Port Authority & Customs House
The Khezvaros Port Authority is a large domed octagonal building that dominates the area outside the imperial walls near the docks. In addition to housing the offices of the various imperial inspectors, tax collectors, and other functionaries responsible for enforcing imperial trade law, the building serves as a central hub for the city's maritime trade, offering a venue where trade deals are negotiated, ships are hired into service, and crews are recruited, often while the people involved are waiting for imperial officials to inspect cargo, assess tariffs, and otherwise find ways to separate honest mariners from their hard-earned gold.
Purpose / Function
In addition to housing the imperial offices related to harbor business, the port authority serves as the city's hub for maritime activity. Most of this activity takes place in the building's large central atrium, commonly known as "the floor." This large open area is ringed by vendors' stalls that specialize in items popular with and useful to sailors as well as coffee, sweets, and other portable food items that many sailors find irresistible after a long sea voyage. Further inward, the area is scattered with small tables where mariners can relax or conduct business. Circulating throughout the atrium are enterprising dock ward children who specialize in finding out what everyone there is looking for and connecting them with the people who can find it (with the expectation of a gratuity for their services from both parties).
Architecture
The exterior of the eight-sided port authority building is plastered, but pre-imperial bricks peek through in spots where the plaster has crumbled. Large open archways in the center of all eight walls provide entrance into the building. Inside, the enclosed section of the building where the offices are located also show clear signs of imperial materials and design elements covering up a much older structure. The atrium area is floored with cobblestone and topped with a ceiling of imperial concrete that holds up the dome.
History
When the Empire first arrived in Khezvaros, the building that later became the Port Authority was a temple to Nuvizi Goddess of Sea. The temple operated more or less as an inn, with acolytes of Nuvizi providing room and board for sailors in exchange for donations to the goddess. The central courtyard, which before the imperial renovations was uncobbled and open to the sky, served much the same purpose as it does today when it was not being used for religious rites to the goddess.
As worship of The Old Gods waned, the remaining priests found it increasing difficult to keep the peace among visiting sailors with little respect for the sanctity of the place. Over time, the temple fell into disrepair and increasingly grew to resemble a rough dockside flophouse more than a great temple of the Queen of the Waves. One night, a gang of criminals who frequented the temple brutally tortured and murdered the remaining priests and claimed the building as the new headquarters for their pirates' brotherhood. After a few weeks, the empire moved in to oust the ruffians and take control of the building.
In 888, the building was extensively remodelled for its current use under the direction of famed imperial architect Libo Kolar. During the reconstruction, the building briefly became the site of the The Fishmonger Rebellion.
Alternative Names
Imperial Harbor Master's Office
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
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