The City of Puerto Rico

Founded by the Castillians in 1178 PD on the island of Boriken, the City of Puerto Rico is the cooperative trade development of both the kingdom of Castillia and the Taino natives. In the last 246 years it has grown significantly from the mere protected anchorage to the largest port on the Atlantica side of the Great Western Ocean.

Governance and politics

The Taino have a treaty with Castillia that has gone unaltered for quite some time. In exchange for increased trade favors, the Castillian Navy patrols and protects the bay and its surrounding area and helped construct the fort that guards its mouth. The Taino invite the Castillians to have a voice (but not a vote) in their council of chiefs. It is this council that makes laws for the city. The Taino have a city watch which they call "Peacekeepers" who are selected in part for their conflict resolution ability as well as prowess with weaponry.

Districts

Port

The Port District resides on the well sheltered harbor of the bay. It contains a small but growing shipyard capable of building and repairing even the most serious damage. The trading wharves are built to handle a great deal of import and export, since the sugar and rum industries require a great deal of shipping. Sugar and Rum from smaller islands come here as well to be sold and shipped off to European countries. The fishing wharves are quite large as well. It takes a lot of fish to feed Puerto Rico, and smaller fisheries ship their fish here as well. Traditional Taino fishing and boating techniques continue from this port, flooding the waterway with smaller craft, both using this port as a base, or coming from smaller villages on Boriken and other islands. The Council of Chiefs are firmly rooted in both rural sensibilities, and also have experience running the city. They do much to move impoverished populations to places where they can thrive.

Justice is meted out carefully, with many issues being resolved by the city watch peacefully before it even reaches a judge. Judges prefer banishment or moving people to outlying villages, fines, or "peacemaking" over prison, and find ways to avoid death sentences where possible.

Sugar

Sugar is in such huge demand that even small villages farm the cane or make sugar and bring it in to port here. The cane arrives in any of its refined states, from cane to refined granules. It is bought, sold, and refined here. In addition to refineries, you can fine residences and other support industries.

Rum

Here you will find rum houses that serve as both distillery and tavern. The Taino people have no tradition of prostitution culturally, and tend to see taverns as gathering places that are fit for all ages. This means that the port doesn't look anything like other European ports. These rum houses serve as both a point of pride in the rum made by the distillery that hosts it and an extension of the family hearth. Moderation is a requirement, and misbehaving drunks are not welcome back.

Fort

The Fort district is also the training ground and barracks for tribes of the area as well. It contains an arena that is often in use for training as well as public entertainment of athletic and martial prowess. The fort itself covers the bay with expensive cannon, whose gunnery is top-notch.

The Five Groves District

The largest of the districts. It is so named for the five druidic magic groves spaced throughout the district. The streets are maintained by the druids and considered some of the most beautiful avenues of all the known world. Here one can find merchants of both Taino and European wares. A school for arcane magics was founded here 100 years ago, and is thriving. Homes here are well maintained as part of community events, and many elders from all around the region have come here to retire, and spend time in the groves in peace and sharing stories and wisdom.

Demographics

Human - 95% Elven - 1% Dwarven - 1% Halfling - 1% Other - 2%

Government

Taino Council of Chiefs

Defences

A fort with cannon covers the bay

Industry & Trade

Rum, sugar, regional trade hub

Architecture

The Taino are developing their own architecture unique to the city

Natural Resources

Fish, sugar farms, native tropical fruits

Note: It would be easy to confuse the reference to the City of Puerto Rico in the world of Atlantica with the Island of Puerto Rico in our world.  They are different.  In Atlantica the City is Puerto Rico while the island it resides on is Boriken.  One easy way to remember is that the literal translation of Puerto Rico is "Port of Riches" which is exactly what the city is.

"I have been all over Europa, from Duibhlind to cities in the Alliance of Lombardia.  None matches the beauty and calm of Puerto Rico.  How this gem can come to exist so far from Europa, so close to the frightening lands of Atlantica I do not know."
~Mage Harold Kinnick, Library of Saxony

Founding Date

1178 PD

Type

Large city

Population

25000

Location under

Boriken