The+Pool+of+Life

//This is part of the Hangover city, Liverpool, uk setting//

=The Pool Of Life= This setting contains a number of entities that are not 'cannon' in the Dresden-verse, most noticeably the ghosts and the living statues detailed in this section. Of course like any supplement you are free to ignore them, however let me offer a following by way of an explanation to persuade you to consider introducing them into your world…

There is a reason why this place is called the Pool Of LIFE.

The small community that became Liverpool grew up around a sea lake which provided a natural harbour for their primitive boats and ensured a good supply of shellfish and seafood in even the harshest of winters. The people of the community were grateful for this bounty and always took care to leave offerings to the Lord of the Sea; a local name of a powerful sidhe. It attracted his attention and when he found a need to vacate the Never-Never after a dispute with one of the Faerie Queens, he sort out the community as a place of sanctuary. After many years the knight of his court returned from their quests, bringing with them the four great treasures. As a mark of thanks for the mortals that had protected him, the king gifted them the most potent of these - the Cauldron of Life. Sealing it forever under a stone cap in the middle of the sea lake so its power would always be there for the good of those who had helped him. Then, as time and inspired madness grasped the minds of the faerie lord, and as his knight succumbed all was forgotten.

As the city expanded, the sea lake was enclosed to form a dock, and eventually filled in and the customs house for the new docks was built on the site. The Liver bird on the coat of arms on the customs house was directly above the artefact, and became the first living statue. As the 'needs' of the people of the city turned to protecting their shipping trade. Over the years the spirit of the guardian has moved a his old body was destroyed or stopped being fit for purpose. The birds on the top of the Liver building were positioned to show ships the safe channel into the dock, and as a result they we're an obvious choice. Similarly 'Liverpool resurgent' was designed to be an expression of the cities passion to rebuild and recover from the destruction of the Blitz which had left so many hungry and homeless; thus it is perhaps not so surprising that the power of the artefact be expressed in response to that need and gift "Dicky" with his passion for protecting those with not roof to call their own. Eleanor seeks to help "all the lonely people" that were made famous by the song. But the artefact does not just effect statues. Mortals that have died with some aspect of their life undone (Mrs Doyle and her daughter), or in a state of desperation (McKenzie) can also draw on it's power in order to sustain themselves and given them alive beyond life, Becoming the cities Sentient Ghosts

The stone cap and the treasure it protects are still there, although there was a dodgy moment a few years ago when it was uncovered by an archeological dig exploring the old dock. The Covenant arranged for it to be re buried deeper, and Elijah's flat allows him to keep an eye on the spot and make sure it is not disturbed again. Despite this, although they know is is vital and powerful -The Fisher King dropped dark warnings about it- they do not actually know the extent of what it is or is capable of which is probably no bad thing.

However it may be worth noting, the genetics department of the University of Liverpool have noticed that the bacteria and plankton living in the Albert dock and adjacent waters seem to mutate at an alarming rate, and are an excellent source of interesting new genes for G.M. Research.