City of Black Dragon Bay, more . . .

The City of Black Dragon Bay

The city is located on the shore of the Marnia sea, between the river mouth of the Nan River and the Flint Rock Ridges. Just southeast of the city is the Stone Fu Dog Bridge, a large stone bridge with low sections on either shore connected by a stone arch in the center section, the name comes from the stone fu dog sculptures that are said to guard the bridge two on either side. Just across the bridge is a small Garrison Post for the Legion attached to the city, meant to hold the bridge if it is ever contested by Grazil raiders or Murk monsters. Across the river is mostly forest for perhaps ninety miles with a few Tulou and other fortified settlements along the Eastway Coast Road. To the south are farms along the river all the way to Old Nan Ferry City, some with associated Tulou and others with smaller fortified settlements or even a few fortified farm houses. West of the city is the Flint Rock Ridge with a gate leading out to the 'city orchards' worked by city dwellers and also sporting fields for horse races, ball games, duels and martial expositions etc. Kobold Cut is a path for the Westway Coast Road leading to West Redoubt City and the Great western Wall, it was made by the local kobold clans for the Imperial Legions to march west. The Old Kobold Town is located in caverns and tunnels south on the ridge of Kobold Cut, though these days most traffic into and out of Kobold Town is through tunnels coming out in the city along the Wharf. Just a bit south of the Old Kobold Town is the Old Tulou where the first settlers in the area lived and where the labor to build the city initially came from (along with Legionaries of course.) West of the Kobold Cut is a Lampioneer Tower and wild lands not much settled or developed yet, a good source for herbs and a good place to hunt game. In the mouth of the river are a couple low sandy islands with a few scraggly but tough bushes and trees, this is where the local restaurants get their turtles and crabs. Many people also fish on the river or west along the shore beyond the ridge either to supplement their income or for pleasure. Hunting east of the river is considered more challenging and even dangerous because there are known to be several small Murk hollows either permanently in the area or slowly shifting about. The lands to the west also have such Mirks but within 10 or twenty miles of the city they aren't a problem like it is east of the city.

The city is not exactly a square wall but fairly close, with part of the ridge being included inside the city walls on the western side of the city. There is a Quay on the shore outside the wall, but this is more of an inspection point or fishing base, the port proper being in "Channel" and the "Pool" cut out and deepened and lined with stone bricks by the kobolds and the Legionaries back when the city was built. Facing the Channel and the Pool on the western side is a section of the ridge cut back and worked by kobolds into a straight flat surface penetrated by warehouses and tunnels, which make good cool storage places for various trade goods passing through the port. On top of the ridge but inside the walls is the wealthy area of the city. This is where the Wizards Guild and the Mechanicians Guild have their Guildhouses,  The City Council Hall is also here. the wide road/park above the warehouses of "the Wharf" is the Promenade where the wealthy stroll and strive to be seen, and where various temples are located. One gets to the upper section of town by a wide sloped entry way in the southwest part of the city, which has the Sea Inn for sailors and merchants at its base which also marks the beginning of the warehouses that make up the Wharf. There is a smallish wester gate to allow access to the orchards and sporting fields. Also notable on the northwest corner of the city wall is Chang's Towering Pagoda, a sort of multi-level small shopping and entertainment/eatery mall for the upscale types, with good views of the city the sea and the wilder lands.

Between the Channel & Pool and the main north south street of the city are the shipyards, a covered and an open market as well as meny residences and guest houses of sailors and fishermen and the shops and chandleries that serve them. The main street runs from the Main triple gate more or less north to the Quay Gate. Immediately after entering the city there are farmers and hunters residences and agriculture and butcher shops on the left while scholars, skilled craftsmen and merchants live on the right with the south east corner of the city wall holding the Black Dragon Legion camp (though it is a 'permanent' camp.) The open air Market is next on the left with the pool and it's ships nehind it while the Tribunal is on the right containing both the usual city Magistrates offices and the Prefectural Offices. Behind the Tribunal are residences of retired soldiers and officers and more farmers and fishermen along the city wall. Continuing down the main street the shipyards are next on the left followed by the Covered Market, with the Civic Temple and the oldest sections on town on the right with the tower of the Martial Temple facing the farmers and fishermen residences that are served by the small East Gate. Next on the right of the main road is the large Opera Hall complex with mixed residences and small shops behind it and the poorest folk living along the wall. The Opera Hall like those found in all cities of the Imperio holds civic and religious rituals, high and low theatrical plays, acrobatic shows, martial displays, and more as needed, and also has several restaurants, tea shops, taverns, bakeries, craftshops relating to the opera as well as apartments for the various actors entertainers, stage crew, craftsmen -- a virtual city in itself, with several below ground levels as well. There is even a water filled grotto for the resident Octopi actors and acrobats.

The gates are manned, as is traditional, by Lampioneers who are also in charge of lighting public lamps and firefighting when needed (assisted by the Tribunal Constables). Tribunal constables patrol the city day and night when not serving in the Tribunal that usual meets for hearings three times a day. Legionaries are much in evidence training outside the city walls and in the lands within a days march from the city camp. A third the legion is usually serving on the Great Wall to the west, a third has garrison type duties in the area, and a third are new recruits training locally. The Legion often transfers out trained recruits to other legions and trains more batches of recruits. Street vendors with all sorts of wares and food are common, usually using a single wheel cart. The Beggars Guild manages the poor of the city to a degree and crime is mostly controlled by the Crab Shell Triad. Both have been operating a long time and make a point of never going to far to harm or destabilize the city, which is after all the source of their business. The Lang family was once more dominant here but now is mostly focused on their warehouse and the local "#1 Inn" but their is still a minor family member on the City Council of 17. The Prefect's Agents and Special Constable work out of the city but are not noticed much as many operate incognito or appear more as travelers since they are continually going about the Prefecture.

Notable People:

Officials and Leaders - (not necessarily in order of importance or status)

The Prefect: Lu'shan Pol

The Magistrate: Fang Li

The General of Black Dragon Legion: Chao Di

The Senior Guildmaster of the Wizard's Guild: Tang Mak

The Chief Engineer of the Mechanician's Guild: Wing Sam

The Senior Academician of the Scholar's Guild: Han Sun

Thorsz' Sergeant Major of the Mercenary Guild: Garl Ansakar

The Admiral of Seafarers Guild: Djang Ho

The Steward of the Food Merchants Guild: Wu Cao

The High Alchemist of the Chymist's Guild: Shao Lo

The Chief  Surgeon of the Physickers Guild: Sheng Li

The Master of the Leather Workers Guild: Dunk Arne

The Captain of the Fisherman's Guild: Zhao Dan

The Port Master: Lin Poul

The Chief Boss of the Flint Ridge Kobolds: Cavon o'Karklen

The Speaker of the Goblin Merchants League: Shing Zow'an

The Master Shipwright: Shan Tam

The Senior Bookholder of the Opera: Vanx Mat

The Bishop of the Sovereign Way: Pol ("the Ropemaker")

The Patriarch of the Mystic Way: Kang Kankad

The Senior Scholar of the Civic Way: Wang Li

Criminals and Ne'er-Do-Wells -

Mountain Master of the Crab Shell Triad: (Leader) name unknown to most

White Paper Fan of the Crab Shell Triad: (Administrator) name unknown to most

The Red Pole of the Crab Shell Triad: (Enforcer) name unknown to most

The King of the Beggars: ???

The Eldest of the Brotherhood of Chandlers and Sailors:???

The Patriarch of the Old Quarter: Petro Jon

The Mystic of Back Alleys: Jing Tai

The Martial Champion of the Cave of the Black Dragon:


Rich or Skilled Persons -

Shipping Magnate: Wang Chee

The Opera's Octopus-man Villain: Ma-Gao

Excellent Smith & Weaponeer: Angus Smithson (Applaki)

The City's Alleged Best Wizard: Li Feng

Best Food Cartman and Gossip: Gong Li

Best Street Musician (Concertina): Xan Sam

Best Teamster: Jak of Cliff Gate a.k.a. Jak of Burdens

Grand Chef of the Opera Restaurant: Nam Val


Notable Adventurers -

The Nine Tailed Scorpion: Dan Sho

Twin Axe Tom: Tom of West March (Applaki)

Mad Olly (local born):

Fuller (Grazilean):