Riveraineville
The city of Riveraineville is a recently independent city that obtained its independence from the Kingdom of Losana via a violent revolution and ensuing treaty. The Princess Mayor, Magdalena Theriot, is incredibly popular among the population for her handling of the crisis, and she appears a well suited and able leader. Under her leadership, the population and prosperity of Riveraineville has thrived, and the city is clearly entering into a boom of wealth and international influence.
Government
The city of Riveraineville is administered through the corporate business system of House Theriot. Previously the city had been run by the associated Houses Pourier and Matherne, but the last heirs to these houses were killed during the recent revolution. House Theriot now administers the entire city on its own, and most of the bureaucratic needs of the community and day to day administration is conducted through other private houses and businesses charted by House Theriot.
Defences
The marshy lands surrounding Riveraineville are the city's greatest defense. The nature of the ground makes it incredibly difficult to land large armies and formations anywhere that isn't the actual docks of the city. Attempts to invade by land have typically bogged down and been easily dispatched by combined efforts of the natural hazards of the swamps and the city guards. The docks themselves are protected by a series of heavily armed towers with the best siege weapons available for purchase, enabling the city to easily defend itself against a direct attack.
Technically, Riveraineville is vulnerable to blockades, and to counteract this, House Theriot employs their own military fleet. Ramshackle in appearance, the Theriot fleet is one of the most experienced battle fleets in Emicara, and while small, is a skilled force at raiding and blockade running. Theriot's fireships are often used to break any attempts at blockades that are created. Land defenses are supplemented by a host of mercenaries forces, all employed by House Theriot.
The mercenaries make up the bulk of Riveraineville's offensive forces, but the city's defense mostly remains under the city guard. They are an independent, self-financing, organization that despite appearances, has no direct loyalty to House Theriot. They have remained in function for centuries, and hold a proud tradition of protecting the city and enforcing its laws. This often puts them at odds with House Theriot, but the professionalism and expertise of the city guard are what mans the dock towers and keeps order in the city, among the people. They also can be charged with calling up a militia should one be required for defense against a determined threat.
Industry & Trade
Riveraineville lacks any inherit major industries or production of its own. Its key location at the end of the Sypi River and ties with the other major ports along the Circle Sea have enabled it to thrive almost solely upon the wealth generated by trade and commerce. The markets of Riveraineville are famed for the wealth that flows through them, and smuggling is a growing concern too. The taxes of the trade and banking in the city is what helps keep House Theriot afloat, and through their wealth, they finance the rest of the city's prosperity.
Infrastructure
The city of Riveraineville sits atop a volatile marsh, and is frequently victim to large storms and hurricanes. In order to combat this, the city has been widely built up on an artificial hill, overlooking the docks. This has helped prevent flooding and other catastrophes from wiping the town out. Newer portions of the city instead rely upon stilted homes and elevated walkways to prevent flooding and disaster, but are more vulnerable to storms. The docks themselves are a wonder, and are the only known floating docks in Emicara, rising and lowering with the constantly changing tides and water heights of the Sypi River delta.
Assets
The city of Riveraineville boasts one of the most lucrative markets and trading centers in Emicara. Nearly anything that can be bought or sold within the continent can be found here. There are two prominent markets where these items can be bought from a horde of vendors. The first is the so-called Soul Market, in which legend claims an early ruler of Riveraineville sold his soul to a devil for the city's prosperity. Whether or not this legend is true, the Soul Market is the location where unique and expensive items can be found for discerning buyers from all over. Discretion is the name of the game of the Soul Market, and many rare items can be found available for sale.
The River Market is less exciting in both name and merchandise. This is where large quantities of goods from suppliers further up the Sypi River can be found, and is the main center of distribution for all major Losanan businesses and organizations. Foodstuffs, lumber, mined goods, and salvage from up the Sypi River can all be sold here. Other supplies are brought in from overseas for sale up the Sypi River, some of them eventually finding their ways all the way north to Alsona or even Valtkos Wingo.
Over the past ten years, Riveraineville has also become home to no less than four high elf banking houses. Attracted by the low taxes and minimal government interference, the high elves have found Riveraineville's leadership incredibly accommodating. Therefore, while most have retained their homes in the Imperial City, Riveraineville has instead become their business headquarters. Therefore adventurers and merchants can find access to their wealth in the accounts of these banks, even here. This has provided a firm foundation of hard currency for the leadership and people of Riveraineville.
Guilds and Factions
House Theriot is by far the most well known faction and political organization within the city of Riveraineville. Despite the name and its status as the noble house of the city, 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 city, 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 the city, and for adventurers, but the saying goes that when you join the House Theriot, you can leave only in a casket.
The Church of the One Sun is the monotheistic faith of the Civilized Lands of the east. Prior to the Revolution, they were a dominant political force propped up by the Kingdom of Losana and its governor. They were a constant enemy of House Theriot and backed Houses Matherne and Pourier instead. In the wake of the Revolution, the Church of the One Sun was greatly reduced, but they continue to be active today. Despite the loss of status, they are essentially the only source of magical healing in Riveraineville, and many come to them (quite covertly) for services in that respect to heal or revive their lost loved ones. They remain a known opponent to House Theriot, but these days are not as overtly active against them.
The city of Riveraineville is home to the largest collection of embassies in Emicara. This is because, as a trading city dissociated with any of the major powers, it is an ideal neutral meeting place. Espionage between the great powers and nations are a constant here, and it is the site of the only embassies of the Shin Empire and Kingdom of Populres. Due to the constant intrigues, the struggle between powers and the great game that ensues is a constant source of work for adventuring parties looking to curry favor with any of the major powers.
The Kingdom of Losana is the final major player in Riveraineville. Having lost control of the city in the Revolution, they have been playing a long game to try to win it back. The Kingdom of Losana spends a substantial amount of resources to keep the Sypi River open for trade, defending the river lanes from the constant attacks of the spiders, clearing the waters of both hostiles and their webbing. They still offer considerable employment for local adventurers, but dealing with the Kingdom of Losana is the best way to draw the constant vigilance and attention of House Theriot.
History
There are two distinct periods in Riveraineville's recent history, before and after the Revolution. Prior to the Revolution, Riveraineville originally was founded as a safe refuge for sailors along the Circle Sea. With the Sypi River impassable at the time, it became a good stopping point for those who wanted trade with the fledgling kingdom of Losana. In time, as Losana grew, so did Riveraineville. Riveraineville became an obvious access point into Losana itself, and it was used as part of the staging post for the conquest of Losana by the Jakonian Empire in 267. The Jakonians ruled the city directly for hundreds of years, during which time the city's fates suffered, and the city began to decline and fall into great disrepair. Most trade was instead taking place along Jakonian built roads, rather than by sea. When the Jakonian Empire began to collapse after their defeat at the Battle of Conecuh Lake, the Kingdom of Losana was the first to be given its independence, as part of the treaty signed between the Jakonian and Shin Empires. Riveraineville was assigned as part of the Kingdom.
Three major families grew to control trade and shipping within Riveraineville: Theriot, Pourier, and Matherne. The families were constantly at odds with each other, and this was exploited first by the Jakonians and then later by the Losanans. Towards the beginning of the 11th century, however, the Losanans became distracted by border disputes with Forard and a growing civil war within the Sypi Confederacy. Direct rule over Riveraineville declined and the three families were allowed more control over affairs in the city. Power tilted towards the locals, and this did not go unnoticed by the Losanan kings.
Working together with the Church of the One Sun, the king of Losana in 1020 decided to finally reopen the direct shipping lanes along the Sypi River, providing a direct, non-overland route between Riveraineville and the rest of the Kingdom of Losana. Billed as a crusade against evil, crusaders from Jakonia bolstered the ranks of the Losanan armies as they prepared for an advance north. Fleets of all three houses were mustered, along with a large host of mercenaries and adventurers, all promised vast rewards by the Church and Losana. The resulting Battle of Spider Bend was fought between these forces and a surprising host of infested smaller ships run by spider-like creatures. During the course of the battle, as the tide was finally turned against the spiders, the main Church warship and the flagships of Houses Pourier and Matherne were destroyed in a volatile explosion. While House Theriot was never directly blamed, they definitely benefited from the chaos that emerged.
The main forces of Losana and the Church were involved in a brutal struggle to maintain a fort to keep open the Sypi River, leaving their interests in Riveraineville undefended. The governor of Riveraineville attempted to preserve order in the city, particularly with the decapitation of Houses Matherne and Pourier, but these attempts at martial law only exacerbated the situation. Starting in Old Town and Lizardtown, a rebellion began, as the Losanan guards were eventually overwhelmed by the rioters. The rebels secured some core sectors of the town, but the guards barely maintained control over the docks. With the mediation of a band of adventurers, a peace treaty was brokered, and the soldiers withdrew from the city. This was formalized in an official treaty between House Theriot and the Kingdom of Losana, granting the Free City of Riveraineville its independence.
Architecture
The center of the city is built of stone, using the landscaped foundations of the hill to provide a firm base for the structures. Stone construction is considered mandatory for the older homes, as otherwise a harsh hurricane is likely to destroy them. Outside of the city center, many homes are built of local woods, and are simple in nature. Poorer people and lizardfolk accept that any such structures must be temporary, in order to assist in a quick and easy reconstruction when destroyed by nature.
Geography
Riveraineville is built among the swampy delta of the Sypi River. Nearby to the ocean, the city is said to be constantly sinking into the depths of the swamp. Only the extensive land engineering done by the city's founders have enabled it to survive in this harsh territory. Due to the landscape changes, the city offers an overlook above the surrounding marshes, and from the heights of the city you can see in miles in all directions due to the low and flat terrain of the marshlands.
Natural Resources
There are few natural resources in the area surrounding Riveraineville, being built upon a marsh. The local population does grow a large amount of rice in the fields around the city and several herds of cattle in the few grassy areas of the marsh. The fisheries along the river mostly provide the meat to the lizardfolk in the city, and there is very rarely enough for export. Tapped oil from beneath the seas is also sold in the port here, but it is a limited business as only a handful of niche industries in Jakonian require this oil for their products. Otherwise, nearly all products produced in Riveraineville are used by its own population.
Maps
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Riveraineville
This is a map detailing the layout of the capital of the Free City of Riveraineville.
Type
Large city
Population
72,000
Inhabitant Demonym
Riverainevillan
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
~43,000 Losanan Humans
~19,000 Lizardfolk
~4,200 Halfbreeds
~2,800 High Elves
~3,000 Various Other Races
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