Description
Vastipor is a city built within the wetlands of Détras near the coastline, surrounded by swamps that can reach incredible temperatures due to geothermal pools supplied by heat from the nearby volcanic island. In terms of location, it seems like an ideal spot to facilitate trade between Détras and Kosí, and while it does have many visitors, there are plenty who avoid the place due to the nature of the city; it is a land of slavery and piracy, blood sports and illicit goods.
Most of the buildings in the city are made from basalt or other igneous rocks pulled from the island, and one is often within sight of a fighting pit no matter where you are, for they are littered everywhere, serving as both entertainment and a place to showcase the strength of slaves captured by pirates. It becomes clear to visitors quickly that there are few rules in this place, and fewer people who follow them.
Amongst all of the rare, stolen, and illegal goods pedalled here are a species of reptile unique to the area: enormous lizards with black scales that are able to climb, run, and swim at frightening speed, with some rare few even capable of breathing fire once fully mature. These creatures are said to be the descendents of a black dragon who once protected and ruled the city in ages past, though such claims are dubious at best and impossible to prove at worst. Regardless of how they evolved, they have become a favourite pet for the elite in the city, since the mere sight of one is enough to send most burglars fleeing for their lives.
For such a massive, entirely unhidden, hive of scum and villany to exist within the borders of The Republic is strange, leading many to wonder why
The Immortals or any mage of great power allows it to continue operating. The most popular theory is that the city tithes a great deal of its economy to either the Consuls of the region to The Immortals themselves, with another one suggesting that it is being maintained as a place to exile misbehaving mages to if their crimes are not severe enough to warrant death. The latter idea is supported by having a surprisingly high concentration of magic users despite it being a "backwater" city, and the first speaks to the greedy minds of in the area.
People & Organisations
Pirate King Vásti
A powerful fire mage who walked in and declared himself the master of all pirates in Détras one day. Any who opposed him were slain, and it came to light he'd already promised great wealth to the rulers of the city long before his announcement, ensuring an eagerness to remove the old marauder lords.
He seems to give a different name to every person he speaks with (an illegal act in itself for mages), and claims that his only origins were being born in the lava pools of Vásti, surrounding himself with a mystery to heighten his legend. Everyone in the city knows of him, and are quick to make way whenever he is in town.
Enforcer Gallus Skòlos
Head of the council who rule the city, Gallus is a war-mage of some kind, always wearing the heavy armour disdained by most of his peers. He seems to be the only one at all concerned with keeping order in the city, and is often overrulled by the mages around him during attempts to introduce new laws or punishments to the area. He operates within the system, attempting to change it from the inside, for he knows that a show of power to force his will on the people would likely end in his own death.
He has no family in the city, and is known to be a dour man quick to anger - a fact often exploited by folk with more guile, who can taunt him into mispeaking or storming out of conversations.
Dragonlord Zoma
Mighty indeed are the "children of Vásti", the giant lizards who look more like dragons than other reptiles. But they are ferocious creatures, difficult to raise and more difficult to tame. The city's elite are grateful indeed for the lizardfolk known as Zoma, one of few in the city able to deal with these drakes as a kennel master deals with hounds. Little is known of the scaled individual, but that has not stopped people handing her small fortunes in return for a terrifying pet or guardian animal.
Slavemaster Kalliros
Kalliros is one of the most well known slavers in the area, famous for his keen yellow eyes and legendary skill with a whip. This tiefling is the first choice for many who deal in the business of buying or selling people, and the pleasure house he runs on the side is the first choice for many seeking drinks or company.
Places & Landmarks
Isle of Vásti
Just off the coastline, always within sight of the city, rests a small volcanic island that smokes often but rarely bursts. There is some debate on whether the volcano or the ancient draconic ruler was named Vásti, or at least which was the namesake of the other if they were both named the same. While the volcano itself is small, belief holds that there is a massive underground pool of lava that heats the sea and swamps nearby.
There exists a land bridge to the island, though it is only walkable during the lowest tides, leading to a few shelters having been built on the shore so that any who were too slow to return and do not wish to swim their way back can rest overnight.
The Scaled Arena
There are many fighting pits, rings, and circles in the city, but the most impressive is The Scaled Arena. A crooked amphitheatre carved from black and grey volcanic rock, it stands almost as a mockery of the gleaming white marble Colosseum of
Chyreum almost three thousand miles away. Though it is not nearly as large as The Colosseum, it is still quite sizeable, and is also able to be flooded just like its larger cousin. The flooding is done with mechanisms and sluice gates to direct the river and swamp waters rather than by magic, ensuring the place remains operable without needing arcane power to function.
Looming over the main entrance to this arena is a dragon skull twice the size of a horse, with chains attached to the jaw allowing for the mouth to open and close. Typically the mouth simply indicates whether there is currently a fight happening within the building, but legends tell that the skull has been used at least once in a public execution, to slam shut on a prisoner tied up inside.
Den of Sin
Officially, the Dólus district is a slave market close to the harbour, with plenty of abodes and shops nearby; a legal and accepted place within The Republic despite some quiet concerns over the morality of it all. Unofficially, it is the home away from home for a navy's worth of pirates and marauders, from which they distribute their ill-gotten gains across the city.
City officials seem to have no interest in investigating suspicious goods or people, whether due to fear of retaliation, or simple bribery. On the odd occasion a righteous spellcaster comes through and attempts to set things right, those in power tend to convince them it is not worth the effort in some way or another.
The High Mages
The roads in Vastipor can hardly be called such, as they often flood with swamp water or are covered in damp foliage that must be waded through. Homes throughout the city use sandbags or similar barriers to block the water, but in the Vekamos district mages and merchants have taken extra care to build their polished, glossy basalt homes atop concrete foundations with fanciful staircases leading up amongst the mangroves.
History
The Black Dragon
More mythology than history, it is claimed that the city was founded by an ancient dragon with black scales in the age before
The Archonomachy. Unlike most dragons, which are known to have been purely benevolent protectors, Vásti had a darker soul; he is stated to have set up the first arena in Vastipor and to have most enjoyed watching the mortals - those whom it should have looked after - battle to the death.
The only proof the city can offer is the gargantuan dragon skull decorating its largest arena, and so many ignore the tales as fanciful legends to draw in tourism.
Invasion of the Dead
According to historians, some time in the city's long-ago past it was attacked by the assembled might of a conclave of "humanitarian" necromancers who sought to wipe the city clean of its intense corruption. A legion of the dead marched forth, but by the time they had made it through the swamps filled with giant mosquitoes, leeches, flesh eating fish, and various other monsters, the force was so weak that the remaining husks were easily cut down by the city's protectors.
The event was so long ago that is has vanished from living memory, but the creatures that "defended" Vastipor have had many children, and the dangers of the swamp remains.
King of Flames
In more recent history, the last event of great importance was the arrival of a young
fire genasi pirate captain, claiming he was born from the lava pools of Mount Vásti. With gold and with magic he wooed or cowed the masters of the city, burned entrenched rivals to ash, and declared a new age of piracy had begun.
He rarely comes into the city proper nowadays, with most believing he lives on the island he claims to have been born from, but his warship,
The Conflagration, can often be seen patrolling the sea nearby.
Ailing Waters
Not an event, but a time of strife that began only a year or two ago, Vastipor now struggles under the weight of some curse or disease afflicting the city. The wells and water purification magics have slowly run dry or stopped working, the river grows full of parasites, and fisherboats return home empty handed more often than not. Outsiders refuse to come to Vastipor's aid; many believe it is the Gods finally tiring of the city, while others are glad to finally be rid of the place.
Talks have recently begun of human sacrifices - perhaps if enough lives are given to the volcano, it might return the city's dragon to this world, and save its inhabitants from extinction.
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