Salazen (Sal-az-en)
The first major trade hub of the Shadow Republic. Salazen opened up trade to Rivell and North. It became known as the ghost port due to multiple mysterious happenings.
History
Founding
With the revolts still raging in the north, and the Shadow plains threatened with a counter-attack, sea trade with Rivell, and the islands of the Gem Sea became imperative. Building a small village to support a newly constructed stone-ringed port on the coast, Wralin spared no restraint in its construction, even building a supply tunnel between the port and Hope that could be collapsed if Salazen ever fell. As the trade started to flow between the coastal cities, the southern trade belt formed, with goods coming into the shadow plains and magical goods leaving. Supplies were shipped north to aid in the war effort for the Orcs as well. Not two years after its founding, however, Naga raids disrupted trade to a detrimental effect. A barracks and naval base were built on the side of the growing village and an attack on the Naga was launched by Wralin and Veil, once again freeing up trade.Colonization of the north
Over the next few decades, Salazen grew into a town, attracting both ex-slaves escaping the war and merchants settling down a base of trade. This only increased with the breakout of peace, with newly freed people flooding into opportunity. This led to sudden overcrowding, with colonizing efforts used to counter this. Several groups were sent north to establish trade posts around The Silent Lake, Starting with The White City and moving around to other locations. Trade between these new settlements and Salazen, as well as other cities that were popping up around the coast, swelled the town to become one of the wealthiest in the republic. A trend that continued throughout the history of the Shadow Republic.Impoverishment
With the growing Mire towards the center of the Shaodw plains, trade became less viable for Salazen due to the decreasing market, and fewer goods were brought in from the countryside. Profit was still brought in however from the monopolized market of Hope. In response to this Salazen started focusing on the Void stone trade, shipping large quantities north for production, flooding the markets of The Silent Lake cities. The first truly major hit came when contact with Hope was lost. With the loss of its biggest inland market, trade quickly dried up, Forcing several merchants to leave, and others to turn to Piracy. By 750 Rebel, Salazen had become a shell of its former self, with entire districts abandoned, and those left in destitute conditions.Ghost harbour
784 Rebel a Rivell merchant ship pulled into port to find the city completely empty. As the crew moved through the city exploring, they felt like they were being watched, but found no living creatures, not even bodies of the people who'd remained or the various strays around the city. Various sections of the city had pools of thick murky water. Deciding better than to stay the captain pulled his men out and left less than an hour after arriving, having traded nothing. In the following years, several ships stopped at Salazen, most crew swearing they were being watched by some unseen thing, and several crewmembers disappeared. One ship that stayed the night was found abandoned a few days later by a passing vessel. After this ships stopped visiting the area, calling it damned. In 800 Rebel Veil sent an expedition to try and reach Hope through the sealed tunnel. The follow-up expedition was sent three years later, and all they found was a note from one of the original expeditions, the ship still in the harbor, slowly sinking, and flooded streets.Crisis of the Fey age
While it's not known what happened in the town in the intervening ages, it is known that several Grung Colonies lived within the town in 122 Fey, due to the fact Raviwrar attacked several spots of the town in his purge.The ruins
While the town hasn't been visited since 803 Rebel, several ships have passed by and reported on the state of the ruins. At the start of the Fey age, the stone harbor still stands intact. Further inland, ruins of several of the old mansions still stand, presumably providing shelter to Grung colonies.It's alive, bloody alive, that's probably what happened to the citizens, Damn it, it, they, whatever it is consumed the captain, it's aft- A hurredly scrolled note found by the follow up expidtion from Aten
RUINED SETTLEMENT
7 Suriel, 784 rebel
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