Argoport, the Trade Capitol

Argoport

CN metropolis

Corruption +6, Crime +6, Economy +7, Law +3, Lore +2, Society +5

Qualities prosperous, strategic location, tourist location

Danger 10

Demographics

Government council (the Trade Princes)

Population 29,341 (16,430 humans; 5,868 halfling; 2,727 dwarf; 1,434 gnome; 2,882 other)

Notable NPCs

High-Magus Cyrus Millikan (LN human wizard 11)

Prince Nostriano (LN human aristocrat 4)

Shadowmask (unknown halfling)

Marketplace

Base Value 25,600 gp; Purchase Limit 150,000 gp; Spellcasting 6th

Minor Items nearly all are available; Medium Items 4d4; Major Items 3d4

The only human dominated political power is also the largest city in the Green Coast. Named after Argovas, the god of trade, civilization, and commerce, the city has ties to Chor Kolav, the Unbound Fleet, and possesses immense influence in the Free Counties along the northern banks of the Black Ash River as well as significant trade agreements with the Hiz’rych Kopjad and Uilij Laqhain orc clans.

Capitol of Trade

Argoport is the without a doubt the center of trade in the Green Coast, and to a point beyond. Scrimshaw from Whaleden far to the north in Sylvanor are traded for wine smuggled from the vineyards of Drynaryn and the lobster-like koup’ira come from their sea-floor cities to trade fish and pearls for bronze and red meat. If you can pay, anything and everything except for slaves are for sale. Even then, if you know the right people and ask the right questions someone could, for a price, acquire a laborer or bedwarmer happy to tend to your needs where ever you go. However if the guard find out, you can expect a trip to the city jail for thirty years at minimum. Sometimes, if a Trade Prince is in a foul mood, you can instead expect a short drop with a sudden stop.

     Due to its history as a trading post, Argoport lacks a traditional government. The government is in effect a merchant’s guild on a large scale. On the Firstday of every week, the seven Trade Princes meet to discuss profits, trade disputes, new venues, etc. The seven Trade Princes are Anton Nostriano, Syvwel Ferrari, Orino Columbo, Parsio Giovani, Luivio de la Rovia, Oswold Cambetti, and Antion Fludinus Agricorra. Princes Nostriano, Columbo, Giovani, and de la Rovia are all humans, while Prince Ferrari is a half-elf, Prince Cambetti is a halfling, and Prince Fludinus is a gnome.

A City at War

The alleyways and streets of Argoport are home to a shadow war. When the war began there were three sides: the displaced halflings under an enigmatic figure simply called Shadowmask, the Silver Tides gang, and the Council of Minds. Within a year, the war was simply between the Council of Minds and Shadowmask’s forces.

     The Council of Minds have been around since the founding of the city, but spent the majority of the time acting in secret. It is only when Shadowmask started making large scale plays that they stepped out of hiding to protect their interests. The reveal of the Council of Minds came as a surprise to more than just the Trade Princes.

     The agents of the Council, always clothed in fine garb, were seen utilizing magic unrelated to the divine magic of the clergy and the arcane magic of the city’s mages. Some agents have been seen hypnotizing people to do their bidding with nothing more than whispers and a swaying pendant, others can touch a torn piece of cloth and tell you exactly what it was once a part of and who last handled it, while some command the elements with nothing more than a thought. While the High-Magus has been scouring the books within the city, sailors and merchants listen to the koup'ira who tell tales of cities of coral and stone grown through magic of the mind.

     Shadowmask arose shortly after the halfling cities north of the Free Counties fell to the rising hobgoblin empire. The displaced halfling refugees began to form communities within the slums. Then whispers started to echo from the shadows. Whispers of techniques, of secrets, of tactics. Those that listened to these whispers managed to unlock their bodily energies, what some monks referred to as ki. Rather than seeking enlightenment, the halflings that learned studied under the whispers from the shadows used it to enable them to fight against those that they would normally stand to chance against. Ambush, poison, stealth, and surprise were their greatest weapons. To this day it isn’t known if Shadowmask is an actual individual or simply a symbol created by the destitute halflings to rally behind, but it is a frequent topic of gossip amongst the wealthy.

Adventure Hooks

     You have been contacted by a representative of the Council of Minds with a job offer: 100 gold pieces to deliver a package to a halfling shopkeeper. If you open the package before reaching the shopkeeper, then you won’t get paid. If the package is damaged, you won’t get paid. If you go to the guard, your family might commit suicide by way of a sudden case of depression.

     The other night as you were on the docks a koup'ira brought up a halfling body that was tied to an anvil at the bottom of the bay. The body was soon identified as the nephew of Prince Cambetti, who gives you one week to find the killers or take his nephew's place at the bottom of the bay.

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