Premcercle
The town of Premcercle is a very young community as a large town, only recently having begun to swell in size. Originally just a minor stopping point for overland trade with the Kingdom of Losana, it was thought that it would be abandoned upon the reopening of trade along the Sypi River. This was not the case, as the revitalized House Theriot took over full operations, and turned it into a luxury resort town to rival Pirater la Saleté. Furthermore, trade continued from overland sources as a growing number of lizardfolk arrived from the west, settling in the city and offering trade with a previous hidden kingdom in the swamp lands, bringing strange artworks and new wealth to the Theriots.
Government
Premcercle is controlled fully by the business interests of House Theriot. They own the town completely, and everyone within is either a customer or employee of the house. Administration for the operations in the town therefore are done at the behest of Commandant Bruno Cormier, who has been appointed by Magdalena Theriot herself to handle affairs in the city. He receives reports from the managers and various heads of each hotel, casino, or other business in town who report to his office all profits and events of notice. Through the middle management, Cormier is given direct control, and he is well known to step in and handle things personally when events go awry.
Defences
The town of Premcercle has never come under attack throughout its relatively short history, and this is widely due to its isolated location and complete lack of valuable natural resources. The swamps around it prevent armies from marching overland, and the fortifications and fleet of Riveraineville prevent assault from the sea. Therefore there are no walls or fortifications within the city itself, although the Theriot Palace could easily act as a stronghold due to its great size and construction. Order is kept in the town by a group of around two hundred House Theriot mercenaries and many of the distinguished guests to the town bring their own escorts and forces. Whenever violence breaks out in the city, the mercenaries crack down hard upon any violators of the peace and tranquility.
Industry & Trade
The only industry of any note in Premcercle is the tourism trade. Tourists from across the Circle Sea come to Premcercle for relaxation and diversions of all types. Essentially everyone in the town is employed directly by House Theriot for whatever entertainment specialty they may have. A handful of fishing and rice farming take place around the city, but only for the local workers to consume, as the guests typically receive luxury foods imported from across the world. The city relies heavily upon imports from the markets of Riveraineville.
Infrastructure
Similar to its parent city of Riveraineville, Premcercle is built on top of slightly raised land overlooking the surrounding bayou. Unlike in Riveraineville, there is not enough dry land to go around, and so substantial efforts have been put into building the supports and wooden foundations required to literally keep the town afloat. Sidewalks and roads alike made of wooden platforms provide the support for the town and clean areas for people to walk upon from place to place. There is a muddy road that heads west out of town, but for most, access to the city comes from the ferry and shipping port that connects to Riveraineville.
Assets
The town of Premcercle is home to a large amount of luxury stores, restaurants, and hotels, far outpacing any similar amount of diversions for the lower classes. All of these businesses operate through the permission of House Theriot, and the majority of their profits make its way to them. Built primarily out of wood, but with lavishly designed and maintained interiors, some of which are magical in nature, the hotels and casinos of Premcercle offer great diversion, and items from across the world can be found for sale in the specialist shops throughout town. Many of these businesses have moved from the marketplaces at Riveraineville in order to build a protected and more elaborate shop here. The primary resort location that outshines all others however is the Theriot Palace Hotel and Casino. This magnificent building is the only stone and marble structure in Premcercle, and boasts entertainment, lodgings, and foodstuffs of great delight. With a staff of over five hundred people, it is the largest employer in the town, and every customer receives personalized care and treatment. It also act as the administrative center and capital of the town.
Guilds and Factions
House Theriot is the only faction and political organization within Premcercle. Despite the name and its status as the noble house of the Riveraineville, It encompasses far more than just the government functions of the community. The House has a number of associated families and members which each jockey for position underneath the Princess Mayor. Families are given responsibilities and administrative purposes throughout the town, some controlling fishing trade, while others are involved in the bureaucracy or administration. House Theriot is a constant source of work for the people of Premcercle, and for adventurers, but the saying goes that when you join the House Theriot, you can leave only in a casket.
History
Originally known as First Circle, the town was originally not much more than a glorified warehouse and encampment along the Sypi River. At the time, ships going upriver of the Sypi River from Riveraineville would never return and nor would their crews, apparently devoured by whatever mysterious dangers rested there. Goods and people would stop at First Circle after coming across the Circle Sea, and then organize caravans to go overland through the bayou to Styx further northwest. At Styx they would take a ferry across to Port Cotebrule, and into the Kingdom of Losana. It was a highly inefficient way to trade with Losana, and most instead chose to take an overland route across the Kingdom of Forard. Although slower for imperial merchants, it did have the advantage of being much safer than dealing with the Losanan bayou.
Then, in 1020, a band of adventurers managed to breach the veil of enigma over the Sypi passage. They revealed to the leaders of Riveraineville that the river was choked with great webs, and a race of spider-like creatures capable of using weapons and magic. Scrying confirmed these claims, which led to the Battle of Spider Bend in 1021, as the forces of Riveraineville, Losana, and the Church of the One Sun unified and defeated the spider creatures. The Sypi River was opened for full trade between Losana and the sea, although the spiders remain a persistent threat to this day. In 1022, First Circle was abandoned, and the warehouse allowed to decay.
In 1024, Magdalena Theriot and her fiancee returned to the site and with a few crew, began excavations to restore it. Few had any idea of the plans they had for the region. After furious construction and a determined effort, the final building of the Theriot Palace Hotel and Casino was completed in 1027, along with the support infrastructure required for its operation. The town of Premcercle was dedicated, and the waves of tourists and revelers began flowing in. Since the opening of the town, it has thrived, and multiple new hotels and businesses have been opened within its boundaries, as a safe and entertaining location for the wealthy of the Circle Sea.
Architecture
The majority of the buildings in Premcercle are built of wood, harvested locally, although the fancier businesses and hotels have hardwoods brought in all the way from the Kingdom of Bamard. Although great efforts are persistently made to keep the boardwalks clear of growth, workers are needed daily to maintain the grounds and region from the swamplife that constantly threaten to overtake the town. Only the Theriot Palace Hotel and Casino stands out from these efforts as a massive stone edifice that stands above all other structures in the region at a massive seven stories in height. It is beautifully adorned and colored with a gabled roof that shines out as a beacon. It is made even more prominent by the lighthouse tower at the top which shines out as a beacon and can even be seen from Riveraineville.
Geography
The town of Premcercle is built along a natural bend in the Sypi River. The harbor itself is the center of the town, and combined with the hotels and shops makes up the center district. This area is where the most boardwalks and roads have been constructed, allowing easy transportation and passage through the swamps that engulf the town. The exterior portion of the town consists of more narrow walkways and the residences of the workers who make up the service personnel of the various entertainments within the leisure parts of Premcercle.
Natural Resources
Premcercle has no real natural resources of any note, consisting only of a few small rice farms along the periphery of the town and some independent coastal fishermen. They serve only the local townspeople and sell them the day to day food supply that they need to keep going. Some money has also been made by adventurers and hunters killing animals in the swamps surrounding the town, and trading their exotic hides and skins to tourists seeking strange wonders. The true wealth of the town is still in the entertainment industry, and very little efforts have been made to survey for any further resources.
Alternative Name(s)
First Circle
Type
Town
Population
4800
Related Ethnicities
Inhabitant Demonym
Precerclan
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
~2,500 Lizardfolk
~2,000 Various Humans
~300 Various Other Races
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