Ghel Shores
The smells of coal smoke, salt, and whale oil are thick and heavy here, this district well named, for here in the belly of the great city of Geata-Iarainn, one of Valerick's largest and most versatile raw materials, Ghel, is handled and processed into a wide variety of goods en masse. Over thirty-five percent of the known world's ghel is processed here, into everything from lantern oil, cooking oil, pitches, machine greases and lubricants, and much more. Ghel factories and whale processing stations dominate the docks here, and some five thousand workers are directly tied to just the production capabilities of the industry within the city, with another thousand or more tied into management roles. The whaling crews make up another two thousand or more, split amongst the various whaling vessels.
Those whom live here, most are tied directly into the industry at some level, most being one of the afore above mentioned workers, or working in adjacent industries. The Ghel Shores is a unique district in Geata-Iarainn, almost its own little town entirely, and many hold the city's current power structures and governing officials in great contempt. There is growing discontent amongst the Ghelmen, the workers responsible for the dangerous processes that actually take raw whale and seal oils and turn it into the products listed above. The plants for doing so are hazardous at best and downright negligently dangerous at worst, and the industry is rather unregulated, the Ghelmen having no legal recourse, for they have no recognition nor legal acknowledgement to organize and form a guild. For many decades the workers themselves did not wish to. But in the last few years things have drastically changed. As the Era of Industrialization begins, the demands upon these facilities has drastically increased, and owners care not for the workers, choosing to rake in highly increased profits without raising wages, or even improving and upgrading facilities for safety and efficiency. The district is a bit of a powderkeg now, well known for protests, the occasional riot, and being a rather run down place.
Defences
The Ghel Shores District also happens to encompass two major military institutions within its political sphere in the city of Geata-Iarainn. They are both tied to the Suranthi Navy, as one might expect in the Docklands Quarters;
Storm-chaser Garrison Tower: This pillar of stone jutting from the sea, and the island around it, is the Storm-Chaser Garrison, one of Suranth's largest and busiest naval bases. It is here that Fleet Frost, one of Suranth's two oceanic naval fleets, is based out of. It is here that the Suranthi flagship, the Glacial Goddess, calls her home port. The garrison is home to some three thousand naval personal and their families, along with the appropriate support staff, accounting for another large chunk of the districts population. No less than twenty of the Suranthi Navy's ships call this garrison their home port, and it is here that the infamous Wolves of the Sea, also call home, patrolling the waters around the garrison, the orcas a common and comforting sight to many
Suranthi Seafarer's Academy: This prestidigous school is one of the most well respected institutions in its field in all of the Tundra Realms. A naval officer's school, it is here naval personal whom are to captains, quartermasters, navigators, fleet commanders, or other officer ranks within the navy are taught. The Seafarer's Academy is well known for producing highly skilled, confident, and sharp officers. In fact, they have a wonderful claim to fame, it was here that Fleet Admiral Yvette Varnis, the ranking officer of the entire Suranthi Navy, Captain and Master of the Glacial Goddess, recieved her military education.
The One Eyed Orca: A well loved establishment known for great food, strong drink, and being a busy and variety filled place. Visitors of all kinds, from lands far and wide whom sailed in. Sailors, factory workers, office workers, management types and even some minor nobility, it is a place of blending. Run by a dwarven woman named Nazril Vesilinionle Anudr, whom is the sister-in-law to the current High King of Suranth, one Azulron Rikkamac Vithang. Recently partially burned down during an incident some thirty years ago during a tulmultuous time in Geata-Iarainn, a time when orphans and homeless folk were being snatched off, the establishment was a target due to it being the quasi 'home-base' of the adventuring group known as the Sentinels. It was rebuilt however, and is still a favorite to frequent by Fizzelle Von Boom when she is not busy in her workshop, teaching at her trade school she opened and funded, or with her duties as a diplomatic emmisary.
Symons and Suns Ghel Refineries: One of the largest facilities amongst the many, the name a bit of a misnomer, for they have a canning plant, a fishery, and two whaling halls, running their own whaling ships as well as a fishing and a crab-fishing vessel. This company, run once by Gregor Symons, whom has since been sentenced for corruptive behavior including blackmail, extortion, tax fraud, and conspiracy to commit murder. He died in prison last year, leaving the business in the hands of his two sons, both of whom are next to clueless, having pursued other paths in life, and his daughter, whom not in her fifties, sits as their chief executive, and is actually a well liked boss. She takes far more seriously the safety of the workplace, has been an open supporter of the birth of a Ghelmen Guild, and has a sterling record with that guild, having never had a safety fine, violation, nor had any complaints or issues with payroll. She is a mirror opposite of her father, a path and reputation she has worked tirelessly to earn, keep and maintain.
Storm-chaser Garrison Tower: This pillar of stone jutting from the sea, and the island around it, is the Storm-Chaser Garrison, one of Suranth's largest and busiest naval bases. It is here that Fleet Frost, one of Suranth's two oceanic naval fleets, is based out of. It is here that the Suranthi flagship, the Glacial Goddess, calls her home port. The garrison is home to some three thousand naval personal and their families, along with the appropriate support staff, accounting for another large chunk of the districts population. No less than twenty of the Suranthi Navy's ships call this garrison their home port, and it is here that the infamous Wolves of the Sea, also call home, patrolling the waters around the garrison, the orcas a common and comforting sight to many
Suranthi Seafarer's Academy: This prestidigous school is one of the most well respected institutions in its field in all of the Tundra Realms. A naval officer's school, it is here naval personal whom are to captains, quartermasters, navigators, fleet commanders, or other officer ranks within the navy are taught. The Seafarer's Academy is well known for producing highly skilled, confident, and sharp officers. In fact, they have a wonderful claim to fame, it was here that Fleet Admiral Yvette Varnis, the ranking officer of the entire Suranthi Navy, Captain and Master of the Glacial Goddess, recieved her military education.
The One Eyed Orca: A well loved establishment known for great food, strong drink, and being a busy and variety filled place. Visitors of all kinds, from lands far and wide whom sailed in. Sailors, factory workers, office workers, management types and even some minor nobility, it is a place of blending. Run by a dwarven woman named Nazril Vesilinionle Anudr, whom is the sister-in-law to the current High King of Suranth, one Azulron Rikkamac Vithang. Recently partially burned down during an incident some thirty years ago during a tulmultuous time in Geata-Iarainn, a time when orphans and homeless folk were being snatched off, the establishment was a target due to it being the quasi 'home-base' of the adventuring group known as the Sentinels. It was rebuilt however, and is still a favorite to frequent by Fizzelle Von Boom when she is not busy in her workshop, teaching at her trade school she opened and funded, or with her duties as a diplomatic emmisary.
Symons and Suns Ghel Refineries: One of the largest facilities amongst the many, the name a bit of a misnomer, for they have a canning plant, a fishery, and two whaling halls, running their own whaling ships as well as a fishing and a crab-fishing vessel. This company, run once by Gregor Symons, whom has since been sentenced for corruptive behavior including blackmail, extortion, tax fraud, and conspiracy to commit murder. He died in prison last year, leaving the business in the hands of his two sons, both of whom are next to clueless, having pursued other paths in life, and his daughter, whom not in her fifties, sits as their chief executive, and is actually a well liked boss. She takes far more seriously the safety of the workplace, has been an open supporter of the birth of a Ghelmen Guild, and has a sterling record with that guild, having never had a safety fine, violation, nor had any complaints or issues with payroll. She is a mirror opposite of her father, a path and reputation she has worked tirelessly to earn, keep and maintain.
Industry & Trade
No less than thirty processing facilities for all manner of Ghel production and refinery, as well as meat procession, packaging and perserving via methods such as smoking, salting and canning, dominate the district's landscape, and the air is constantly thick with the mixed smells of coal smoke, burning whale and seal fat, salt and other chemicals used in the various processes. It is a manufacturing hub through and through, seeming almost a different world entirely than the rest of Geata-Iarainn.
Comments