Free City of Hatena
This port city is a major destination for independent trade, as the big cities down south have very expensive docking fees for any ships not affiliated with the giant state-sanctioned trading companies. Independent merchants, pirates, smugglers, and other "outside traders" unload their cargo in Hatena for a modest fee, and it is then transported via wagons into nearby Roslen. It is the primary trade hub of all the domains, especially the Forsaken Fortress.
Because Hatena "steals" trade from the Olimandias hegemony, it is a top target for annexation. Inquisitors, spies, and assassins have infiltrated the city to pressure local leaders into accepting the terms of annexation.
As such, the Alliance has rallied to Hatena's defense to prevent the hegemony from gaining even more power.
Demographics
Hatena is a true melting pot, with an even blend of most established cultures.
Government
Hatena's big merchant families run day-to-day operations in the city; a tenuous union of syndicates. These families elect a formal governor from their ranks once every two years, who is expected to keep the peace and perform diplomacy. The current leader of Hatena is Governor Angelo Risanna. The city has a private garrison to defend the town, which is headquartered in a modest fort known as the Seawatch.
Defences
Hatena is surrounded by a meager stone wall, and has a single fort with a reinforced stone wall. The standard garrison of Hatena is roughly 1,000 soldiers, largely recruited from the merchant house enforcers. Townsfolk can be conscripted to boost their defense force up to about 8,000.
Industry & Trade
Hatena is a maritime trade hub. Captains who wish to remain independent rather than paying high fees to join one of the Hegemony's "sanctioned" trading companies will dock here to unload their cargo on the cheap. As such, most of Hatena's businesses are trade-oriented. There is a thriving port district that loads/unloads goods and prepares them for overland trade.
Hatena is also the trade hub of the domains. The Forsaken Fortress is an especially significant trading partner, as they exclusively move higher value cargo from the more distant domains. The Chamber of Sages also does significant overland trade of rare goods, especially monster parts and relics.
Other businesses in town exist to accommodate the trading industry -- taverns, outdoor gear, temporary housing, along with basic weapons and equipment.
Assets
In Hatena you are most likely to find:
- Independent traders with lower prices for common items.
- Taverns with free-flowing gossip.
- Merchant houses that give off mildly threatening mafia vibes.
- A quiet war between local leaders and undercover Olimandias agents.
- Cheap beer.
Guilds and Factions
The merchant families that rule Hatena are, in order of power:
House Risanna
House Icecrest
House Okiir.
House Marinus.
Also present are branches of:
- The Eyes of Diel
- The Legends Alliance
History
While the south is home to Verden's major cities, Hatena is one of the only real settlements on the northern shores of the Lalvican. Migrants from lesser towns and wandering tribes slowly gathered here over time. The population has nearly doubled in the last twenty years as more and more merchants turn to Hatena to avoid the expensive trading fees further south.
The Eyes of Diel now have agents in the city who are attempting to pressure the merchant houses to willingly join the Olimandias hegemony, but so far none have broken.
In response, the Legends Alliance has built an enclave in the city, sending out their own champions to ensure Hatena does not fall.
Population
25,000
Inhabitant Demonym
Hatenen
Characters in Location
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