Mosul

Famously known as the city of thieves and fire, the city of Mosul lies in the delta of the Palangos river at the peninsula of Essos. After a steep decline through the mountains, the river enters the lowlands of the plains of Mosul. Here it feeds the Blackmarsh, travelling through all kind of shallow waterways before eventually reaching the Great Ocean. Mosul is situated at the mound of the large delta and as such functions as a seafaring port. The economy of Mosul itself is mostly defined by the pitch and oil that is harvested from the Blackmarsh and the saltpits near the sea. Apart from that Mosul boasts a small but skilled class of artisans who fashion luxury items from the gold and silver won at the mines of Andalos.
Mosul has always had a dubious relationship with the rest of the peninsula and was known as a pirate hold until the Zemerian Empire took the city and united Essos for the first time since the Valyrian Conquest. After that the pitchworks and oil refineries and the black smoke and worse working conditions those produced meant the city mostly attracted lowlifes who were ousted from the other cities in Essos. 
The Order of Fire from [Khorinis conquered the city from the Zemerian Empire in 1465. After its conquest the Order launched an assault further inland and tried to take Osgiliath and even Valyria itself. Reinforcements from the eastern frontier however brought the Zemerians the necessary strength to repel the order. Ever since an uneasy peace has existed between the Order and the Empire, turning Mosul in a frontier city. The order especially coveted the city for the use of its pitch in war. The city supports a large portion of the Order's occupation armies and is governed by Duke Garmand de Reponse.
The pitchworks and oil refineries are restricted to a special quarter of the city near the river. This allows for a quick putting out of any fires that break out. There is also no housing allowed in the Pitch Quarter. Apart from that there is a Merchants and Artisans Quarter near the former docks inside the walls and a palace quarter build by the last Merchant King of Mosul. Nearly two-thirds of the city are however occupied by the Low Quarters. Here the day workers house their families in shacks, while slaving away at the pitchworks, saltpits or the docks. It is home to countless inns and wetmarkets. Outside of the city lie the large seadocks further down the river. When the city was constructed a large harbour, deep enough for seafaring vessels, was also build within the confines of its large walls. The constant sediment dragged in by the river however meant that it has become obstructed during the Zemerian occupation. The Zemerians chose the cheaper option of constructing a new harbour at a more advantageous location outside of the city walls. The Order of Fire has also not spent the required resources to dredge the harbour, therefore most cargo is transferred at the harbour and shipped into the city using smaller boats.

Type

City