Highmere

Overview

Highmere is a walled town built on both banks of a river. North of the river lies Highmere proper: walled streets around a central market. South and east of it lie Highmere Docks, the town’s harbour, where newcomers arrive from Tutorial Island. It is known for its specialist shops.

Every one of Highmere’s buildings can be entered, each with its own interior.

The town

• Walls and gates. A wall with towers encloses the town, entered by the North Gate (the main landward entrance), the East Gate and the West Gate. The river side is fortified by river towers and a parapet along the bank.
• Bridges. Highmere Bridge is the main crossing between the town and the docks; the smaller Eastwater Bridge crosses further east.
• Squares. Market Square at the heart of the town, Town Hall Plaza, Market Hall Close, North Gate Square and Dock Square. Market Square has a fountain, a statue and market stalls.
• Streets. Smiths’ Lane borders the Smiths’ Quarter, and Foundry Lane runs past the Foundry. Gardens and orchards fill the open ground between the buildings.

Quarters and buildings

Quarter	Buildings
The heart — around Market Square	Town Hall, Market Hall, Post Office, Cartographer, Apothecary, Bank, the Tavern & Inn
North civic quarter	Library & Archive, Affinity Sanctuary
At the gates	Guardhouse (North Gate), Stable (East Gate)
West makers’ quarter	Alienore’s Clothier & Tailor, Leatherworker, Jeweller, Enchanter’s Workshop
West Gate yards	Carpenter, General Goods & Outfitter
South Row	Provisions, Barber
Smiths’ Quarter (north-east)	Smelter & Foundry, and the eight specialists: Bladesmith, Axemaker, Hammer & Mace Smith, Polearm Smith, Bowyer & Fletcher, Crossbowyer, Armourer, Staffwright
Eastern docks	Harbourmaster, Fisher & Tackle, three Dockside Warehouses

The Tavern has an upper floor and a basement Party Room, and the Guardhouse has two basement floors of jail cells.

Not every building’s service is open yet. The eight specialist shops trade, and mail can be collected at the Post Office. The others are furnished and open to visit, with their services added as development continues.

People

• The town watch. Six Highmere Guards keep watch in pairs: at the North Gate, at Dock Square and around Market Square. They start nothing, but defend themselves and each other. Right-click a guard to talk to them.
• Townsfolk. The Postmaster, the Banker, the Harbourmaster, Alienore, the Tavern’s Bartender and its bouncer Bear, a stable hand, three dockside porters, and the tradespeople of the eight specialist shops.

Everyone in town is a witness: while there is fighting nearby, they won’t stop to chat.