North Province

North Province

Founded	830 TA
Size	Minor Kingdom
Fealty	Eastern Reaches
Ruler	Governor Jana Blackfire
Hex	3012

The North Province capital of Portsmith is the largest human port along the Inner Sea. The inner harbor of the port is formed by high, grassy cliffs which create a natural, protected inlet. Several warm springs keep the harbor waters from freezing except during the most extreme weather.

North Province has a small garrison at Portsmith, but they have a sizable fleet of warships for protecting the merchant trade.

History of Portsmith

Founded in the early eighth century TA, the small port quickly grew into a place for the dwarven goods from the east to be unloaded for transport along the Lesser Farthing Road. The original village grew into a walled town, and the town grew into a small, thriving city.

In 830 TA, the port was granted a title by the Crown, although the citizenry opted for an elected governor instead of a hereditary lord. The stability of Portsmith has varied over the decades with a number of factions vying for power. In addition to the elected government, The Family has a strong presence in the area, and it is rumored that members of the Dark Path can be found in the shadier corners of the port. Additionally, the mercurial Sea Barons challenge the North Province warships, when the opportunity arises. Typically, these sinister forces are balanced by the Order of Merchant Keymasters who seek to keep commerce flowing and law and order in place. The ever-shifting power in North Province has led to some periods of great unrest.

From 898-904 TA, Portsmith was ruled by Governor Linpool Lastra, a questionable merchant rumored to dabble in the black arts and demonology. Under his rule, the shadier elements gained power in the town with increases in murder, robbery and kidnappings. Linpool was killed during the Great Storm of March 904 TA when he was seen at the end of the great stone pier during the height of the storm's fury. Eyewitnesses said that he appeared to be summoning the weather, and several accounts tell of enormous octopus-shaped beasts hovering in the storm clouds - illuminated only by flashes of lightning.

So terrifying were the stories that the local population elected Jana Blackfire, a fanatical paladin of the Order of Crusaders to governor in April 904 TA. Nicknamed the Crusader of Portsmith, Blackfire has invoked an edict she calls "The Gavel" to bring order to the city's chaos. In addition, a large contingency from the Order of the Silver Throne have descended on Portsmith to execute the edict. Crime has dropped as the jails have filled. Currently, the Sea Barons are behaving and order is slowly being restored.