Port Hawe

Breon    Places    Major Settlements      Port Hawe

Port Hawe caters to sailors crossing the Quarric Ocean, offering a haven of indulgence far removed from the trade-driven bustle of towns like Handryf. Founded as a stopover for sea-weary crews, the town quickly gained a reputation for vice, with hearty food, potent drink, gambling, and brothels defining its economy. Controlled by four powerful families, the town is rife with opportunities for both indulgence and exploitation, as unwary sailors are often relieved of their coin. Locals either profit from the chaos or succumb to poverty, with few of the town’s original residents remaining.

Government

Hawe is ostensibly controlled a small council but its worst kept secret is the four powerful families who make the real decisions. The Yamazaki, Narayana, Arkona, and Kalyani families have their hands in nearly every aspect of Hawe's operation as well as its businesses. Few coins are spent or drops of blood spilled without one of the families knowing.
The Yamazaki Family controls the western hills and farmlands, overseeing agriculture and landbound trade in and out of the city.
The Narayana Family governs the city's political heart in the Jade Spire, leveraging favors, high-class brothels, and rare imports to maintain their influence and keep the peace among the other families.
The Arkona Family dominates the Northern Edge and its docks and corner the local blackpowder market placing strain on the tenuous balance in the city.
The Kalyani family presides over the Lantern District in the south and organizes most of the cities festivals and celebrations.

Districts

The city is loosely divided up into four districts:

• Jade Spire - the cultural heart of the city, away from the docks and straddling the river.
• Northern Edge - Industrial and comercial areas of the northern docks.
• Rising Slopes - farmland and hills stretching far out to the West.
• Latern District - a sprawl of inns, vice dens, brothels, and gambling halls.

Guilds and Factions

The Yamazaki Family, the oldest in Port Hawe, controls the western hills and farmlands, providing the city with agricultural resources and overseeing landbound trade routes. Their disciplined warriors uphold the family’s code of honor and often serve as mercenaries, hired to enforce agreements or provide protection across the city. Though respected for their strength and fairness, they are staunch rivals of the ambitious Arkona Family and hold little love for the indulgent vices championed by others.
The Narayana Family holds sway over the political heart of the city from the Jade Spire, where they act as peacekeepers and mediators, skillfully navigating the rivalries and disputes between the other families. They operate several high-class establishments of vice catering to the city’s elite, gaining influence through their connections with powerful patrons. While admired by the upper class as paragons of sophistication, their calm demeanor and hidden agendas make them a source of quiet unease for those who suspect deeper machinations at play.
The Arkona Family, relative newcomers to Port Hawe, carved out control of the Northern Edge and its docks through violence, intimidation, and their mastery of firearms and blackpowder trade. Ruthless and ambitious, they have introduced modern weaponry and fireworks to the city while expanding their reach through racketeering and protection schemes. Feared by most and tolerated by few, the Arkonas are at constant odds with the Yamazaki Family while frustrating the Narayana with their brash and reckless approach to power.
The Kalyani family presides over the Lantern District in the southern part of the city, controlling gambling dens, festivals, and the many vices that bring life to Port Hawe’s streets. While they cater to sailors and common folk, their wealth and influence rival that of the other families, though much of it is tied to their extravagant enterprises. Known for their charm and luck, the Kalyani are viewed as symbols of indulgence and fortune, even as their internal leadership struggles threaten to stagnate their ambitions.

Architecture

Much of Port Hawe's appeal is the foreign Vudran environment and architecture. As such, even the meanest gambling den or inn has a flair of classical Vudran style. Many of the buildings in the Gold Spire District resemble temples or mansions of ancient Vudra with modern techniques interwoven. Touches of Dwarvish architecture show the impact of New Loistavas even so far across the sea. Further westward into the Rising Slopes the arcitecure becomes more rustic and dated with many of the farmhouses and vineyards dating back hundreds of years.

Port Hawe Goods Scored

Commodities: 2
Livestock: 1
Exotic: 3
Luxury: 5
Technoarcana: 2

Alternative Name(s)

Port Vice, Rakuya, Corsair's Rest