As glamorous as it is infamous, nearly everyone in the kingdom has heard of this gilded city on the southern coast, and most hold a strong opinion of it--one way or another.
A lawless city of thieves, or a haven of radical social acceptance? A beautiful and misunderstood hub of culture, or a gilded edifice to wealth? Whatever thoughts a visitor might have about this city, a guide is necessary, as one fact that all can agree on about Lockhinge is that it is like nowhere else in the kingdom!
Welcome!
Whatever the reason for your visit to Lockhinge, the authors of this guide wish only for you to have the best experience possible, see the various facets of the city for what they truly are, and feel confident in your navigation of its nuances.
Overview
Perhaps Lockhinge is a stopping point on the way to Liyda, another prominent destination on the Southern coast, or even a last-minute addition to a plan to just "get away from it all." There are many situations in which visitors might arrive in Lockhinge without much knowledge of the city at all, and for that we offer a brief overview before getting into the practical guide.
Lockhinge has acquired most of its nicknames (the King's Lockbox, the Golden City, etc.) because of its status as one of the wealthiest cities in the kingdom and role as a major hub of commerce second only to Sren's Port itself. All routes of trade and travel pass through Lockhinge via a combination of the southern rivers and seas. This is an important bottleneck. Restricted overland travel means that Lockhinge is the gatekeeper both in and out of the country. Lockhinge's stamp of approval is needed to prove that any given cargo and extended travel is legitimate. While some might see this as an opportunity for rife corruption, it can at least be said that Lockhinge takes its role and reputation seriously in stopping egregious abuses such as the illegal trafficking of living cargo. If there are indeed any blackmarket dealings, the competition would be so steep and the consequences so great, that only the most well-connected and well-funded of ventures would be allowed to stand. However, no convincing evidence of such dealings has ever been asserted.
Aside from its identity as a majot trade hub, another important point to understand is its unique history and system of laws. While Lockhinge--like all kingdom-sanctioned settlements--is beholden to the major kingdom laws, they are also allowed to shape their citywide laws as they so choose. Most other cities have this right ar well, but their laws are so closely aligned with the rest of the kingdom that it's often hard to notice when there are any differences. Lockhinge is another matter. The city's exact history is rather mysterious, but it is at least well known that it became known as a refuge for harried Tieflings and is now one of the only places where they can have a cohesive culture, and other species that we consider to be nonstandard in the rest of the kingdom gather there as well--both those who have always lived in Greymantle (such as the Lizardfolk) and those who are more recent additions. It is true that this unique history has caused the culture and law structure of Lockhinge to be considerably different from the rest of the kingdom, but that doesn't mean that it is filled with the sort of lawless anarchy that some of the rumors claim it to be. With a little guidance, you will understand and be able to navigate the basics of Lockhinge law and ettiquete with ease.
Arriving in Lockhinge
More than likely, you will be arriving by either the river or the ocean, and though both options dock on opposite sides of the city, deboarding and processing is roughly the same in either case. All cargo, passengers, and accompanying creatures must be documented and registered to be cleared for entry into the city proper. Depending on the status of the sentient and non-sentient creatures involved, a trip to the census bureau might be stop number one.
Visitors are likely to be greeted immediately by various guides and welcoming committees, but beware! Unlike the guide you currently hold in your hands, many of the individuals and institutions vying for your attention upon entry into the city are not as scrupulous as they seem. Rely on recommendations from the dockmaster and trusted porters to know who is doing legitimate business.
Once this initial stage of your Lockhinge adventure has been completed, seeking out and securing lodging should be your very first order of business. Not only do you want to make absolutely sure that whatever lodging plans you might have will indeed go how you'd accounted for, and your belongings can be safely stored instead of carried around with you. With that taken care of, you're ready to hit the town!
Exploring
Whether visitors stay in the gilded opulence of the
Stone Quarter or venture through the streets laden with rustic charm in the rest of the city, there is no end to the sights and actvities to keep any visitor occupied -- though, the authors of this guide humbly insist that all visitors at least stroll through the
Floating Gardens before leaving town.
Etiquette and Safety
To ensure that visitors and locals alike share in positive experiences that are sure to make lasting memories, there are several points of etiquette and local law that visitors should keep in mind during their stay. If visitors want an even more in-depth explanation of Lockhinge cultural observances that what is described here, there are always pamphlets -- as well as wordier guides to both rent and purchase -- at reputable visitor centers near either the riverside or dockside ports.
Social Etiquette
Regardless of whatever rumors of cutthroat behavior and lawlessness that visitors may have heard before arriving in Lockhinge, we must stress that the most important tenant to keep in mind and follow during all interactions while exploring Lockhinge is that
all sentient beings are to be treated equally. Visitors from beyond Lockhinge bring in many preconceived notions about 'nonstandard' beings that are perpetuated in the rest of the kingdom, usually without even realizing it.
The tourism board advises all visitors to try talking first, assuming the sentience and understanding of the Common tongue in all creatures they meet until proven otherwise.
We understand that it is a difficult concept to notice and account for in ourselves, so we have provided a few example scenarios to begin prepping yourself for navigating the Lockhinge ideals.
A noble lord from Sren's Port is exploring the famous Lockhinge market. He's taking in a dizzying array of new and exotic sights, searching for treasures to return home with. He spots a merchant accompanied by two metallic, clockwork men at his elbow that are carrying bags of groceries. Delighted by the sight, he approaches the merchant, asks where he'd acquired such incredible inventions and if he would be willing to sell one of them.
- Can you spot the problem in this interaction? It turns out that the metal men were not inventions owned by the merchant, but were in fact a "Warforged" couple who were friends of the merchant, and had bumped into him on the way home from grocery shopping.
A scholar from the northern magical university visits Lockhinge with excitement, looking forward to meeting all of the species that she has limited contact with in the rest of the kingdom. At a local tavern, she finds herself seated next to a hobgoblin. Eagerly, she introduces herself and compliments him on the fine craftsmanship of the traditional talisman he's wearing, says that she has been fascinated reading about his people's history, and asks how long he has lived in the city and if had been a difficult adjustment from the nomadic ways of hobgoblin communities.
- While she is well-educated on peoples from societies other than her own, and it's always good to be sensitive to the differences between cultures, several errors have occurred in this scenario, even though it could be argued that they are "complimentary" ones. In this case, she doesn't realize the problem until the hobgoblin man is finally given the chance to speak up, letting her know that he is a third-generation resident of this city. He isn't even fluent in the language of his ancestors. He has worked at a bank for 15 years. The necklace he's wearing is one that his daughter made for him in school and is not a "traditional" anything.
A humanitarian from Kestramore is looking for a place to eat lunch in one of the most rustic neighborhoods of Lockhinge, when they see a man chase and try to corner a dog in an alley, furiously brandishing a stick over his head as he chases the animal. The animal-loving visitor yells at the man, chastizing and distracting the man while the dog is able to slip away and escape.
- What could possibly have been done wrong in this scenario? Dogs are one of the many species of animal that falls under Lockhinge's strict policies governing the owning of animals, and strong efforts are made within the city to keep populations of stray animals down. It is very unlikely to see a stray dog running freely through the Lockhinge streets. In this case, the dog was a sentient Awakened creature who had stolen the man's wallet, and the visitor's bleeding heart allowed the thief to escape. Even when it comes to animals, it is impossible to tell whether one may be Awakened or otherwise magically-imbued, an extraplanar creature assuming the form of an animal, or a Wildshaped druid, so it is better to assume sentience and be wrong than the other way around.
Rules
One of the steepest culture shocks that visitors run into in Lockhinge is the difference in the system of laws and rules. Many things that are considered crimes elsewhere are considered everyday occurrances in this city, which undoubtedly contributes to the impression that Lockhinge is a lawless city, but what isn't talked about enough is the fact that many things considered perfectly acceptable in the rest of the kingdom comes with strict rules and steep fines here. While it would take far more room than is provided in this guide to cover all of the differences -- and we do suggest picking up a primer if you intend to stay in Lockhinge for an extended period of time -- we will cover a few of the most common pitfalls that visitors run into.
The first example we will go over is the matter of thievery, and the second example will be the owning of an unregistered pet cat. To those who are accustomed to how things are done in the vast majority of the kingdom, the first instance may carry varying levels of punishment depending on the severity of the crime, but it is at least an identifiable crime, while the second instance isn't even a thing in most areas. In Lockhinge, the reverse is true.
The largest contributing factor to its reputation as a city run by thieves is the fact that one will be laughed at if they attempt to drum up legal action or even sympathy if they are stolen from. Much of Lockhinge "law" expects the enforcement to be handled by civilians and companies, and this is most true for "petty" crimes such as theivery. Citizens are expected to keep their belongings safe themselves, either by remaining savvy and competant enough themselves or by hiring security to do it for them. Sure, this system allows room for the system to be abused, but this can be said for every system of law, and at least this way, citizens are kept quite empowered. This not only makes for capable citizens, but also keeps thieves on their toes, as every attempt at crime comes with a much higher risk. Elsewhere in the kingdom, a criminal mostly has to worry about evading licensed law enforcement, and can manipulate the legal system relatively easy if they know how. In Lockhinge, not only is it technically legal to attempt to steal from someone, but it is also legal for said target to wound or even kill in defense of themselves and their belongings.
Not many tourists understand this difference in law structure, and cutpurses rely on this fact. So, do yourself a favor by keeping this in mind! Keep an eye on your belongings, and if you catch someone trying to take your things, instead of wasting time by attempting to call for city guard, prove your savviness by brandishing your blade. You'll likely prevent your things from being stolen, and you will send a clear message to any other small-time pickpockets in the vicinity who are looking for easy targets.
Shopping and Dining
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