Stilt House
The Stilt House, unlike the rest of the surrounding waterlogged wooden architecture of the Puddles, is a solid, maintained, and generally dry structure. Its long, stilted legs keep the building above high tide, and a floating stairway adjusts to the flooding level. A dock off the side of the building accepts shipments from the boats able to paddle through the district at high tide. An obscured entrance in the back of the roof allows rooftop runners to slip in and out of the building quickly. Serving as headquarters for the District Council, Muckruckers, and the Salvagers’ Guild, this city-owned building sees most of the gold passing through the district.
In the aftermath of the earthquake that flooded the Puddles, the Muddied Center Reserve Civilian Corps was formed to address the destruction and stabilize the panicking residents. The district never recovered, and the Muddied Center Reserve Civilian Corps became the Muckruckers—a band of minimally regulated officers dedicated to monitoring the criminal activity in the Puddles in whatever way funnels the most coin back into the Stilt House. This results in the Muckruckers regularly overlooking crimes related to larceny and extorting local businesses for “donations” to the Muckruckers in exchange for protection. The Muckruckers generally prefer the district in some degree of chaos to encourage citizens to tolerate their extortion as a fair price to pay.
Most business in the district, criminal or otherwise, runs through the Stilt House and under Haigen Topkick’s watchful eyes. The deterioration of the district has caused any hint of competition to flee; those who remain stay either because they cannot afford to leave the Puddles or because the Puddles’ cesspool of crime offers a more than suitable environment to earn a living. Even the Salvagers’ Guild, considered one of the more honest jobs in the district, is managed by the same institution that encourages rampant criminal activity.
The district’s nomarch, Haigen Topkick, once spared Absalom from the blight of the Puddles by keeping strict tabs on the organizations, crime, and gold in the district. Previously, these efforts had been satisfactory for the Grand Council, who were willing to overlook the specifics of Haigen’s precarious order. In Lord Gyr’s absence, however, Haigen sees dwindling confidence from the Grand Council. The worsening flood waters, influx of new residents, and uptick in crime unregulated by Haigen has earned the ire of the neighboring districts. If he continues to allow the flood waters to spread—and crime to seep out of the Puddles with it—he may lose his monopoly on the district.
Haigen’s waning authority would be a boon in the eyes of many residents of the district. Young activists are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with his negligence and have begun reaching out to other districts in hopes of rallying enough support to encourage the Grand Council to remove Haigen from power. Particularly vocal objectors usually end up with their bodies tossed into the briny waters under the Stilt House.
In the aftermath of the earthquake that flooded the Puddles, the Muddied Center Reserve Civilian Corps was formed to address the destruction and stabilize the panicking residents. The district never recovered, and the Muddied Center Reserve Civilian Corps became the Muckruckers—a band of minimally regulated officers dedicated to monitoring the criminal activity in the Puddles in whatever way funnels the most coin back into the Stilt House. This results in the Muckruckers regularly overlooking crimes related to larceny and extorting local businesses for “donations” to the Muckruckers in exchange for protection. The Muckruckers generally prefer the district in some degree of chaos to encourage citizens to tolerate their extortion as a fair price to pay.
Most business in the district, criminal or otherwise, runs through the Stilt House and under Haigen Topkick’s watchful eyes. The deterioration of the district has caused any hint of competition to flee; those who remain stay either because they cannot afford to leave the Puddles or because the Puddles’ cesspool of crime offers a more than suitable environment to earn a living. Even the Salvagers’ Guild, considered one of the more honest jobs in the district, is managed by the same institution that encourages rampant criminal activity.
The district’s nomarch, Haigen Topkick, once spared Absalom from the blight of the Puddles by keeping strict tabs on the organizations, crime, and gold in the district. Previously, these efforts had been satisfactory for the Grand Council, who were willing to overlook the specifics of Haigen’s precarious order. In Lord Gyr’s absence, however, Haigen sees dwindling confidence from the Grand Council. The worsening flood waters, influx of new residents, and uptick in crime unregulated by Haigen has earned the ire of the neighboring districts. If he continues to allow the flood waters to spread—and crime to seep out of the Puddles with it—he may lose his monopoly on the district.
Haigen’s waning authority would be a boon in the eyes of many residents of the district. Young activists are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with his negligence and have begun reaching out to other districts in hopes of rallying enough support to encourage the Grand Council to remove Haigen from power. Particularly vocal objectors usually end up with their bodies tossed into the briny waters under the Stilt House.
Type
Ministry / City hall
Parent Location
Owner
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
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