(Map Created with Inkarnate)
An (Incomplete) Tourist’s Guide to the Cultural Capital of the Robber’s Coast
Situated on the Siltwater Delta along the border with Arborvale, Scuffleport is Vermadel’s most Populous city and arguably the cultural birthplace of the Robber’s Coast. Founded by a group of exiles and refugees fleeing Vertony and Puricaster, What was once a small port for outcasts and pirates would later transform into the great steaming metropolis you see before you.
This was all thanks to the city’s location on top of a giant portal to the plane of fire within the underdark. Engineers and city planners have created a system of pipes and hydrothermal systems to ensure that our great city never runs out of steam. We hope you enjoy your stay within the City of Steam and hope you have a great time visiting.
Writer and Contributor to the Daily Cardinal
The Burroughs of Scuffleport
Known for its blue roofed buildings and many seafood stands, the Bayfront is an historic district and stopping point for sailors throughout the coast and beyond. Some important landmarks include but are not limited to:
The Founders: A group statue of the founding settlers of our city, located near the docks themselves. The statue itself shows exiles and pirates huddled over an open fire, wary of their new surroundings.
The Blood Market: Scuffleport’s open air seafood market. Named due to the amount of fish blood that stains its cobblestone streets. It’s also known for its grand auctions, various seafood stands, and the popular giant blue crab cakes sold at Uncle Pete’s Crabby shack.
The Gull’s Pier: Originally a dock for trading vessels, the pier was transformed into a waterside amusement park for the city after new piers were built to better accommodate a new multitude of ships. Gull’s Pier is best known for it’s carny rides, curiosity stands, potentially rigged games and sea salt taffy. Just be aware that the seagulls here have a nasty habit of attacking anyone who has food.
The Grand Docks: Scuffleport’s port of entry for all people traveling by the waves. From the Fleursian Union and the Kingdom of Blue Sails to the south to Svatefjell to the north, ships have come far and wide to the City of Steam in order to trade wares, visit or potentially find a new home.
One of Scuffleport’s first settlements, Wilcove is a redbrick neighborhood known for its quirky culture and artistic community. Currently, however, gentrification has increased tension between the rich and working class, so expect rich yuppies and locals duking it out. Local Landmarks include, but are not limited to:
Rusty Pete’s: Wilcove’s friendliest local bar & Inn. Located next to Stonegrove Park, this establishment mostly caters to locals and visiting bards alike. Known for its open stage nights that anyone can participate in.
The Wilcove Mural Project: A series of murals around Wilcove created by various local artists around the area. The most famous mural being a painting of Bahamut and Tiamat in an eternal spiral.
The Little Shrine of Saoirse: A little hidden shrine dedicated to Saoirse, Lady of Much Needed Change. Managed by local activists, the shrine itself serves as a meeting place for various peoples rights activists and protesters alike. A free soup kitchen often sets up here to serve those in need.
Cricket’s and Loons: One of Scuffleport’s best yet least known bookstores, “Cricket’s and Loon’s” is as old as the City of Steam itself. Originally an old town outpost for weary travelers, a few traveling kenku from a Ruspatch took over the abandoned watchtower and transformed it into the bookstore that locals love today. Not only has it been run by the same founding kenku family for generations, but “Crickets and Loons” holds one of the oldest collections of esoteric tomes and picto-books in the Robber’s Coast. Fun Fact: Cricket and Loons was named after the flock of kenkus who founded the bookstore, as they identified themselves with cricket chirps and loon calls.
The Black Paw: An entire cafe run by Tabaxi. Best known for their Catnip Lattes and Iron Maple Bacon Cookies. The Cafe is also well known for the baristas to burst out into song and dance, much to the discomfort of the patrons however...
Known for its marble buildings and various gargoyles that decorate them, the Marble Court is home to the city government. The streets are often filled with overworked government workers going back and forth between various government buildings. Landmarks include but are not limited to:
The Grand Hall of Law: The Center of Government in Scuffleport. The building itself includes the city senate, as well as the mayor’s office. A giant obsidian obelisk dedicated towards civil workers stands in front of the building; it is often vandalized by local teens
The Brass Dragon’s View: Scuffleport’s most prestigious concert hall/ stage house, The building itself is known for the giant brass dragon fresco painted on the ceiling
City Dogs: A local hot dog joint loved by all. infamously known for their extremely spicy Devil Dogs Challenge, where participants can attempt to win a grand prize by eating the ten Devil Dogs in one sitting (23 people had to be hospitalized so far and no one has won the prize as of yet.)
Ink Street: A Street that houses the city’s news offices and printing presses, often in competition with one another. Street brawls between the staff of the Daily Cardinal and the Scuffleport Gazette are commonplace.
The Iron Court: The City’s Courthouse, city guard center and prison. Named both for its iron columns and cold enforcement of the law. Is often the site of angry protesters and overly aggressive city guards.
The Eringal’s Institute of Natural History: One of the best museums of the natural world on the Robber’s Coast. The museum features rare curiosities such as Adamantine ores, various taxidermy animals and monsters alike, a vast array of prehistoric fossils, a greenhouse housing various plants throughout the Robber’s Coast and beyond, and a giant reconstruction of a colossal squid fighting a giant sperm whale that hangs from the ceiling of the main entrance hall.
A District known for its banking firms, high culture clubs and many skyscrapers, The Cloud Spears is home to the Scuffleport’s high society and financial center. Landmarks include but are not limited to:
The Griffin’s Spire: Scuffleport’s tallest skyscraper, home to various businesses and private firms, built by the (in)famous real estate mongrel, Abadus Shepard. It is also home to Arcane Solutions Inc. (A.S.I.), a private firm dedicated to helping clients solve problems with magical answers.
The Hollyphant’s Rest: Scuffleport’s number one hotel catering to the rich and famous who visit the City of Steam. The Hollyphant’s Rest is also home to an exclusive nightclub called the “Dryad”. Although Hollyphant Rest is open to the public, Dryad can only be accessed through invitation only and is said to be one of the most exclusive clubs in the City of Steam.
The Fleurisan Cultural Embassy: Fleur’s Cultural embassy, meant to serve as both a cultural education center as well as Fleur’s diplomatic power within the Robber’s Coast. It stands out due to its Fleurisan architecture and the many vines that decorate its outer walls.
A middle class district known for housing Vermadel University, one of the more elite schools on the Robber’s Coast. Other Landmarks include but are not limited to:
The Underboat Library: Scuffleport’s largest library with an upside-down ship serving as its roof. Books are free to check out for all inhabitants of the city. The library itself has the largest collection of travel journals from all around the Robber’s Coast to date.
Vermadel University: The number one hotspot for education within Scuffleport. The University itself is separated into four distinct campuses: The Ironmaple Campus (Math and Sciences), The Sageoak Campus (Magic), The Ginkgo Campus (Fine Arts) and Dogwood Campus (Humanities).
The Great Oaken Meadhall: Scuffleport’s official gathering place for the west canyon dwarven diaspora. Recently the mead hall itself has gotten into controversy as it was reported that a religious tome dedicated to a dwarven god of drinking had been stolen, with the brewmaster being listed as the main suspect. Other than stolen artifacts, the hall is also known for its great dwarven ales and delicious mountain pig meat pies.
Both a home for the working class as well as the home to the Great Sandstone Stadium. It is also home to Scuffleport’s major strike ball team, the Scuffleport Craigcats. Sadly, The Game’s Court is slowly being gentrified and many of its original inhabitants are being priced out of their homes.
The Great Sandstone Stadium: Made from sandstone gifted from the Council of the Ruby Mesa as an act of goodwill, The stadium itself is magically enchanted to protect from erosion and graffiti. It serves as a home for one of the Robber’s Coast’s favorite pastimes: Strike Ball. It is also home to Scuffleport’s home team, the Scuffleport Craigcats.
Scalper’s Lot: Right outside the stadium itself is a collection of tent shops selling Strike Ball memorabilia and dubiously sourced tickets. One can also find Good Clover’’s Grub Cart, the best food cart in Scuffleport that specializes in Halfling comfort food, especially in potato ice cream.
Named for the grand church that sits in the middle of the district, Church view is an historic neighborhood also known for its many statues dedicated to different deities. Other Landmarks include but are not limited to:
The Grand Cathedral of Many: Church View’s namesake. The Grand Cathedral of Many serves as a place of worship for four major deities of the City: Calcifer The Redeemed, Roidelune, The Moon King, Ischarot, The Black Bird and Saoirse, Lady of Much Needed Change.
The Crossing on Abby St. and Highcliff Road: A crossroads that serves as an unofficial place of worship for Qwenfur, lady of the crossroads. Devotees to the Three-Fold deity often leave little trinkets and goods for other visitors at the small little shrine located on the side of an office building. It remains a popular destination for Pilgrims of the Long Road.
Deva’s and Devil’s: Scuffleport’s number one bookstore when it comes to theology, spirituality and religious history within the Robber’s Coast. The bookstore is quite controversial as it features texts devoted to the study of “evil” deities (Izzerobb Nick, Unghall, Asmodaeus, Etc.) Regardless, the bookstore itself has served as a center of interfaith dialog and religious understanding. It still attracts a good number of zealous protesters, however.
Named after the massive necropolis right next to it, Potter’s Lot is one of the safer working class neighborhoods, where you have to fear more about the occasional undead rather than being mugged, Other Landmarks include but are not limited to:
The Hanged Man: A local speakeasy rumored to actually be a temple dedicated to Izzerobb Nick, The Headless God of Revenge. Various nooses hang from its rafters, as bartenders serve drinks such as the “Dark Path Chaser” and the “Gorgon’s Breath”.
The Potter’s Market: An Open Air Market with a giant fountain decorated with stone salmon statues at the center. Rumored to be haunted by the ghost of a young woman done wrong. She has been said to take the form of an eerie mist that hangs around the fountain, softly crying.
The Black Dragon’s Pit: Home to Scuffleport’s so-called “underground” scene, The musical venue has a reputation hosting various musical acts that are edgy, brooding and dark. The Black Dragon’s Pit has hosted legendary bands and bards such as “Blood Gurgler'', “Lich Queen”, “Avernus’ Son” and many other notorious acts.
Home to Scuffleports industrial center and red light district, Garytowne is also known for the various stray Tressyms (flying cats) that make the borough their home. Other landmarks include but are not limited to:
The Tressym’s Loft: Scuffleport more well known public brothel. Unlike other brothels, workers here seem to have more freedom with their work compared with others within their profession. It’s a mystery of who runs the place, however.
The Eversteam Power Plant: The main source of Scuffleport’s steam; river water is diverted into the pipes, which then travel down to the underdark, get super heated by the planar portal, and then come back up as highly pressured steam. Occasionally a fire elemental breaks out and causes havoc in the district.
The Rivermill Forge: Run by a family of Mountain Dwarves from out west, the Rivermill Forge has been making a name of itself as being one of the best makers of weapons northside of the city. The forge is known for using flames taken from the planar portal in its own metalwork.
The Goldthimble Shirtwaist Fire Memorial: A small park that stands in front of the now burnt down Goldthimble Shirtwaist Factory was created in memory of the workers who perished due to corporate greed. Before the Fire, the Goldthimble Shirtwaist Company was Scuffleport’s premier creators of fashion for a growing metropolis. It was also well known for its unsafe working conditions and poor treatment of staff. Due to these ongoing issues, a fire broke out within the factory. As workers tried to flee the oncoming flames, they had found that the escape doors were locked shut due to management wanting to prevent workers from leaving their shifts. Because of this, 142 workers perished, with 37 attempting to flee from jumping out from the windows. To this day, Gartrend Vellinvon, owner of the Goldthimble Shirtwaist Company, denies any wrongdoing.
Scuffleport’s most run down and poorest district. Although it is a dock that specializes in trade from up the Siltwater River, years of neglect and a lack of trade has turned the district into the most likely place to get mugged or dumped off into the river:
The Hungry Pike: One of the better known establishments of the River Docks, the Hungry Pike serves as both a tavern and inn to all for a fairly cheap price. Despite it being the relatively only safe area in the River Docks, rumors have been circulating that the inn is actually a front for something far more sinister (Drug Den, Gang Hideout, Illegal fighting ring, etc.) Despite these nasty rumors, the Hungry Pike is well known for its deep fried catfish.
Pick-Pocket’s Alley: A rundown street lined with pawn shops and other shady businesses. If you ever had anything stolen and the law won’t do anything to help, chances are said stolen belongings will end up in one of the many pawn shops that make this alleyway home.
The Bloody Ring: Where the Great Sandstone Stadium represent’s Scuffleport’s love for sportsmanship, The Bloody Ring represent the City of Steam’s less barely legal guilty pleasure: bare knuckle gladiatorial fights where viewers bet on the winner. Although proponents of the ring argue that the fights are legal due to the ban on killing, critics have often pointed out the gambling nature of the sport that makes this arena quite dubious in nature.
The biggest park in Scuffleport. Known for its lofty hills and various naked surface rocks, the park is also known for the mysterious steaming springs forest, said to be home to various hot springs and elusive wood woad named “Woady”
Woady’s Grove: Said to be in the deepest thicket of the park, the grove is said to be home to the city’s oldest (and perhaps fictional) resident, Woady the Wood Woad. Only a few people have been said to have found this legendary grove, as well as lay eyes on its elusive guardian. Because of this, visitors of the park often try to find the grove to no avail.
The Steaming Forest: Thanks to the effects of living right on top of a planar portal to the Fire Realm, Stonegrove Park’s forest is dotted with many hot springs that visitors can relax in. Be careful though, as clothing and other personal belongings left unprotected has often been seized by dryads and other fey beings.
The Virmadel National Zoo: Situated near the border of the Marble Court, The zoo (often abbreviated to the V.N.Z.) is open to all in the city to learn about the natural world. Creatures both mundane and exotic call this place home, from the grouchy Dire Opossums to the Elegant Winged Python. The zoo also boasts a fun petting corral where guests can feed and pet the Zoo’s more friendly and safer inhabitants
Scuffleport’s main necropolis, maintained and watched over by the city’s gray monastery of Ankou, visitors usually come during the day to mourn their loved ones. At night, however, the monestary’s clergy patrol the necropolis to ensure that the dead are truly at rest. Other landmarks include but are not limited to:
The Eldermoss Mausoleum: Mournpark’s most infamous abandoned mausoleum. Once a popular destination for high society’s dead, the crypt itself became a hotbed for the undead and has been officially declared an “Abandoned Lot” and “Public Safety Hazard '' by the city. Currently a group of families part of Scuffleport’s high society have put up a bounty to stop the necrotic energy that resides in the mausoleum itself. The bounty has been unclaimed as of yet.
Weeping Marina: Originally built for the grave of a famed cleric of Calcifur, Rendell Casters, The statue of an angel in mourning sits at the center of Mournpark, black tears staining it’s otherwise natural bronze blue face. The statue itself is said to be haunted, with superstitious folk stating that if one would sit on the mourning angel’s lap, then they would die within thirteen days. Of course this is all just the overactive imaginations of local teens and paranoid folk over a slightly creepy statue, right?
Note: This is an incomplete version of the guide that I plan on publishing very soon. In the meantime, I hope this version will suffice for now.
