Quen'shai - the city of three torrents

The city of three torrents is a major hub that lies at the foot of the High Plains, on the shores of lake Tanut, the source of the yellow river. It is therefore an extremely busy trade hub linking Xan Chu Cha and Zu Deng to the yellow river, and thereby Nan Chung and Xu. Above the city towers the Chadang peak, home to the honden of storms, from where the greate storm spirit I'chin looks down on the city. From either side of this point two great waterfalls cascade down, flanking the city and bringing in water from the high plains down into lake Tanut. From there, on the other side of the great lake, a third waterfall feeds the Yellow river.

Demographics

A very cosmopolitan city hosting a broad mix of people from Xan Chu Cha, Zu Deng, Xu, and Nan Chung. The recent occupation of Nan Chung by Xu has led to a large number of Nan Chung refugees seeking shelter here.

Government

The city is ruled by the council of five, and holds special status as a free city that ensures it is protected against incursions from any of the powerful neighbouring kingdoms.

Defences

Quen'shai is blessed with great natural defences, with a mountain range behind it, a lake in front, and a huge waterfall either side it would be an act of madness to attack the city with an army. There are stone walls protecting the northern and southern routes into the city, but compared to other cities they are not significant. The standing army maintained by the city is small, and spend more time dealing with civil matters than fighting invaders.

Industry & Trade

Much passes through the city and it has a number of markets, where a variety of goods from across Kintai can found. Industry is faily ligh however, as the city is more likely to import whatever it needs rather than make it. The rare exception to this is anything relating to trade itself, with riverboats, wagons, trade ledgers, crates, barrels and baskets all made in abundance.

Assets

As a trade hub Quen'shai is quite wealthy. There is ample fish to be found in the lake so long as the fishermen are careful of the drowners that inhabit it, but other than that the city has no natural sources of food, so it maintains large stores as a precaution.

Guilds and Factions

Aside from the large number of merchants there are a great number of professional appraisers, who will offer expert assessments of any goods for sale, and have formed a guild to assure the quality of their expertise. There is a also a high demand for mercenaries to protect caravans, and so a mercenaries guild has been found to set rates and offer tested and graded fighers.

History

Quen'shai has been around so long its origins are lost to time. It was likely founded in the age of antiquity, and the Honden of storms was said to have been created during the reign of the dragon-emperors. In the fallen age it became an independent city and whiel attempts were made by various kingdoms to claim it, its strong defensive position ensured that never fell. As modern borders formed between the warring kingdoms Quen'shai found itself at an apex that made it a natural trade hub, and from that point its fortunes flourished.

Tourism

While trade is the cities main draw, the honden of storms also draws in a lange number of pilgrims.

Architecture

Because of the cities geographic limitations caused by the lake, mountains and waterfall Quen'shai is very crowded, with structures built close together and typically much higher than in other cities. In the west of the city where the ascent begins to the high plains structures are built on steep slopes and look down on the rest of the city.  buildings tend to be made of grey stone and tiled roofs are favoured among the wealthy to keepout the frequent rain.

Geography

The terrain is rocky and wet, with the steep mountainous high plains to the west, lake Tanut to the east, and waterfalls flanking the paths north and south. From across lake Tanut the city of three torrents presents a tremendous sight, with two huge waterfalls flanking a city full of tall buildings, while the Chadang peak and the Honden of Storms towers above.

Natural Resources

Fish and rainwater.

Founding Date

-1000

Alternative Name(s)

the city of three torrents

Type

Large city

Population

500,000

Inhabitant Demonym

Quenshain

Location under

Kintai

Included Locations

• The Honden of Storms