Tree Pass

City Description

Population: ~700

Founded: 2350 (40 years ago)

After Eve Galdarion began her occupation of the eastern forest of Core Vandal, the goblins who once harassed the countryside turned instead to working alongside the elves who followed Galdarion to their new home. Treated fairly and equally for the first time in their long history, the goblins turned a new leaf and took up trades. Unfortunately, there wasn't much they could provide that was needed, but they never lost their spark for wanting to help, and to be taken seriously.

It took thousands of years but the goblins of Core Vandal eventually developed an independence and struck out on their own. They built massive rafts and barges from the timber of their homeland, and set out on Elfhome Lake, intent on making it to the sea and distant shores. They made it a couple hundred yards before getting stuck and decided that was good enough. That town of Tree Pass was born, though it was originally called Ship City. The name changed when the goblins realized the special timber used in their own rafts was incredibly valuable, and was being shipped across the lake and down toward Trine. And they were in the perfect spot to intercept it.

But rather than steal the trees and sell them, the instinctual helpfulness kicked in, and the goblins took up inspecting the timber and speeding it across the lake to Pryce River. The elves of Galdarion never asked for this, and it didn't really help any aspect of their business particularly, but it also didn't hurt. And so Tree Pass was born; ferrying the necrotic touched wood of Galdarion to the sea. And the goblins couldn't be happier.

Existing completely on the lake, the city is a number of tied together rafts, barges, and boats with perilous rope bridges and planks between them. The goblins don't get paid for what they do, so they don't have money, nor do they use any. They live from the lake and have become adept at fishing. Additionally, the Triton people living beneath the lake help Tree Pass when they can. Ownership means little to the goblins of Tree Pass and working on getting the trees to Trine is the most important thing to the people of the city.

City Landmarks

Tree Inspection Tube: this long chute that begins on the eastern side of Tree Pass and ends on the western side is the lifeblood of the city. Every goblin in town occupies a section of the Inspection Tube at some point in the day, and essentially inspects the timber. When asked what they're looking for, you'll get as many different answers as individuals you ask.

The Fish Place: if one is not inspecting trees, they're fishing. Tree Pass goblins love fish, and they've become quite good at catching them. Luckily the ecosystem established by the Triton promotes a healthy fish population. What would normally be a fish market in most cities is instead called the Fish Place, where people can come and get their meals every day after a hard day of tree inspection.

Kick-in-the-Junks: these descriptively named sail rafts are single person vessel made for moving quickly over a placid surface like a lake. The citizens of Tree Pass use them to haul a single piece of timber form Tree Pass to Pryce River, where they deposit their cargo and return home to grab the next one. They are powered by harnessing a "guppy" to each one, which pulls the raft from underwater. These guppies are actually ferocious oversized piranha.

Fish People Fo Pa: borrowing a fancy word from the elves of Galdarion, Tree Pass has a special meeting place decorated with ribbons, banners, and various treatments of fish delicacies for when the people of Triton come to check in on their neighbors. This happens every day or so and is considered a big event where all the goblins of Tree Pass gather to greet and party.

Guppy School: this is where the goblins teach the guppies which pull the Kick-in-the-Junks how to pull the Kick-in-the-Junks.

People of Note

Crudd: Male Goblin, head tree inspector and line director, love trees more than he probably should

Marbles: Female Goblin, head Kick-in-the-Junks operator, thrill seeker and speed junky

Perusianopholousicus: Male Goblin, head fish people greeter, wears monocle and fancy clothes

Fishy: Undisclosed Goblin, head fisher, solemn, wise, and actually able to grasp Tree Pass's situation

Squeezie: Male Goblin, head Guppy teacher, doesn't have all his appendages but has been teachin' guppies since he was a baby

Gills Magoo: Male Triton, actual name unknown, the Triton who visits Tree Pass most often

Inspector Dredd: Female Elf, actual name unknown, comes from Galdarion every once in a while to ensure the operation is running smoothly and "pay" the goblins for their efforts

Damn Stupid Doug: Male Goblin, local mischief maker, loves throwing a wrench into the pipeline and mucking up the works