Topography and Layout

Port Flume was built on an elevated floodplains of the Anwar river. It is an extremely fortified well constructed city surrounded by high walls of quarried stone and iron reinforced gateways. The city itself is separated into 3 primary sections, the Market, Bowery and Gentry tierces. River traffic is quite heavy and the ports in the market district are always bustling day or night.

The immediate country surrounding Port Flume is so dangerous that it heavily restricts logging activities. Thus, wood supplies are so rare that they’re primarily used for crafting and construction, not for heating and cooking. This need has been met with an armored monthly coal caravan from the town of Blackfield.

The Bowery – The Bowery tierce is comprised of the majority of the populace, it comprises much of the riverbank and extends out over the river on wooden stilts. real estate is added to the Bowery by hammering in more pilings and extending additional pier space out over the Anwar. Construction is made primarily of cast off scraps of material, wood scraps, sod, and skins. It’s the poorest of the city’s neighborhoods, and houses the majority of the population. Crime is a concern, as are pier collapses and fires, unions of families have formed to get these problems under control.

The Market – The Market tierce houses the majority of the trading floors, auction houses, and commodity markets. This is the heart of the city and generates the vast majority of it’s revenue. The merchants have organized themselves into guilds representing the major business interests of Port Flume and use their collective power to direct the actions of Flume’s government.

The Gentry – The Gentry tierce is the smallest of the three tierces and home to the most powerful caste of citizenry. Only the most successful merchants, highest ranked military officers, and well born aristocrats can afford to live within this enclosed city-in-a-city. The 2 entrances to the gentry tierce are well guarded by a privately funded mercenary troop, only allowing passage to those who live there or possess a writ of passage, granted by one of the gentry members. It is home to one of the most celebrated inn’s of Edarion, “The Good Life”, home to amazing 8 course meals, massive wrought iron beds, world class entertainment and even hot running water!

Population

14,000+ citizens as of the last census. The nature of this being a port city sees a tremendous amount of churn in the populace. The nature of the Bowery tierce being so densely populated and relatively fluid only adds to the uncertainty of this population count. All the standard races of Moraenne have a presence in the city, including: Dwarves, Elves, Eladrin, Halflings, Half Elves and Humans.

Economy

The primary revenue source is one of trade. With it’s strategic location on the river Anwar, Port Flume receives shipments from both up and downstream as well as food shipments from Burrowdown, and coal shipments from Blackfield. Port Flume’s Merchant tierce handles the redirection of materials and goods from many cities quite efficiently. Dwarven exports from Rockhome are sent down the Anwar to stock the shops in the guild district.

Government

The government is democratically elected and divided equally into the three primary power structure, known as “Assemblies”. The Public House, the Merchant Guild and the Aristocracy. They each have an equal vote in the affairs of the city, never allowing for the stalemate or a possible tie in voting. Each of the Assemblies elects an internal leader (or “Herald”) to direct their actions and represent the face of the assembly among the people.

Military

Port Flume has a relatively small standing army of 4 companies (around 500 soldiers), primarily used for the defence of the city and surrounding territories. Only rarely are troops are mustered and sent out to support their allied trading partners in larger conflicts. Port Flume itself has never been successfully captured, a point the leaders of the military and government are proud to parrot at any opportune moment. The vast majority of the soldiers are used for city defence, training, patrols and enforcing the law.

Society

The people are largely products of their respective tierces. Citizens living in the Bowery have a harsh existence, scavenging or performing manual labor and menial tasks to make a living. There is a thriving black market in the Bowery though, so if you’re searching for illicit objects or contraband, this would be the best place to look, but mind your coin purse whilst in the Bowery, crime is rampant in this tierce, and guards tend to respect gold more than the force of law.

Citizens living in the Market tierce are generally skilled craftsmen, merchants, or brokers and generally live a middle class existence. The guilds run the Market tierce and mete out harsh punishment for interfering with any of their guild members.

Aristocrats and the well to do live in the Gentry tierce. Because the tierce is protected and isolated from the rabble and worker bees, they tend to view their lives through the narrow field of political interactions, familial rankings and the accumulation of wealth.

Neighbors

Rockhome - Dwarven underground city upriver to the far north. Primary export is high quality durable goods, weapons and armor.

Arborio – Elven settlement upriver to the northwest. Trades lumber of harvest trees with Port Flume by sending log jams down the Anwar.

Sumacha - Major Port city on the coast of the Mer and at the river delta of the Anwar. Primary exports are spices, rice, seafood and mercenaries.

Burrowdown – Farming village located 100 miles southwest, located in a defensible valley and primary source of Port Flume’s grains, fruits and livestock.

Blackfield – Although it’s a hard and dangerous 260 mile ride to the south, it’s a major trading partner with Port Flume and supplies nearly all their energy needs in the form of coal. Additionally, the coal from Blackfield constitutes roughly 15% of the net business conducted in the Market tierce as it’s rerouted to serve the needs of other population centers along the Anwar River.

Businesses

The Market Tierce

• The Barter House – A large building housing a variety of commodity traders, goldsmiths and moneylenders.
• Hammersmiths – Blacksmith specializing in high-quality custom armor, weapons and gear.
• Codex Arcanum - High end magic user guild that sells services, potions, rituals, spellbooks and a large variety of magic items.
• Oakenstouts – Pub and inn with a large variety of Wine and Ale. Setup with many small and large tables, used very often for doing business over a pint. Also has private booths/rooms for conducting private business.

The Bowery Tierce

• Flotsam (pub), Jetsam (general store-attached to Flotsam), Riverbeds (Inn)
• The Raft – (Gambling boat tied up to the underdocks, host to many illegal activities, including “The Hold”, a combat ring located on the shore.)

The Gentry Tierce

• The Good Life (Inn and Fine Dining)

Isla Anwar

• Docks and harbor
• Boat and Rope Ferries
• Boat Slips and channel
• Merchandise Warehouses
• Fish market

Regular Events

Armored Coal Caravans arrive monthly from Blackfield, delivering coal and purchasing spices, tools and supplies.

Notable NPC’s

Merchant Guild Herald - Zebulon (Zeb) Nareth (Male Human),  primary point of contact with Blackfield’s coal trade

Public House Herald – Alicia Muldoon (Female Human)

Aristocracy Herald - Gaile Feythorn (Female Elf)

Head of the Military – General Jaxon Pike (Male Half Elf)

Erathite Artificier – Falon Smithwick (Male Human)

Erathite Founder of the AoE – Elrick Helmond (Male Eladrin)

Fortune Teller and possible underworld contact – Madame Dumond (Female Human Easterling )

Tags: Port Flume