Karis

Karis is one of the largest cities on the The Tranquil Coast and in the The League of Brennan, with more than a million inhabitants. While Karis’ location on the coast it its greatest benefit, it also presents the city with its greatest challenge. The complex and dramatic swings in tides caused by the two moons cause the sea level to rise and fall by a hundred feet or more. Karis has dealt with this problem by building enormous sea walls capable of withstanding even the biggest storm surges, but when the tide is out the city is surrounded by a broad ring of land from which invaders could potentially attack. Clever smugglers also frequently attempt to make landfall on these temporary beaches during low tide, making tax enforcement a challenge. This is a critical issue for Karis, as most of its revenues comes from taxing shipping. To the east lies the enormous Inner Sea, where many of the merchant ships from the league come to trade and sell their wares. Ships wishing to enter or exit the Inner Sea to ply their wares up and down the Tranquil Coast must pass through the Golden Straight (a popular legend says that the straight received its name because of the amount of gold it made for the city, but most scholars dispute this). Karis’ control of shipping traffic has made it extremely wealthy, allowing the city to extend its influence far into the hinterland to the east. Because Karis is almost entirely surrounded by water, it’s weather remains relatively mild and stable year-round. One of the few notable elements of its weather is the famous fog that frequently descends on it, while earthquakes are also common, forcing the city to constantly spend to fix damage to the docks, levees, and seawalls.

Demographics

Karis is a human city, but boasts a large dwarven population that makes up an estimated quarter of the city's inhabitants. As the largest and most cosmopolitan city on the coast, communities of elves, halflings and even orcs can be found within its walls.

Government

Karis is goverened by a senate, known as the Presidium, which consists of the hundred wealthiest citizens of the city. As a result, most of the city’s policies are designed to favor the mercantile class.

Defences

Karis is surrounded by water on three sides. The only land approach is from a narrow strip of land to the south, making it difficult for hostile forces to attack en masse. It also allows the city to defend itself from land attack from only its southern wall.

Industry & Trade

Karis is a mercantile city. It owes its wealth to its control of the Golden Straight, the only passage for boats sailing the Tranquil Coast to gain access to the Inner Sea.

Infrastructure

Karis is best known for its enormous sea walls, which protect the east, north, and western sides of the city from the extreme tidal surges.

Guilds and Factions

The Presidium. This committee of the hundred wealthiest residents of Karis governs the city. While there are parties and factions within the Presidium, for the most part the Presidium is unified in its efforts to support trade and business.

Geography

Karis sits at the northern tip of a peninsula which forms half of the Golden Straight, the only sea passage between the Tranquil Sea and the Inner Sea. The city is known for its many hills and valleys. The center of the city is dominated by twin peaks where the most prosperous residents live. Areas closer to the sea walls and southern land wall become gradually less desirable. As a result, the poor tend to live as close to the water as possible, while the middle class forms a ring between the rich nucleus and poorer outer edges.

Type

Large city

Population

1,000,000

Inhabitant Demonym

Karisians

Location under

The Tranquil Coast

Included Locations