Port Brigges

For the refined and proper

Port Brigges is one of two major cities in the southeastern region of Prostesa. It's a major trading center due to its access to the ocean and solid economy, and you'll frequently see ships docking and exporting goods here and there throughout the continent. Though the portion of the city that's nearest to the docks is rather grimy, the rest is very classy and prides itself on good etiquette in both social and private matters. When The Silence had begun, Port Brigges experienced a sharp decline in its population as most of the mages that thrived there fled their home. They're heavily associated with Stoldrain due to it's wonderful cloth production, and the soldiers traversing its streets often come from Stoldrain. For people searching for a life of adventure on the open sea or a night on a ballroom floor, Port Brigges is where they'd go.

Demographics

Gnomes are common here, often jewelers in their craft, but majority of the population consists of elves and humans, the latter of which tend to be sailors. A fair portion of the city is middle-high class, and there is a large low class that lives near the docks. There are a few tailors in Port Brigges, but most come from Stoldrain. Elves often work as cooks while gnomes are bartenders. No matter what class you're from, you're respected if you're employed.

Government

Like Stoldrain, Port Brigges is a democracy, and the leader of the city is chosen to represent the people. As such, votings are taken exceptionally seriously, and the voters often blame themselves if the person they elect turns out to be corrupt. Taxes are placed on all goods shipped out of Port Briggs and practically every tavern has a tax on their goods. Magic is heavily outlawed here, and the practice of it will have you sent away or killed depending on the strength of the spell. Be careful, mages, your neighbors are as quick to out you as they are to greet you.

Defences

Towering stone walls surround Port Brigges, and at every entrance of the town, there are numerous guards stationed in order to keep the towns safe. There are no towers beyond the walls of Port Brigges, but they don't seem to be very well-needed.

Industry & Trade

Every day, the streets are filled with busy bodies that pay their dues in food, jewels, or resources from across the ocean. As Port Brigges is one of the biggest trading centers in Prostesa, it is relied on by almost every nation on the continent, and this reliability creates a steady income for the people that live here. One of the most important imports into Port Brigges is any kind of food, as Port Brigges has soil too hard and rough to make farming easy. Port Brigges is also known for exporting goods from practically every settlement in the southeastern portion of Prostesa, so they have a wide range of materials. Few, however, are natural.

Infrastructure

The roads leading in and out of Port Brigges are cobblestone and wind around the homes and businesses lining the streets. The boardwalks are where the ships dock and export goods. Sewers run deep below the city and filter out into the ocean. Most of the power in the city is fueled by furnaces, so practically every building is pleasantly warm. The shipyard, near the boardwalks, are spectacular and proudly display their freighter ships. The wood on the ships is tough and resistant to anything lighter than a cannonball. There's one very large stone bridge connecting Lower Brigges and Upper Brigges together, joining Port Brigges entirely. At the center of the city is a building known as The Crystal Grove which holds a massive ballroom. There, every piece of Port Brigges can be found dancing with one another and melting away their worries each night. It also serves as a church to the god Ayatuu, the same as Stoldrain.

Assets

If you walk down the streets of Port Brigges, you'll notice that all of the magic shops that used to exist have been boarded up. The taverns that remain, Rickey's Bin and Illery's Grove, will welcome anyone regardless of their social class so long as they treat their peers with as much respect as they'd give themselves.

Guilds and Factions

One of the two factions in Port Brigges is, of course, the Steelborn, a group comprised of soldiers that traverse the streets of Port Brigges. Some venture out to Stoldrain but no farther than that, and they work directly under Port Brigges' mayor, Farley Ficklemire. The other faction in the city is a group of religious folk known as The Cyclinate who believe that every action within your lifetime affects your afterlife and rebirth. They are eternally devoted to Ayatuu but are known for harshly judging questionable actions others may make. Cover your tracks around these people.

History

Originally known as New Bethalon, Port Brigges started out about as small as Stoldrain before mages and weary travelers settled down and began sharing tales of their adventures from all across Prostesa. With each story told, their lust for adventure grew, and late in the first year of Bethalon's life, the first boat was crafted and set off towards Garvinel. It was from that point on that Port Brigges had found its identity: people would come from all over Prostesa to share their goods and ideals for a new future. It took only a bright imagination and fierce ambition for Port Brigges to fulfill this dream. Since, the city's been a popular site for trade, just like the founders imagined.

Architecture

The buildings in Port Brigges, at least in Upper Brigges, tend to be rather fancy, the builders taking great care in the exterior and interior. The walls, like practically every wall in Port Brigges aside from the taverns, are made of a dark grey stone (typically painted sky blue) and are often decorated with bright flowers next to each and every door. Practically every building has some form of an overhanging roof, made from water-resistant wood, in order to provide protection from the rain.
In Lower Brigges, the houses are much less elaborate and tend to hang low to the ground. Though they still have those overhanging roofs, the stone walls aren't painted, and the houses are made from wood. The homes are very close together, often with a foot of space in between each, and are small to where only two people can comfortably stay. The roads are broken, but not unusable.

Geography

The land in Port Brigges is raised in Upper Brigges and lowered in Lower Brigges, hence the names. Port Brigges sits near an ocean that's distinctly beautiful. The ocean blue waters are often ruined by a small island in the distance that sits under an ominous gray cloud. To the north of it are towering mountains, and to the east is a small forest just in front of Lake Amber.

Natural Resources

While there's wood from the nearby forests, most of the resources in Port Brigges come from the mountains, and the stone is used to build almost every home in Upper Brigges. The minerals and red crystals from the mountains are often used by the jewelers to craft bracelets, necklaces, and rings to ship around the continent.

"One fair lady grasped my hand and asked me for a dance. Though I'd never done something that would require a mite of grace in my life, the atmosphere was just too perfect to turn her down. As she and I swung out onto the floor of The Crystal Grove, I could see the eyes of every couple watching us closely, and they soon followed in our steps. It was so hard to believe that at certain times of the week, this building was a church. Wildness had sprouted from every edge of the room. It was more beautiful than I could've ever imagined."
"That fateful day was the I met my wife, my wonderful, wonderful wife."

Farley Ficklemire, Mayor of Port Brigges

Alternative Name(s)

New Bethalon

Type

Large city

Population

About 24,100 citizens (not counting sailors which would add an extra 2,000).

Inhabitant Demonym

Briggite