Alturuk

At the head of the Big Fork of the Estuary is the merchant village of Altaruk. Operated by all three merchant Houses of Balic, this is a major trade village for all caravans passing through the region. A per beast-of-burden toll is charged for caravan that would like to enter to trade, and thus gain its protection from the dangers of the wastes.

Arisphistaneles (LG hm Preserver 15) manages the town for the Balican Houses. Though not a member of the Veiled Alliance, he is a friend of it, and allows the group to use the village when they wish to meet away from Balic. Arisphistaneles has a reputation as a fair manager, and deals harshly with those that would disrupt the town in his charge.

The occasional giant attack is the main danger that Altaruk faces, and for that reason – and the ever-present bandits that roam the desert – a mercenary force of 500, along with the village's fifteen foot walls, protect the settlement. A section of the wall has been recently rebuilt after a landslide from an adjacent mountain buried a corner of the village.

Though law and order are enforced stringently, Eniseus (NE hf Rogue 9) has thusfar maintained a profitable lifestyle in Altaruk. The talented thief discreetly steals from caravan supplies as their merchants and guards drink at the popular tavern she co-owns, The Broken Dunes. She has been able to keep a low profile despite her illegal activity by cautiously choosing her targets and not letting greed interfere with her survival instincts.

Visitors can stay at one of the two inns, Kharie's Welcome House or Traveler's Rest, neither of outstanding quality, for safe and reasonbly priced. The village's well charges a three bits were bucket and is guarded day and night. The water is slightly brown, but tastes fine.