Rhontyra

The Great Port of Rhontyra is the main trading post of the Confederation. A city run by guilds and merchants, it rests on the Eastern seaboard, surrounding a spacious bay which offers natural protection from the elements. Rhontyran Merchants conduct trade with the many civilisations that exist on the archipelago that spreads throughout much of the Donylian sea. Some merchants brave the trip to Bal-Karat, having to circumvent the Gulf of Entropy.

Demographics

Race-wise, anything goes in Rhontyra. The heavy trade of the city results in a large diversity of civilized and even some monster races. The guilds that run the city own most of the wealth and real estate, but there is usually work for most people so poverty in the inner city is quite rare.

Government

The head of the city has the title of Doge, and oversees the business done in and around its walls. The doge has a council of guildmasters, who represent all the active and official guilds in the city. There is an extensive and impenetrably complex system of taxation for everything: trade, real estate, wages, and assorted services supplied by the crafts- and tradespeople of Rhontyra. Quick thinkers with a mind for numbers can earn quite a lot by becoming taxationers, as the common folk call them, who help anyone out who feels lost in the bureaucratic bog of the city.

Defences

The defences of Rhontyra have historically always been focused toward the sea. Because of the unfriendly natural terrain, the secluded peninsula and being the furthest from any landborder of any Confederate city, Rhontyra's city walls only serve as a superficial border between the urban and rural areas of Rhontyra. Deepwallow Bay is walled off, has a heavy chain that can be raised to keep enemy ships out as well as ballistae and mangonels to provide artillery support in that area. There are also usually privateers in service of the Doge that patrol the waters around Deepwallow Bay, usually equipped with flares to warn the city of incoming danger. This is one of the better paying jobs a privately owned sea vessel could have in all of Denabra.

Industry & Trade

The city makes almost all its money by trading goods with Donylia and Bal-Karat, and ferrying those goods to Amystra to be distributed deeper into the Confederation.

Infrastructure

Much of Rhontyra is centered around its sprawling docks. Over thirty sailing ships, longships and even warships could dock simultaneously at Rhontyra, while many more could lay anchor in Deepwallow Bay, which is the bay that lies at the mouth of Deepwallow River. There are major thoroughfares that run from the outer wall to the docks, which branch off into smaller streets and alleyways. Deepwallow River cuts the two quarters of the city in half,

Hillside Ward

This ward lies to the east of the Deepwallow River. It contains the poorer districts of Rhontyra, with many little shops, markets and living areas piled on top of eachother. The following shops are located here:

• Odds and Odder: Cirellan's doorless shop of random magic trinkets.
• Portable Potents: an eclectic potion shop, owned and operated by an aging Tabaxi by the name of Setting Sun.
• Underburrow's Endless Curiosities, the shop owned by the eccentric Theodore Underburrow, selling magical items and implementations of many kinds.
• Stonetop Tavern and Inn, a large and fairly sketchy tavern/inn run by the Stonetop dwarf clan.
• Thulboldor Place, the largest general-market square of the city.

Ward of Liberation

The West Ward is more upper-class, containing higher-end craftsmen, guildhouses, and domiciles for the richer Rhontyrans. Landmarks:

• Bowmill Manor, the official residence of the Doge.
• The Alley of Opulance, a fairly narrow but busy alleyway where jewelers and metallurgists peddle their wares throughout the day.
• Governmental buildings
• The Hearty Minstrel, a high-end inn for well-off travelers. It is run by a very posh goliath.

Docks

The docks themselves have two sides. The port on the side of the Ward of Liberation is called Bowmill Wharf, after the doge. The other side of it is called the Open Berth. Generally, Bowmill Wharf is used for trade to the Donylian islands and Bal-Karat, as well as having a marina for the personal vessels of the more affluent Rhontyrans. The Open Berth is used for smaller-scale trade, passenger vessels and lower-profile trading. The two docks are seperated by a large lighthouse that has the symbol of Selûne carved in it, as a bright star to guide sailors to safety. Other landmarks:

• The Pierside Taphouse, a tavern/brewery where the Pierside Porter is made, owned and operated by a female brass dragonborn named Mijira.
• Dockside Deals, a general store focused on sailing and ship-related equipment, run by a young human called Jacob.
• The Porthouse, where the dockmaster can be found. The dockmaster is an older stern female gnome by the name of Duvamil Glittergem.

Assets

Rhontyra is the main trading port city of the Confederation. As such, they are historically one of the richest cities on Denabra, but the exact amount and distribution of the wealth here is unknown. When something obvious is stated, there is a Rhontyran saying which goes: "Does the Doge eat well?" in response. This is no coincidence.

Guilds and Factions

The Silverhands are the largest mercantile guild of the city. After them come the Verdant Dragons and the Dashingford Guild, who are about equal in size and influence. These guilds all fight for the loyalty of the affluent merchants of Rhontyra, and try to actively work against those that have affiliated with another guild or are unaffiliated entirely.
There are a number of merchant companies running private business from Rhontyra, with the most notable being the Bladedew Merchant Company. Although they are primarily based in Amystra, this company is one of the very few capable of making regular trip to Bal-Karat, across the Gulf of Entropy and therefore have a prominent office in Rhontyra. Although they are small in number of employees, they are one of the largest players in terms of income, so much so that the Doge apparently counts Lord Arthur Bladedew as a close friend and ally. The Rhontyran office of the Bladedew Company is affiliated with the Dashingford Guild, and are by far their largest client in terms of income.

History

During the days of the Old Kingdom, Rhontyra was a port town by the name of Thulboldor. Their main trade from there was humanoid trafficking. This resulted in a disproportionate amount of enslaved people in Rhontyra when compared to the amount of armed guard, making it one of the first cities to fall when the revolution reached it. However, the revolution did take some time to reach Thulboldor, due to its remote location. When it did, the Duergar power there was already very aware of the situation in their kingdom and had already begun taking protective measures. But, inspired by their brethren in the other strongholds, this did not hold the enslaved race of Thulboldor back for long.
As Thulboldor had a large and well-constructed port anyway, it made sense for the newly established city of Rhontyra to conduct trade with their newfound allies, the people of the Donylian islands. Before the revolution was fully over and the Confederation officially formed, trade routes had already been established from Rhontyra, ushering in an early age of prosperity for them and the rest of the Confederation.

Geography

The tundra-esque highlands that make up the Thuli peninsula may seem like inhospitable terrain, but for a city that subsides on mostly river-based trade this is of little concern. The natural defenses mean that the city can focus its attention on its harbour, being its pride and joy. The peninsula is mostly rocky, grassy hills with some small lakes here and there. The climate is cold, windy and rainy, with plenty of snow in winter.

Natural Resources

What little agriculture there is, is mostly used to self-sustain the smaller hamlets around the city. Other than some wheat, grain and the odd tree-grove, there is little to speak of as far as natural resources go, with the city being almost entirely dependent on trade with the rest of the Confederation.

Alternative Name(s)

The Great Port

Type

City

Population

20,000

Inhabitant Demonym

Rhontyran