Tunis / Carthage
Carthage is a city on the north coast of Africa, and a municipality of Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. Recently the city is inhabited by Bedouin peoples who are aligned to the Umayyads out of western north Africa & the Iberian Peninsula. Originally built by the Phoenicians as part of their trading network in the Mediterranean. It was sacked by Rome in the remaining years of the Third Punic War. It was built up again by Rome, then occupied by the Vandals, whose descendants can still be found there having mixed with the local Berbers.
Demographics
Merchants, sailors, soldiers, shipwrights, and fishermen are the most common trades found in Carthage. Some scholars are found in and amongst the crowds, collecting stories, adventuring around, studying any number of subjects, while recording details. Farming is more common to the north & east in settlements outside the city bring fresh produce in regularly. Nobles are a not uncommon feature with the local Governor present in the city itself. Builders come and go as to when repairs or new buildings are required. Magic users are rare if not shunned in the land itself, mainly for the Islamic beliefs about it's usage. Since ther is a large mosque present, Imams and other religious figures are found here & there around Carthage & Tunis too overall.
Most of the locals are Human, primarily of Berber extraction, with a few of modern Bedouin, Persian & Arabic descent. A few seem to have Roman & Vandal descent too, though harder to tell, and there are a number of Half-Elves present, and small Elvish community near the local keep. A small number of Christians & Jews are found too. Rarely seen but still present are Genasi who generally live in and around the docks & the slums.
Government
The government is made up of a Governor, and a selection of minor nobles to act as advisors and core of the civil & military hierarchy. A standing army is present backed up by local militia, and acts like a police force. Each municipality has a set of local tribal leaders that act as go-betweens too allowing for minor administration of the local region. Members of the ruling Islamic mosque is involved too, allowing for laws to pass from a religious point of view. There is a usually a form of taxation of about 10% for local Muslims, and almost double for Jews & Christians, of which is used for civil & military projects, and for helping in charity projects. Non members of the Children of the Book can be shunned or highly taxed if not a settled member of society.
Most of the laws follow standards similar to other countries, with the exception of a few. Alcohol cannot be used as a foodstuff, and no Muslin can brew or distil it. Magic is strictly controlled and has to demonstrate that they have no ill intentions as prescribed by the council of the mosque. At the same time they may be constantly accompanied by an appointed person (by the Imam).
Defences
A standing naval asset protects the port / harbour, with stone walls around it and placements for troops here. Walls surround the city itself, and portioned into the main city of Tunis, and the municipality of Carthage has plenty of ruins for friendly troops to hide in it for them to act as guerrilla troops.
The Keep and mosque is placed behind stone walls manned by troops at all times. There is catapults & bolt throwers are placed in many defensive positions. The Berbers will use magic if any magicians are available, and they have access to plenty of experienced mounted troops too. They can rely on many Bedouin troops too if any are available. The Elves & Half-Elves make up a number of archer units as well.
Industry & Trade
A number of trading routes run through Tunis. One of the most profitable is slavery, and the Berbers are active in this over the whole of the northern & western Middle East coastline. This goes along with the importation & exportation of woods, metals, and foodstuffs to the whole of the Mediterranean. Mining allows for a number of local blacksmithing and stonework that can be exported too.
Infrastructure
The most common members of society here is the merchant class. They range from the lowest classes right up, selling different wares from pots & pans, right up to exotic pets, and slaves. Slavers do have a foothold here, and they are free to do so as long as none of the slaves are Children of the Book. Haggling is common amongst the society and some bartering too. At the same time there is a strong military presence along with the ships & hardware to attack anywhere.
A number of fishing & slaving fleets exist with the former bringing in plentiful food & trade. The latter is small and can overrun small coastal settlements easily, as well carrying slave overseas to other countries. Some smiths and shipwrights live & work down at the harbour maintaining & building new ships.
Assets
The mosque and the fort are used by the hierarchy to store the main artefacts & money / treasures of the city allowing it to be stored securely. A military school & mustering ground is beside the keep, allowing troops to gather securely and access the armouries stored within.
Trade all around the Mediterranean is important and the Berbers know this, keeping the peace around the region where they can to allow the trade to flow. Passages over the Saharan desert allows for exotic goods to be imported through Tunis in general attracting many foreign traders. Also, with access to the desert in general, and to the east of the Saharan Atlas mountains allows them to open mines to gain raw metals & gems that many other can't get.
Guilds and Factions
The only guild that exists in the city is the Hashashin Guild. They fulfil the role of an assassins guild.
A faction has emerged of minor races in the city that is campaigning for more integration with the locals. Mainly made up of Elves, Half-Elves and Genasi, and a rare few Thri-Kreen. They are asking for better conditions for their peoples. They are viewed as a pain in the side due to many are actually welcomed to a degree, and have basic rights under the existing laws. Someone or something is stirring up problems using this group.
A group of Yuan-Ti has embedded themselves into the noble & merchant classes and using them to move against each other. They are looking to overthrow the local government and install their own puppet leaders. At the same time, they are looking to find hidden mines in the Atlas Mountains said to contain treasure.
History
Carthage was built centuries ago by the Phoenicians, who were from the Levant. It grew in power due to trade and eventually became one of their major cities. From there, the times changed and the Greeks attacked looking to take over, and did for a while. Eventually they left giving the Carthaginians their freedom. This didn't help much, as after a while the Romans expanded and led to the Punic Wars that eventually led to the destruction of the city. After this time and when Roman Empire fell, the Vandals arrived and started to rebuild. Eventually they died out and was absorbed into the local population. Berbers took over with elements of their Muslim allies taking over and built up the city of Tunis on top of many of the older structures.
Points of interest
Many of the old city of Carthage is still present and they can be viewed openly, while the city of Tunis is built around & on top of a portion of the old city. The keep / fort, and the Mosque is at the centre of the city. The harbour / port is extensive and well-maintained with many merchants, taverns, businesses, and warehouses butt onto the port. Large harbours jut out into the sea while many local ships & boats sit side by side with foreign vessels plying trade or dealing with passengers coming & going.
To the west, the Saharan Atlas Mountains and the plateau are visible, and some major roads lead around it. At least one runs through it exploiting the natural resources here. Farm land surrounds the city itself, and in the distance the edge of the Sahara proper can be made out.
Tourism
Many tourists come here to view the old ruins of Carthage or to visit the mosque. A few come to visit the scholars in and around the city while some of the others go on safari, hunting down wild animals not found in their native landds.
Architecture
The city itself is a mishmash of different styles with parts of the old ruins absorbed to a degree of one kind or another. The dominant style is one of early to middle period Islamic traditions, with small elements of Greco-Roman features appearing in some of the older buildings. Harder to spot is the effects of the Vandals that still left an indelible aspect on some structures at least underneath.
"It's a strange city Tunis. It can't escape it's past, and many old ruins are still able to be viewed in and around it. And that's not the only thing. Parts of the city also has parts built from those old ruins. Some believe they had to build the mosque there due to the old curses & spirits that linger after so much bloodshed through the ages.
Saying all this, it's quite a cosmopolitan city, at least the new part called Tunis. It has recent buildings added, and a pile of trade coming through. Don't be afraid to see the different faces that come & go. Besides the great amount of humanity that pass through, but you'll find the odd Elf & Half-Elf, Genasi, and Thri-Keen. The Elvish contingent have quite a strong presence here, but keep to themselves, and fight alongside the Berber rulers when necessary.
There's plenty of history here including below Tunis, and just beyond in the Atlas Mountains. Old temples, mines, and ruins of past empires. Stories are abound of some of these are still inhabited, and active. Other stories exist of ancient treasures & beings are also rumoured to be found below, the ground all over the region.
Anyway, happy hunting."
Captain Marneus Sigillous, of the merchant ship Love of Hera.
Founding Date
9th Century BC
Type
Large city
Population
5127
Inhabitant Demonym
Carthaginians
Location under
Ruling/Owning Rank
Characters in Location
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