Westport
Westport is the second largest city in Wallacia, and the second of two Wallacian ports able to accommodate sea-going vessels. It is also the capital of the principality of Westland.
Defences
Long Island, Old Town and the harbor itself are protected by 20 foot tall, white-washed stone walls. The north and south entrances to the harbor can be blocked by chains stretched between towers on either side of the channel. In case an enemy fleet manages to force the chain barriers and make landfall at the docks, the walls around Old Town also have crenelations facing inward. 30 foot tall towers punctuate these stone walls. These areas are protected on three sides by deep water, Brigand's Bay to the east and the two small rivers which border Westport to the north and south. A single 30 foot tall gatehouse controls access to the New Town district in the west wall.
The west end of the city is known as New Town. It is protected by a 15 foot tall white-washed wall with scattered 20 foot tall towers. These border either rivers to the north and south, or a 30 foot wide shallow artificial canal to the west. Large 30 foot tall gatehouses contain drawbridges which span these water barriers.
The city prevents construction immediately across the water barriers in order to present clear fields of fire from the defensive walls. Only farmland or pastures is allowed there. Further from the walls locals have built homes and businesses, but these areas are not protected by any walls. However, in the past Westport has demonstrated the ability to fight open field battles to defend the Outer Wards from attack.
It is presumed that the local militia and regular forces have an ample supply of weapons such as ballista, catapults, and possibly magical siege weapons to attack any invading fleet or army. However, only a small number of weapons have been shown to outsiders during military exercises and the annual training days.
Since Long Island is Wallacia's main naval base, and the city houses the main barracks for Westland, there should be no shortage of ships or troops to defend both the city and the surrounding area. While the walls are not considered formidable by the standards of other kingdoms in the Known World, Wallacia considers them to be sufficient to delay any attacker long enough for the defenders to raise a relief force powerful enough to crush any foreign force able to travel here.
Industry & Trade
Although the principality of Westland produces an agricultural surplus, the majority of Westport's is trade in raw materials and manufactured goods from elsewhere. Many goods travel downriver from the rest of Wallacia for export to the both the Inner and Solaran Seas. In turn, many goods from both seas are imported from sea-going vessels, then re-shipped up river on keel boats and longships to the Wallacian hinterlands.
In addition, many merchant companies use both Westport and Blackrock as shipping hubs for trade between the Inner and Solaran Seas. A full round trip through the straits past Cape Storm, including the likely layover in Brigand's Bay waiting for a break weather, would tie up a ship for an extended period of time travelling, rather than selling. Instead, they could travel just as far as Wallacia during a break in the weather on their side, offload their cargo in port, then probably make it back to their home port before the weather turned. Then a ship from the other sea would come to Westport when the weather on their side of the strait was favorable, pick up the cargo, and dash back home while the weather was still fair.
Districts
Long Island
This rocky island runs roughly north-south just off the mainland, between the mouths of two small rivers. It contains multiple military barracks and docks for Wallacian navy. It also has multiple slipways for building and repairing ships and boats. At the southern end of the island, near an entrance channel to the harbor, is the Westport Lighthouse. This 70 foot tall tower it topped with a large beacon light to help ships find the harbor entrance at night, and avoid the rocks of the island.The Harbor
The Westport harbor lies between Long Island and the mainland. Access to the bay is via channels to the north and south, each between two towers connected to the main city walls. Each channel can be closed by raising a chain between these tower pairs. Although the harbor can accommodate some small and medium-sized sea-going vessels, it is not deep enough for the largest ships. These either dock at Blackrock, or anchor further into the bay and then shuttle their cargo to and from port via smaller ships and boats.Old Town/The Docks
The oldest civilian part of the city, Old Town is crowded with 3-4 story wooden buildings and narrow cobblestone streets leading down to the docks. Most of the buildings are warehouses and merchant shops. There are also ample inns, taverns and other establishments that cater to the transient population of sailors. Few, if any, private homes can be found here.New Town
Having much more space than Old Town, buildings in New Town are usually only 2-3 stories tall, with wider paved streets. There are even some open spaces for private gardens, livestock pens, wagon parks, etc. Most buildings have stone or brick outer walls, with tile or slate roofs for protection against fire. However, a few scattered wooden sheds, barns, or small homes still remain. New Town houses the majority of Westport's population and industry. There seems to be little rhyme or reason to how different types of buildings are scattered across New Town. Private homes, craft shops, stores, warehouses, inns, temples, barracks, etc. are mixed throughout the district. The only roughly homogeneous area is a predominantly dwarven neighborhood in the northwest corner, an area nicknamed "Little Rock" by Westport natives.Outer Wards
Although not protected by any city walls or moats, the city limits of Westport extend several miles beyond the walls. These areas are also patrolled by city soldiers. The land within accurate bowshot of the city walls are kept clear of any structure; instead, this acreage is given over to farming and pastures. Further out, the extra space provided by the lack of city walls means that houses are usually widely spaced. If a cluster of houses is seen, it often indicates that the current (or original) owners are part of the same family.History
When Wallacia was founded in Blackrock, the government hoped to attract trading vessels by offering Brigand's Bay as a safe anchorage from both the fierce weather around Cape Storm and from pirates. However, Blackrock's location in the far southeast corner of the bay did not provide ready access to patrol the western and northern shores.
As a result, pirates soon started basing themselves away from Blackrock to the north and west, tying off their vessels in small streams and inlets, or even pulling them up on the shore. To counter this, one of King Wallace's lieutenants took a detachment and set up a base camp on a small island in the northwest corner of the bay. Being on the island was felt to be more secure from wild animals and possible land attack by pirates. The island also provided ready access to seaborne patrols by ship, and a quick ferry ride to the shore allowed their calvary to search further inland.
The second patrol base helped to greatly reduce pirate activity. In addition, the close proximity of a military base on the island encouraged settlers to begin clearing ground on the mainland for farms and pastures. Soon a small village was growing on the site of the present-day Old Town. When King Wallace decided to allow his subordinates to claim land and form principalities under his kingdom, the new town of Westport was the logical place to build the capital of the new principality of Westland.
Geography
Westport is located at northwest shore of Brigand's Bay, a few miles south of the mouth of the Arle River. Nestled between two small rivers, and an artificial canal/moat joining those two rivers, the city is surrounded on all sides by water.
The Westport harbor is not deep enough for the largest sea-going ships, but can easily handle all smaller vessels. These include a large number of river craft and barges which traveled down the Arle River to trade their goods with sea-going tradesmen.
The mainland terrain is a mixture of flatland and low rolling hills. Deep fertile soil here makes for productive farming and grazing. This means that the Westport area produces a surplus of agricultural goods.
Climate
Westport enjoys a mostly temperate climate. However, the wide bay provides only a little interference to the rare storm squalls and high waves sent north from Cape Storm. Likewise, the Arle River valley provides the only gap in the southern mountain range, so winter storms from the north sometimes blow through with great energy.
Type
City
Owning Organization
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