Shaded Crack

At the northern border of the Detrinian Empire, not far from the edge of Amber Fallow, lies the city of Shaded Crack. Looking at the city from outside, it doesn't look like a settlement: it has a small fortress, an inn and a few huts, as well as a sturdy fence built around a ravine on the ground. Yet despite the unremarkableness of the settlement, the roads there are wide and well-used.

But everything on the surface is just the entrance: the vast majority of Shaded Crack lies underground, on the bottom and the walls of the ravine, as well as the countless tunnels around it. This underground construction protects the city from heat, cold and rain - and any spying eyes.

Originally, Shaded Crack was just a hideout for smugglers. Over time, as the criminal groups got more organized, the simple caves became hideouts, which grew into permanent houses. As the shelter got more popular, room for services were introduced: lodgings, food and security. But even today, all activities in Shaded Crack are related to smuggling in some way.

The end of the Tunnel War started a golden era for Shaded Crack. Trading with the Detrinian Empire became illegal, so the smugglers no longer had any competition with honest merchants, and the Empire suddenly had many more desperate people ready to pay much for little. And the few necrites that fled all the way to Shaded Crack were the perfect opportunity for criminals to get disposable labor.

Not all fleeing necrites joined with the criminals. Some live above ground, using the cooler and wetter environment to farm and chop wood. Smugglers have no problem with them, as they make local goods cheaper.

Recently, Shoka Blacksight has taken over the city. Now she controls most of the smuggling between the Detrinian Empire and Amber Fallow, making a profit on each item moving through the border. Under her rule, the necrite smugglers are more united and militant than ever. Even the Black Leaf Guild can't operate freely on Shoka's territory.

Type
Large village
Parent Location
Salt Coast 
Included Locations
-
Owner/Owning Faction
The Detrinian Empire 
Founding Date
Around 50 AC
Destruction Date (if any)
Extant
Size
Large town
Population/Inhabitants
(95% necrites, 2% beetlefolk, 2% thoptras, 1% other)
Notable Assets
Underground tunnels