Lasair Canal
When the coast of Lasair that would one day become referred to as the City-States Region began to be settled by refugees of the Dragonscourge, the land was bisected by a wide river, curving across the land from the waterfalls off The Great Plateau and flowing to the gulf near what would become Kolar-Malara. As the region developed and more and more traffic flowed along the river - especially food from the Fertile Lands - navigation became difficult and could be disrupted by flooding or obsctructions.
Through a massive effort between the Mages, the nobility and Guilds of Kolar-Malara, and the Mercenary Guild, the river's course was straightened. The banks were reinforced in many places with stone, and the flow became regulated through the creation of magical controls near the waterfalls, close to Mytos.
With the regulation of the river, and the new canal in place, transport up and down the waterway became consistent and predictable. This revolutionized commerce and shipping in the region, especially in the north. Food became more regularly available, which meant more could be unloaded before reaching Kolar-Malara, allowing for growth of cities further away from the canal; lumber from the Britwood Forest could more easily be transported downstream.
One of the biggest impacts of all was the founding of the city of Britor halfway along the canal. Serving as a convenient stopping point for those managing shipments up and down the canal, the city quickly grew wealthy from providing lodgings and entertainment. The city subsequently grew into the cultural capital of the region as its central location allowed it to be a handy meeting point for the rich and powerful from across the City-States Region. It closeness to the Shrine of the Compact in the Britwood meant that it became a holiday destination as well.
Overall, the formation of the Lasair Canal was one of the most impactful events in the history of the City-States. Today it serves as the main economic link between several cities and even those who do not lay upon its route benefit greatly from the speed which it adds to the movement of goods.
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