The city's inhabitants, known as Jasberians, were finishing their work, returning to their homes, and sleepwalking into their kitchens to prepare food. It was dinnertime, the first waking meal of the day, and Jasberians always spent this meal with their families. When they woke up, Jasberians all heard the exact same sound, that of rushing water. Jasber was situated at the foot of a massive waterfall and shrouded in a perpetual cloud of mist. This waterfall emptied into a roiling river of whitecaps, which then forked its way around the three islands that made up the city. Each of the three islands of Jasber had a distinct purpose. One contained virtually all the city's residents. This was Jasber Isle. The second contained only the city's Founding Tree. This was Tree Isle. And the third contained a palace with five tall, spindly towers, the tallest of which sparkled as if it were inlaid with thousands of diamonds. This palace was the city's monastery, and the island on which it sat was known as Monastery Isle.
