Luskan, the northernmost city on the entire west coast of Ferenc.
Since the original rulers, the Arcane Brotherhood, were uprooted and all pirates and criminals based here were purged on a large scale, this area has become the area with the fastest population and economic growth in the entire northern region.
Because of Zuo Si's previous forced immigration, as well as the massacre of orcs and the liberation of slaves, a city cluster with a total population of more than 300,000 was forcibly created on this land.
Although from the perspective of modern society on earth, this population can only be regarded as a slightly larger town at best.
But for Faerun, whose productivity is relatively backward, this scale can already be regarded as a handful.
On the entire west coast, it is estimated that only Port Calim in the south, the capital of Amn, Askatra, the royal capital of Tethyr, Zazespor, and the famous Waterdeep can rival it.
Of course, just having a large population would not be enough for Luskan to become prosperous in such a short period of time.
The fundamental reason is that these residents have been effectively organized, either working on farms outside the city, or tearing down and rebuilding the originally chaotic city, and obtaining stable wages through work.
In other words, they have money in their hands and can buy all kinds of daily necessities they need.
If there are people, money, and demand, a stable market will naturally form.
Merchants traveled thousands of miles from the south to transport food and various daily necessities here for sale. When they left, they purchased the special furs, handicrafts, precious wood, furniture, rare herbs, cold-water pearls, etc. from the North.<
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Due to the scale effect, specialties from other surrounding towns will also be transported to the market in Luskan via rivers and land for sale.
With a prosperous market and stable order, a city will naturally attract a steady stream of outsiders to settle there.
Whether they are adventurers who want to make a fortune or make a name for themselves, or ordinary people who come to make a living, they have brought unprecedented vitality to Luskan.
This is a new city, a city where hope can be seen every day, a city where anyone with ability and talent, regardless of origin, can become an official or even a noble.
Although in the eyes of some countries with a long history and ancient nobles, the "Kingdom of Nelanthel" that rules Luskan is just a new country established by whitewashed pirates, relying entirely on monopolizing maritime trade to maintain its powerful army.
It’s not certain how long it will last.
But the dark elf ranger Drizzt Do'Urden likes this place very much. He comes here to take a look almost every two months, enjoying the comfort of sitting in the tavern and having a drink, while listening to other guests bragging about their adventures.
Experience.
Although dark skin and white hair may occasionally cause a little trouble, there is no need to worry about causing violent conflicts or being deported.
Because he is not the only dark elf in this city. There is also a team of dark elf mercenaries who fled to the surface from the underdark. They have also been hired by the Luskan city government and will be responsible for patrolling the streets at night.
, arrest those spies who act suspiciously or saboteurs with malicious intentions.
Although the residents of Luskan have no good impression of these drow who are said to do all kinds of evil, they even think that the people in the city hall and the wizard tower are crazy, otherwise why would they hire such a group of dangerous people?
But Drizzt was somewhat happy to meet such a group of compatriots in the surface world.
In particular, the other party abandoned the twisted and pathological values ​​​​in the dark elf society and chose to cooperate with the rulers of the surface cities to actively integrate this, which made him feel that his compatriots may not be so hopeless after all.
At least they can continue to survive in another way after leaving their hometown.
Just when the legendary ranger picked up the cup and took a sip of mead to moisten his throat, the closed door of the tavern was suddenly kicked open with a bang.
Followed by a dozen cloaked figures walked in from outside.
There are men and women among them, and the only thing they have in common is that they all have dark skin and white hair.
There is no doubt that these people are the dark elf team hired to patrol the streets of Luskan at night.
The leader, a tall and strong woman, threw a money bag directly on the table and ordered the tavern owner: "Immediately serve my people the best wine and steaming hot stew. This damn weather is so bad
It’s almost freezing people to death.”
"Wait a minute!"
The tavern owner opened the bag, took a look at the coins inside, and quickly gestured to the kitchen.
After a while, several steaming cauldrons were taken out and placed on the table.
In addition, there are also several bottles of rum, a specialty of the Nelanser Islands.
After being outside for a long time, the cold wind blew, and the dark elves, who had already been frozen to the point of stiff hands and feet, did not care about elegance at this moment. They just picked up spoons and buttered bread slices and started to cook. When they were thirsty, they
Take a sip of strong wine.
Looking at the lips of these compatriots who were slightly blue from the cold, Drizzt couldn't help but ask: "The first winter on the surface must have been difficult for you, right?"
"It's more than unbearable. I feel that the biting cold wind and snowflakes outside can even freeze my ears alive. Compared with the warm underground world, the living environment here is really too harsh." Leader Zhuo
The woman rolled her eyes angrily.
Drizzt couldn't help but smile and comfort him: "Don't worry, the coldest days will be over soon. In a month or two at most, the weather will start to get warmer. By then, you can start patrolling
It will become much easier."
"There will be at least another three months of freezing period. I've asked other people, and Luskan will not start to thaw until April. During this period, we all have to brave the cold wind and patrol at night. Damn it.
! Sometimes I really want to open my thighs and rely on the hundreds of special skills I learned in the dark elf society to directly hook up with the real owner of this city. Then I won’t have to work so hard."
While saying this, the drow woman lifted up her cloak to reveal her plump and curvy figure, causing many male guests in the tavern to subconsciously swallow their saliva.
"I advise you not to do that. Because the real master of this city may even be more dangerous than the matrons who hold power in the dark elf city." Drizzt warned earnestly.
"Oh? So you know the real owner of this place?"
The drow woman's eyes instantly shone, and her body leaned forward slightly, with a curious look on her face.
Because she has noticed that in the city of Luskan, the nominal supreme ruler, King Eric, actually does not have much power.
Although the municipal council has executive and judicial powers, it does not control the army.
Out of sensitivity to the ownership of power, this female drow has long realized that the real power of Luskan and the kingdom of Nelanthel is actually firmly controlled by an invisible huge black hand.
But she has no idea who the owner of this black hand is.
Just when Drizzt was about to educate his fellow dark elf on some relevant information, a twisted black shadow suddenly appeared out of thin air and said in an extremely low and hoarse voice: "Drizzt Do'Urden, the master is here right now.
In the mage tower in Luskan, he wants to see you."
"Now?"
Looking at the high-level shadow appearing in front of him, the ranger showed a very surprised expression.
He knew that all the shadow creatures in the area around Luskan were controlled by Yelnia, the King of Shadows.
There is only one person who can be called the master by these terrifying creatures, and that is the real master of the west coast of Faerun Continent—Zuo Si.
"Yes, that's right now. In addition, your drow compatriots can also come together. The master may need them."
After saying that, the high-level shadow creature instantly turned into a ball of shadow and disappeared into the darkness.
There is no doubt that this sudden scene made the drow woman seem to realize something, and she immediately narrowed her eyes and asked: "Is the master that the monster just mentioned is the real ruler of this city?"
"Do you really want to know?" Drizzt asked meaningfully.
"Of course! Every dark elf woman has been pursuing strength and power from the moment she was born, and I am no exception. What's more, even if I escape to the Landmark World, I don't want to be like this endlessly for the rest of my life.
Spend time on patrol." The drow woman raised her chin slightly, showing an ambitious expression.
"In that case, then come with me. But I hope you won't regret it."
After saying this, Drizzt stood up, tightened his cloak, walked out of the tavern and disappeared into the dark street.
The drow woman and her two most trusted subordinates followed closely behind.
The two sides kept a distance of about ten meters, one after the other, and soon arrived at the location of the mage tower.
Since the previous war almost razed the island where the main tower of the Arcane Brotherhood is located, the rivers on both sides of the place have been completely filled in and turned into a raised hill.
The originally somewhat twisted and weird tree-shaped mage tower has been transformed several times and expanded into its current umbrella shape.
On weekdays, there are more than 200 mages and at least 400 apprentices living here for a long time. It is the third largest gathering place for arcane spellcasters in the entire North after Waterdeep City and Silvermoon City.
Of course, one of the reasons why so many people can be gathered is the massive magic knowledge and spell reserves, as well as the strong support of the Church of the Goddess of Magic.
Many wild mages in remote villages came all the way to find out what it was after hearing the recommendation from the church pastor.
As a result, when they saw the astonishing amount of books in the library, these mages all expressed that they could not walk.
Due to the influence of his father Zaknavan in his early years, Drizzt's attitude towards arcane magic has always been complicated. He has awe of this powerful power, but also the coldness, ruthlessness, cruelty and wanton behavior of mages.
Very impressive.
In his view, mages are a group of extremely dangerous and selfish people.
If possible, it is best to avoid dealing with them.
To be continued...