The city of Torch Port
The city of Torch Port was built on the ruins of a Union Age city at the big river that runs from the City of the Dead to Whitesails. William strolled by here shortly before meeting Meneldor for the first time. On Tonio's suggestion and with Ethelbald's support, he invested in redeveloping the city, and Torch Port is now his home and base of operations as well as the largest settlement in Beast Woods.
A large number of dwarves inhabits Torch Port. Most are refugees of the Iron Country or their descendants that have returned to Southmark to be close to their old home. Some just wanting to die while gazing one last time at the Rust Mountains, and some in hopes of retaking it. William invested most of his funds into setting up their businesses, considering how skilled craftsmen are hard to come by this far into Beast Woods. They live in their own neighborhood, called Dwarftown.
While William is the liege lord of Torch Port, most administrative work is actually done by others. Anna handles the day-to-day business of running the city as well as religious services, Reystov is in charge of matters military, Tonio is keeping track of commerce, and Agnarr is the representative of the dwarves.
The first industry to get going was the lumber business. Trees are cut in Beast Woods, tied into rafts, and send downstream to Whitesails for construction lumber and firewood. With the arrival of the dwarves, the economy quickly diversified and now includes smithing, leather tanning, woodworking, pottery, weaving, and carpentry, among others. The trade with Whitesails keeps the river port busy, and loading and unloading the ships provides ample employment even for the unskilled. But even so, the constant influx of people could eventually lead to high unemployment, and therefore crime, so William is considering to fund large public works projects in order to provide enough work for everyone should it come to that. Many shops have opened that sell the local as well as goods from Whitesails to the large and ever-increasing population. Food is provided in eateries, inns, and many adventurer taverns: It is here where adventurers gather to prepare for ruin exploration, beast hunting, or to pick up posted work offers, mostly to hunt down demons or beasts that threaten the many small villages of Beast Woods. And so the security situation of the region has greatly improved.
Locations[]
- Antonio's trading company
- Brown Bear - a rather rough adventurer tavern
- Cerulean Seagod - an adventurer tavern of relatively good repute
- Dwarftown
- William's mansion - a refurbished ruin close to the city's center