Location - Terrain and Geography

Haven is a small town about 14.5 kilometers (9 miles) southwest of London. In the years prior to modern times, it was a small, quaint village nestled amongst green hills and dense forests. Since then, Haven has expanded a bit, though it is nowhere near the metropolis that London is. It still retains its small town, old world village feel, even as the population grows.

On the surface, Haven is surrounded by trees of various height and thickness. The forest surrounding Haven is a mixture of deciduous and coniferous, with common species such as cedar, maple, cypress, pines, and other evergreen trees throughout. The forest floor itself is often covered in an array of undergrowth, from small broadleaf bushes to tall grasses and beds of pine needles. Moss is a common sight on rocks and trees.

The river, Thames, snakes around the north side of Haven, providing the northern border of the city. If followed eastward, the river will lead directly to London. The other three sides of the city are bordered by forests and hills.

Should any traveler to the city, via the surface, come in contact with the edges of Haven, they will be met with only the sight of more forest, and will feel compelled to turn back. Haven’s borders are glamoured so that it remains hidden from sight save for those who already know of its existence. Magic provides borders and protections to Haven, and the edges of the city are regularly patrolled by law enforcement to make sure the glamours stay up. To the naked eye, Haven will only appear as more dense foliage, but should one take a step through the glamoured walls, the world will ripple like water, and the truth of Haven will be revealed.

Beneath the surface of the planet, another side of Haven is revealed. The underground passages snake through the entirety of the city, ancient tunnels held up by modern innovation and magic. Some of these paths may be hidden by glamours, while others will be passageways commonly used by the townsfolk to travel quickly from place to place. Some passages look as if they have been carved into stone, dim lights flickering in their candelabras to guide the weary traveler. Should one become lost in these labyrinthine corridors, one should expect the worst, as shady characters cling to the shadows of these places.

Other, more traveled routes, will be supported by a mixture of concrete and steel, well-lit paths that any family would be comfortable using to travel. Along the central route of the city is a large subway tunnel which holds the only method of vehicular passage between Haven and London, a subway train called the Tube.