Southport

The gateway to the southern seas, Southport is the largest port city in Arlyss. Goods from the Marble Isle and across the western sea flow through here and into the kingdom of Sydonia.

History

The original settlement was built by Ekorosi explorers upon a natural slope to the sea flanked by sheer cliffs, providing a natural wall on 3 sides (with the cliffs to the west and east and the sea to the south). The explorers sought the fabled land of their ancestors, but were driven off-course by storms. By chance, they landed on the southern coast of Arlyss and the kingdom of New Sydonia 600 years after The Doom. They were discovered by Sydonian scouts who took them for frontiersmen, but their strange language (somewhat familiar to the Sydonians) and customs soon revealed their foreign origins. Envoys from Dragonwatch were dispatched, with mages putting their magic to use to facilitate communication between the two peoples.
A cultural exchange took place, with the Ekorosi and Sydonians learning the history of their distant cousins. But the Ekorosi had no interest in rejoining Sydonian society, and the true purpose of their journey came to light. By then, Ekoros had established trade with much of the east, and they sought to establish trade with Sydonia. Agreements were drafted and the merchant navy of Ekoros established trade with the burgeoning kingdom of New Sydonia. Their settlement was officially named "Southport," under Sydonian rule. A mayor was put in place to oversee administration of the port alongside a council of Ekorosi merchants. Over time, the city came to be populated by as many Ekorosi as Sydonians. As expansion necessitated, walls were erected at the top of the cliffs and a gate was constructed. Homes, shops, and guildhouses came to fill the city to the brim. Fair weather and ample business opportunities attracted wealthy merchants from throughout Sydonia and Ekoros, and they built massive estates in what would come to be known as the "Garden district." Meanwhile, Sydonia came to encompass most of central Arlyss. The kingdom needed protection from the seas, and so the King established the Sydonian Naval Academy in Southport. A fleet of ships was constructed in the royal shipyards, and the Sydonian Marines were established to serve as the Kingdom's naval fighting force.
Southport also established trade agreements with the Dwarves of Kal-Ein to export their wares across the seas. Kal-Ein in turn provides arms, armor and war machines to the Sydonian Navy.
Unlike in the rest of the kingdom, feudalism failed to take hold in Southport. The merchant class that now exists in Dragonwatch and other cities in the kingdom first took root in Southport. While commoners in Southport were freemen rather than serfs, they had no guarantees of food, shelter or safety. Those who could not find work as tradesmen, dock workers or shopkeeps often died hungry and cold in the streets. On the other hand, even a commoner could change his fortune by rising through the ranks of the guilds and joining the merchant elite.
During the failed annexation of the Marble Isle by Sydonia in 1430, many citizens of Southport of Ekorosi descent defected and joined the Ekorosi war effort. A group of them set fire to a fleet of Sydonian war ships before fleeing for the Marble Isle. Following Sydonia's crushing defeat, some Ekorosi returned but the city remained largely Sydonian. Anti-Ekorosi sentiment remained strong in Southport for decades.
In the modern age, Southport remains the largest port in Sydonia through which most Sydonian imports and exports flow. While the mayor and city council are charged with the administration of the city, the real power lies in the guilds.

Culture

The culture of Southport is a melting pot of Sydonian, Ekorosi and other foreign cultures. The guilds are largely run by Ekorosi merchants, with Sydonians making up the bulk of the workforce in the city. Temples to various gods overlook the city on the eastern cliff, with the largest temple being the Temple of Thunor (patron god of Southport). The Ekorosi god of the seas Damaios also features prominently here.
The Sydonian common tongue is the primary language spoken in Southport, even among those of Ekorosi descent. Ekorosi is spoken among the guilds as a kind of "thieves' cant" to avoid being understood by strangers during negotiations.

Military and Justice

The city watch of Southport is organized by the city council, with occasional support from the Sydonian Marines. They patrol the streets and investigate crimes, while the marines defend the city from attack and patrol the docks. While the navy only escorts ships of particular value to the kingdom, they do maintain a fleet of pirate hunters often supported by mercenaries and adventurers.
Ship's captains can apply for a pirate hunting license, deputizing them to hunt down and destroy or capture pirate ships in the seas around Arlyss for a bounty (weregild). Mercenaries and adventuring companies likewise must register officially with the city council before taking up bounties and mercenary work in the city.

Guilds

Various craftsmen's guilds exist in Southport, but the most powerful guilds are the ruling 7:
The Whalers' Guild: fishermen and whalers fishing the southern seas for highly sought-after whale oil (used in machinery throughout the kingdom).
Riveters' guild: A blacksmiths' guild specializing in the manufacture and application of rivets, nails and iron plating used in shipbuilding.
Spice guild: A guild of spice traders.
Scrivener's Guild: A guild supporting all scriveners, copy-makers, printers as well as solicitors (largely practicing contract law).
Armsmen's guild: A guild covering gunsmiths, armsmen and armorers as well as weapons traders.
Alchemists' guild: A guild of chemists, alchemists and herbalists.
Fighter's guild: A guild of mercenary companies and other fighters-for-hire.
The mages' guild also operates as a branch of the Arcanatorium, training mages to support the Sydonian Marines and maintaining arcane studies in its vast halls and libraries.
There are various "secret" guilds in the city, such as thieves' and assassins' guilds. The most famous of these is the Black Crow assassin's guild, which provides the best and most expensive assassins in Arlyss.

Crime

While the city watch does their best, crime is common in Southport. Corruption is rampant, with most of the guilds "owning" a portion of the city watch as their personal army. Competing thieves' guilds battle over scores and ambitious guildsmen hire expensive assassins to take out their competition. For those who can't find honest work, crime always pays.
The dockworkers' union of Dragonwatch has little presence in Southport, but they often find themselves dealing with the Oinopoiós family of Ekoros (who have almost as large a presence in Southport as Ekoros).
Thieves' guilds are as numerous as tradesmen's guilds. Some of them include Corcoran's Cockatrices, the Bowe Boys, The Caern Gang, Daybreak Boys, White Hand Gang, and the Amber Street Pickers.
There are rumours of slave-trading in Southport, but the city watch has been unable to find any real proof of it.

Points of Interest

Westgate

Westgate houses most of the city's workforce and is the most rundown part of the city. Blocks of tenement housing are squeezed together with little room for greenery or much else. Most of the streets are unpaved or covered in wood walkways sitting on the mud. The poorest of the city live in houses lining the western cliffside.
The Wall: a literal hole-in-the-wall tavern built into a natural cavern in the western cliffside. Run by the Barnstone brothers Halgin and Perrin (halflings).
Hengeston's: A general store run by Nils Hengeston (human).
The Galleon: A rundown inn run by Edgwin Dewalt (human). The fried fish is particularly tasty, but the ale is watered down and the beds are uncomfortable and often infested with lice.
City Watch Barracks: The closest structure to the wall in westgate, the barracks act as headquarters for the city watch. Another barracks sits on the east side of the city in eastgate.

Eastgate

Eastgate is slightly more upscale than westgate, where tradesmen, service workers and sailors' families live.
The Silver Sword Inn: a modest inn run by Ethelstan Millwood (human) and his Dwarven life partner Aldin Firebelly. Frequented by adventurers and mercenaries thanks to its oversized notice board where citizens of Southport post jobs and opportunities. Renowned for its Karak Kadre Bourbon Barrel Ale.
The Bottomless Sack: A general store run by a gnome named Fezik Baublekeeper. Sells many different kinds of traps and specialty adventuring gear.
The Gray House: a run-down abandoned home on the east side of eastgate rumoured to be haunted. Neighbors complain of nightmares and increased anxiety. Somehow has never been demolished.

Merchant District

The merchant district houses the city's merchant class and their shops. A common saying in Southport is "if you can't buy it here, it doesn't exist." This is, of course, utterly preposterous as many things can't be purchased but still exist.
Yarbrough's Market: A massive general store selling supplies, foodstuffs, and even weapons. Run by the Yarbrough family.
Edvard's Sausages: A restaurant featuring large sausages served on buns with mustard, onions and peppers. Also known for its exotic alcoholic beverages like Yamato Sake and large Ekorosi wine selection. Run by an elf named Eldaron Silverleaf.
Garog's arms and armor: Half-orc Blacksmith Garog Garokson. Sells things that go smash and things to stop you from being smashed (as advertised).
The Desert Flame: An inn and tavern run by a fire genasi named Akilah Emberspark. Sells a unique liquor known as "fire water" thought to be able to jump-start a coal-burning engine and eat through the hull of a galleon.
Ranulf Tanner's Tanners and Sons Tannery: Makers of fine leather goods, clothing and armor.
The Sultry Musafir: A specialty shop selling herbs, spices, mind-altering substances, pipes, clothing, and literature from foreign lands. Their current best seller is The Tabaxi and the Lonely Sailors' Wife. Owned and operated by a rotund man from Al-Raheen named Malik Ibn Fadlan.
Eastgate Theatre Company: A theatre putting on plays, concerts and poetry recitals.

Garden District

The Garden district houses the estates of the city's wealthy, as well as the city government. Most of the city's greenery can be seen here in carefully planned gardens and parks. A hedge wall reinforced by iron fences surrounds the district to keep the common folk out.
Mayor's Estate and City Hall: The city mayor's home and meeting place for the city council. Also the administrative center of the city, housing the city registrar, parks and recreation, city planning and taxkeepers' offices.
Alden Family Estate: Home to the Alden family, one of the wealthiest families in the city and owners of the South Sea Shipping company.
Oinopoiós Compound: Headquarters of the Oinopoiós merchant family in Southport. Protected by a veritable army of sellswords and mercenaries.
The King's Crown: An upscale restaurant serving the finest dining in Southport and the most expensive Ekorosi wines and Elven whiskey.
King's Court Hotel: an upscale hotel frequented by foreign dignitaries, upper-class travelers and guests of the city's merchant elite.

Guild District

The Guild district holds the city's many guild houses and guildmasters' homes. Here craftsmen ply their trade and traders ply deals and schemes,
The Mages' guild: Home to the largest library outside the Arcanatorium, the mages' school and the mage's guild researchers and their labs and towers. Spell scrolls and rarer spell components may be purchased from the guild stores.
The Fighter's Guild: Home to the fighter's guild and a large arena where gladiators battle for fame and glory. Anyone can join the fighter's arena after paying a fee of 15 gold (for burial services).
The Crow's Nest: An assassin's guild built into an old wrecked ship. Home to the Black Crow guild. Its public facade is that of a sellsword company.
The Black Swan: A modest tavern frequented by guildsmen and the site of many a trade deal. Run by a tiefling woman from the east who goes by the same name as the tavern. Serves the best coffee in town.

Military District

The military district is home to the Sydonian Naval Academy and marine barracks. Here the soldiers train and remain vigilant between deployments out at sea.

Warehouse District and Docks

The warehouse district is lined with warehouses filled with trade goods and stock houses for the city's shops and guilds. The docks operate day and night, with dockworkers working in shifts throughout the day and night.
Marine shipyards: Shipyards dedicated to the Sydonian Navy shipyards.
Alden Shipyards: Shipyards run and operated by the South Sea Shipping Company.
Thunor's Net: a tavern frequented by dock and warehouse workers, shipwrights and riveters. Serves the "world serpent special," a plate of the day's catch served with chips and malt vinegar.
The Black Pearl: A cheap, raucous inn frequented by travelers and sailors on shore leave. Serves cheap, suspiciously strong liquor and ales as well as yesterday's catch served with hardtack biscuits.
Southport Lighthouse: Built on a rocky outcropping near the shore, the lighthouse is powered by magical crystallized moonlight and maintained by a 5th generation lighthouse keeper named Bernard Ward.

Maps

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  Southport

Government: City Council
Ruler: Mayor Uhtred Tanner
Size: Large City
Population: ~100,000
Economy: Trade, fishing, manufacturing
Races: Humans 44% Halflings 23% Gnomes 15% Dwarves 8% Elves 2% Other 8%