Hokartus
Introduction
Hokartus is a trading city at the foot of the Sentinels.
Districts
Clearford - Since the town's creation, this part of the city became wealthier and wealthier throughout the decades. In 1350 AU, most of the city's nobility lives in this district, along with some fine craftsmen, such as tailors and jewellers.Heather District - This part of the city appeared as traders from Austium travelled through the city and set up camps outside. Some eventually settled here as well, but the majority of the houses belong to artisans that saw an opportunity to sell their wares to the waiting traders outside of the city. To this day, the district is full of woodworkers, shoemakers and other, similar craftsmen.
North District - The newest district in the city, North district is home to wealthy individuals who decided to buy a property in the city and seek their fortune here. It is mostly populated by artists, scholars and charlatans.
Eastbank - The poorest part of the city. Now it is home to peasants, servants and most guards who are exploited by those with boats that extort ever more money from them.
History
It was originally a simple fishing village, but it grew to a city due to traders who wanted to cross the river. The first people to settle around the area were Forebear fishers, who wanted to make a living from the river. They lived and prospered for a few thousand years, but due to its location far from important trading routes, the village stayed relatively small. As the years went by, the inhabitants turned into humans and their village into a town. The turning point in the city's history was when Oar's Rest was founded. Many traders who wanted to pass through the area started to rely on the fishermen of Hokartus as they travelled, making extra profit for the town. More and more merchants decided to settle in the town, capitalizing on the people coming through. In 1111 AU, the Blakfort Dynasty subjugated the town and named its first lord, Jonas Antius. He was the richest inhabitant of the town at that point and this change cemented their position as rulers of the town. Soon after, the construction of the Keep began. In 1187 AU, the last segment of the outer wall was finished and the construction of the Keep ended. Besides minor modifications, the fort remained the same throughout the centuries. The city reached its peak in the 1200s, when its population reached 5000 people. At that point, many wealthy traders and artisans moved into the city and onto the eastern bank of the river, but due to the greedy practices of the townspeople, they quickly started to loose money on tolls and wages.Maps
-
Hokartus
Points of Interest
The Keep - The only fortified structure for kilometers, the Keep is the property and residence of the Antius family. It has a barrack for the mercenaries that protect it, a blacksmith and a library, which houses the book collection of the Antius family.The Temple - The Temple is the only structure in the city that was paid for by the crown. It is built to Order standard and is actually one of the largest temples within the kingdom, rivalled only by those in Austium and Striflucas.
Shining Cauldron Inn - A fancy inn for the rich folk of the city. It offers a wide variety of dishes, drinks and rooms to stay in. It also has a magical quartet.
Governance
The city of Hokartus has been in the hands of the Antius family ever since it became part of the domain of the Blakfort dynasty. The current lord ruling over the city and the surrounding area is Libel Antius.Unique Features
- Despite being built on a river, there is no bridge in the city. Everyone has to cross the river via boat.
- While the city lacks an outer wall, there are guard towers placed around the settlement, where guards keep a watchful eye on the surrounding lands.
- There is a big difference between the wealth of people living on either side of the river, with mostly peasants living on the East Bank.
Comments