Southwatch

Southwatch

Large city

Mostly human

Trade Port

1st age ~5,000: Dwarves settle here for ~200 years conducting research

1st age ~7,500: Elves take over seeing humans appearing and trading in proliferation to try to cut into their growth.

2nd age within first 100 years: Human take over control, allowing only elven traders to remain.

Southwatch was established first as a remote colony for testing arcane theories then abandoned by the dwarves. Elves decided to use it for a taxation port, forcing any ships who passed nearby to pay taxes on their goods. As humans began exploding in population they began settling in this port city until the elves were outnumbered six to one. When the human rebellion came the elves were forced out of the city in a bloody night.

To the west end of the island are the crypts, originally a dwarven experiment using necromancy for various purposes up to the final experiment which was to create a portal to the kingdoms of heaven and the pits of hell so that the dead could reclaim their bodies. The experiment was shut down when the dead flowed through and the halls were overrun.

The city is run by the Council of Trade, any ship holder may attend and vote (leading to a large number of small craft). The votes are cast by number of seaworthy vessels and the census workers are notoriously corrupt. When getting your vessel inspected your ship is also inspected for any contraband and any illegal modifications like smuggling holds. Many captains just pay an "administrative fee" to see that it "goes quickly." Corruption is very entrenched in the city, but once a business has received coin it is held to its promises under threat of government confiscation for breach of contract.

The elected officials are all voted on by the eligible voting population without the official's consent. Any person living in the city of Southwatch may be voted in as an elected official, their assets seized and forced to serve a 3 year term. Officials' possessions being returned depends on the city's economic state at the end of the term. An official who is elected is immediately hunted down by the town guard to be brought to the senate to be forcibly sworn in. The official's property is seized as soon as he is sworn in. The residents of southwatch care most for continued prosperity, the officials are typically powerful businessmen who have amassed great wealth and continue to make money, the general consensus is that if they are good with their own money they'll be good with the city's money, and if not their own money will be used to soften any economic issues. If the city does well each elected official receives a small amount of compensation from that change.

The city has prospered each year for the past century.

Ships are plentiful and available for sale, but registration can be a hassle.