Teophilus is unique amongst Hasran provinces for two reasons. First, it is the only province located on an island. It is also the only province consisting of a single city. This can deceive some into underestimating them, but Teophilus is a potent force in the imperium despite it’s size.
The lake faring house handles the bulk of Hasran trade. They are also responsible for ferrying troops to Valys during times of war, and for leading naval assaults on Olivantian forces.
The city of Teophilus is located on the island of the same name. The island is covered by thick pine forests, which the residents avoid at all costs. Entering is almost always lethal as the island’s native Elfen population visciously guard the it’s interior.
Those Elfen who have assimilated into the city claim that their more savage cousins consider the island sacred, though they are unable or unwilling to explain further. Most people simply avoid the forest, espcially since everything they could want can be found on the docks of the city.
Teophilus is a booming port city nearly as large as Lakeshore. It is the hub of the Endless Lake, and all trade routes pass directly through it’s harbor. This has made the Teophilus family rich and they have used their wealth to expand their trade empire.
At present they control an armada of ships, each equiped both for combat and trading. They patrol the majority of the Lake, and it is said that nothing crosses the water without their knowledge.
Teophilus is a rough and tumble city that many travellers consider lawless when compared to more cosmopolitan places like Lakeshore or Hasra. The residents understand that only the strong survive, and if you are weak enough to be taken advantage of then you deserve whatever fate befalls you.
The city is built in a crescent around the edge of Storm’s Haven bay. A seemingly endless array of brothels, bars, restaraunts and less savory establishments line the boardwalk. They cater to the thousands of sailors who pass through the port each day.
There is only one sport in Teophilus. Knife-fighting. Just about every tavern on the boardwalk has nightly bouts, and the largest and most well known draw crowds in the hundreds. Deaths are quite common, but the losers are rarely missed.
The northern section of the port is considerably more upscale than the rest. It’s inns and taverns are high quality and cater to the wealthy travellers. They host some of the most well known merchants in the realm, and it is here where they sign contracts for massive shipments going anywhere from Enestius to the capital itself.
The southern docks are the most seedy, and unsurprisingly the most lawless part of the city. It is here that smugglers congregate, arranging the purchase of unsavory cargoes that they can ship all over the west. It’s tough to imagine what such cargoes must be since both drugs and slaves are legal. Rumors say they consist of rare binder tomes, specially preserved corpses and even less savory things.
The city watch polices the southern docks, at least in theory. In reality they turn a blind eye due to a mix of bribes and threats from the patrons who do business in that quarter. Praetor Teophilus allows this for a very important reason. If he quashes the southern quarter the smugglers will simply find a new place to do business.
Rather than risk them finding another island or, even worse, angering the Elfen in the forests by conducting their illicit business on their shores he chooses to allow them to do business under his watchful eye. Those smugglers who get too aggressive or carry cargo the Praetor disapproves of are swiftly dealt with.
[More to Come]
