As the ship nears Stormreach and Xen'drik the Dark Continent the crew makes an announcement, and the ship starts to drop altitude. That draws nearly everyone up on deck to witness the arrival at your destination.
Located on the norther point of Xen'drik, along the eastern coast of a large jungle peninsula is the City of Stormreach.
It's a ruin.
This is your first thought as Stormreach comes into view: the city has been destroyed by some terrible disaster. You see crumbling walls and squat, shattered towers. Then a moment later, you realize how far you still are from the city, and you notice the smaller structures clustered around those broken foundations. These ruins must be the work of the giants, buildings that fell long before humans came to this land.
It might not be a ruin, but Stormreach is a ramshackle city. As you draw closer, you see that the buildings are an astonishing assortment of architectural styles and materials. Some of the inhabitants have constructed their homes using stone quarried from the ruins themselves; others are partially built from driftwood or the hulls of broken ships. The Flamic architecture of Thrane stands next to a thatched hut that would seem more at home in the Shadow Marches. The city is a tapestry, hinting at the diverse range of people that have settled here. From what you can see, Stormreach is spread over a wide area, flowing down along a river valley. Barges and passenger skiffs drift between the harbor and the depths of the city. Vegetation - covered cliffs surround the valley with curtain of lush green.
As a boomtown devoted to extracting Xen'drik's riches, Stormreach will never be mistaken for a capital city or a paragon of architectural splendor. The climate seems agreeable, though (at least between storms), and the place holds and air of ancient mystery. You can see why so many choose to stay in Stormreach long after their expeditions have staggered out of Xen'drik's interior and returned to civilization.
Stormreach is humanity's greatest outpost on the continent of Xen'drik. Established by pirates and smugglers, it has become a vital resource for those who wish to explore or exploit the shattered land. Although the culture of Stormreach has its roots in Khorvaire, it is a free city with no allegiance to any of the Five Nations. As such, Stormreach is a haven for explorers and exiles, for adventurers and criminals, for soldiers disillusioned with their former kingdoms and those who wish to continue the war. It is a beacon for dissidents and romantics, for fugitives on the run and those who need to escape their own memories. Far smaller than Sharn, it is a city where a few bold adventurers can make a difference—a place where the major players quickly come to know each other. Stormreach is far more than a gateway to Xen'drik. The history of the city stretches back across the Age of Giants to the dawn of Eberron. Modern Stormreach is built on the ruins of past civilizations, from giant to thri-kreen and even stranger things. Some remnants of these civilizations can be seen on the surface. Others lie hidden underground, from the sewers of the giants to entire sections of ancient cities preserved from the ravages of time.In the arena known as the Red Ring, a Valenar warrior leaps out of the way of a giant's club. The elf came to Stormreach in search of his history—now he is forced to reenact it in this deadly contest. In Falconer's Spire, a Lyrandar lord studies maps and reports. He reaches out with his thoughts, feeling the paths of the storm and considering if he wants to hold back the tempest or welcome it in. In the slum of Dannel's Pride, a young man studies the scroll he's been given, marveling at the destructive power bound within its words. For an instant he feels doubt. Then he hears the cries of a starving child and the curses of a crippled soldier, and he knows what he must do. In a harbor alley, a merchant spits blood and teeth onto the ground. As the half-giant ruffi an draws back for another blow, the wounded man sees a guard standing in the mouth of the alley, and for an instant hope surges through him. But the guard just laughs, and the merchant realizes . . . the guard is waiting for his cut.
The Golden Dragon begins its decent toward the tallest tower in Stormreach, as it heads for Falconer's Spire, you gaze off the railing down at the some district below and then at the brightly covered bazaar in the merchant district as you pass over the city's northern edge toward its center.Halas Martain joins the group, he leans over and points below, "Careful who you trust down there, every Reacher will offer you a free tour and then steal your coin purse even as you thank him. "That's the Temple of the Soverign Host there, oldested temple to the Host in Stormreach, founded before the Temple district was established. You'll find Mercs often visiting the temple to make offerings to Dol Dorn or Dol Arrah. Don't be surprised if the images of your gods don't match your normal conventions from Khorvaire, down here, they look like dragons."
He points out a few other major landmarks as the ship comes toward the Lyrandar Tower. Mainly he names districts and major landmarks for you like the Bazaar, Falconer's Spire, the Deneith Enclave, Keep of the Silver Flame, and the Red Ring, the local area. His manner is a bit annoying but he knows his stuff, and that's important in this town. "The Captain has agreed to launch one of the skiffs for us before he touches down at the tower, that will save us hours of waiting around at the dock before setting out. So if you are ready, I'm ready, we might as well head down to the cargo hold and shove off. You'll have plenty of time to gawk at Stormreach when we come back with all our riches.
