Venator Fortuna

"Nothing but torn cards, fish scales and drunks are discarded from Fortuna." ~Common saying in Venator Fortuna.

Sitting next to Tyche Lake, Venator Fortuna a city in the Western end of the Venatorian Empire. Known for its fishing industry, casinos and underwater deposits of gold, Venator Fortuna is growing in size and economic importance.
To some it is a city of sin and vice, and to others it is a city with less oppression from the Venatorian Empire. Both of these statements are accurate descriptions of Venator Fortuna.

Demographics

There are many impoverished civilians living in Venator Fortuna, with many choosing to find work in the fish farms of the city. Some were always in this unfortunate state, while others gambled away their riches. Thankfully, the Venatorian Government ensures that they do not do hungry.
The richer citizens of the city earned their wealth by either finding large gold deposits within Tyche Lake, or by extreme luck at the casinos. These wealthier civilians typically own large flats within the city.

Government

Venator Fortuna is ruled by Procurator Antony Quintus on behalf of his Emperor, Vigilo Angelius. Antony Quintus is known for living a lifestyle of debauchery and indulgence, however, he does have a keen mind for economics, which is what allowed him to rise to his current station. It was Quintus who convinced Vigilo to legalize gambling in Venator Fortuna, a decision that enriched the Venatorian Treasury to levels it had never seen before.
Venator Fortuna is the only city in the entirety of the Venatorian Empire that has legalized gambling. Each casino must give one third of its profits to the Venatorian Empire in order for it to be considered an official business. The casinos still earn large amounts of money, and the Venatorian Empire becomes richer by the minute.

Defences

Venatorian Dire Wolfhounds roam the city with their handlers, and are capable of tearing apart anyone who disturbs the peace.
Legionnaires patrol the city in pairs, ever vigilant for anything suspicious. That being said, many consider having a post at Venator Fortuna to be an early retirement, due to the low rate of crime in the lakeside city.
Velites are located in watchtowers strategically placed throughout Venator Fortuna, ensuring that they can fire at any dangers within the city, often with deadly accuracy.

Industry & Trade

The fish farms of Venator Fortuna are the largest in the Empire, and over one third of the fish consumed within Venatorian territory was produced in Venator Fortuna. Not only do the fish farms create large amounts of food, but from oysters they produce pearls and from sea snails they can fabricate purple dye, one of the rarest and most valuable liquids in Eregoost.
Within Tyche Lake there are large deposits of gold. Unfortunately, the lake is massive and more than a kilometer deep, so obtaining this gold safely can be difficult. Some lake nymphs that have been urbanised have become quite wealthy by using their ability to breath underwater to mine large chunks of gold without fearing for their lives.
A small number of the residents of Venator Fortuna work at the various casinos found throughout the city. They find work there as greeters, card dealers, bartenders, and accountants.

Tourism

Many visitors throughout the Venatorian Empire go to Venator Fortuna in order to experience the thrill of gambling. Venator Fortuna is the one city within the entire Empire where gambling is not illegal.

Architecture

Most of the buildings in Venator Fortuna are made from obsidian bricks, giving the city a striking, dark appearance. The outer walls of the city are made from white marble, contrasting greatly with the buildings inside. Because of the rather repetitive design of the buildings of Venator Fortuna, many have painted complex designs into the outside walls of their homes, ranging from depictions of myths and legends, to detailed images of beasts and natural landscapes.

Founding Date

969

Type

City

Population

30,000

Ruling/Owning Rank

Procurator

Owning Organization

Venatorian Empire