Gellarney Port

Gellarney, also known as Gellarney Port, is the capital city of Merryville county. It sits nicely in Tristan’s Hills, on the banks of the Silver Run. Here ships come from to deliver some goods, and here sailors come to sing some sea shanties.

 

Geography and Layout

Gellarney is located on a little peninsula near the mouth of the Silver Run River. Thus, it features water on nearly every side; the Run to the north-west to west, and the Aegaic Ocean to the south. To the north-east are hills, the beginnings of Tristan's Hills, and a large road leading northward along the river. On a hill east of the city stand two buildings. On top of the hill is the low castle of Padraig O’Malley. A bit lower is the large cathedral of Tespater, in both his aspects as a farming deity and as nature deity responsible for calm seas. The Port of Gellarney, synonymous with the town, is to the south of the city and lies directly to the Ocean.

The city isn’t really divided into districts, but rather a hodgepodge of artisans, traders and normal folk all living together. However, throughout Gellarney’s history artisans of the same trade have always found each other and have kind of lived near one another, creating small communities within the city.

Aside from the harbor, there are two main ways in and out of the city. There is the large road that leads northward along the Silver Run, and another road that lies across the river and goes west to Galvia and Ismarus. There is a ferry in the river that takes people across to a pier next to a small tower on the west bank, which goes every half an hour.

 

Facilities

Gellarney Port

The port is the largest supplier of work on this side of the Hills. Under supervision of Harbormaster Kent Delaney hundreds of ships dock on its piers and its wharfs are busy with cranes, carriers and other dockworkers. It, the houses of the dockworkers and the numerous pubs take up most of the lower half of the city.

Sunken Sailor

The Sunken Sailor is one of the taverns near the port. It is a modest tavern, catering to honest sailors and traders passing through. The front facade of the building is in fact made of the front half of a ship. The wood is weathered from years standing out here. Attached to the bowsprit is a flag depicting the tavern’s logo: a stein of beer with an anchor dangling from its handle. Inside the wood gives way to stone walls, but with a cosy floor made of planks. The tables are all decommissioned steering wheels, and behind the bar is a large anchor on the wall. A staircase leads up to a second floor, and beyond that a third.

The tavern is helmed by Airic, a retired sailor who has built his tavern to resemble his ship, his second home.

Rat’s Ass

The Rat’s Ass is also a tavern by the docks, but a bit less proper. Its a low, single story building, with sleeping quarters behind the main bar. The beds are shitty, the beer is shitty, but the patrons are friendly. The man behind the bar is Garthic, an elderly goblin with artritis in both hands, a hunched back and almost no hearing left. His pet rat Geoffrey, for whom the tavern was named, isn’t the only critter crawling around on the floor anymore.

Seashell Emporium

The Seashell Emporium is a strange little shop, located on the west docks of the harbor. It is a ship that is semi-permanently moored here, but unlike most ships in the harbor. It is not a typical schooner or keelboat in use by most, but rather a two-masted junk with red, ribbed sails like they use on the Lakelands.

Inside is a strange collection of magical objects, sold by Filnik Thristle, a middle-aged gnome with bright blue hair that is unkempt and stands straight up in all directions behind a receding hairline. His bright blue mustache and beard on the other hand are neat, full and pointed. Underneath his bushy blue eyebrows he wears thick glasses. He is an expert on Arcane trinkets, and will help anyone to buy, sell or just know more about magical items.

Ophelia’s Oddities

Ophelia’s Oddities is a curiosity shop. It is a small building, with out front a wooden sign of a hand with lines and numbers. The inside is dark and lit by candles, with the windows covered by shades so there’s stripes of daylight peeking in. Packed shelves stand to the left and right of a table, right in the middle of the shop, with a large creaking rocking chair behind it. A rope with various vials and flasks with swirling liquid hangs from the ceiling. A deck of Tarot cards is often just spread on the table. There is a beaded curtain leading to the back.

Owner of the shop, and often sitting in the rocking chair, is Madame Ophelia. She appears as a handsome young maiden, with raven black hair and a veil of gold beads and jewels. Her almond eyes peek between the rinkling beads with a knowing expression. She wears many bracelets and a long skirt which is also beaded. In her shop she does Tarot readings and tells the future, as well as selling curios and magical oddities.

In reality she is none other than Odd Ophelia Knucklebones, an ancient Hag that has made her home in this crossroads of trade and secrets. Her true form is less than appealing, with dry, scabby skin and warts. Her nose is long and curved, and her chin is pointed so that they almost meet. Her black hair is stringy and matted. She has a taste for magical secrets, and will trade information for these as well as her many cursed items.

Mermaid’s Call

Mermaids call is a nicer tavern and inn near the center of town.

Spider’s Eye

The Spider’s Eye is a pub, located on a somewhat large ship that is semi-permanently moored at the docks. It secretly doubles as a hideout for The Weave in Gellarney. To maintain security it changes location in the harbor every so often.