Verazul

Verazul is the queen city of the Stygian Blue, sitting nestled in the outstretched rocky arms of two promontories reaching towards the sea. The city’s fortuitous location is responsible for primacy in the region. Its deepwater harbor is the only one on the Stygian Blue that allows seaworthy ships with deep drafts to enter port without fear of foundering and sinking. For this reason, all shipping of goods to and from points within the Stygian Blue flows through this port. The large, merchant ships required to cross The Hungry Sea are unable to safely travel the Stygian Blue and instead dock in Verazul. The shallow and nimble ships that ply the Stygian Blue would be quickly swamped and sunk on The Hungry Sea.

Presently, the city is quickly growing in wealth and power due to the quantity of sugar, rum, spices, and precious gems and metals flowing through its harbor.

History

Over two hundred years ago, the city was just a prosperous village until it served as the first military headquarters of Kal the Indomitable. His army contained stonemasons and architects with skills not previously possessed in the area. In their first years, fearful of counterattacks or invasions by the Polonians that they were fleeing, they built the first stone city in the region. Large stone towers were built to defend the harbor and a stout wall was built to encircle the village. Soon after, the plaza within the city was dedicated to Kal and a large statue was erected.

However, the Polonians didn’t come for almost a century and when they did, it was not an invading army that arrived, but instead was the Polonian West Mercantile Company. The Polonians quickly established trading outposts, sugar plantations, and spice harvesting colonies throughout the Stygian Blue. Over the next forty years, the economic power and political clout of the Polonians grew rapidly. While the details of government were left to the natives of Verazul, a new, improved harbor was dug and a trading enclave was setup within the city where Polonian writ was unchallenged. Indeed, due to the economic might of the Polonians, the officials of Verazul are often effectively just the lackeys of the Polonian governors, whether due to bribes, threat of force, or intermingled financial dependency.

Makeup

Almost every citizen of Verazul can trace their ancestry back to a member of Kal’s army. Kal recruited from every city and country across the Southern Ocean and the Inner Sea and the diverse and cosmopolitan population of the Verazul reflects that. The majority of the population is immensely proud of their traditions and it is easy to find corners where resentment of the Polonians is strong due to their influence in the city. However, no one can deny that the prosperity of the city is directly related to the presence of the Polonian West Mercantile Company.

The city has significant populations that include those: closely aligned with the Polonians due to the financial impact, independent artisans and businessmen that would prefer lesser Polonian influence but are pragmatic about the situation, hardworking laborers that have minimal options, and disaffected folks that would like nothing more than to push the Polonians out of Verazul.

Districts

• Golden Docks and the Polonian Enclave: The richest portion of town. Almost entirely Polonian except for native day laborers. Native Kalians should expect to be followed and surveilled with in the enclave. Lots of Polonian troops. All Polonian ships and trading interests use these docks.

• The Old Docks: Run down. Kalian traders use these docks, for example, when trading between Verazul and Port Royal. Criminal elements and the local guilds (e.g., Sailors' Guild, Stevedores' Guild) work hand-in-hand to keep to docks open and safe for business.

• The Great Plaza: A huge cobblestone plaza in the middle of the city that is dominated by a huge statue of Kal the Indominable. Merchants set up their wares in stalls throughout the plaza everyday.