Hernando
Hernando was a small fishing town north of the Fruitlands, which has turned into more since the independence of Columba. Originally just relying on a handful of fishing ships, plus the occasional smuggler who wanted to avoid the busy port of the Imperial City, everything changed after the Northern Rebellion. The creation of the newly formed border between Columba and Jakonia created a new situation in the previously sleepy community. The Imperial Army moved in immediately and built a new citadel in the city. Acting as a barricade against invasions along the coast road, the city has swelled to nearly ten times its size before the rebellion in the decades since.
Demographics
The majority of the population of Hernando are Jakonian and Columban humans. The Columban population consider themselves to be the original settlers of Hernando, and most of the Jakonians did come later in support of the Jakonian Imperial Army. Plenty of halfbreeds and halflings have also arrived as part of the support train. They have since formed a vital part of the town's society and demographics.
Government
The government of Hernando is dictated by House Privett. The House has very close ties with the Imperial Army, and numerous advisors assist the town leadership in the decisions being made for the future of the community. To that end, House Privett appoints all delegates and representatives needed to run the various infrastructure and deal with the problems of the town as they emerge. In most cases, these appointees come from the army, and contract out any responses to the armed forces rather than relying upon local labor or artisans as in other Jakonian communities.
Defences
There are no town walls in Hernando, as the community has numerous other standing defenses in the form of five massive citadels in the surrounding area. Five full imperial regiments act as the primary defense of the town. Five other regiments are regularly rotated through the citadels and are kept fresh with patrols along the Columban and Orrlander borders. These forces are supplemented by a heavily armed town militia using regimental surplus should the town itself come under attack.
Infrastructure
The infrastructure of Hernando has seen immense amounts of financing and support over the past few decades, as the government of Jakonia sought to expand its defensive capability, seeing it as a springboard for any future invasion of Columba to reclaim the northern provinces. Similarly, numerous precautions were taken to help defend the city with new citadels and forts being built around it, and the roads paved and dug out to accomadte the increase in traffic and size of weapons and carriages being brought across the environment. Several times construction has even begun to expand the Iron Road to the north, the specialists from the Imperial University have so far refused to allow such a dramatic change to the ancient tracks.
Assets
Hernando offers little for travelers in its main marketplaces, supplying local needs before any are released to travelers or wanderers. Even locals have a hard time acquiring basic goods outside of the black market, as nearly everything is snapped up by the army for maintaining the forts and castles of the region. The black market in Hernando is notorious for what's offered, as significant amounts of smuggling now take place, with the allegation that nearly every ship that puts into the harbor is smuggling something. House Privett has turned a blind eye to these activities, taking a cut for themselves, to enable the local population to buy much needed produce and other goods regulated in the market.
Guilds and Factions
Two factions are constantly fighting for supremacy over the control of influence in Hernando, the Imperial Army and House Privett. The Imperial Army has sponsored local politicians and populist support to help cement their position as a growing authority in the region. They believe that the military needs are paramount to any local concerns, and that the full resources of the area should be dedicated towards the protection of the nation from invasion from the north. To this end, they often support the construction of local infrastructure, heavy taxes, and strong law and order, cracking down heavily upon smuggling.
House Privett on the other hand, despite being the ostensible enforcers of law and order, publicly allow the Imperial Army to have their way in most cases. However, they frequently oppose tax increases and typically prevent crackdowns on local smugglers and traders. They have won ample support from the merchants and upper classes, who suffer the most under the levies and taxes of the Imperial Army. They firmly advocate for a decline in military power, but have lacked the material support and wealth they need to openly challenge the armed forces and the emperor, so they take every opportunity to embarrass local military leaders.
Founding Date
548 AF
Type
Large town
Population
17,800
Related Ethnicities
Inhabitant Demonym
Hernandan
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
Comments