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Locale Preview: Baraxton
 While Baraxton has had friendly relationships with many nations in the
past, they remain separate from nearly every conflict that arises. Only
the merchants take part, making sure all armies are equipped for a
lengthy campaign. War is good for business, as long as it is happening
far, far away. When word of the elves’ assault on the western kingdoms
reached Baraxton it was quickly decided to ignore any pleas for help.
The senators would not risk their city in a futile war and planned on
staying out of the conflict.
This changed when the Nothrog Warlord Nassiral Hate took Baraxton for
himself. After a brief period of chaos the Nothrog forces brought a
harsh order to the city. Hate’s goal was not to destroy the city, but to
occupy it indefinitely. The merchants have been allowed to continue
their endeavors, providing gold for the Nothrog coffers. With Hate’s
connections to the Deverenian Empire and the brutal martial law imposed
by the Elite Guard times have never been more profitable. What was
initially seen as a great tragedy has become a huge benefit to the
merchants of Baraxton. While they are pleased with the situation the
general populace is not. Many resistance cells have appeared since Hate
took the city. Most do not last long. The former Cartwright’s Guild is
the exception. The thieves of Baraxton fled the city the night Hate
claimed it. Under the leadership of Logan Ebonwoulfe they have freed
prisoners and raided supplies. They are a constant thorn in Hate’s side
and do not plan on giving up on the city-state’s independence any time
soon.
Economy
Baraxton’s merchants rely on a gold standard economy. Various coins
support this economy. The stag is the standard. A boar is
equal to ten stags, while an eagle equals one hundred.
These coins are all minted in gold. A fox is worth half a stag
and minted in silver. Runts are worth 1/10th a stag
and minted in bronze, copper or iron. The rarest coin is the silver
dragon, which is worth ten eagles and is minted in platinum.
Most trade is conducted in the markets of the New City. Merchants travel
from craftsman to craftsman haggling and purchasing goods for export.
Many moneylenders and moneychangers have shops in this area to
facilitate deals. Craftsmen of extraordinary talent occasionally find a
patron to sponsor them. The richest merchants sponsor many craftsmen who
create exclusive items for sale.
Laws
Prior to Nassiral Hate’s occupation a triumvirate of judges and a large
senate ruled Baraxton. Property owners elected senators. While many
commoners own the small areas their homes and shops are located on, to
vote a citizen must own at least an acre of land in or around Baraxton.
Since land is very costly, this keeps the government solely in the hands
of the elite. The judges are appointed by the senate, and serve for
life. Usually judges are distinguished senators, but occasionally they
have been Priests of Neus or wizards from Arak Spire.
This body would create and erase laws seemingly at whim. As long as it
would benefit the city and maintain their neutrality a law would pass.
The legal system was so convoluted only a few senators knew all the
details. They relied upon their aides, who were usually young scholars
from the Temple of Neus, to keep track of the current laws and
procedures of the city-state. While most laws favored the elite, the
senate was not cruel in its treatment of the peasants and rarely
restricted their activity … as long as it was not disruptive.
Now Hate rules Baraxton. Surprisingly he has not adversely affected the
city. His troops may enforce strict martial law and curfews, but Hate
has allowed the people, especially the merchants, to continue running
their businesses. They are not officially taxed, though all merchants
regularly give Hate generous “gifts” of gold and supplies. The Elite
Guard patrols all sections of the city equally, unlike the biased
Baraxton guard. Most gangs have been eliminated and crime is rare.
Hate’s laws are strict, his punishments harsh. They are geared to keep
the city under his control and allow it to provide for his legions. As
long as these two conditions are met, Hate could care less about the
citizenry.
Population: 40,000 human peasants, farmers and unskilled
laborers. 10,000 craftsmen and artisans. 5,000 merchants and senators.
7,500 soldiers and guardsmen. 3,000 nothrog soldiers and guards. 50
nothrog clerics and shamans. Four nothrog legions surround the city.
Each legion is composed of roughly 10,000 nothrog.
Government: Formerly representative oligarchy, currently
absolute dictatorship.
Imports: Raw materials, finished goods, exotic goods, spices,
cloth, livestock, pack animals, precious metals and ores
Exports: Finished goods, jewelry, weapons, art, grain
Important NPCs: Nassiral Hate (Commander of the combined
Nothrog Legions, ruler of Baraxton, Medusan Lord); Krun (Legion
Commander of the Red Wolf legion, Hate’s second in command); Rraag'nar
(Captain of Hate’s Elite Guard); Rreg'jen (Member of Elite Hate Guard,
oversees city patrols); Taoth (Legion Captain of the Scarab Legion,
camped at the eastern wall); Sceth Hellbringer (Legion Commander of the
Mammoth Legion, camped at the western wall); Phar’Dunn (large nothrog
soldier, keeps watch over the south wall); Savrukk (Legion Commander of
the Viper Legion, currently rogue and evading Hate’s troops north of
Baraxton); Logan Ebonwoulfe (Head of the Baraxton Thieves’ Guild, south
of city conducting raids); Basil Nemis (‘Best Second-story Man in
Baraxton’, Logan’s chief lieutenant); Keziah (young member of the
thieves’ guild, frequently infiltrates Baraxton); Lord Theissen (Deverenian
Ambassador); Devon Harper (young member of Black Tom’s Assassin’s Guild,
Nightwalker, observing city for Tom)
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