Peaceful Locales
It’s Peace Week at Necromancers of the Northwest, a week devoted to all things peaceful. I don’t know about you, but when I think about peace, I think about tranquility, calm pools, cascading waterfalls, and slow rivers. I think about the places you can go to clear your head and forget about all the violent madness and senseless hate that fills our daily lives and overruns our news feeds. And that’s just us; I imagine that people who live in a world with zombies, orcs, dragons, and worse need a little more than just a calm pond to relax, so I thought up ten exotic and tranquil locations to just relax and get away from all the killing.
1. The Pale Posey Patch. A vast field of pastel-colored flowers sprang up upon the site of an ancient battle, so terrible that the peoples who fought it vowed never again to engage in violence. It is said that the field of flowers appeared as a gift to them from the gods. The flowers themselves are among the most beautiful in all the land, with a sweet smell. Their scents carry a hint of magic with them, causing those who stay within the area to be overwhelmed by thoughts of peace and a desire to simply lie among the flowers. Those that do often report dreams filled with talking flowers that encourage a peaceful and content lifestyle, and often report awakening quite refreshed.
2. The Lake of Wine. Deep in a misty forest filled with various woodland animals, such as deer, unicorns, and similar, is a vast lake nearly 2 miles across. The water ranges in color from a pale white gold to a deep burgundy, and it is filled with wine which springs from an endless well located at the bottom of the fathoms deep lake. Those who visit can find any kind of wine they desire. In addition to the normal effects of the wine, anyone who drinks from the lake finds only a pleasant experience in their intoxication, with great merriment and a feeling of warmth and unity, never becoming angry or frustrated in their drink. Several fey have established homesteads near to the lake and provide food and lodging for visitors, and the lake is protected by powerful spirits which defend it from vile influence.
3. The Endless Falls. These falls are the creation of a wizard who simply loved waterfalls and desired to create the finest in the world. The wizard was honored by his contemporaries as being a man who devoted his exceptional powers to peaceful pursuit of art, rather than warfare, and even today powerful charms and spells left as a memorial to the wizard actually prohibit conflict among visitors to the falls. The falls themselves are created by over 100 decanters of endless water, which spill into an extradimensional space. That space is an endless pit of darkness lit by floating balls of multicolored light, which cause the water to take on all sorts of interesting colors. Floating stone benches rise and descend from the pit at regular intervals, allowing visitors to relax for as long as they wish.
4. Oric’s Bubbles. The origin of these bubbles is unknown, though they were first discovered by an explorer named Oric, who witnessed them drifting across a dessert. The bubbles slow down when a living creature approaches, and those that touch them are transported inside the clear spheres of magical energy, floating within as though suspended in water, though the air inside the bubbles is quite breathable and even sweet smelling. The bubbles never hold anyone against their will, and always seem to travel wherever the rider was heading, albeit at a very slow pace.
5. Warm Cloud Peak. Among a range of high and misty mountains lies the famed Warm Cloud Peak, a mountain nearly indistinguishable from its fellows, though far easier to climb, with plenty of good food growing naturally on its slopes, and free from angry animals or cunning monsters. At the mountain’s summit, a large grouping of pale white clouds fills the area. The clouds are warm to the touch and almost massage those that walk through them. Though many claim the warm mists have special properties, they are known to corrode steel very quickly, and it is not advised to bring weapons or armor to the peaks.
6. The Long Leaf Caravan. This traveling caravan is filled with brightly colored wagons that slowly make their way through the world, with exotic music and the smell of fresh baking goods following this long train. The Long Leaf Caravan is a massive colony of peace-committed individuals who rove through the world spreading goodwill and cheer, preaching a philosophy of peace and looking to end the suffering of others. They are well-staffed with powerful wizards, clerics, and bards, who ensure that no harm comes to the caravan using powerful spells and charms to keep their people from harm, without inflicting harm to any other.
7. The Yellow Lady’s Castle. This great castle made of glass is inhabited by the Yellow Lady, a mysterious sorceress from lands unknown. Those that enter the castle are immediately greeted with wonderful, enticing visions of relaxation and pleasantry, courtesy of the Lady’s powerful illusions. Those who enter the castle each see something different as they walk its halls. Most eventually wander out of the castle through some other exit, but a few worthy individuals are rewarded with meeting the Yellow Lady herself. Though the tranquility of this place is purely an illusion, it seems real to those that venture there.
8. The Oasis of the Alliance. In the exact center of the deepest and hottest desert lies an amazing oasis, established and created by an extraordinary alliance of genie kind. A djinni, an efreeti, a marid, and a shaitan all came together to create the most relaxing safe haven for travelers. Though each has a different tale of how they came to work together, all are committed to overcoming the bitter hatred and division which has long separated their peoples, instead establishing a great place for visitors to unwind and find sanctuary in the depths of the desert. The oasis features the finest of the four elemental planes, with clean air, warm fires, cool water, and a place made of rare and beautiful gems awaiting visitors. Though no violence is permitted within the oasis, visitors are trusted to keep the peace on their own, with the knowledge that coming to the oasis is a privilege and that it would not be wise to anger their hosts.
9. The Court of the Angelic Arbiter. This castle made from silver and brilliant rubies occasionally appears to those in need of a safe space to mediate. A powerful solar serves as judge for those who would rather discuss their problems that come to blows, and ensures a safe and peaceful space to conduct negotiations within his presence. Once the arbitration has been agreed to, the court lasts until negotiations are complete, and provides adequate accommodation for those involved in the negotiations. Parties must agree to abide by the solar’s decisions, with dire consequences for those who do not.
10. The Starlight River. Hidden away in a great temple of bleached stone is a rather strange feature: a great stretch of the night sky, complete with twinkling stars flows by as a river, reflecting no known celestial bodies. Those who gaze into the flowing Starlight River report a sense of calm and comfort. Legends say that those who go into the river go to a place where they will know peace for all time. Indeed, those that enter the Starlight River disappear, never to be seen again.