Port Blacksand, Capital of the Pirate Kingdom of Kydmarra

Port Blacksand, often referred to as the City of Thieves, is the beating heart of Kydmarra's economy, politics, and pirate culture. Situated at the northern convergence of the Catfish River and the Ever`Span Ocean, the city serves as a key gateway between the high seas and the inner lands of Kydmarra. It is a chaotic blend of commerce, crime, and seafaring culture, where law and order are negotiable, and survival often depends on one's connections and cunning. Founded on the ruins of an ancient city called Carsepolis, Port Blacksand began as a haven for pirates and brigands. It quickly grew into a thriving port as it was built atop the remnants of this lost city, leveraging its location to control sea routes and act as a safe harbor for those looking to evade the law.

Before it became the ruins upon which Port Blacksand was built, Carsepolis was a grand and vibrant city. Known for its advanced architecture, rich culture, and strategic location, Carsepolis was once one of the most powerful cities in the region. It was an ancient metropolis that stood as a center of trade, politics, and civilization, a beacon of prosperity that attracted traders, scholars, and adventurers from all corners of the known world. Architecture and Urban Planning

Carsepolis was known for its magnificent architecture, a blend of classical stonework and more sophisticated engineering that was ahead of its time. The city was laid out with grand avenues and wide plazas, lined with marble buildings, columned temples, and sprawling palaces that stood as testaments to the wealth and power of its rulers. It was often described as a city built to impress, with monumental structures that towered over the streets and a network of aquaeducts and canals that allowed the flow of fresh water into the city from surrounding hills.

• The Great Aqueducts: These impressive structures brought water from distant sources, supplying the city with the life-giving resource needed to support a population that once numbered in the tens of thousands.
• Civic Centers and Theaters: Public forums, theaters, and temples stood at the heart of Carsepolis, places where citizens gathered to hear speeches, watch performances, and worship their gods. This reflected the city's role as a cultural hub.

Government and Politics

Carsepolis was ruled by a monarch, with the ruling family presiding over the city's day-to-day affairs, although they were often advised by a council of nobles, scholars, and military leaders. The monarchy was a symbol of power and tradition, and the city's government was known for being relatively stable for much of its existence. However, over time, internal strife and political corruption began to plague the ruling class, weakening the power of the monarchy and creating a void that would eventually contribute to the city's downfall.

• The Royal Palace: A grand structure located at the center of Carsepolis, where the ruling family lived and where important political decisions were made. It was surrounded by lush gardens and adorned with intricate sculptures.
• The Scholars' Guild: Carsepolis was home to a prominent guild of scholars, philosophers, and magicians. It was a place where knowledge was highly valued, and research into arcane magic and the sciences flourished.

Culture and Society

Carsepolis was a cultural melting pot, with citizens of many different backgrounds living together in harmony. The city's bustling marketplaces were filled with exotic goods, rare spices, and art from distant lands. People from various cultures, races, and professions converged in the city to exchange ideas, goods, and knowledge.

• Art and Literature: The city was known for its vibrant artistic scene, with painters, sculptors, and poets who were commissioned to create works that depicted the grandeur of Carsepolis and its gods. The Library of Carsepolis was one of the largest repositories of knowledge in the known world, containing texts on everything from history to magic.
• Festivals and Public Life: The citizens of Carsepolis were known for their love of festivals, with grand celebrations taking place throughout the year. These events often featured music, dancing, theatrical performances, and sacrifices to the gods. The city's festivals were famous throughout the region and were a symbol of the city's prosperity.

Economy and Trade

Carsepolis was a thriving economic center, strategically located to control major trade routes between the Ever`Span Ocean and the inland regions. The city was a key player in the trade of luxury goods, spices, metals, artifacts, and fine textiles. The market districts were full of merchants from all corners of the known world, exchanging goods with the locals and passing through the city en route to other destinations.

• The Grand Market: The heart of Carsepolis' commercial activity, where everything from fine cloth to magical relics could be found. The marketplace was a spectacle, teeming with vendors, traders, and exotic performers.
• Port Facilities: Carsepolis had a sophisticated harbor, with docks that accommodated merchant ships, luxury vessels, and military vessels. It was a hub for naval trade and exploration.

Military Power

Carsepolis was not just a center of culture and commerce, but also a military power. The city's walls were built to withstand sieges, and its military might was considerable. The city boasted a well-trained and disciplined army that kept its borders secure from invaders. However, as the city grew complacent in its power, it became less prepared for the series of internal and external challenges that eventually led to its fall.

• The Citadel of War: A fortified military structure at the city's edge, home to Carsepolis' elite guard and the commanders of its army. It was a symbol of the city's military might, with towering walls and extensive barracks.
• Naval Fleet: The city had a powerful navy that controlled the surrounding waters, keeping pirates and invaders at bay. The Carsepolian fleet was famous for its strength and its ability to dominate the seas.

The Fall of Carsepolis

Some 15 thousand years ago, Carsepolis, was part of a much larger island kingdom known as Valdossar, was the heart of the Sekmis serpent people's empire. These sorcerous reptiles ruled vast swaths of territory when humanity was young, and they pioneered magic and science that paralleled the Elves in many ways. Scholars today often refer to Valdossar as an evil empire. While it is true their sorcerers used questionable methods to advance their art, Valdossar was no ally of dark powers. The mindset of the serpent people is difficult for humans or elves to understand, so malfeasance is often used to explain misunderstood evidence. For instance, although highly civilized, the Sekmis had no concept of individual rights. If a high sorcerer required one hundred living test subjects to use in magical experiments, his request was fulfilled as long as the experiments were judged to be of importance to the empire as a whole. No matter the moral compass used to judge the serpent people, their achievements cannot be denied. Valdossar flourished for millennia, and its influence spread, even into the planes. The empire resisted every outside threat, from barbarian incursions to infernal plagues to planar invaders. In the end, the true threat was internal.

Despite its power and wealth, Carsepolis ultimately fell due to a combination of internal corruption, political strife, and external threats. The ruling class became increasingly corrupt, and the once-great city became mired in infighting and instability. Eventually, invaders from neighboring regions attacked the city, seizing it in a brutal siege. The defenders were overwhelmed, and the city was left in ruins, its once-proud buildings now decaying beneath the waves of time. The city fell in a single, catastrophic event, and the survivors fled, leaving Carsepolis to become a forgotten ruin. What was once a thriving metropolis was reduced to crumbled stone, broken statues, and forgotten records of its former glory. Though Carsepolis no longer exists in its full glory, its ruins serve as a haunting reminder of a time when the city was the jewel of the region. The ruins of Carsepolis have become a place of mystery and danger, attracting adventurers, treasure hunters, and archaeologists looking to uncover its secrets. The foundations upon which Port Blacksand was built are a testament to the city's ancient past and the dark forces that have always haunted its shores.

Port Blacksand, A City of Contrasts

The city is a stark contradiction: where the glittering promises of trade meet the grim realities of crime. As the heart of Kydmarra's economy, Port Blacksand is home to bustling markets, profitable trade routes, and both legitimate and illegal business operations. Yet it also serves as a bastion of pirate culture, a sanctuary for outlaws and smugglers, and a place where deceit, blackmail, and betrayal are everyday currencies. Port Blacksand's architecture is a patchwork of the old and the new. While Carsepolis' ancient ruins form a foundation of crumbling stone and forgotten pillars, newer buildings crowd the streets, often constructed hastily and in haphazard styles. Narrow alleyways snake through the city, leading into shadowy corners filled with danger. The buildings, though colorful with peeling paints and rusted ironwork, reflect a city that is both thriving and decaying. Some areas are abandoned and dark, while others are alive with the noise of trade, shouting vendors, and the clinking of coin. The city's layout is as chaotic as its social structure: the streets and alleys twist unpredictably, making it easy to get lost or find oneself in dangerous territory. Districts are often divided by trade, but they intermingle as well, merchants might rub elbows with smugglers, or an assassin might hide in plain sight within a busy market square.

• The Market: This is the economic lifeblood of the city, where goods are exchanged openly, though much of the business deals are underhanded. Merchants from across Kydmarra meet here to conduct trade, some openly, others in secret. You can find everything from exotic goods to black market weapons here.
• The River: The Catfish River bisects the city, acting both as a natural divider and a trade route. The river is teeming with boats, from cargo ships to pirate vessels. Dockyards line the water's edge, their creaky planks constantly under pressure from the flow of commerce and crime.
• Executioner's Square: A grim location where public executions are held, this place serves as both a spectacle and a warning to the citizens of the city. It is often a place of political control, where enemies of the city's criminal factions or leadership are put to death.
• Pirate Docks: The heart of the pirate culture in Port Blacksand, these docks are notorious for illegal trade, smuggling, and pirate hideouts. Here, you might find infamous pirates or smugglers taking refuge, waiting to set sail or escape from the law.
• The Palaces: Though Port Blacksand is a city of criminals, it also houses the High Sea Lord's Palace a luxurious mansion built from ill-gotten wealth. This structure towers over the rest of the city, giving a sense of the disparity between the ruling elite and the common people of the city.

The infamous pirate Azzur Falconhand seized control of Kydmarra and proclaimed himself High Sea Lord after a cunning and ruthless siege of the capital. His rise to power marked the moment when the Captains' Council was fully cemented as the central governing body. Under Azzur's rule, Kydmarra transformed into a kingdom dominated not just by piracy but also by trade, political intrigue, and military might. Azzur's influence also included forging alliances with races like Ogres, Trolls, and Drow, cementing his power with both brute strength and arcane magic.

The People of Port Blacksand

The population of Port Blacksand is as diverse as the city's reputation. At the top, you have the pirate lords and corrupt officials who rule the city with an iron fist, making deals with mercenaries, criminals, and traders. Below them, you find the masses, thieves, adventurers, smugglers, and pirates who live by their wits and often by their swords.

The city attracts all manner of people seeking fortune, escape, or refuge. Adventurers, eager for treasure or seeking to right wrongs, often find themselves in Port Blacksand, either as hired swords for a pirate lord or as would-be heroes in a city of vices. The constant pull of criminal elements, such as thieves' guilds and pirate crews, makes it a place where one's morality is constantly tested. The pirate culture in Port Blacksand is deep-rooted and ever-present, influencing the way people speak, act, and do business. It is a place where deals are made in shadows, debts are settled with blades, and loyalty is bought with gold or fear. Many pirates call the city home, and it is known that some of the most famous pirate legends began their careers here. Religion in Port Blacksand is a strange mixture of superstition, tradition, and opportunism. While the city is officially under the jurisdiction of a godless ruling class, various pirate deities, sea gods, and patron saints of criminals and thieves are venerated in secret. Shrines, hidden altars, and underground temples are scattered throughout the city, with devout followers performing rituals meant to protect them on the seas or grant them fortune in their illicit endeavors.

Challenges of the City

• Corruption and Crime: Corruption is the backbone of the city. From the lowliest street urchin to the highest lord, everyone is either corrupt, or has to deal with the corrupt system in order to survive.
• Power Struggles: Within the city, various criminal factions constantly vie for control. Pirate gangs, thieves' guilds, and merchant cartels often clash in violent and dramatic power struggles, with betrayal, assassination, and political intrigue at every turn.

Port Blacksand is a city of contrasts, thriving and decaying, lawful and lawless, beautiful and ugly. It serves as the perfect backdrop for those seeking adventure, treasure, or power, but it also swallows those who aren't careful. As the heart of Kydmarra, it remains the city of opportunity, for those with the right skills or the right coin, and a place of doom for those who are caught by the city's grim rules. Whether it is a haven for pirates or a seat of dark power, Port Blacksand's reputation is well-earned.