Newhope

Two men brawling in the middle of the main street, puddles of wine or blood at the corners, vendors offering illegal concoctions in dark alleys, guards beating drunken halflings just for the sake of it, buildings rising in two days and collapsing on the third day... This is Newhope, the first settlement in the land of opportunities, and one of the most dangerous. Though the Protectorate acts from here, its laws are rarely applied, while the guards do what they can to maintain the order, mostly through violence. It truly is a place full of opportunities, though rarely safe or legal ones. Nonetheless, the main organizations from Sunerda have their base of operations here, like the Explorers' Guild, the Merchants' Guild and even the dreaded Silent Blades.

Demographics

Newhope is a mixture of nearly every race found in the main continent, since during the Long Winter divisions between races stopped to exist. So it counts many humans, dwarves, elfs, halfelfs, halflings, gnomes, tieflings and even halforcs. Dragonborns have no interest in coming here, while there are small numbers of indigenous intelligent races, namely Tabaxi and Tritons as well as some Lizardfolk and Goliaths.

Government

The Protectorate runs the city, though its powers and authority are limited, since the settlement became a place for criminals and many of them don't like being told what to do. Taxation exists only for commercial activities and most of them happen in the dark, where illegal stuff is sold. Even though laws are not very well received, they still exist and are severe.

Defences

Aside from the palisade, the city does not have any other means of defense, though the Protectorate is located in the only stone building of the city, a castle.

Industry & Trade

Though the colonization is not proceeding well, resources are still extracted from the vicinities of Newhope, and they keep the city from collapsing. Countries in the main continent don't receive much wealth from the colony but what Newhope manages to obtain from Kontonyus at least helps it survive. But the Protectorate aims to the real treasures of the island, rumored to hide far from the known parts of it.

Infrastructure

The city is comprised of a big port on the south, the city centre in the middle and cultivated fields all around. The fields are then surrounded by a wooden palisade to defend against the dangerous monsters and creatures that dwell and roam everywhere on Kontonyus.

Guilds and Factions

The Protectorate: it runs the city and represents the two countries and three city-states that agreed on dividing the resources of Kontonyus.
The Merchants' Guild: formally, it possesses most of the wealth in Newhope and maintains trade agreements with the main continent while obeying to the Protectorate's orders. Actually, who possesses the money runs the city and Newhope makes no difference.
The Explorers' Guild: technically, it should gather the best adventurers of the world and organize expeditions to slowly discover new parts of Kontonyus, practically it failed its mission long ago and now it's nearly abandoned.
The Silent Blades: it's just a rumour but it is said that this infamous guild of assassins have found its way to Kontonyus for unknown reasons.

History

Building the palisade was the only important event to ever occur to Newhope, as it is remembered as the first day of full sleep every settler could achieve since their arrival, since before that day monsters would constantly threaten everyone in the city.

Architecture

Though the Protectorate is located in a castle made of stone, this resource is still difficult to transport from the mountains, so the rest of the city is made of wood. No regulations on building standards exist so the city is just a big conglomeration of very different styles.

Geography

Newhope lies on a coastal strip of Kontonyus. Sand and dirt are most common but the sea is merciful and no storms ever destroyed the city, even though a seaquake strikes the coast from time to time. Nonetheless, even local races agreed that that was the best place to build a settlement. Unfortunately, no river comes near the city, so it must retrieve it from a lake in the north of the region.

Natural Resources

Near Newhope there are many forests and the terrain is perfect for cultivating. Local tameable animals are already exploited but they often prove to be too wild. The sea offers many good spots to fish but it is widely regarded as too dangerous to ever stand still on a boat and fish.

Type

City

Location under

Kontonyus

Owning Organization

The Protectorate