Bhaglbrov

"If it sounds crazy, it's probably Bhaglbrovian!"

In the eastern portion of Prostesa, there sits a port town on Lithia’s west coast that is famed for its hospitality. The sound of its locals combined with the cries of seagulls can make the town sound like a cacophony of noise from afar, but past the town’s outer walls lies a society founded on acceptance and freedom. Bhaglbrov, called Scotchkov by its citizens, is known for having regular scraps in the streets, but it can be a welcoming place to the individual looking to start over.

"Come on in, lad! Mind the drunkards, they're everywhere. Want a drink?"

- Kappy V. Korminger

Demographics

Bhaglbrov is a town formed by the unlikely union of orcs and dwarves, though the dwarves outnumber the orcs by about 5%. There is a minority of humans, though their numbers are slowly growing. Though Bhaglbrov itself does not have a sizable population of immigrants, smaller settlements not listed on Prostesan maps that sit near Bhaglbrov are quite cosmopolitan. Because of the nature of Bhaglbrovians, the majority of Lithia’s military that isn’t native to Illwurn comes from Bhaglbrov. Most Bhaglbrovians are middle class, with a good portion just shy of being considered wealthy by Bhaglbrovian standards. The wealthy are typically merchants or bards.

Government

Bhaglbrov is a democracy, with citizens electing officials in order to serve their country. The laws of Bhaglbrov may be revised, added onto, or stripped every decade. The mayor of said government, Scotty Kugsgav, is one of the best blacksmiths in Bhaglbrov, being a devout worshipper of Barasogoth. Under Kugsgav’s guidance, Bhaglbrov has seen an influx of tourists searching for a reprieve from their lives. Though the rest of his family is more than capable of running the city should he be rendered incapacitated, Kugsgav has been searching for a proper protege since his inauguration.
Kugsgav commands the Bhaglbrov Guard, an army that specializes in martial combat. This army, though lacking in a sufficient amount of spellcasters, is trained to isolate and apprehend spellcasters with peerless ability. Because of their expertise, they are often called the Spellbreakers, a name that often confuses their enemies.

Industry & Trade

The reason for Bhaglbrov’s founding is due to the rich iron deposits that sit beneath the city. Because of their proximity to Cabylnord, a dwarven town that mines rhupite, they are often visited in the hopes that they have this mineral in stock. As Bhaglbrov has a large trade market, the primary motivation for its visitors, wagons and wheelbarrows crowd the streets as merchants from all over Lithia congregate and sell their goods to travelers and natives. The economy in Bhaglbrov is rich and thriving; if one has the ambition and effort to dominate the markets, they can with enough time.
Very often are auctions held, which is the traditional way rare and exotic items are sold to the public. When two people make the highest bids, they are then set in a drinking competition in which the winner is rewarded with the item. 
Because of Mayor Gusgav, Bhaglbrov has several strong trade partnerships with other nations, including Garvinel, Morigor, and Ustenstead, the last of which is their strongest trading partner. Trade, befitting Bhaglbrov, is rarely restricted, with many shops within and surrounding Bhaglbrov having sparked on a whim. Exotic goods can be easily found if one walks the markets at the right time of the day at the right time of the year. The only regulation to trade is that traders must meet with Mayor Gusgav, upon which the mayor will hand them a tag known as a ‘Trader’s Permit,’ which lists their biological information and the date they were registered. This permit must be hung or otherwise attached to a trader’s station to ensure their right to free trade.

Infrastructure

Bhaglbrov boasts the second-largest shipyard in Prostesa, trumping even that of Illwurn. The Kugsgav family, a group of shipwrights and architects, was responsible for constructing the shipyard. It’s rumored that the town has a spelljamming port, but it isn't known where exactly it may lie. Though the cost is cheap, docking at Bhaglbrov does incur fees.

History

Show spoiler

Bhaglbrov’s history begins and ends with two families: the Kugsgavs and the Kormingers. Bhaglbrov is unique in that its history does not involve conflict from the Echo Disaster. Rather, Bhaglbrov was isolated from the rest of Lithia and gradually bolstered its population with refugees, criminals, and those consumed by wanderlust. They aspired for a home where worries “could be cast into the sea like stones.” In order to pick the location that would serve as the foundation of Bhaglbrov, the Kormingers rode on the backs of giant pigs until they’d collapsed from exhaustion. In the spot that the pigs collapsed, Bhaglbrov was founded, and the pigs were left to roam the city. To this day, pigs are abundant in and around Bhaglbrov, commonly kept as pets or partners to entertainers.

Tourism

The types of tourist that often come to Bhaglbrov are those with a “devil-may-care” kind of attitude. Bhaglbrovians are accustomed to these strangers, so much so that they eagerly await tourists for the chance to steal them away to the many taverns situated throughout the town. Tourists looking to stay for a while or individuals only stopping for a day’s worth of trading are taken on a tour of the entire city, complete with festive music and excited chanting. With Bhaglbrov, what tourists see is what they get; if they’re willing to go along with the natives, they’ll find their time in the town one disorganized party. With alcohol in the veins and reckless ideas in the head, Bhaglbrov tourists become just as reckless as the natives.

Geography

Bhaglbrov is bordered by the Illian Mountains that make up much of Northern Lithia, the iron-rich deposits of Southern Lithia, and a sparkling ocean to the west. Bhaglbrov itself sits upon fertile land, though actual farms do not start until about half a mile away from the settlement. Though Bhaglbrov’s chaotic residents may imply a ragged and unclean city, much of Bhaglbrov’s beauty is natural and comes from the surrounding land. Freshwater, though not within walking distance of the town, is accessible through pumps provided by Cabylnord. These pumps run under the ground so as to not detract from the land’s natural beauty.

Founding Date

3200 AA

Alternative Name(s)

Scotchkov

Type

Large town

Population

Approx. 12,000+

Inhabitant Demonym

Bhaglbrovian

DnD Dwarven Bard by Phill Berry

  Kappy Korminger, Owner of the Echo Hog

Remember to Smile

Bhaglbrovians are very sociable people. Most residents of Lithia tend to find their first partners or lifelong friends here, which has given the town a second name: Love’s Cradle. Every year or so, during Early Bearing, Bhaglbrov celebrates romance and love, with the rest of Lithia often joining in the festivities to praise their united nation. During Early Bearing, Bhaglbrov’s marketplace is filled with traders selling chocolate, and the prices of meals in taverns drop considerably.