The Peering Eye

Set on a wide section of the river, on a narrow plateau at the base of Mount Fynial, Belview town is dot of civilization in the snowy wilderness. Towering above, perched 1500 feet above the town on the mountainside is the new Beltorc Castle with its iconic cable elevator connecting it to the town. Beltorc Keep, once the seat power on the region, dominates the settlement itself. 

Industry

The town is serviced by three main piers that front the warehouse district and is now a regional centre of industry, processing much of the ore produced by the nearby mines. Tertiary industry is also flourishing as smiths and other craftsmen take advantage of the ‘mines door’ pricing offered to those who set up in the town. The benefits for newcomers don’t end there, the Beltorc family provide housing to all that prove themselves of value to the town.

Wizard Built

Locals and visitors alike often refer to the town as ‘Stonehaven’ referring to the distinctive architecture of most of the buildings. Almost all structures in Belview are based on initial seeding with wall of stone and similar spells. This became a rule of law after several fires decimated the town decades ago, simply too many overzealous fire mages around, not to mention the occasional fire-breathing dragon.

Fishing

The river is home to many aquatic lifeforms and Belview’s secondary industries include a small fishing fleet that services both local and export needs. Particularly rare delicacies are sent across Bigany via the new Torc teleportation circle network. Belview caviar regularly features at The King’s table along with mawfish cocktails, a type of carnivorous freshwater prawn with a disproportionately large mouth filled with tiny needle-sharp teeth.

Threats from the water are usually handled by a herd of plesiosaurs led by a male who was awakened by the druid Amelia. He is fondly referred to as ‘Perry’ by local fishermen. The occasional snatching of fish from the fishing fleets nets are considered well worth the protection the creatures bring.

Biting Cold

Whilst prosperous, living in Belview is not without its drawbacks, the bitter cold is constant with temperatures dropping well below zero during the winter and never rising above 10 degrees on a summer’s day. Agriculture is limited to a very short season and would be impossible without the benevolent support of the druid Amelia Poten who maintains a druid’s grove 2 miles west of the town and is married to a lesser Beltorc noble. In exchange for the family’s sensitive management of local wildlife and land Amelia ensures that the limited growing season is a fruitful as it can possibly be. Despite this, Belview is dependent on imported fresh goods most of the year.

Dragons

Then there is the ‘dragon in the room’, quite literally the constant threat from dragons and other dangerous creatures. Constant vigilance is required to give enough warning to the residents who know to respond to the alarm bell. They race immediately into the tunnel warren beneath the city that leads to the keep where safety can be found in the cellars. Usually such occurrences are dealt with, by the arcane power brought to bear from the keep, supported by the tower’s traditional ballista artillery. Rumour has it that the Beltorc family is trying to source some more advanced gunpowder based weaponry from privateer contacts in Freeport.