Welcome to Bordertown Read Free

community, to bring the city to life. And that’s as it should be. Community, friendship, art: stirred together, they make a powerful magic. Used wisely, it can save your life. I know that it saved mine.

BORDERTOWN BASICS
     
    Due to a sudden influx of newcomers to Our Fair City, we have prepared this leaflet to help to acquaint newbies—aka “noobs”—with life in Bordertown. Who are we? Well, we’re
not
the Bordertown Chamber of Commerce, and this is
not
a tourist guide. We are the Bordertown branch of the Diggers 1 , and our mission is to help the runaway kids from both sides of the Border who turn up on the streets here. If that’s you, read on. You’re going to need the information below.
    LIFE ON THE BORDER
    Misinformation about Bordertown is rife in both the World and the Realm, so here’s a quick history lesson from
The Tough Guide to Bordertown
(with commentary by us):
    The city takes its name from the Border itself, a magical wall that divides the human World from the enchanted lands beyond: a place that humans call Elfland, populated by a tall, silver-haired, long-lived race of people that humans call elves. They, on the other hand, refer to themselves as Truebloods, and to their homeland simply as the Realm.
(Humans, take note: You can refer to the Realm as “Faerie” without causing offense, but do not make the mistake of referring to its citizens as “fairies”—unless you want to be punched.)
    Elfhaeme Gate is the only point of passage across the Border, controlled by officers of the Realm. Passage is for those of elfin blood only; no human is
ever
allowed to cross the Border. Humans have no idea what really lies on the other side, and the elves themselves aren’t telling. In fact, they
can’t
tell: there are powerful magics that prevent them from talking about the Realm except in ways designed to obscure the truth.
(So don’t ask them, unless you want to embarrass yourself and them, no matter how much you long to know.)
    Bordertown is located in the Borderlands (aka the Nevernever) between Elfland and the World, where it grew out of the ruins of a human city abandoned when Elfland first appeared. Populated by both elves and humans, Bordertown is a famously uncomfortable place to live. Elfin magic is wildly unpredictable here, as are human science and technology, and the city runs ona volatile combination of the two.
(If you want to power your electric amp or your iPhone, you’re going to need to find a spellbox. And even then, you might get strange results.)
    With an economy based on elfin–human trade, much of the city is now reasonably stable—except for the Soho district (south of Ho Street, enclosed within the Old City Wall), which has become a well-known mecca for runaway kids, both human and elfin. This derelict neighborhood remained abandoned for many years until young people began to claim it for their own, squatting in the ruined, graffiti-covered buildings and bringing them back to life.
(Yes, kiddies, it’s true. Soho belongs to us.)
    Okay, so you’ve found your way to Bordertown. That was probably hard, so hooray for you. But please, dear noobs, don’t be naive: life here isn’t easy, and you must keep your wits about you. Gangs control many parts of the Old City; the Border drug trade is run from here; and there are even worse things to contend with when Border magic blows in the wrong direction. If you’re human, don’t drink the red Mad River water—it’s addictive and will turn your brain to mush. If you’re Trueblood, it’s catnip you must avoid. (We’re not kidding.) Be smart, be careful, be safe.
    ARRIVING IN BORDERTOWN
    The Diggers operate three safe houses (for short-term stays) on Water, Plum, and Carmine Streets. No cashrequired, but you’ll be expected to follow the Digger House Rules, strictly enforced: no weapons, no drugs, no gangs, and everyone helps to clean and cook.
    Once you’ve decided whether or not it was a huge mistake to come here after all,