Tortuga River
Tortuga River: A River and Town
Tortuga River has always stayed the same. Settlers have come and go, rulers have come and gone. What remains is the steady stream of water connecting all types of kingdoms and people together. Tortuga River is not just a river, it’s a town with centuries of cultivated history. Before being under Astorian rule, it was once owned by the Old Empire. Then the Hilaelians and eventually Astorians took it over. It is located in the Kingdom of Las Islos on the west side. The river stems from the middle of the kingdom flowing west where it is joined by the Isloyatan River. The river then flows down south into neighboring Hilael kingdom, Khasut.Demographics
Due to the location of the river and where it flows to, Tortuga River has always been a melting pot of cultures, resources, and professions. Six percent of the total population of Las Islos lives in Tortuga River. About three percent are Astorians, two percent Hilaelians, and one percent Adairian. The class system is mainly composed of lower class people with the exceptions of healers, farmers, and merchants. Only one percent of those who live here are deemed wealthy. Due to the location of the river and where the water flows to, a main profession in this area is drug smuggling and gang business. Settlers who come to Tortuga River don’t stay for long, people are always coming and going. Tortuga River is the last stop upstream into Las Islos.
Government
The Government in Tortuga River can be laid back. The law is still Astorian however there is no official government leader for both class systems; the wankata and hukhul. Since Hilael, Astoria, and Adair people all reside here. There is no official enforcement of any kind. The residents of this town obtain leadership. The smuggling and gang activity present in Tortuga River allows for actions to go unnoticed and concealed. The laid back government is a creation of this. The overall notion of government in this place is free roam with acceptable consequences. The general consensus of rules is to not kill, not steal, and maintain peace.
Defences
Tortuga River may appear innocent to a newcomer but it is armed to the teeth with hidden weapons and traps. Defenses for this town are high. Paths that are not correct paths have stake pits, and swinging logs. Booby traps are littered all along the banks of the river. Some are set twenty four seven. Where other traps are set manually in the event of an attack. Many residents all carry weapons, mostly ones they made. The one bridge that exists, has built in canon launchers and fire bombs. The defense technology was designed by the Adairians and executed with Hilael and Astorian resources.
Industry & Trade
The main imports and exports of Tortuga River are drugs and illegal goods. The city center is where all the ragers, gambling, and drinking happen. Most of those products come from Tortuga River. The residents of this town smuggle in drugs from other kingdoms using the river system. As well as making their own products to be exported. The river is what has kept this settlement alive. It has provided water, transportation, and luck to the people of Tortuga River. People of this town also work in conjunction with towns located on the Isloyatan River. Isloyatan River can be accessed by going west and up north. As well as crossing a bank of trees dividing the two rivers. Another trade of this town is cultivating soil, producing exotic weapons, and producing fake currency. People work hard for what they are producing and will risk their lives for their work.
Infrastructure
Tortuga River is an essential part of Las Islos. It not only has an extensive illegal goods industry supplying the whole kingdom. It also has an extensive waterway system. The infrastructure in Tortuga River can be seen as limited. As the illegal activity and nature of this town calls for discreet infrastructure.
There is one big shipyard and small ports along the river. There are no lights along the river. Instead there are reflective markers left over from the Old Empire that show the paths. There are no street signs or sidewalks. Only one bridge exists that connects the south bank of the river to the north bank crossing over into Isloyatan River territory. People who live or work here know where they are going. Living areas are located a mile away from the river. There are many houses built and expanded. Technology is up to speed with the rest of the kingdom. It’s only the river and the banks of the river that have limited infrastructure.
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