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Places: Lands - Settlements

Starport

At present the population of Starport is some 100,000 people covering a wide spectrum of inhabitants from beggars to common-folk to soldiers to merchants to nobles. The city is a large and multicultural centre and of all the cities in East Kierqualon it is the most diverse in both inhabitants and attitudes. Many different races live and work in Starport and although the great majority of those are human, there are also many elves, dwarves, halflings and gnomes. There are also various regular visitors to Starport, most notably the lizardmen of Sithak.

Starport is a walled city though since it's elevation in status to capital when Redmarch was formed, it has not come under assault. During it's time as Breelton the settlement was attacked and captured at various points throughout it's history during the wars between Vordar and Fennoden. Starport has four main entry and exit points. The most important is the port and locals often refer to the ships using the harbour as "traveling through the East Gate". There are also the North, South and West gates from which roads and caravan routes lead to neighbouring towns and thence to other cities and countries. The gates are constantly manned by the City Guard and there is a garrison of troops stationed at each. Travel into and out of the city is normally unimpeded although occasional spot checks on travelers and wagons do occur. The gates are never actually closed and people are free to enter and leave the city at any time of the day or night.

It is from Starport that Redmarch is ruled and governed by it's Lord Protector. During Redmarch's formation it was decreed by prince Pertak Culmarin that rulership of the country should go to an elected leader who is advised by a body of lords and nobles known as the High Council. The position of Lord Protector is re-elected each year and selected from nominations by the High Council with a majority vote. The current Lord Protector is Lord William Gilthan, who took office after the assassination of his predecessor.

Law enforcement within the confines of Starport is administered by the City Guard, which is an extension of the First Army of Redmarch. In their black trousers, red tunics and red-dyed leather armour, with a silver star on the cuffs and breast plate, the men and women of the Guard are well trained and disciplined and patrol the city with diligence. The Guards are all armed with short swords and daggers and around half are also equipped with crossbows whilst the other half are armed with bolas. This permits suspects and criminals to be captured with lethal or non-lethal force as necessary. The City Guard is commanded by captain Streka.

For inhabitants and visitors the most notable areas, locations and institutions within the city include:

• The Market - this sprawling area in the centre of the city is thronged with shops and stalls that sell almost every conceivable item and commodity and each day the streets and squares are packed with traders, merchants and shoppers.
• The Harbour - the mouth of the river Breel is divided into North Dock and South Dock, both of which have deep harbours ideally suited to any size of ship. There is in fact a high level of rivalry between the two dock areas for berthing fees, with the Thieves Guild widely reputed to control the South Dock. Ships of all kinds and nationalities can be found here, from Vordarian galleys to Fennodenese merchantmen. The harbour is also home to the sizable fleet of fishing boats that bring in the daily catch from the Sunbirth Sea, and to the barges and ferries that transport goods, items and people back and forth along the river Breel.
• High Province - this area in the west and south of Starport is where the majority of the wealthy noble families live and it straddles both sides of the river Breel with many large and beautiful houses and mansions that have well tended grounds and gardens, often under careful watch of personal guards.
• The Merchant and Artisan Quarter - occupying a large section of the northeast of the city this area contains not only the homes of many of Starport's merchants, craftsmen and artists but also their warehouses and workshops. The shops and outlets for goods and services are normally located in the Market area.
• Residential - these districts located in various parts of the city are home to the everyday people of Starport.
• The Poor Quarter - located in the southeast area of the city are the street and alleys in which live the poorest communities of Starport. This area is a home of those who have little wealth or have fallen on hard times.
• Temples - there is normally at least one temple dedicated to each of the deities worshipped by the inhabitants of Starport though some religions are more prolific than others. Temples dedicated to Lumarha are more widely spread than those of Bez or Kern or Danahl.
• The City Guard - garrisons of the City Guard are located throughout the city and the headquarters of the Guard is in Culmarin Square in the centre of Starport. The Guards regularly patrol the streets of Starport keeping the peace, enforcing the law and tackling crime or disturbances.
• The Council Hall - this is located near the City Guard headquarters on Culmarin Square. The Council Hall is home to the High Council, which is the advisory body to the Lord Protector.
• The Justice Courts - next to the Council Hall, it is here that accused criminals are judged and either freed or sentenced. Charges are usually made at the City Guard headquarters and defendants are held for trial. There is no ponderous legal system in Starport and people do not usually have long to wait before they get their time in court - trials are usually swift as there is no lengthy deliberation. Evidence is heard and judgments pronounced by a magistrate. There is no jury system and decisions lie solely with the magistrate. Sentences range from fines to imprisonment to death, depending on the severity of the crime.
• The Rainbow Tower - named after the central tower of glittering quartz that catches the sunlight and refracts it's myriad hues, this walled collection of buildings in the northwest of the city is home to the high wizards of Starport. These powerful mages are often consulted by the High Council over various matters, although the wizards have no actual say over decisions in High Council policy. Similarly the High Council does not have any power over the Rainbow Tower, which is generally allowed to pursue it's activities in privacy and without outside interference.
• The Mage Schools - these various institutions located around the city cater to the training and development of wizards, often for a fee although some receive free tuition on account of their potential. Some of the schools specialise in the various magical teachings while others tutor their students in all aspects of the arcane arts.
• The Thieves Guild - whilst obviously not a single building, this organisation is suspected to own a number of premises from warehouses to meeting places to safe houses, and even South Dock, from which to run it's activities. The Thieves Guild operates a large number of illicit businesses including pickpocketing, burglary, smuggling, illegal trading, protection rackets and forgery. It is widely believed that rather than a single and all encompassing entity, the Thieves Guild is fragmented into a number of factions all of which are vying for power and dominance and have their own concerns and agendas.
• The Library - sited in the west of Starport, this is the largest repository of knowledge and history in Redmarch and is open to those who can afford it's services. Money that the Library generates from fees is used to fund the Library's activities, researches and acquisition of works.
• Parks and Gardens - Starport has a number of maintained parks and gardens for the use of it's inhabitants and these are regularly patrolled by the City Guard to ensure the safety of those using them.