Blackton
Blackton is a place of stories to be told, riches to be had, and kidneys to be shanked. An immensely wealthy self-governing location, and a part of the five duchies, Blackton constantly profits from their prime location for sea trade, as well as their unique export: Slaves.
Ruled by Duke V'raska Windmere, within the walls of the dukedom's capital are many wonders unique to it and it alone. The largest church ever created, known as the Erwise church, that has places of worship for many gods, and is constantly being expanded to accommodate. Here, it is perhaps one of the only locations that Bakhamut is correctly worshiped. Of course, there's the famous Docks of Castarte, which stretch beyond what the eye can see, as well as many others.
Within the last eight years, however, there have been changes, even more so than normal. Both evils and good lurking in Blackton's corners were revealed and upturned, new individuals have risen to the occasion, power was redistributed, but in the end Blackton came out for the better.
Still, there are rumors some dangers still exist within its borders. A secret guild unified by its desire for power since old times, a demonic threat that might rise again, the empire's gaze, rumors of a large amount of ferrium being moved within for some unknown reason, and more...
Demographics
Though the original population is 110,000, this merely refers to permanent residents. As a trade hub, the number of total people living there is over double the amount.
The slavery within Blackton is seen with disgust by the rest of the world much of the time, but the folks living there don't see it that way. Either they are rich and simply enjoy the benefits of such a thing, or are commonfolk, and see it in another light. The slavery there is completely unbiased, humans and elves, dwarves and orcs, all can be chained, but in exchange all can be free as well, and laws are established with all citizens in mind rather than specific humanoids. Not that racism doesn't exist, but much less so.
Humans make up a good chunk of the population, easily the most common, but orcs actually happen to take second place. Hundreds of years ago orc tribes were abundant, and after being enslaved they began to integrate, to the situation that it is now. Half-orcs are common as well, and you can spot just about every species somewhere in Blackton. In fact, it's said that if you look deep enough, even drow slaves that escaped from the mountains can be found...
Still, none-the-less, it is a place of trade, commerce, and ships as far as the eye can see.
Government
Though ruled by the Duke, it is usually run by the elected Ward of the city. A strict position, to the point that even their name is changed to match the role. Their goal is to do whatever is in the city's interest, even if it means removing some innocents in the wrong place at the wrong time. Seen as highly prestigious, the owner of the role must be personally powerful, and in exchange is given even more power. Nobody disobeys the Ward.
Other nobility live there under his thumb, but the real power lays with the Trade Princes and Merchants. One of the wealthiest singular places, in exchange they rely on them for their continued profit. One of the wealthiest Trade Princes just happen to live somewhere in the Duchy, but their whereabouts and identity are unknown.
The residents of the area are required to do a year of guard or military duty after the age of 19, which leads to many simply staying as a guard or soldier, enforcing port trade and stopping other troublemakers that happen to be visiting Blackton. Then there are Guard Seers, Guard Overseers, Guard Captains and the final rank, Greater Guard Captains, of which only four exist, one for each section of the city. All serve directly under the Ward and their personal forces.
Defences
Blackton itself is highly protected. Not only does the population do mandatory military or guard service for a year, but a wall called "Windmere's Hide" surrounds it, established by some of the first of the lines. Multiple feet thick, and stretching in a half-circle before hitting the sea, it is one of the prides of the area.
The name itself is misleading, as there are actually two parts to it. A heavily fortified outer wall, and a much shorter and smaller inner wall. Between the two is called the Golden Roads, as in the large strip between the two is a large amount of farmland for people in villages nearby to retreat to and work on during a siege. The family had learned its lesson back in the 1100s, and one of their virtues is to not make the same mistake twice.
Though their land military strength is lacking, their navy is one of the greatest in the world in an effort to protect the merchants who roam about the sea. Oftentimes people must hire personal mercenaries or join caravans, as they don't have enough people for constant guard patrols along the roads.
Industry & Trade
A thriving slave trade skirts about the populace, sometimes gained through more than legal means, but when there are newly discovered lands with people... It is always fit to assume some unsavory methods will be used to acquire the new popular supply. Though it certainly has more than a few wrongs, it is also by far the most racially progressive of any other location, other species much more readily accepted and adopted into its swiftly changing streets
Anything you can find elsewhere in the world is certainly in Blackton, though perhaps much more expensive. There is a wealth disparity that is hidden from the people, and it becomes increasingly hard to improve your own personal wealth.
In fact, at a certain time it became so bad to the point that the Duke themself took action. Printing a new kind of coin called Royal Platinum, worth a total of a thousand gold pieces, it was exchanged with the rich who hoarded their coin, and the gold was reinvested into Blackton. This created a revival of the economy, and caused it to grow to where it is today, easily one of the wealthiest places in the world.
Items, professions, trade, in the end it was more like the slaves converted Blackton than the other way around.
Infrastructure
Due to constant flooding, sewers are a requirement. With to their nature and size though, it's rare that anyone has a map of below the city. It isn't uncommon, however, for people to memorize a few specific paths in case they need to go or leave unnoticed. The people who live down there, nicknamed the Squalor Folk, are uncounted and unregistered, and are paid and allowed to live down there in exchange for maintaining it. If anyone knows down there, it's one of them.
Guilds and Factions
The Duke, of course, rules it in its entirety, but in reality there are many forces that build the backbone of the location.
There are about nine people actually considered rich and powerful enough to be Trade Princes, all of which have a toe dipped into Blackton. The top five are known as Trade Monarchs. Out of them, three are considered truly powerful, and practically untouchable. Should any of those three fall, an economic ruin with hit the continents for at least a few years before the others take over. One in particular, their name not well known, lives within the Duchy, and has a monopoly on much of the trade within the port and its specialty, slaves.
Another group is Clan Quicksilver, the only guild from Ferrus allowed to set up operations within the area. The guild itself benefits from the different technologies and crafts of many cultures, with growth to the point that there has been discussion that maybe they should move headquarters. In exchange, Blackton benefits from the most recent developments in technology.
The nobles themselves actually control the territory that is needed by merchants and Trade Princes, and as such are less of a faction and more so a beneficiary of many a bribe and deal. Quite a few have grown lax and corrupt, and there are only a few who remain stalwart rather than become a puppet of another power.
The Ward is the enforcer of the city. Having a highly trained, private military and personal research facilities, they continue to advance their own agenda. The only thing people can be sure of is that they work for the city, but if saving it meant culling its own population... the thought sends fear into the commonfolk's hearts.
Blackton has a surprisingly thriving religious community. The Erwise Church is one of the largest in the world, built and constantly expanding to include a small place of worship for each god discovered. The priest there is known to be a kind soul, and is willing to provide shelter for any. The issue is that they don't care about alignment as well.
It's said there are other forces at play. Hidden forces, that rear their ugly head for only their own benefit. But for now, those are only rumors.
Architecture
The Erwise Church. Being one of the largest in the world, it can be said to also be one of the smallest. More specifically, it is a church full of many different rooms and areas for the worship of different gods, and even now constantly expands as they find new ones for people to worship. It stays neutral on most matters, instead simply trying to provide the opportunity to all for enlightenment. One of the most well-known worshipped gods within is Bakhamut, of which they worship the true principles. Unfortunately, no matter how hard they try to spread this truth, the blood rituals continue.
If you were to stand in the middle of it, the Docks of Castarte stretch as far as the eye can see. Of course, there being so many different ships helps with that. After trouble with having no room to dock for years, the Duke finally took initiative by expanding it over 1000 feet off the coast, making a majority of the harbor actually within the sea. Tritons are hired to make sure no large beasts mess with any of the ships, leading to a relatively calm harbor. In the far back, the Crones can be seen.
Windmere's Hide, a heavily fortified wall along the outside, is also a sight to see. Much of the time they even allow tours.
Geography
The area itself is settled on a plains, but is pinched between a forest and mountain range. Unsurprisingly this makes resources abundant, and the mountains provide a level of natural protection along with the sea.
Villages around the area also game some of the benefits as well, though not as greatly.
Natural Resources
Wood and animals from the forest, ocean life from the sea, and plentiful metals from the mountains. Almost no Ferrium is able to be found in the area, but almost as if in exchange adamantine is found in great measure.
Founding Date
760 PE
Alternative Name(s)
Port of Chains, City of Fortune
Type
State
Population
110,000
Inhabitant Demonym
N/A
Included Locations
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank
Characters in Location
