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I have found Vesper to be an odd place. I think it must have been designed with a painter's eye, for it is certainly lovely. It is to the north of Britain, past Cove, and sits on the eastern coast where a great river breaks into many smaller waterways before joining the sea. The air is cooler, and seems to hold more light, somehow, although that may be a trick of the architecture. The many canals seem to be natural outcroppings of the river, roughly hewn from the land and covered with blooming ivy and multi-colored lichen. There is an army of artists, sculptors and artisans here, and they all work to earn Vesper the reputation as a gem among cities.
However ... I feel that if I were to brush against the stonework or stumble against a wall, all the gilt would flake away. It is, in fact, a maze of avarice and intrigue. People either do not notice or do not care. Some, I am sure, feel quite at home in this den of material greed. They would say it "provides opportunities." They use magic the way a baby uses a rattle: a mindless pleasure, to be dropped and forgotten when the next pastime appears. When I arrived, it was the fashion for the ladies to have their hair spelled, in order that it float about their heads in billowing waves. One week later, none would deign to spell her hair, but their clothes would change colors as you looked upon them. It is all frivolity, without substance. They have access to some of the greatest technology that Britannia has to offer, but they admire nonsense as much as marvels. It is a center of trading, and all things reflect that. People throng the streets, and are heavily policed by ever present guards. Food is brought from overland and downriver, but no matter how fresh it is, it is so heavily seasoned with exotic spices that I yearn for a simple meal of bread and cheese. During my stay, it became clear that they also trade in secrets, lies, stolen property and death. Truly, anything that can be bought, can be bought in Vesper ... and usually for twice the coin. Your friend, Garreth |
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