Qorte
Qorte is a town famed for its alchemy, apothecaries and loose approaches towards dark magic. A partial colony of the Kingdom of Red Veil, it has since fallen into the control of the Consorti Aquamutus. Built on the banks of the Dredyre River, it is a town shrouded in ocean mist, secrets and shadow.
Demographics
Qorte is almost fully second generation Veilan settlers who identify as Frontier Folk or Qorti. They also have a large minority of those who were born from migrant magic-talented, such as refugees from The College of Enchanters, Oscilators or other organisations.
Government
Technocratic unitary state ran by the Consorti Aquamutus.
Defences
Qorte has a low stone wall that, in modern times, is in a state of disrepair. The town's bad reputation for powerful mages, as well as employing several tribes of beast folk, keeps the town safe.
Industry & Trade
Exports include medicine, potions and poisons. The lax laws and ambition of the Consorti mean that the most effective, innovative and risky of these items comes out of Qorte. Gems, jewels and magic artefacts also make up a good portion of trade.
Imports include food from Chevry, lumber from beast folk, stone from Red Veil and others.
Infrastructure
The relatively small town of Qorte has three main neighbourhoods or areas, though only the Consorti Aquamutus is officially recognised.
During the War of Independence, the Qorti and Chevry armies had bases here, straining the space. As coin flowed through the area, and soldiers sought to blow off steam, a variety of unsavoury businesses flourished here including taverns, brothels, secret fighting arenas, gambling houses and drug dens. Once the war was over and the soldiers home, veterans were often left behind and the unsavoury character of the Knifewarrens didn't change. The Saps are a collection of squat homes and tenements come to be known as drug dens. Rumour has it that the Consorti Aquamutus does nothing to help the Saps and instead uses it as a testing ground for their own experimental potions, drugs and medicine. The Plumpen Vial is the largest of several brothels in its immediate area, the Street of Sores, where all tastes are accounted for. It sits in the half-built Temple of Batu that initial Descendants of Batu settlers failed to complete building. Javelin Avenue is a narrow road that runs the entire length of the Knifewarrens from The Victory Gate to the exit of the Dredyre River in the north. The upper floors of all the buildings on the avenue are all made from shanties built together with wood. These upper shanties block out almost all of the light to the avenue. The lower levels of the buildings are home to various shady shops, gambling halls, loan sharks, small inns and drug dens. All manner of small side-alleys, dead ends and secret passages spin off from Javelin Avenue.
Knifewarrens
The western half of the town, the Knifewarrens lie against the dilapidated western wall, as well as the Rebel's Road. Formerly just known as the Warrens, this area was always home to cramped, twisting avenues and an overpopulation.During the War of Independence, the Qorti and Chevry armies had bases here, straining the space. As coin flowed through the area, and soldiers sought to blow off steam, a variety of unsavoury businesses flourished here including taverns, brothels, secret fighting arenas, gambling houses and drug dens. Once the war was over and the soldiers home, veterans were often left behind and the unsavoury character of the Knifewarrens didn't change. The Saps are a collection of squat homes and tenements come to be known as drug dens. Rumour has it that the Consorti Aquamutus does nothing to help the Saps and instead uses it as a testing ground for their own experimental potions, drugs and medicine. The Plumpen Vial is the largest of several brothels in its immediate area, the Street of Sores, where all tastes are accounted for. It sits in the half-built Temple of Batu that initial Descendants of Batu settlers failed to complete building. Javelin Avenue is a narrow road that runs the entire length of the Knifewarrens from The Victory Gate to the exit of the Dredyre River in the north. The upper floors of all the buildings on the avenue are all made from shanties built together with wood. These upper shanties block out almost all of the light to the avenue. The lower levels of the buildings are home to various shady shops, gambling halls, loan sharks, small inns and drug dens. All manner of small side-alleys, dead ends and secret passages spin off from Javelin Avenue.
Consorti Aquamutus
The grounds of the Consorti were built on a huge bridge spanning the width of the Dredyre River. The grounds can be isolated in the centre of the river when the Consorti wishes to raise one side of the bridge or another. The grounds are ornate, polished black obsidian stone formed into pyramids, spires and fortresses. Gargoyles litter every corner of the engraved buildings. Long sleek windows glow faintly with magic and permit nobody from the outside to peer inside.Kulltown
Kulltown is the mirror of the Knifewarrens in every way - except that Kulltown's buildings are in good shape and clearly taken care of. Every so often the tall, dark townhouses have been cleared to make space for large blocks of Consorti manors. These manors speck Kulltown with a polished black glean that makes the area look much more in line with the Consorti than the Knifewarrens. Flora Corner is a square in Kulltown where most of the Consorti's employees are housed, especially herb-gatherers, labourers, servants and scribes. Tall, sleek, dark townhouses surround the square, interrupted by Orson's Grocery, Imported Books and Sundries, and New World Curiosities. The Corner is under 24/7 watch from the Consorti, who keep a tight leash on those employees that they rely upon. Four Fires is a neighbourhood in Kulltown that homes the free tradesmen who deal with the Consorti. Glass-blowers, toolmakers, tailors and smiths are all found here. The area is particularly smoggy but otherwise well-kept. Many panhandlers pass through or migrate here to pan the beds of the Dredyre for gems, jewels and obsidian. The Docks are all owned and managed by the Consorti. A series of warehouses, customs offices and tax stations lines the docks, while riverboats constantly bring in trade and export the colony's infamous poisons, medicines and potions. Logger's Gate and Trail runs eastern from Kulltown for those hunters and loggers who daring enough to enter the wild forests east of Qorte, which is largely unexplored. Those who spend too long out there make it back to speak of untenable horrors before falling mute, dead or worse.Assets
- The Consorti Aquamutus have one of the largest and most valuable libraries and stores of potions, poisons and herbs in the known world.
- Gems and jewels panned from the Dredyre River.
- Lumber traded with local beast folk.
Guilds and Factions
The Consorti Aquamutus stomped out or bought out many of the other guilds that tried to set up shop or gain power in Qorte. The military guard installed by Red Veil is openly known to follow directives from the Consorti, and not many stand in opposition to it unless they wish to find a touch of Darkroot in their evening stew.
However, rumours abound of shadowy cults corrupting the Consorti and frightening the populace.
History
In 1030 Qorte rebelled against the Veilan Throne with its ally Chevry and became semi-independent through a series of treaties and policies with the Veilan crown.
Architecture
Due to the dismal weather upon the northern coast, Qorte seems to always be shrouded in mist. Its builders therefore put little effort into colour, and many of the buildings are tall, drab and grey, hawed from stone brought over from Red Veil.
The exceptions are the buildings of the Consorti Aquamutus, which are often dyed black and silver, seemingly glistening in the mists. These fortresses, manors and guildhalls are usually decorated with sublime statues, gargoyles and faux-defences.
Type
Town
Related Ethnicities
Inhabitant Demonym
Qorti
Location under
Owning Organization
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