Clifton
Fishing village that is built veritcally into the southern cliffs of the Shara Steppes. Clifton is set above a small cove where fishing ships anchor. The tidal change is so great that the lower walkways are fully submerged during high tide. Ferries bring sailors and goods to and from ships anchored in the harbor and are kept suspended above the waters by massive chains while not in use. The boats looks similar to hanged men and give the entire village an eerie visage.
To outsiders, the village looks inhospitable with its eerie hanging boats and dangerous tides. The people here are incredibly hospitable and share stories as openly as names. Trade between Dolinde and Clifton keep it afloat. Clifton serves as the largest supplier of seafood to Dolinde and is well supplied with guards for that very reason. Most guards here were trained as Landsknechts and have either chosen to be stationed here, or were moved to Clifton to reinforce the guard's numbers. Locals also train under the guard to form a militia, and every sailor is a capable fighter, giving the village a small but strong navy.
Defences
A low wall surrounds the Highland district. Sharpened wooden stakes are set into burms just outside the walls for extra defense against creautes. A doubled gate can be shut and manned with archers if needed. There are archer towers at strategic points around the perimeter as well to offer coverage.
At the base of the Middle Ground district is the Keel Gate. A metal gate with spikes covering its entire outward facing side. Its set across the road just above the waterline to prevent invasions from amphibious creatures or to protect against pirates if need be. It is always manned and closed whenever there is no cargo being actively unloaded.
At the base of the Middle Ground district is the Keel Gate. A metal gate with spikes covering its entire outward facing side. Its set across the road just above the waterline to prevent invasions from amphibious creatures or to protect against pirates if need be. It is always manned and closed whenever there is no cargo being actively unloaded.
Industry & Trade
The biggest fishing industry in Tirpitz, Clifton supplies most of the fish and other sea goods to Dolinde. The sailors and fishermen who live here are proud of their honest trade and respect the Hunters of Jetsam as men worth their salt. The two towns' vessels occasionally spot eachother while near the border of the Sea of Sand. Hunting ships are able to cross onto normal waters, but a fishing vessel cannot cross into the Sand, or it will sink along with all of its crew.
Infrastructure
A large cargo lift runs from the bottom of Middle Ground up to the top of the cliffs to bring supplies up and down. Magical gears are used to hoist the incredibly heavy loads.
The roads leading from the bottom of the Bilge to Middle Ground have been reinforced using worked stone and wood sealed with fish oil to allow it to survive while submerged. They still need constant maintenance, but are functional for much longer because of the extra reinforcements. They are laid out in the same way as the rest of the roads above the waterline; a wide, textured road with stairs on either side. The middle is for carts and caravans, while the stairs allow people to comfortably traverse the frequently slippery surfaces.
The roads leading from the bottom of the Bilge to Middle Ground have been reinforced using worked stone and wood sealed with fish oil to allow it to survive while submerged. They still need constant maintenance, but are functional for much longer because of the extra reinforcements. They are laid out in the same way as the rest of the roads above the waterline; a wide, textured road with stairs on either side. The middle is for carts and caravans, while the stairs allow people to comfortably traverse the frequently slippery surfaces.
Districts
Highland
Sitting precariously above the rest of Clifton is the Highland. The village's market is here as well as its only inn, the Shelled Gullet. The Highland looks like a normal village until you realize that a third of the district is on a platform built over the edge of the Steppes' cliffs. Slanted passageways with steps built in either side lead down over the edge to the lower districts. Carts can be brought up along the slanted streets and the stairs built alongside make it easier to traverse the typically slippering roads.Middle Ground
Sitting below the Highland, but high enough to stay dry from the tides is the main body of Clifton, the Middle Ground. Sheltered from refuse dropped by the Highland with large slanted overhangs, the Middle Ground is a mix of the residential district as well as a warehouse district. Small shops for fishing gear and food are scattered through the covered walkways. Rope bridges connect smaller platforms while the main road down is a solid construction. The guard's barracks are here as well. The winches to raise and lower ferries jut out from the cliff in this district, wealthier families own their own ferries and have them accesible from their own houses or warehouses while public winches are operated from the marina located on the main road.The Bilge
The lowest district of Clifton, and the only one that requires constant maintenance due to being submerged frequently. No permanent buildings are located here, and all the roads and platforms are solid and smaller than the higher districts. The Bilge serves as the wharf when the tide runs out, the water drops low enough that it would be incredibly difficult to lift cargo in large quantities up to Middle Ground. Instead, the denizens of Clifton built stable, submergable docks to allow cargo to be put directly into carts, no matter what level the water is at. It is still preferable to unload cargo at high tide, since the distance to the Highland is shorter, but the amount of cargo transfered can take hours, and The Bilge becomes necessary during long operations.Guilds and Factions
There are two major guilds in Clifton; the Fisher's Guild and the Longshoreman's Guild.
The Fisher's Guild is where sailors can join crews, recieve their pay, and enforce laws of the Guild that must be obeyed by all who join. Any vessel not registered with the Fisher's Guild must pay heavy tariffs to use the city's infrastructure and offload cargo. Unregistered vessels also must pay for anchoring in the cove, or for ferryman services.
The Longshoreman's Guild operate and maintain the roads of Clifton as well as the Boat hangers, the lift, and the ferries. Most longshoremen are not built for sea life, but no sailor would dare to disrespect a member of this Guild. They schedule cargo lifts, and whether or not a ship is a priority, or an afterthought. Its been said that a ship once sat in the harbor with its entire crew aboard for 3 days before the longeshoremen came to offload any of them because its captain had thought he were better than the Guild last time he made port.
The Fisher's Guild is where sailors can join crews, recieve their pay, and enforce laws of the Guild that must be obeyed by all who join. Any vessel not registered with the Fisher's Guild must pay heavy tariffs to use the city's infrastructure and offload cargo. Unregistered vessels also must pay for anchoring in the cove, or for ferryman services.
The Longshoreman's Guild operate and maintain the roads of Clifton as well as the Boat hangers, the lift, and the ferries. Most longshoremen are not built for sea life, but no sailor would dare to disrespect a member of this Guild. They schedule cargo lifts, and whether or not a ship is a priority, or an afterthought. Its been said that a ship once sat in the harbor with its entire crew aboard for 3 days before the longeshoremen came to offload any of them because its captain had thought he were better than the Guild last time he made port.
Type
Village
Population
4,000
Inhabitant Demonym
Clifmen
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank
Characters in Location
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