Thrantium Dockside

Origins of Thrantium Dockside

The docks of Thrantium mark the site of the original fishing village to the north east of which Thrantos decided to begin building his school of magic. Despite signs of settlement as early as c.790AVD, we can only definitively say that the fishing village existed in 12VD due to the risk of destruction in the dragon wars.
Thrantium dockside did not see the same immediate boom in fortunes as the city of Thrantium itself did and many of the inhabitants did not want to live near the intrusive guild, due to underlying superstitions, and so moved across the White Rush and founded Ferrytown in c.15VD. At this time, the docks would have been roughly comparable to the size of the Ferrytown docks, with little function beyond fishing and ferrying people across.
However, in 28VD the Dockside experienced its first real change in fortune, with the arrival of students from further abroad and the beginning of an international trade route coming through the city. While it benefited hugely, there was still a large social divide between the fishermen, traders and dock workers and the intellectuals of the city itself. Despite this, there was a great period of prosperity for the docks. Lots of this prosperity was then lost after 253VD and the Viserian civil war, as despite the defences of Thrantium being minimal at this point, the defences of the Dockside were none-existent. The damage done was not irreparable, but was extensive and the docks took longer to recover than the wealthy city, supported by the coffers of the Mage's guild.
To this day the Dockside of Thrantium is one of the busiest and largest in Viseria, rivalled only by Amonir. It still, despite this importance, houses the poorer of the city's inhabitants.

Administration

The Dockside is under the jurisdiction of the city council and the Count, despite being outside of the city walls. It is policed by the guards, but the captain of the guard is deputised by the Harbourmaster, who houses a large retinue of dockside guards in the compound that lies near the Merchants' wharf.
Situated next to the Harbourmaster's compound, the Merchants' wharf houses the private offices of the trading companies and entrepeneurs that ply their trade in Thrantium and represents the economic hub of the city. Although the Harbourmaster controls the tariffs and flow of commerce, as well as the checks, the Merchants are able to trade with a free market and competitive pricing. The majority of the north of the dockside is made up of large warehouses that store the huge amount of goods filtering through Thrantium before being sent all over Everon.

Buildings of Note

The Dockside temple lies in the centre of Thrantium Dockside. A fairly unassuming structure from the outside, with a square steeple and long nave, inside the Dockside temple are 9 separate shrines for various deities of Everon. Designed to house a place of worship for various peoples, travellers and traders from all over, the temple was originally a wooden hall built in c.32VD before being converted into a stone structure in 59VD and adding the steeple in 112VD.
The Harbourmaster's compound is a square keep, added after the Viserian civil war as part of the new and reinforced defences for the city of Thrantium. A large stone keep and enclosed courtyard, complete with Barbican and ballistae towers, it houses the Dockside guards and a small gaol.
Merchants' Wharf sits up from the Harbourmaster's compound, nearer to the city walls. Consisting of three floors of offices and headquarters, surrounding a large central courtyard where the main part of trade business is conducted in the city, the Wharf is an important and impressive building. With architectural marine motifs and a vibrant busy atmosphere, it often leaves a heavy impression on those who visit.
The Broken shield inn is a seedy inn that nonetheless provides a warm meal and comfortable bed to many travellers to the city that can't afford better.

In Our Story

(see Thrantium)