Real Estate in Tel Vinrae
Oct 15, 2014 19:31:58 GMT
Post by LucasP on Oct 15, 2014 19:31:58 GMT
Real-Estate Purchasing in Tel Vinrae
The purchase of real estate in Tel Vinrae is a common practice by people of all nations. Due to the way the various Districts are set up, there are a variety of factors that play into the purchase of homes and businesses within the city. There are several districts in Tel Vinrae:
Each of these districts has different levels of advancement and prosperity and therefore, has different pricing on the homes. As a rule, with the exception of the Deadman’s Knot, Tel Vinrae utilizes the Stronghold Builders Guidebook as a base-line for all homes within the city.
The Stronghold Builders Guidebook lists three types of quality for buildings: Basic (Lowest Quality, most Affordable), Fancy (Medium Quality, more expensive but more comfortable), and Luxury (Highest Quality, The best of the best). Certain districts within the city are restricted to only certain types of quality, and others are limited to only certain amounts of rooms in a particular quality. The purchase of a home is almost always considered the purchase of a pre-built structure which you are modifying or adding on to, hence these restrictions.
The Stronghold Builders Guidebook also lists a number of spaces, called Stronghold Spaces, that each type of room requires. These are typically between .5 and 2 total spaces for a room. All rooms adhere to this guideline and the size of buildings within a district are limited to a maximum number of Stronghold Spaces, as well as require a minimum number of Stronghold Spaces in order to be legal.
Taxes on Landowners:
If you own property within Tel-Vinrae then you pay taxes on the property that you own. Even Landlords within Deadman's Knot must pay taxes on their property and homes can be seized by the city if failure to pay taxes occurs. For simplicity, taxes are paid at the start of each new year and amount to 1/40th the cost of the property total, prorated from purchase month. When selling property, the amount of taxes owed to that point in the year is deducted from the property total. Special: Eladrin Home-owners are always exempted from paying taxes.
Renting and Renting-To-Own:
It is not uncommon for property to be available to rent, either because the landlord has decided to move into a new home in a better district or because the landlord has purchased multiple homes for a source of income. While rent is set by the landlord themselves, typically it is 1/25th of the value of the property per month. These prices rise and lower depending on the value of the home and the landlords intention - for example, slumlords of Deadman's Knot may charge significantly more to their tenants, or add additional costs for things like waste disposal and similar effects, which often is done to keep their tenants forced into staying in their home and not being able to make enough money to afford getting a new home elsewhere. It is typically frowned upon for temporary rentals to be set up on homes in the Residential or Gentile district, though such structures are not unheard of, so long as a strict agreement is signed that outlines the expectations of the property owner regarding use of the property and treatment of neighbors.
Some Landlords will also permit tenants to rent their properties with the intention of transferring ownership after a certain period of time has passed. Once again, these transactions are set by the landlord, but a typical structure is 1/10th the price of the property, per month, for 1 full year. This provides the owner of the property a much higher amount of money per week from the property and pays them a sum greater than the value of the property before the end of the agreement, though at such end point their tenant takes control of the property and all rights in it. Many times, such deals will state that the new owner will also cover the taxes on the property in full for the year of acquisition, so that the landlord does not have to pay additional fees upon sale of the property, cutting into their profits.
Nobles, and Discounts:
Eladrin Nobility, Eladrin themselves, and Human Nobles and Merchant Families receive additional discounts to properties based on their status within the city. In addition to the District discount for the Stronghold Builders Guidebook, the Discounts are 25% for Eladrin Nobility, 20% for other Eladrin, and 10% for Human Nobility and Merchant Families. However, there are certain restrictions to their homes in order for them to be considered “proper” for a person of their position. In addition, none of these discounts apply if purchasing homes in either the Canal District or Favela’s from the Deadman’s Knot (as, such deals would be done underhandedly to avoid any sort of kickback from the other nobility of your caste).
Renovating your real estate:
In some cases, a person may find a property that is of a more reasonably low size to start off their characters place of business or home of living. Such properties are often zoned to be of the same size as the Maximum property in the area, but simply have not been expanded to accommodate that extra space yet. As such, a person can purchase a property of a smaller size and make additions to it later on until it is at it’s maximum size for its area. The minimums must be met for a property in an area to be considered legal.
It is also possible that a property owner purchases a room of basic or fancy quality and decides later that they want to renovate that room to a higher quality. Renovations of these sort cost the new tier’s price less the current tier’s price (So, if the new room is 20,000 GP and the old room was 800 GP, the total cost for the renovations would be 19,200 GP). It is also possible to renovate a room to a lower quality in order to recover some of the costs, but such an act only returns half the value of the exchange (So if you have a 20,000 GP Room and you want to downgrade to an 800 GP room, the difference of 19,200 GP would be halved (9,600 GP) and returned to your character).
Selling your real estate:
All real estate, regardless of owner, sell at 1/2 their value, minus any taxes owed to that point (if applicable).
Below is a list of all the different districts, descriptions of the homes within the district as well as living conditions, and a full description of their cost.
How to read the Summary listing:
Price: The Price of the property or discount level when looking at the Stronghold Builders Guidebook (SHBG).
Maximum: The Maximum size, in Stronghold Spaces (SS), of the properties in this area. Different sections are noted by Parenthetical Grouping (Ex: Maximum: (Main Area, 20 Spaces) (Sub-Area: 5 Spaces) )
Minimum: The Minimum number of Stronghold Spaces (SS) for the building to be considered legal.
Quality: Limitations on Qualities of Rooms within the District.
Special: Any Special Notes about living conditions, such as access to running water or wells, toilets, and availability to nobles.
Deadman’s Knot
Summary:
Price: 250 GP To Purchase a Favela.
Special: RP Required to Purchase Home. No Running Water or Toilets (Public Well). Nobility cannot purchase property in this District. Businesses Illegal, but typically unrestricted (See Notes Below)
To purchase a place in Deadman’s Knot is fairly complicated. Despite that the homes here lack plumbing or heating, are basically favelas (single rooms to accomodate the entire house structure) and have poor conditions, they are rare to come by as being for sale. Slumlords own most of the property in Deadman’s Knot, and will use extortion and bribery and even violence to expand their holdings within the poorest section of the town, so they can charge exorbitant rental fee’s to their tenants for a generally low quality of life. Those few Favela’s that are not purchased by Slum Lords are purchased by needy families, refugees from other parts of the world that are fleeing to the city who have managed to scrape together their little savings and valuables to afford a small place to call their own.
That being said, homes in Deadman’s Knot sell for 250GP - flat. This is the price at all times for such places because, they are all basically the same: a single room to act as your kitchen, dining area, common area, bathroom, study, library, workshop, storefront, etc. - DK is not typically a place you want to live, but many do so regardless because of the cheap accommodations. Homes within DK do not have active plumbing or running water, so the use of Chamberpots or similar means is common, and the well’s throughout DK are necessary for drawing clean water. The purchase of a home in DK will require some RP for the player and may get the player into trouble if they anger the wrong parties or cross the wrong slumlords with their efforts. Beyond that, a home in Deadman’s Knot can bring about unwanted visitors at night due to previous businesses that ran out of the home, or additional RP due to protection rings attempting to extort you for money, Slumlords trying to buy your property out from under you, or neighbors being either good, or bad.
It is not legal to run businesses within Deadman’s Knot - however, that doesn’t stop people from doing so, and generally not getting in trouble for it. The exception to this, of course, is those folks that make the wrong enemies within the Knot. For those people, running a business is dangerous - and could result in fines, confiscation of goods, or the need to pay bribes to someone in order to keep them quiet about the business being run. In addition, since your home is your business in these cases (as it’s only one room), you’re inviting people in to do transactions, which is of course, a risky proposition as well.
Canal District
Summary:
Price: 75% Off SHBG Prices.
Maximum: (Main Area: 5 Interior SS) (Fisherman's Cottage: 4 Interior SS)
Minimum: (Main Area: 4.5 Interior SS) (Fisherman's Cottage: 1 Interior SS)
Quality: (Main Area: Basic or Fancy) (Fisherman's Cottage: Basic Only)
Special: No Toilets, Running Hot and Cold Water (Main Area Only). Private Wells (Fisherman's Cottage). Nobles are not allowed to purchase property in this district. Businesses Allowed.
This district is below flood level, so all homes within the district are built upon stilts and typically have Rope Ladders and wooden landing platforms to access during the day. At night during High Tide, transport to and from your home can be done via Gondola, rowboat, or other small vessels. It is typical for homes to have a netting structure that rests below the waters surface or hanging post near the front entry of these buildings so that boats and Gondola’s can be properly stored during low tide and brought out easily during High Tide. Homes within the Canal district are typically single level, though some have higher rooftops which allow for upper level spacing in them as well. Despite the fact that the water in the Canal district is from the nearby ocean, the lack of sanitary care within the streets during low tide makes the thought of swimming in that water one that most folks cringe at, since the Canal District has no active plumbing within their homes, except to pipe in fresh water, both hot and cold.
It is perfectly legal to run a business within the Canal District and many people within the Canals enjoy having their home and business in the same building (though not the same room as with Deadman’s Knot). Consequently, the layout of homes vary from one to the next, and are typically of basic quality with a few people being fortunate enough to acquire the finances to afford themselves a fancy room or two, though few spend their money on such in hopes of moving their family to nicer accommodations within the Residential District, or their business to the finery of Golden Way.
The purchase of buildings within the Canal District are priced by the Stronghold Builders Guidebook, at 75% off market value in the book. Homes can be configured to a maximum of 5 (bi-level homes are restricted to having 3 down, 2 up) Stronghold Spaces and require a minimum build of 4.5 Stronghold Spaces to be considered legal in build. The maximum quality of a room within the Canal’s District is Fancy, and owning a home or business in this district requires the ownership of a small watercraft (a rowboat, for example). It is not difficult to find a home in the Canal District, nor is it difficult to open a business there.
Within the Canal District is also the Fisherman’s Cottages - a group of homes where local Fishermen, reef divers, and other individuals stay. These places are priced the same but are smaller in size, to a maximum of 4 Stronghold Spaces with a minimum of 1 spaces to be considered legal. These homes are always basic in quality, and have no running hot water - though they do often have their own well nearby to their cottages.
Residential District
Summary:
Price: 50% Off SHBG Prices.
Maximum: 8 Interior SS, 2 Exterior SS
Minimum: 5 Interior SS
Quality: Any Quality Allowed. Nobles restricted to Fancy or Luxury Only.
Special: Full Running Water (Hot and Cold), Toilets Available, Yards Available. Nobles Allowed following Quality Guidelines. Businesses Allowed as Private Access only (No Public Shops)
This is the dream location for most families looking to own a home in Tel Vinrae. The homes in the Residential District are typically affordable in pricing with a wide variety of standards ranging from basic family homes to luxurious private manses for nobility. The residential district prides itself on being a clean, safer environment for the people that live within its buildings and, as such, is regularly patrolled by Soulless. Houses in this district always have active plumbing, with hot water and flushing toilets for their tenants - however, they do not tolerate any form of public oriented businesses in the Residential District (though private practices, such as doctors, can operate from their homes as long as they treat respectable clientele).
The residential district has a significant divide in its homes, between the section east of the gate towards deadman’s knot, and the section west of the gate towards the Gentile District. In the eastern portion, more basic homes are commonplace and fenced or gated lots are not common (though they exist). In the western portion, more luxurious homes are commonplace with gated lots, fenced back yards, and nicer interior living conditions. Homes in the Residential district, as such, can have anything from basic to luxury rooms, carrying a maximum of 8 interior Stronghold spaces (split between two levels) and 2 exterior Stronghold spaces (a front and back yard), with a minimum requirement of 5 interior Stronghold Spaces to be legal.
Homes within the residential District carry a price of 50% off the Stronghold Builders Guidebook. Homes may be purchased with additional discount by nobility, merchants, and even Eladrin nobility within this part of the city (typically on the western side, nearer the Gentile District) though such ownership would be frowned upon if the home had any rooms of less than fancy quality, and as such, most homes owned by such people are quite luxurious, with gated courtyards, fenced back yards of lush green grass, and impressive living space for entertaining guests.
Golden Way
Summary:
Price: 25% Off SHBG Prices.
Maximum: 12 Interior SS, 2 Exterior SS
Minimum: 7 Interior SS
Quality: Fancy or Luxury. Up to 3 Rooms Basic. Noble Homes, Shops and Shop Oriented Spaces (such as workspace or forge) cannot be basic quality.
Special: Full Running Water (Hot and Cold) and toilets. Yards Available, Nobles and businesses allowed following quality guidelines.
The Golden Way is the commerce center of Tel Vinrae, but that does not mean that homes do not exist within this section of the city, though due to its expensive nature, most homes within this part of the city are owned by nobility or wealthy merchant families, and businesses within this part of the city are very successful as a result. While it is possible to see some basic qualities in homes at this level of the city, such is equally as rare, contributing to their pricing being so high and unobtainable for the common man. With plenty of fresh running water, hot and cold, and active plumbing for flushing toilets down into the sewers, home owners in the Golden Way are always in good living conditions.
Businesses within the Golden Way are owned by wealthy individuals or groups with a wide variety of backgrounds and function. They are frequented by the wealthy and the common folk alike, due to their high quality and often replenished stocks. This makes the Golden Way a “dream home” for the entrepreneur, as they know that their business is doing incredibly well when they can afford to open a shop in this part of the city. Due to the size of these buildings, it is not uncommon for the downstairs of the buildings to be a well maintained shop and workplace, while the upstairs is a home for a sizable family, and this place is constantly patrolled by Soulless and monitored to be safe and secure.
The cost of buildings within Golden Way is 25% off the Stronghold Builder’s Guidebook, and have a Maximum of 12 Internal Stronghold Spaces and 2 External Stronghold Spaces in size. The minimum is 7 Internal Stronghold spaces, and no more than 3 of the total Stronghold Spaces used in a home can be of Basic quality for the place to be considered legal. It is considered frowned upon to have a Shop, Workplace, Forge, or other business-related location within the Golden Way that is not of Fancy or Higher quality. Nobility and Merchant Families can purchase at additional discount, however once again, any basic quality rooms will receive scrutiny and displeasure from their peers.
Gentile District
Summary:
Price: No Discount.
Maximum: (Main Area: None) (Luxury Cottages: 5 Interior SS, 2 Exterior SS)
Minimum: (Main Area: 10 Interior SS, 2 Exterior SS) (Luxury Cottages: 3 Interior SS)
Quality: (Main Area: Fancy or Luxury) (Luxury Cottages: Luxury Only)
Special: Fast Moving Sewers, Running Water Hot and Cold, Toilets, Nobles and Businesses Allowed
The home of Nobility, the wealthiest families, and the luckiest of folks. The Gentile District is often looked at as the “Eladrin District”, since the majority of the owners within the district are of the Eladrin Families. Large, luxurious mansions and grand houses with plentiful space for both the families and their servants fill this section of the city, and the room to expand is plentiful and appreciated. Running water, hot and cold, with fast piping sewer systems, and well lit and patrolled streets, and easy access to the fine sands of Pearl Beach make this easily one of the best, safest, and cleanest places to live in the city, and also the most expensive. Major attractions like the Otaehym Llamryl, The Grand Stadium, and the Cathedral of St. Maximillian the III add to the value of this section of the city and serve as landmarks for owners in this section of the city when giving directions to their homes.
Businesses within the Gentile District are fully legal, but are always luxurious buildings at the pinnacle of their style, and businesses from the home are commonplace but always highly professional, as the clientele are often Eladrin Nobility, members of the Council Families, and the wealthiest of patrons the city has to offer. The homes and businesses of the Gentile District are the unobtainable dream for most, due to their massive expenses and high tax values, but that does not stop the dreamers from going to these places and looking upon them with envy and lust, as they are the homes of such emotion.
To purchase a building within the Gentile District costs full book price from the Stronghold Builders Guidebook. Homes are multi-leveled and have a minimum of 10 Interior Stronghold Spaces and 2 Exterior Stronghold Spaces to accommodate, as well as a requirement for any home owner of any caste that they are of a minimum of fancy quality. Basic quality rooms are simply not available within the Gentile District and, as such, the homes here are always the priciest of the city. There is no maximum on the size of homes or expansion of them within the Gentile District, and Eladrin and other Nobility, as well as the wealthiest merchant families, can purchase their homes at a discount in this section as written.
Within the Gentile District are also a number of Luxury Cottages - smaller homes that offer the fineries of the Gentile District without the size of the larger manses and grand houses. These buildings are limited to only 5 Interior and 2 Exterior Stronghold Spaces of total size and must be 3 Interior Stronghold Spaces minimum to be considered legal. These cottages are always of Luxury quality.
The purchase of real estate in Tel Vinrae is a common practice by people of all nations. Due to the way the various Districts are set up, there are a variety of factors that play into the purchase of homes and businesses within the city. There are several districts in Tel Vinrae:
- DK - Deadman’s Knot
- CD - The Canal’s District
- Main Area
- Fisherman’s Cottages
- RD - The Residential District
- GW - The Golden Way
- GD - The Gentile District
- Main Area
- Luxury Cottages
Each of these districts has different levels of advancement and prosperity and therefore, has different pricing on the homes. As a rule, with the exception of the Deadman’s Knot, Tel Vinrae utilizes the Stronghold Builders Guidebook as a base-line for all homes within the city.
The Stronghold Builders Guidebook lists three types of quality for buildings: Basic (Lowest Quality, most Affordable), Fancy (Medium Quality, more expensive but more comfortable), and Luxury (Highest Quality, The best of the best). Certain districts within the city are restricted to only certain types of quality, and others are limited to only certain amounts of rooms in a particular quality. The purchase of a home is almost always considered the purchase of a pre-built structure which you are modifying or adding on to, hence these restrictions.
The Stronghold Builders Guidebook also lists a number of spaces, called Stronghold Spaces, that each type of room requires. These are typically between .5 and 2 total spaces for a room. All rooms adhere to this guideline and the size of buildings within a district are limited to a maximum number of Stronghold Spaces, as well as require a minimum number of Stronghold Spaces in order to be legal.
Taxes on Landowners:
If you own property within Tel-Vinrae then you pay taxes on the property that you own. Even Landlords within Deadman's Knot must pay taxes on their property and homes can be seized by the city if failure to pay taxes occurs. For simplicity, taxes are paid at the start of each new year and amount to 1/40th the cost of the property total, prorated from purchase month. When selling property, the amount of taxes owed to that point in the year is deducted from the property total. Special: Eladrin Home-owners are always exempted from paying taxes.
Renting and Renting-To-Own:
It is not uncommon for property to be available to rent, either because the landlord has decided to move into a new home in a better district or because the landlord has purchased multiple homes for a source of income. While rent is set by the landlord themselves, typically it is 1/25th of the value of the property per month. These prices rise and lower depending on the value of the home and the landlords intention - for example, slumlords of Deadman's Knot may charge significantly more to their tenants, or add additional costs for things like waste disposal and similar effects, which often is done to keep their tenants forced into staying in their home and not being able to make enough money to afford getting a new home elsewhere. It is typically frowned upon for temporary rentals to be set up on homes in the Residential or Gentile district, though such structures are not unheard of, so long as a strict agreement is signed that outlines the expectations of the property owner regarding use of the property and treatment of neighbors.
Some Landlords will also permit tenants to rent their properties with the intention of transferring ownership after a certain period of time has passed. Once again, these transactions are set by the landlord, but a typical structure is 1/10th the price of the property, per month, for 1 full year. This provides the owner of the property a much higher amount of money per week from the property and pays them a sum greater than the value of the property before the end of the agreement, though at such end point their tenant takes control of the property and all rights in it. Many times, such deals will state that the new owner will also cover the taxes on the property in full for the year of acquisition, so that the landlord does not have to pay additional fees upon sale of the property, cutting into their profits.
Nobles, and Discounts:
Eladrin Nobility, Eladrin themselves, and Human Nobles and Merchant Families receive additional discounts to properties based on their status within the city. In addition to the District discount for the Stronghold Builders Guidebook, the Discounts are 25% for Eladrin Nobility, 20% for other Eladrin, and 10% for Human Nobility and Merchant Families. However, there are certain restrictions to their homes in order for them to be considered “proper” for a person of their position. In addition, none of these discounts apply if purchasing homes in either the Canal District or Favela’s from the Deadman’s Knot (as, such deals would be done underhandedly to avoid any sort of kickback from the other nobility of your caste).
Renovating your real estate:
In some cases, a person may find a property that is of a more reasonably low size to start off their characters place of business or home of living. Such properties are often zoned to be of the same size as the Maximum property in the area, but simply have not been expanded to accommodate that extra space yet. As such, a person can purchase a property of a smaller size and make additions to it later on until it is at it’s maximum size for its area. The minimums must be met for a property in an area to be considered legal.
It is also possible that a property owner purchases a room of basic or fancy quality and decides later that they want to renovate that room to a higher quality. Renovations of these sort cost the new tier’s price less the current tier’s price (So, if the new room is 20,000 GP and the old room was 800 GP, the total cost for the renovations would be 19,200 GP). It is also possible to renovate a room to a lower quality in order to recover some of the costs, but such an act only returns half the value of the exchange (So if you have a 20,000 GP Room and you want to downgrade to an 800 GP room, the difference of 19,200 GP would be halved (9,600 GP) and returned to your character).
Selling your real estate:
All real estate, regardless of owner, sell at 1/2 their value, minus any taxes owed to that point (if applicable).
Below is a list of all the different districts, descriptions of the homes within the district as well as living conditions, and a full description of their cost.
How to read the Summary listing:
Price: The Price of the property or discount level when looking at the Stronghold Builders Guidebook (SHBG).
Maximum: The Maximum size, in Stronghold Spaces (SS), of the properties in this area. Different sections are noted by Parenthetical Grouping (Ex: Maximum: (Main Area, 20 Spaces) (Sub-Area: 5 Spaces) )
Minimum: The Minimum number of Stronghold Spaces (SS) for the building to be considered legal.
Quality: Limitations on Qualities of Rooms within the District.
Special: Any Special Notes about living conditions, such as access to running water or wells, toilets, and availability to nobles.
Deadman’s Knot
Summary:
Price: 250 GP To Purchase a Favela.
Special: RP Required to Purchase Home. No Running Water or Toilets (Public Well). Nobility cannot purchase property in this District. Businesses Illegal, but typically unrestricted (See Notes Below)
To purchase a place in Deadman’s Knot is fairly complicated. Despite that the homes here lack plumbing or heating, are basically favelas (single rooms to accomodate the entire house structure) and have poor conditions, they are rare to come by as being for sale. Slumlords own most of the property in Deadman’s Knot, and will use extortion and bribery and even violence to expand their holdings within the poorest section of the town, so they can charge exorbitant rental fee’s to their tenants for a generally low quality of life. Those few Favela’s that are not purchased by Slum Lords are purchased by needy families, refugees from other parts of the world that are fleeing to the city who have managed to scrape together their little savings and valuables to afford a small place to call their own.
That being said, homes in Deadman’s Knot sell for 250GP - flat. This is the price at all times for such places because, they are all basically the same: a single room to act as your kitchen, dining area, common area, bathroom, study, library, workshop, storefront, etc. - DK is not typically a place you want to live, but many do so regardless because of the cheap accommodations. Homes within DK do not have active plumbing or running water, so the use of Chamberpots or similar means is common, and the well’s throughout DK are necessary for drawing clean water. The purchase of a home in DK will require some RP for the player and may get the player into trouble if they anger the wrong parties or cross the wrong slumlords with their efforts. Beyond that, a home in Deadman’s Knot can bring about unwanted visitors at night due to previous businesses that ran out of the home, or additional RP due to protection rings attempting to extort you for money, Slumlords trying to buy your property out from under you, or neighbors being either good, or bad.
It is not legal to run businesses within Deadman’s Knot - however, that doesn’t stop people from doing so, and generally not getting in trouble for it. The exception to this, of course, is those folks that make the wrong enemies within the Knot. For those people, running a business is dangerous - and could result in fines, confiscation of goods, or the need to pay bribes to someone in order to keep them quiet about the business being run. In addition, since your home is your business in these cases (as it’s only one room), you’re inviting people in to do transactions, which is of course, a risky proposition as well.
Canal District
Summary:
Price: 75% Off SHBG Prices.
Maximum: (Main Area: 5 Interior SS) (Fisherman's Cottage: 4 Interior SS)
Minimum: (Main Area: 4.5 Interior SS) (Fisherman's Cottage: 1 Interior SS)
Quality: (Main Area: Basic or Fancy) (Fisherman's Cottage: Basic Only)
Special: No Toilets, Running Hot and Cold Water (Main Area Only). Private Wells (Fisherman's Cottage). Nobles are not allowed to purchase property in this district. Businesses Allowed.
This district is below flood level, so all homes within the district are built upon stilts and typically have Rope Ladders and wooden landing platforms to access during the day. At night during High Tide, transport to and from your home can be done via Gondola, rowboat, or other small vessels. It is typical for homes to have a netting structure that rests below the waters surface or hanging post near the front entry of these buildings so that boats and Gondola’s can be properly stored during low tide and brought out easily during High Tide. Homes within the Canal district are typically single level, though some have higher rooftops which allow for upper level spacing in them as well. Despite the fact that the water in the Canal district is from the nearby ocean, the lack of sanitary care within the streets during low tide makes the thought of swimming in that water one that most folks cringe at, since the Canal District has no active plumbing within their homes, except to pipe in fresh water, both hot and cold.
It is perfectly legal to run a business within the Canal District and many people within the Canals enjoy having their home and business in the same building (though not the same room as with Deadman’s Knot). Consequently, the layout of homes vary from one to the next, and are typically of basic quality with a few people being fortunate enough to acquire the finances to afford themselves a fancy room or two, though few spend their money on such in hopes of moving their family to nicer accommodations within the Residential District, or their business to the finery of Golden Way.
The purchase of buildings within the Canal District are priced by the Stronghold Builders Guidebook, at 75% off market value in the book. Homes can be configured to a maximum of 5 (bi-level homes are restricted to having 3 down, 2 up) Stronghold Spaces and require a minimum build of 4.5 Stronghold Spaces to be considered legal in build. The maximum quality of a room within the Canal’s District is Fancy, and owning a home or business in this district requires the ownership of a small watercraft (a rowboat, for example). It is not difficult to find a home in the Canal District, nor is it difficult to open a business there.
Within the Canal District is also the Fisherman’s Cottages - a group of homes where local Fishermen, reef divers, and other individuals stay. These places are priced the same but are smaller in size, to a maximum of 4 Stronghold Spaces with a minimum of 1 spaces to be considered legal. These homes are always basic in quality, and have no running hot water - though they do often have their own well nearby to their cottages.
Residential District
Summary:
Price: 50% Off SHBG Prices.
Maximum: 8 Interior SS, 2 Exterior SS
Minimum: 5 Interior SS
Quality: Any Quality Allowed. Nobles restricted to Fancy or Luxury Only.
Special: Full Running Water (Hot and Cold), Toilets Available, Yards Available. Nobles Allowed following Quality Guidelines. Businesses Allowed as Private Access only (No Public Shops)
This is the dream location for most families looking to own a home in Tel Vinrae. The homes in the Residential District are typically affordable in pricing with a wide variety of standards ranging from basic family homes to luxurious private manses for nobility. The residential district prides itself on being a clean, safer environment for the people that live within its buildings and, as such, is regularly patrolled by Soulless. Houses in this district always have active plumbing, with hot water and flushing toilets for their tenants - however, they do not tolerate any form of public oriented businesses in the Residential District (though private practices, such as doctors, can operate from their homes as long as they treat respectable clientele).
The residential district has a significant divide in its homes, between the section east of the gate towards deadman’s knot, and the section west of the gate towards the Gentile District. In the eastern portion, more basic homes are commonplace and fenced or gated lots are not common (though they exist). In the western portion, more luxurious homes are commonplace with gated lots, fenced back yards, and nicer interior living conditions. Homes in the Residential district, as such, can have anything from basic to luxury rooms, carrying a maximum of 8 interior Stronghold spaces (split between two levels) and 2 exterior Stronghold spaces (a front and back yard), with a minimum requirement of 5 interior Stronghold Spaces to be legal.
Homes within the residential District carry a price of 50% off the Stronghold Builders Guidebook. Homes may be purchased with additional discount by nobility, merchants, and even Eladrin nobility within this part of the city (typically on the western side, nearer the Gentile District) though such ownership would be frowned upon if the home had any rooms of less than fancy quality, and as such, most homes owned by such people are quite luxurious, with gated courtyards, fenced back yards of lush green grass, and impressive living space for entertaining guests.
Golden Way
Summary:
Price: 25% Off SHBG Prices.
Maximum: 12 Interior SS, 2 Exterior SS
Minimum: 7 Interior SS
Quality: Fancy or Luxury. Up to 3 Rooms Basic. Noble Homes, Shops and Shop Oriented Spaces (such as workspace or forge) cannot be basic quality.
Special: Full Running Water (Hot and Cold) and toilets. Yards Available, Nobles and businesses allowed following quality guidelines.
The Golden Way is the commerce center of Tel Vinrae, but that does not mean that homes do not exist within this section of the city, though due to its expensive nature, most homes within this part of the city are owned by nobility or wealthy merchant families, and businesses within this part of the city are very successful as a result. While it is possible to see some basic qualities in homes at this level of the city, such is equally as rare, contributing to their pricing being so high and unobtainable for the common man. With plenty of fresh running water, hot and cold, and active plumbing for flushing toilets down into the sewers, home owners in the Golden Way are always in good living conditions.
Businesses within the Golden Way are owned by wealthy individuals or groups with a wide variety of backgrounds and function. They are frequented by the wealthy and the common folk alike, due to their high quality and often replenished stocks. This makes the Golden Way a “dream home” for the entrepreneur, as they know that their business is doing incredibly well when they can afford to open a shop in this part of the city. Due to the size of these buildings, it is not uncommon for the downstairs of the buildings to be a well maintained shop and workplace, while the upstairs is a home for a sizable family, and this place is constantly patrolled by Soulless and monitored to be safe and secure.
The cost of buildings within Golden Way is 25% off the Stronghold Builder’s Guidebook, and have a Maximum of 12 Internal Stronghold Spaces and 2 External Stronghold Spaces in size. The minimum is 7 Internal Stronghold spaces, and no more than 3 of the total Stronghold Spaces used in a home can be of Basic quality for the place to be considered legal. It is considered frowned upon to have a Shop, Workplace, Forge, or other business-related location within the Golden Way that is not of Fancy or Higher quality. Nobility and Merchant Families can purchase at additional discount, however once again, any basic quality rooms will receive scrutiny and displeasure from their peers.
Gentile District
Summary:
Price: No Discount.
Maximum: (Main Area: None) (Luxury Cottages: 5 Interior SS, 2 Exterior SS)
Minimum: (Main Area: 10 Interior SS, 2 Exterior SS) (Luxury Cottages: 3 Interior SS)
Quality: (Main Area: Fancy or Luxury) (Luxury Cottages: Luxury Only)
Special: Fast Moving Sewers, Running Water Hot and Cold, Toilets, Nobles and Businesses Allowed
The home of Nobility, the wealthiest families, and the luckiest of folks. The Gentile District is often looked at as the “Eladrin District”, since the majority of the owners within the district are of the Eladrin Families. Large, luxurious mansions and grand houses with plentiful space for both the families and their servants fill this section of the city, and the room to expand is plentiful and appreciated. Running water, hot and cold, with fast piping sewer systems, and well lit and patrolled streets, and easy access to the fine sands of Pearl Beach make this easily one of the best, safest, and cleanest places to live in the city, and also the most expensive. Major attractions like the Otaehym Llamryl, The Grand Stadium, and the Cathedral of St. Maximillian the III add to the value of this section of the city and serve as landmarks for owners in this section of the city when giving directions to their homes.
Businesses within the Gentile District are fully legal, but are always luxurious buildings at the pinnacle of their style, and businesses from the home are commonplace but always highly professional, as the clientele are often Eladrin Nobility, members of the Council Families, and the wealthiest of patrons the city has to offer. The homes and businesses of the Gentile District are the unobtainable dream for most, due to their massive expenses and high tax values, but that does not stop the dreamers from going to these places and looking upon them with envy and lust, as they are the homes of such emotion.
To purchase a building within the Gentile District costs full book price from the Stronghold Builders Guidebook. Homes are multi-leveled and have a minimum of 10 Interior Stronghold Spaces and 2 Exterior Stronghold Spaces to accommodate, as well as a requirement for any home owner of any caste that they are of a minimum of fancy quality. Basic quality rooms are simply not available within the Gentile District and, as such, the homes here are always the priciest of the city. There is no maximum on the size of homes or expansion of them within the Gentile District, and Eladrin and other Nobility, as well as the wealthiest merchant families, can purchase their homes at a discount in this section as written.
Within the Gentile District are also a number of Luxury Cottages - smaller homes that offer the fineries of the Gentile District without the size of the larger manses and grand houses. These buildings are limited to only 5 Interior and 2 Exterior Stronghold Spaces of total size and must be 3 Interior Stronghold Spaces minimum to be considered legal. These cottages are always of Luxury quality.