Bruxelles, Eporue, METAPHAZE, World of Magic

As a visitor to this great city, you will first be impressed by the lack of any obvious military forces of any kind. You walk down the road into the outskirts of the town and briefly notice a great glowing orb mounted more than 100' atop a great iron rod more than two feet in diameter. An engraved name on the bottom of the iron rod reads "NORDRI". The orb itself appears to be more than 20 feet in diameter. It pulses a gentle purple color and you will sense magic concentrated all around you, more magic than you have ever felt anyplace before. Not even your greatest magical item tingles like the magic around this pole. Off in the distance you can see at least two more similar poles also topped by a purple globe. One to the east and one to the west.

After passing by the great rod and into the city, you will find that your weapon cannot be drawn from its scabbard. Returning outside of the city, it is once again free. If you attempt to walk by the orb with a weapon drawn, it disappears from your hand and is once again sealed in your scabbard. Noticing your curiosity at this phenomena, an elderly gentleman will explain your weapon has been "peace bonded". The only weapons that can be drawn within the walls of the city are those used to eat with. Any attempt to use an object as a weapon results in its quick disappearance and return to its original position prior to the attack. Powerful ancient magic are obviously at work here.

As you proceed down the city streets, you notice the fine craftsmanship of the buildings. Even the streets exhibit an artistic care in their construction. The streets of the city are made of black granite cobblestones and are finely fitted together with a gentle arch in the center of the street. They slop off to the sides into smooth carved gutters with curbs that butt against smooth granite sidewalks of 4'x4' granite slabs. They are clean and lack any of the mud and grime typical of a city of this size.

You know that the population of this city is around 60,000 people. The majority of the working class people appear to live in great bulking apartment buildings made of stone and glass that stand anywhere from 3 to 6 stories high. The streetside of these buildings sport a number of typical businesses necessary to support the population of the city. Bakers, meatcarvers, fishmongers, produce merchants and more are all busy about their businesses.

Other blocks contain homes and businesses constructed as single buildings, the residence occupying the top floor while the business is below. Some of the crafty types of businesses will have separate out-buildings all grouped together to support the business. Here you find businesses and guild offices for such things as armor, weapons, magic and the like. While they will sell you armor and weapons within the confines of the city, you will find that as soon as you acquire your new weapons they too become peace bonded.

Great merchant mansions can also be found in various districts around the city. Built to embellish and brag on the merchant's success, these buildings incorporate a bit of whimsy as well as monetary solidity.