Introduction
TARRACINA PORT
POPULATION:22,500/24,500
GREAT EMPIRE
Tarracina Port, not to be confused with the ruins in Latium, is a large town which first was used as a smugglers cove during the founding of the Great Empire over 700 years ago. Shortly afterwards a town sprang up along the western bank near the mouth of the Staudinger river. Existing at first primarily as a trading port for slaves and other illegal cargoes, Tarracina Port soon attracted many fishermen, and to this day most of the inhabitants are fishermen. Furthermore thieves and other characters of disreputable nature found this booming trading port ideal for their uses. Many large and ornate buildings were built, including fortified slave houses.
In year 5 CY (Common Year) the Emperor, sent a Magistrate, to bring law and order to this sore in his kingdom. As a result of this a beautiful palace, a royal inn and a great and glorious temple were built on the east bank and two bridges spanned the Staudinger river. Tarracina was now segregated into a nobles area on the east bank, and a common area on the west bank. In 8 CY the magistrate mysteriously died, and so did the next 4 magistrates who tried to break the spirit of Tarracina Port.
In retaliation the emperor sent his army in 11 CY to break the city. When they arrived they found the entire port deserted except for the 'honest' fishermen and tradesmen. Due to an intricate spy system the powerful individuals of the port had discovered the emperor's plan and escaped by sea.
This cycle of events occurred many times until the old emperor died and his son took over and changed the policies concerning Tarracina port. He decided that large amounts of income in the form of taxes and tributes would more than compensate for a little leniency on his part. So the Emperor's Laws were modified and the emperor appointed a prelate to oversee the smooth working of this plan. The only condition he would not compromise on was the fortification of Tarracina. He would never, as long as he lived, give Tarracina Port a license to crenellate.
Things went rather smoothly and/or were overlooked until the empire began to lose power over the last century. In 538 CY the emperor appointed a shah, Abdul Nazarr to keep Tarracina loyal to the Great Empire. One of the first things the shah did was to make an addition to the palace. He built a sky-scraping tower which he named the Shah's Tower; and proclaimed a new law prohibiting construction of any building taller than his tower.
Although the title was bestowed out of gratitude for loyal service, the accompanying lands were not granted without a more significant royal motive. It was the Shah's duty to keep the emperor's disintegrating empire together. As the emperor's trouble-shooter the Shah legally has the right to declare war on any country, kingdom or individual who would destabilize the empire.
In 577 CY, Shah Abdul Nazarr radically fortified the port with large 30 foot walls, 50 foot towers, and wall forts made from the empires yellow granite, (see FORTIFICATIONS: Inside Tarracina Port). In addition the Shah increased the size of his standing army from 1000 to 2000 men by recruiting mercenaries form overseas and the surrounding countryside. The population of the port consists mainly of humans, but other races are not uncommon.
On the 12th day in the month of the Bronze Dragon, 578 CY, the fort on the South Bridge was severely damaged. According to reports a patrol of guards refused to let Queuli, a powerful wizard, cross the bridge. Presumably to collect taxes long overdue. Queuli, in response, damaged the bridge with some unknown spell and flew over the river. Although usable, to this day, no matter what the engineers do, they cannot repair the South Bridge fort.
On a dark and rainy 14th day of the Black Dragon 578 CY the former Grand Master of the monastery on Noon Street was defeated and his successor took over.
With a slave force of thousands working 24 hours a day the fortifications were completed on the 15th day in the month of the Copper Dragon 578 CY. Where the Shah got the finances and why he took on this nineteen month project are still unknown. Publicly he has said it was to protect the port from raiders and pirates. ...