The Nest

The area that is now known as “The Nest” was the first expansion from the Nithian-led Traldaran fortified village of Os-Khimn between BC 1500 and BC 1100. It was always outside the original settlement, but did not have the,cultural characteristics of the modern Nest. As the Banate of Marilenev formed and grew in the first 3 centuries AC, the fortifications were extended, but this included a wall around the modern Church District, separating it from other parts of Marilenev. This was the first step in the segregation of what would become the Old Quarter from which the Nest would split. While the combined Old Quarter and Nest neighbourhoods developed as the heart of Traladaran Marilenev, the eastern part of the area gained notoriety as various illegal activities became centred there. It was also a focus for political rabble-rousers and acted as the headquarters of Traladaran rebels during the Thyatian invasion of AC 900. After the rebellion was quelled, the more hostile of the old Traladaran community established itself in the eastern side of the district. Following Duke Stefan’s arrival in AC 970, a greater split developed in the city’s Traladaran populace and the hard core resistance gave the Nest its own identity, increasing its lawlessness. As such the Nest does not have the same municipal facilities as other neighbourhoods – no court house, no revenue office, no administrative office; the City Guard and Night Watch do not venture too far into the Nest. There are many block level self-governing arrangements within the Nest. A new Thieves’ Guild, “The Kingdom of
Thieves” was formed around AC 990. 

In present-day Specularum, the Nest is the oldest, narrowest, dirtiest and poorest section of town; the population is mostly Traladaran. There is a wild mixture of residences, businesses and shops. It is home
to the city’s criminal underground and to Traladaran resistance. The Veiled Society, the Kingdom of Thieves and other gangs are the dominant factions. The guardsmen do not venture here when they can avoid it; crime is king. Strangers venturing here will be beset by thieves and robbers, trapped in a labyrinth maze of indistinguishable streets. The Street of Dreams is the prophetic and magical centre of Specularum; it has the highest concentration of fortune-tellers and freelance
magicians. If adventurers need assistance with magical artefacts or require information on
spellbooks and the like, they’ll probably find their answer in the Nest. Similarly, the Nest will provide opportunities to exchange some of their more dubious treasures for more usable funds. The district’s residents will often find uses for willing adventurers who can help them with their own schemes,
whether they are purely criminal, or are political machinations. The Nest’s taverns, gambling halls, boarding houses and back alleys are rich sources of information for an adventuring party with rumours and clues to all manner of activities in the whole city. Adventurers of the Thief class may find
themselves making a mark with one or more local gang. In some cases that relationship
may not turn out to be a friendly one. Specularum’s Nest will provide plenty of
adventuring paths to follow should an individual or party desire..