Port Echidna

Port Echidna, also simply called Echidna, was the largest settlement on the hostile continent of Dionne. It was the first permanent settlement on Dionne by settlers, led by Dio Diamond, the pirate queen of the self-named Dio's Navy. The continent of Dionne was named after Dio's discovery of the landmass.

Port Echidna was named after the fearsome monster that Dio and her crew, the Flying Jackals, defeated to claim the lush resources, mineral deposits, and control of the waterway and northernmost bay on the continent. It remains the most prosperous city on the continent.

Due to its lax laws, free commerce, and location as a trade hub between the Emryian Empire, The Okokan League,

Though founded on principles of freedom and egalitarian mutualism, the city has slowly descended into oligarchy. The city's laws have grown to reflect and reinforce this demographical divide, though a constitutional limit on the introduction of specific laws has led to many of the city's elites, judges, and police force having license to interpret broadly defined statues as they see fit. On the ground level, the city's peace is kept by the Red Hats, a trained defense force that acts as both military and police.

Despite this troubling socioeconomic shift, the city is known to be welcoming to outsiders regardless of religion, lineage, personal beliefs, or life choices. However, the city is also known as a potentially dangerous place for the naïve traveler, as pickpocketing, confidence games, and private mugging are considered legal forms of employment.

Geography

Port Echidna is located on the northern tip of Dionne, constructed atop a series of waterways on the Ostelia Highlands that empty down a tiered plateau into the Bay of Fonir. The erosion caused by these waterways are responsible for the tiering of the plateaus and the creation of the massive cave system the Downs is built into.

The Straeye highlands south of the city's walls are fed by these waterways and host fertile farmland encircled by hilly ranchland. However, due to the nature of Dionne's natural predators, these lands must be constantly patrolled by trained griffon riders known as the Sky Rangers.

Weather

The continent of Dionne functions under a wet-dry tropical climate. The coastal regions tend toward the wet, and receives steady rain between eight and nine months of the year.

Within Port Echida itself, the city's reliance on steam-based technological advances has led to the city's own wet season lasting nearly the full year, with the dry weeks being particularly dreaded for their unprecedented levels of humidity. This wetness has created a bit of a problem in the form of mildew, mold, fungi, and invasive plants, which must constantly be tended lest the city be reclaimed by nature.

Society

Baldurians took great pride in the inclusiveness of their city. It was a place anyone could call home, or start a new life within, regardless of race, creed or personal history. Despite its dense population and crowded streets it was remarkably clean and safe for citizens and visitors alike.

As a whole, citizens of Baldur's Gate did not tolerate drunk and debaucherous behavior.

Customs

Unlike other cosmopolitan cities, Baldur's Gate was home to few formal festivals and gatherings. In addition to celebrating

Every so often, Baldurians would gather together on a street around a grouping of crates, barrels and other impromptu seating to share stories and tales with one another. These cobble parties, so named for the cobblestone roads on which they were hosted, were marked by special "rose-red" torches that could be purchased from the

Religion

Like most great cities, Baldur's Gate had many places of worship scattered across its districts. For

Demonym

People and things from Baldur's Gate were known as "Echidnan".

Heraldry

The coat of arms of Baldur's Gate.

The city's coat-of-arms was a single ship, with rai

Government

STUFF ABOUT GOVMENT

City Wards

The city is divided into six official wards:

• Greyneighbor (also know as "The Rigs") - the working class and dockside area

• Fairtown - the merchant district and shopping centre

• Hamelin (also know as "The Midlands) - the middleclass area

• Belfountain - the upper class district, located on the highest tier

• The Veldt - The large, encircling swath of farmland around the city's walls

• The Downs - the dangerous, seedy underbelly of the city that exists in the massive cave system beneath Greyneighbor

• Foundation Tower - not a district, but a small, central square from which the city expanded, and which now functions as the city hall

City Council

The city is governed by the family that holds the hereditary seat of each district. This title is passed down through blood by default but may be freely (and permanently) transferred. This uncommon, but not unheard of, as Haemlin's seat has changed hands twice, having formerly belonged to the Laing and Burbridge families.

• Kray (Greyneighbor)

• Goldbrand (Fairtown)

• Hagan (Haemlin-Midlands)

• Celes (Belfountain)

• Hargrove (The Veldt)

Foundation Tower has a seat as well, but unlike the hereditary titles, this seat can only be occupied by a representative elected by unanimous will of the Council. This seat gains veto power and must be re-elected once per decade. To date, only three people have ever sat in this seat:

• Dio Diamond, founder of the cit

• Gonnard Marchill, halfling who broke the great famine

• Stildris Skade, defender of the Bay of Fonir

The Downs, as not an officially recognized district on the city's constitution, does not have representation.

• Harbormaster: Managed operations of the Gray Harbor, assigned tariffs and taxes on imported goods,[16] and maintained the records of all goods shipped in or out of the city[17]

• High Constable and Master of Walls: Castellan of the Watch Citadel[18]

• Master of Drains and Underways: Maintained operations of the city's drains, sewers,[19] waterways and aqueducts

• Master of Cobbles: Oversaw construction and maintenance of all city roads, bridges and non-water-related, stone infrastructure

• Purse Master: Collected taxes, invested city funds, directed payment to city officials, and oversaw the Bailiff of the Wide

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Taxes

Historically, the Baldurian people had a complicated relationship with taxation at the hands of city officials. Excessive gate tolls incited a transformative revolution in the city in its formative years, leading to the formation

Laws

The government of Baldur's Gate maintained a strict and complex legal code that consisted of a series of regulations, offic

Anyone caught in the act of breaking the law were immediately apprehended and punished, either by the Watch or the Flaming Fist. Typically, the punishment fit the crime. Lesser crimes, such as violence or thievery, warranted a public whipping or removal of a finger. Those who broke agreed upon contracts were sentenced to forced labor while disturbing the peace or public lasciviousness led to public shaming by a night in the stocks.

Crime

Throughout its history, various thieves guilds had risen and fallen in Baldur's Gate,

Foreign Relations

Throughout its history,

Trade

Currency

• Penny (a small copper piece stamped with a gull)

• Shilling (a wide silver piece stamped with a ship)

• Half Crown (a broad electrum piece stamped with the city's seal)

• Crown (a solid gold piece stamped with Dio's face)

• Throne (a platinum piece stamped with Foundation Tower)

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Defenses

Historically speaking, Baldur's Gate was naturally well-defended by its location in a natural inlet, and the great wall that was financed by the city's founder, Balduran. However, its security was often attributed to its

Military

While the Fist always

In addition to the 1,700-plus soldiers of the Flaming Fist, the Grand Dukes commanded a navy of a half dozen ships with crews of at least 40 men each.

History

Founding

Originally, the harbor-settlement that came to be known as Baldur's Gate was a well-hidden meeting place for pirates, scavengers and "ghost lighters". These naer-do-wells used lights to trick ships sailing through the foggy coast, running them aground before pilfering their goods. After looting what they could, they sailed up the River Chionthar to the small bay, to their secluded haven called Gray Harbor

The Death of Dio

The Fall

A tremendous earthquake struck Dionne 323 years ago, which shook the city to its foundations. This provoked the city to embrace new construction methods

It also had a powerful impact: a large district of the city attached to Greyneighbor collapsed, plunging its people and buildings into the vast cave system beneath the city. Those who survived this cataclysmic event found themselves destitute and this area, which would become known as The Downs, became a haven for the wretched, impoverished, and criminal element of the city.

Modern Day

Rumors & Legends

Since

Notable Locations

Port Echidna is a city of both horizontal and vertical build due to its construction on the side of massive. tiered plateau.

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Landmarks

• Dio's Gate

• The Roosts

• Legend Boulevard

• Celes Opera House

• Bath Row

• The Hexador School for Magically Gifted Girls

• The Majestic Elevator

• STADIUM

Places of Worship

Residences

Taverns & Inns

• The Prize Pig Pub

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Wyvernball Teams

• Greyneighbor Guardians

• Haemlin Heroes

• Belfountain Banshees

• Foundation Tower Turasques

• Fairtower Faeries

• The Veldt Valkyries

• The Downs Drakes

Gates

• Dio's Gate

• The Sentinels / Fonir's Mouth

Shops

Magic and Technology

As one of the world's most most innovative cities, Port Echidna has embraced the technology of the Age of Wonders similarly to the Emryisian Empire. The city earned its nickname of the City of Steaming Mist due to its abundance of steam-powered gagets, devices, and infrastructure. As a side effect of this, however, the city is always hazy and rainy.

The continent of Dionne has a number of strange and exotic plants and minerals that, when combined, create unique effects. This allows Port Echidna to be the world's sole provider of these items:

• Laudanum - an alchemical mixture that heals wounds and eases pain; but is highly addictive if overused

• Celiao - an effervescent blue liquor with hallucinogenic properties

• Twist - a street drug that contorts the mind and body

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Lightning Rail Stations

Echo Bay Line

• Brassward Station (located in Greyneighbor)

• Silverlight Station (located in Fairtown)

• Centurian Station (located in Haemlin; connects to the Grand Skyway and Solstice Lines)

Grand Skyway Line

• Foundation Tower Station (located at Foundation Tower)

• Silverlight Station (located in Fairtown)

• Starchaser Station (located in Bellfountain)

The Solstice Line

• Midsummer Station (located in the Veldt; connects at Centurian Station)

Inhabitants

Population

The population of Port Echidna is roughly fifty percent human and fifty percent everything else. Due to no laws restricting marriage, the city has become known as a haven for lovers with diverse backgrounds. Of all of the common races, elves are the least likely to live in Port Echidna, as it is a relatively young city. Per capita, the city possesses a significant number of less common races, including tabaxi, goblins, kenku, satyrs, centuars, tortles, hobgoblins, and full blooded orcs, though they predominantly live in Greyneighbor or the Downs.

Demographics

Adventurers were a welcome presence in the Gate, many of whom came from the far corners of Toril to seek opportunities for fame, fortune or whatever alluring endeavour presented itself. Even those from unlikely walks of life found themselves enticed by the stories that filled the city's taverns and inns, giving in to the temptation of thrill and excitement.

Animals

While cats were abundantly found throughout the city, as they were used to eliminate vermin from cargo ships, dogs were not a common sight by any stretch. Livestock, such as horses, cows, goats and like, were prohibited from the city proper, relegated to the paddocks and pens of the Outer City.