Haven-Rest

“The Refugee Isle”

“Everyone’s welcome. No one’s comfortable. But we’re alive, and that’s something.”
—Keeper Jonas

Haven-Rest - The Refugee Isle

Quick Reference

Overview

Haven-Rest was never meant to be permanent. Established 27 years ago as a temporary refugee processing center when the Rot began accelerating, it has become a permanent settlement of displaced persons with nowhere else to go. The island is desperately overcrowded—designed for 300, currently housing 1,500—with tent cities covering every available surface.

The population is entirely refugees: people fleeing Rot-consumed islands, survivors of Beast attacks, those denied entry to Ironhold or other settlements, and the simply unlucky. They arrive broken, traumatized, and destitute. Haven-Rest provides minimal shelter, food, and medical care funded entirely by donations from wealthier settlements and coordinated by the tireless Keeper Jonas.

Life here is survival—barely. Resources are always insufficient. Disease spreads easily in crowded conditions. Despair is endemic. Many residents are early-stage Rot-infected (Stage 0-1) and seeking treatment they can’t afford elsewhere. The island is a pressure cooker of human suffering, held together by Jonas’s stubborn compassion and the residents’ desperate hope that tomorrow might be better.

Haven-Rest represents the Aetherium’s failure: a visible reminder that not everyone can be saved, that some fall through the cracks, and that charity, however well-intentioned, cannot replace systemic solutions.

Geography and Key Locations

The Overcrowded Island

Original Capacity: 300
Current Population: 1,500
Density: 5x overcrowded

Layout: - The Landing: Airship dock (constant arrivals) - The Core: Permanent structures (administrative, medical) - The Rings: Tent cities in concentric circles - The Edge: Most desperate live here (falling risk)

Conditions: - Unsanitary (insufficient facilities) - Cramped (personal space minimal) - Loud (constant noise, no privacy) - Depressing (visible suffering everywhere)

Key Facilities

The Welcome Center: - Registration (track refugees) - Initial assessment (medical, needs) - Assignment to housing area - Staffed 24/7 by volunteers

The Mercy Clinic: - 10 beds (always full) - Treats injuries, illness, early-stage Rot - Led by Doctor Elara (exhausted, heroic) - Supplies insufficient (rationing necessary)

The Communal Kitchen: - Feeds 1,500 twice daily - Food basic (grain gruel, vegetables, occasional meat) - Run by volunteers - Line lasts hours

Jonas’s Office: - Administrative center - Keeper Jonas coordinates everything - Records of every refugee - Maps of empty space (constantly updated, always insufficient)

The Chapel: - Small tent structure - Non-denominational - Provides spiritual comfort - Always occupied (prayer continuous)

Society and Daily Life

The Refugee Experience

Arrival: - Relief (finally safe) - Shock (conditions worse than expected) - Processing (registration, assessment) - Housing assignment (tiny space)

Daily Routine: - Wake (whenever) - Queue for food (hours) - Seek work (rarely available) - Wait (for what?) - Queue for food (again) - Sleep (difficult)

Common Emotions: - Trauma (from what they fled) - Despair (bleak present) - Hope (flickering, essential) - Community (shared suffering bonds)

Social Dynamics

Demographics: - All backgrounds (Bright Reaches, Murk, Periphery) - All ages (but many children—families fled together) - Early-stage Rot-infected (20% of population)

Tensions: - Resource competition (never enough) - Cultural clashes (diverse origins) - Desperation (desperation sometimes = violence) - But mostly: Mutual support (we’re in this together)

Informal Economy: - Barter (trading items, services) - Odd jobs (for other refugees) - Begging (from visitors) - Theft (rare—community enforces honesty)

Notable Residents

Keeper Jonas (42): - Founder and coordinator - Works 18-hour days (burning out) - Former Guild merchant (left to help) - Respected but overwhelmed

Doctor Elara (38): - Medical director - Trained at Skyport Eos - Volunteers here (unpaid) - Struggles with insufficient resources

Old Man Verick (70s): - Longest resident (7 years) - Unofficial historian (knows everyone’s story) - Provides emotional support (listens, counsels) - Represents long-term trapped

Little Mara (8): - Orphan (parents died fleeing Rot) - Symbol of innocence in despair - Adopted by community (everyone watches her) - Dreams of leaving (deserves better)

Current Situation (287 S.)

Crisis Points

Overcrowding: - 5x capacity exceeded - Cannot take more (but they keep coming) - Jonas turns no one away (physically can’t)

Disease: - Outbreak last month (cholera) - 30 deaths - Clinic overwhelmed - Quarantine impossible (too crowded)

Rot Screening: - 20% residents early-stage infected - No resources to treat - Progression slow but inevitable - Ethical dilemma (deny entry? Allow infection?)

Funding Crisis: - Donations decreasing (donor fatigue) - Skyport Eos reduced support - Ironhold contributes nothing - Haven-Rest may collapse

Recent Developments

Last Month: Major disease outbreak (managed, barely)

Last Week: Wealthy donor withdrew support (political disagreement)

Yesterday: Three more refugee ships arrived (150 additional people, space impossible)

Jonas’s Breaking Point: - Considering asking settlements to enforce their own refugee policies (stop sending them here) - Morally torn (turn people away? Where do they go?)

Secrets and Mysteries

Jonas’s Fortune

Secret: Jonas was extremely wealthy (Guild merchant)

Decision: Spent entire fortune establishing Haven-Rest

Current: Nearly bankrupt (gave everything)

Why: Witnessed family die in refugee crisis (couldn’t save them, saving others instead)

Regret: None (but tired)

The Rot-Infected Quarter

Secret: 20% of residents knowingly early-stage infected

Policy: Jonas accepts them (nowhere else will)

Risk: - Infection could spread - Stage progression happens - Eventually becomes unsustainable

Justification: “They’re human. They deserve compassion.”

Future: Inevitable crisis when infections advance

The Lost Children

Secret: 50+ children arrived alone (parents dead/separated)

Situation: - Community raises them collectively - But no formal system - Vulnerable to exploitation

Trafficking Risk: Rumors of child smugglers targeting refugees

Quest Hook: Protect children, establish proper care system

The Underground Route

Secret: Haven-Rest is waystation on underground railroad

Function: - Smuggle people Ironhold rejected - Transport early-stage Rot-infected to Sanctuary - Run by Black Sky Cartel (surprisingly humanitarian)

Jonas Knows: Turns blind eye (necessary evil)

Daily Life at Haven-Rest

Morning (Dawn)

Wake: Crowded, uncomfortable - 200+ people in space for 100 - Sleeping mats on floor (no beds) - Cold (insufficient heating) - Hungry (breakfast is minimal)

Breakfast Line: Long, tense - Porridge (thin, barely filling) - Water (rationed) - Wait times (30+ minutes) - Fights occasionally (desperation, hunger)

Morning Tasks: - Cleaning (communal spaces) - Laundry (shared facilities) - Job search (for those able) - Medical check-ups (for sick) - Children’s education (informal, limited)

Midday

Lunch: Even more minimal than breakfast - Bread (hard, stale) - Soup (watery) - Rationed (not enough for everyone)

Afternoon Activities: - Work (for those who found jobs—rare) - Waiting (for resources, for news, for hope) - Socializing (share stories, support each other) - Despair (common, constant)

Evening

Dinner: Largest meal (still insufficient) - Stew (mystery ingredients) - Bread (if available) - Hunger persists (never quite full)

Evening Gathering: - Jonas’s address (updates, encouragement) - Storytelling (refugees share experiences) - Prayer (communal, desperate) - Hope-keeping (trying to maintain morale)

Night

Sleep: Difficult - Crowded (no privacy) - Cold (insufficient blankets) - Noisy (crying, coughing, snoring) - Unsafe (theft, occasionally violence) - Exhausted (but sleep eventually)

The Reality: Survival, barely - Not enough food (always hungry) - Not enough space (always crowded) - Not enough resources (always lacking) - But: Alive (better than dead) - But: Together (not alone) - But: Hope (Jonas provides, somehow)

Refugee Culture

Values: - Survival (primary) - Mutual aid (help each other) - Hope (maintain despite evidence) - Gratitude (for Haven-Rest, for Jonas)

Tensions: - Resource competition (not enough for everyone) - Cultural differences (refugees from various places) - Desperation (makes people cruel) - Trauma (everyone is damaged)

Coping Mechanisms: - Storytelling (share experiences) - Prayer (seek divine help) - Community (support each other) - Dark humor (laugh or cry—choose laugh)

Additional Residents

Mara Lostwind (Refugee Leader)

Age: 42 Background: Former merchant (lost everything to Rot) Role: Informal refugee representative

Personality: - Pragmatic, tough - Protective of refugees - Distrustful of authorities - Grateful to Jonas (but wants more)

Activity: Organizes refugees (work assignments, conflict resolution, advocacy)

Conflict: Wants Haven-Rest to expand (Jonas says impossible—no resources)

Old Theron (Traumatized Survivor)

Age: 73 Background: Survived Thornspire fall (Year 227 S.) Trauma: Watched entire settlement consumed by Rot

Current State: - Barely functional (PTSD, severe) - Nightmares (constant) - Flashbacks (triggered easily) - Withdrawn (rarely speaks)

Care: Community looks after him (he can’t care for himself)

Testimony (Rare): > “I watched them transform. My wife. My children. My neighbors. Everyone. > > The Rot took them. Slowly. Horribly. Consciously. > > They knew what was happening. They couldn’t stop it. They begged for help. > > I couldn’t help. I could only watch. Then flee. > > I’m alive. They’re gone. I wish it were reversed. > > Every day, I wish it were reversed.”

Young Kira (Orphan)

Age: 9 Background: Parents died in Rot-Beast attack Current: Living at Haven-Rest (2 years)

Personality: - Resilient (surprisingly) - Helpful (assists Jonas) - Curious (asks constant questions) - Hopeful (children adapt)

Future: Uncertain - No family (orphan) - No prospects (refugee child) - No education (limited schooling) - But: Alive, cared for, has community

Jonas’s Attachment: Sees her as daughter (unofficially adopted)

Brother Caelum (Medicant)

Age: 35 Role: Medicant Order representative (visits weekly) Service: Medical care (free, compassionate)

Personality: - Dedicated, exhausted - Compassionate (treats everyone) - Frustrated (insufficient resources) - Hopeful (maintains faith)

Work: Treats sick, delivers supplies, provides hope

Conflict: Orthodox Clergy disapproves (helping refugees enables “dependency”)

The Resource Crisis

Current Shortages

Food: Critical - Need: 200+ meals daily - Have: 150 meals daily (insufficient) - Result: Rationing, hunger, malnutrition

Medicine: Severe - Need: Antibiotics, bandages, pain relief - Have: Minimal (basic supplies only) - Result: Preventable deaths, suffering

Space: Extreme - Need: Housing for 200+ - Have: Space for 100 - Result: Overcrowding, disease spread, tension

Funding: Collapsing - Need: 500 Coins monthly (minimum) - Have: 200 Coins monthly (donations declining) - Result: Can’t meet needs, crisis worsening

Donation Decline

Cause: Donor fatigue - Wealthy patrons losing interest (crisis is chronic, not acute) - Guild reducing support (economic pressure) - Settlements have own problems (can’t spare resources) - Compassion fatigue (people stop caring)

Impact: Haven-Rest is failing - Can’t accept new refugees (no resources) - Can’t adequately care for current residents - Jonas is breaking (burden is too much) - Closure possible (within year?)

Alternatives: None - Other settlements won’t accept refugees - Ironhold actively rejects them - Skyport Eos is overwhelmed - Haven-Rest is last option (if it closes, refugees have nowhere)

In-World Documents

Jonas’s Plea (Fundraising Letter)

To Whom It May Concern,

Haven-Rest is failing. I’m writing to beg for help.

We house 200+ refugees. We feed them (barely). We shelter them (inadequately). We care for them (insufficiently).

We need: Food, medicine, blankets, space, funding.

We have: Desperation, exhaustion, and determination to continue.

Donations are declining. Costs are rising. Gap is widening.

If we close, 200+ people have nowhere to go. They’ll die. On streets, in Aether, from despair.

Please help. Any amount. Any supplies. Any support.

We’re not asking for luxury. We’re asking for survival.

Please.

—Keeper Jonas, Haven-Rest, Year 287 S.

Refugee’s Testimony

I lost everything to Rot. Home, family, livelihood. Everything.

Ironhold rejected me (no skills they need). Skyport Eos couldn’t take me (too many refugees already).

Haven-Rest accepted me. No questions. No requirements. Just: “Come in. You’re safe.”

It’s crowded. It’s cold. I’m hungry. But I’m alive.

Jonas is saint. He’s exhausted. He’s breaking. But he continues.

For us. For people he doesn’t know. For refugees society abandoned.

I owe him my life. Literally. Without Haven-Rest, I’d be dead.

So I help. I work. I contribute. I try to give back.

Because Jonas gave me everything. The least I can do is help him help others.

Medical Report (Brother Caelum)

HAVEN-REST HEALTH ASSESSMENT

Date: Day 89, Year 287 S.

Population: 200+ refugees

Health Status: Poor - Malnutrition: 80% (insufficient food) - Disease: 40% (crowding, poor sanitation) - Injuries: 30% (untreated, festering) - Mental health: 90% (trauma, despair, PTSD)

Medical Needs: Everything - Antibiotics (infections are rampant) - Bandages (wounds go untreated) - Pain relief (suffering is constant) - Mental health support (trauma is universal)

Current Care: Inadequate - I visit weekly (insufficient) - Jonas does his best (untrained, overwhelmed) - Refugees help each other (limited capability)

Prognosis: Grim - Without intervention, deaths will increase - Disease outbreak likely (crowding + poor sanitation) - Mental health crisis worsening (suicide risk)

Recommendation: Emergency funding, supplies, personnel

Reality: Unlikely (no one cares enough)

Personal Note: I’m watching people die from preventable causes. I can’t save them all. I can barely save any.

Jonas is hero. He’s also breaking. Someone needs to help him.

But who? Everyone’s overwhelmed. Everyone’s struggling. Everyone’s abandoned the refugees.

Except Jonas. And me. And it’s not enough.

—Brother Caelum, Medicant Order

Child’s Letter (Kira to Jonas)

Dear Jonas,

Thank you for letting me stay. Thank you for food. Thank you for being nice.

I miss my parents. They died. Rot-Beast ate them.

I’m sad. But you make it better. You’re like parent now.

I help you. I clean. I work. I try to be good.

Because you’re good to me. And I want to be good too.

When I grow up, I want to be like you. Help people. Make them safe.

Thank you, Jonas. You’re best.

Love, Kira (age 9)

[Jonas keeps this letter. Reads it when he’s despairing. Reminds him why he continues.]

Donor’s Response (Declining Support)

Dear Keeper Jonas,

I’ve supported Haven-Rest for 5 years. Donated 1000+ Coins. I’m proud of that.

But I can’t continue. My own business is struggling. Guild is pressuring me. I have family to support.

I’m sorry. I know you need help. I know refugees are suffering.

But I can’t sacrifice my family for strangers. I can’t bankrupt myself for charity.

I’m sorry. I hope you understand. I hope you find other donors.

But I’m done. I have to be.

—Former Patron, Year 287 S.

[Jonas’s note: “I understand. I don’t blame them. But refugees still need help. And I don’t know where it will come from.”]

Quest Hooks

1. The Supply Run: Acquire emergency medical supplies/food (time-sensitive, expensive, necessary)

2. The Disease: Stop outbreak before it devastates population (medical crisis, race against time)

3. The Donor: Convince wealthy patron to resume funding (negotiation, persuasion, moral appeal)

4. The Children: Establish protection system for orphans (organize care, prevent trafficking)

5. The Traffickers: Stop smugglers targeting refugees (investigation, confrontation, rescue)

6. The Rot Case: Transport infected patient to better treatment (Weeping Halls? Drifting Sanctuary?)

7. The Riot: Prevent violence when resources run out (mediation, resource acquisition, crisis management)

8. The Relocation: Find new settlement willing to accept refugees (negotiation, advocacy)

9. Jonas’s Rest: Convince him to take break before collapse (intervention, find replacement, support)

10. The Alternative: Find systemic solution to refugee crisis (political, economic, humanitarian)

11. The Fundraiser: Organize donation drive (community engagement, wealthy patron targeting)

12. The Volunteer: Recruit volunteers to help (medical, organizational, emotional support)

13. The Underground Railroad: Discover Cartel’s smuggling operation (expose, support, or ignore?)

14. The Expansion: Help Haven-Rest expand facilities (construction, funding, logistics)

15. The Crisis: Major disaster at Haven-Rest (fire, disease, violence—respond immediately)

Related Topics

• The Bright Reaches
• Skyport Eos
• Ironhold
• Drifting Sanctuary

“Haven-Rest isn’t hope. It’s the absence of despair. That’s all we can offer. And some days, that’s enough.”
—Keeper Jonas