Vale-Harbour

City of Trade

"Trade report 11/04/271 UA - To be given to Serelion Kyoshiro, trade master :
4 Large shipments from the Insular Kingdom

• 526 Crates of Salmon
• 867 Crates of Tuna
• 413 Crates of Death Fish (a.k.a Fugu)
• 26 Crates of various valuables
• 234 Crates of distilled Kasan (infraction, 1.4% of it drank by undisciplined sailors, apply appropriate sanction)

2 Large shipments from the Ruinic Kingdom

• 226 Crates of Unspecified goods, in accordance with the King's Law
• 324 Crates of Ram meat
• 657 Crates of [...]

-Excerpt from a Daily Trade Report by the Vale's Harbour Master to Kyoshiro Serelion, Trade Master

Demographics

Many First Merchants, a few Insulars merchants, and the Ruinics are usually just passing through. Tribals are pretty rare

Government

The official leader of the Port is a Knight Governor called Aiden Melechion, who answers directly to the King. He and his militia try to uphold the Ultherian law as best they can, implying a taxation of all trade that happens within the city.

However, Kyoshiro Serelion, the wealthiest merchant of the city, descendant of the one who established it two centuries prior, holds the real power over every passerby, be they Seeders or from anywhere else, as he decides which boats and caravans come and go. He has hired mercenaries, who constantly compete with Sir Melechion's militia.

Defences

The city, notwithstanding the militia and the Serelion's mercenaries, is surrounded by a thin wooden wall. Its true protection however, is it being probably the biggest trade center in the continent, second only to Ulther's Great Market. No one would ever dare attack such a hub, as almost everyone has a stack in it.

Industry & Trade

Almost nothing is actually produced in Vale-Harbour, except for the odd slumer fisherman here and there. For those who actually live there, most beg, or sell to survive. The Emporium Street is actually composed for more than its half of wandering merchants, here to sell their goods and go back to where they come from, in an endless cycle.

Infrastructure

The City is split on both sides of the Archon, one to the south and one to the north, and linked by two bridges. The Port is established mostly on the northern side, which is also the location of Kyoshiro Serelion's palace, and of the Emporium Street, which passes in front of it (which he would rather call "emporium").

The Southern side is also the poorest, and the location of the Town Hall, residence of the Knight Governor, and of the Militia's casern.

Assets

Of course, as a Port, the city itself isn't particularly wealthy, as can be deduced by looking at the Southern Side (Or South-Slums, as the Valians like to call it). However, on the northern side, the flow of goods, wealth, and valuables ensures that the harbour never goes hungry, or lacking in anyway.

Guilds and Factions

Of course the Serelion Emporium is what drive the city, as it would be the world's market if it weren't for Mariana's presence of mind.

The other faction, Melechion's militia, is hard pressed, restless, and tend to harass the poorest population of the South-slums, to get the required amount of tax-money to send to Ulther.
Of course, some say that Vale-Harbour is a strong seat of power of the Celestials, but that might just be hearsay.

History

"Vale-Harbour was established in 73UA by Fendor Serelion, an already wealthy merchant, in order to avoid the ripples of a possible war between the First Kingdom and the insular Kingdom. He established it in a old half-ruined tribal village already called Valic. The war never did break out, and in a few yeard the Serelion Emporium was becoming wealthier and wealthier, so much that it threatened to surpass Ulther's Great Market as biggest trade center in the world. To avoid such an event to come to pass, Irma, the former Universalis Economia, advised the King to send a Knight Governor as representant of the state in 89UA.

When the Knight Governor arrived, he arrived with an entire regiment of Felken's army, to restore order. And order there was, as relations between the First Army and Serelion's Emporium were professional at best. Irma made sure to constantly send enough merchants faithful to her to the city, to maintain financial order.

When Irma exiled herself however, the year-long gap she left until Mariana replaced her allowed the Serelion Emporium to take a certain advantage over the Ultherian Market. When Mariana arrived, she had to play along the Emporium in the hope of one day restoring balance, but for now, it most certainly is broken."

-Excerpt from the Profane's quick guide to the Ultherian Age, by Knight Gustav, First Historian.

Architecture

The Northern Vale's architecture is one big mess. As every merchant in the continent has built a shack, shop or tavern in the streets, all the architectures of the Crescent mix : the Insular apparent frailty and colorfulness, the metallic and rusted ruinic technology, and reminders of tribal rusticness, all combined with the First Kingdom's attempt at order give an atmosphere that can truly be found nowhere else.

Not as much can be said of the South-Slums, however, where ancient First houses have fallen into ruin, and new ramshack shelters have been built here and there, giving the place a crowded, dirty and overall uneasy feeling.

Geography

The Vale is built at the Archon's mouth, in particularly hilly and windy place, between two hills (hence its name).

Natural Resources

The sea allows a few fishermen to eat on a day-to-day basis, and makes it a trade hub, but not much else can be said.

Alternative Name(s)

The Vale, The City of Trade

Type

City

Population

Around 41 thousand people

Inhabitant Demonym

Valians / Vale Dwellers

Owner/Ruler

Kyoshiro Serelion

Owning Organization

The Serelion Emporium

Related Historical Events

• 455 NA
  The Founding of Vale-Harbour