Pontil, City of Jewels
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A bustling port city at the mouth of the river Athun, Pontil is the largest and most prosperous city in Olmir (though admittedly there's not a lot of competition). Deliberately unaligned with any major worldly power, the city is a safe haven for refugees or runaways from across the known world. Local businesses cater to traders, travelers, and adventurers of all varieties, and anyone is welcome as long as they don't stir up trouble within the city's walls.
A ship laden with jewels sails down the river Athun, its sailors long used to the weekly voyage but still wary of possible trouble from the dark wooded shore. Soon the wood fades to open fields, and a wave of relief washes over the crew as Pontil's familiar sapphire-topped walls and wrought iron gates fade into view, promising comfort, entertainment, and relief from the monster-infested wilderness. The ship is received with much fanfare by a bustling marketplace, the merchants as hungry for their cargo as the crew are for a hot meal and a good night's rest before the journey home.
A young gnome leaps onto the docks, nearly toppling his entire collection of books into the ocean. He hardly notices the crowd pushing around him as he cranes his neck to catch a glimpse of the azure spires of Cerulean Academy: even at this distance, it is a sight to behold. Windows span the full height of the dark stone towers, the stained glass panes adorned with arcane symbols that pulse faintly with silver light. Atop the highest tower rests an arcane observatory, fashioned of brass and bronze and many other materials impossible to identify, its massive lenses shining golden in the evening sun. Unable to wait a moment longer, the gnome takes off through the streets, eager to begin the years of study it will take to fully appreciate the beauty.
A tiefling leaves her past behind her in Atalia and sets foot on the soil of Olmir with trepidation and zeal, ready to seek her fortune under new skies. Vibrant banners and displays of fine jewelry, exotic spices, and curiosities of all kinds line the docks, but none of these catch her interest. Merchants call out to advertise their wares, entertainers and magicians sing and perform at each corner, beggars and conmen and other colorful sorts compete for her attention, but still she pays them no heed. There is only one kind of life for a person like her, and she intends to get to it with no delay. Soon the market is behind her, the wood turns to cobblestones which become rougher with every step, and the ostentatious storefronts fade to natural hues occasionally cut through with sparkling blue. She smiles when she catches the smell of stew and mead and the sound of half-drunken conversation. When she enters the tavern, the bartender calls out a greeting, and this time she pays full attention. "Welcome to the Sly Toad! If it's food or drink you're after, the menu's up here, or if you're looking for work the Bounty Board's on the back wall."
Demographics
The population is largely human and dwarven, but practically every race can be found somewhere in the city, and race has little bearing on status. There is a class divide along the river, with the noble elite tending to live on the north side and the working class on the south, though there is crossover here and there. Even among the elite, the families that have been in Pontil since near its founding tend to look down on those that immigrated or rose to prominence later.
Government
Pontil is essentially an oligarchy, officially run by a council of the heads of each noble family. When a new family rises to prominence, the head of household may request to join the council, and the current members will hold a private vote to determine whether to accept a new member. The people may petition the council, but whether the council takes any action is also determined by private vote. There is very little in the way of transparency, but the oligarchs style themselves as philanthropists, and they seem to be holding true to that image.
Within Pontil's walls, disturbers of the peace are dealt with harshly. A first or minor offense may only incur a fine, but a large enough disturbance will get a person barred from the city. Prison space is limited, so imprisonment is generally a temporary measure for those awaiting trial or execution. However, the guards only enforce the law within Pontil's walls. For criminals worth pursuing into the wilderness, either a bounty is placed on their head, or a group of mercenaries or adventurers is directly hired for their capture.
Industry & Trade
Founded initially as a port from which to export precious stones, Pontil has become a massive trade hub, a place to exchange goods from all around the world. It also features a booming tourism industry, a well-respected Academy, and of course accommodations for adventurers, explorers, and researchers of all kinds.
Guilds and Factions
The prominent factions are the governing noble council, the city guard, and the Cerulean Academy, but there are also a number of smaller merchants' and craftsmen's guilds.
History
Pontil was founded nearly a century ago, shortly after the discovery of Olmir. Adventurers have come in waves, with each generation realizing first that this unexplored land is anyone's for the taking, and subsequently that adventuring is dangerous and deadly and not always quite as lucrative as one might imagine. The Sly Toad has been the unofficial meeting place for adventurers since its founding, and it stands ready to serve this generation's adventurers as it has always done.
Architecture
Many of the older buildings in town are made of stone from the Athun mines, but newer structures are generally made of wood as efforts to clear the Graulen Wood continue. Natural wood and stone colors are hardly uncommon, but white walls and blue roofs are popular among those who care to decorate. Particularly affluent areas also feature precious stones, especially in shades of blue (sapphire, turquoise, aquamarine, etc.), as well as filigreed archways and columns. Official buildings are generally white and natural colors with few adornments aside from a central sapphire-blue glass window, and sapphire set into the sign or front doorway.
Geography
Pontil stands on a low-lying plain, bisected by the river Athun and bordering deep water suitable for ocean-faring vessels. The surrounding lands were once forest and marsh, but much has been cultivated into farmlands, and more land is cleared every year.
Natural Resources
While the city was founded for the sake of exporting gemstones from the mines, the surrounding farmland also produces both staple and "cash" crops and livestock, and there is a large supply of lumber from the Graulen Wood.
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