch of hot-headed water-purifiers, if you ask me.

The lighthouse? That's just a lighthouse. Bugger of a thing to build, so I've been told. Oh! You mean the one in the Mirror Cove! That's no lighthouse, friend. That's the Painter's Guild. Surely, you've heard legends of Floi Glér's artists? They pride themselves with both martial and acrylic arts. "Mastery over the hands" in all sense of the phrase.

And that magnificent building, with all of the bright, wonderful drapes, is the Hjarte Theater. The hidden gem of the city. They put on the most extravagant plays! Keep an eye out for folks wearing golden sashes as you wander the city: those are theater trope members, and sometimes they'll promote their next play by doing improvised scenes around the city!

That was quite a yawn! After that long journey, you must be starving for a rest. Right up those stairs to our left, you'll find the Laughing Fox Tavern. Tell ol' Sigrun I sent you. She'll put you up for the night. Although be prepared for one of her many pseudodragons to cuddle with you during your stay-- oh, relax! They're harmless little things! Here, let me grab that bag from you, and I'll show you there myself!

Welcome to Floi Glér, my friend!"



*********

This city is set in the same area as the Schell map I made, on the edge of the Smoldering Seas. This map was actually inspired by my trip to Iceland, if you can believe it! In homage to my inspiration, many of the unfamiliar words here are Icelandic.