Ishaela Parts I and II (Past Chronicle 2015 & 2016)

City of North Reach - by T.A. Saunders ©2015 v1.0

Finished in 1352 AC, The city of North Reach is one of the most rapidly expanding cities on all of Ishaela. Founded by Lord General Darius Tucker, his Sengaardian Separatist Force, and all the citizens of Sengaard that he took on a mass exodus from the King-Priest's corrupt rule, North Reach represents all the uninhibited decadence, once only reserved for noble-born, all the innovation and technological prowess that quasi-religious edicts attempted to quash, and the pioneering will that represents the best of Humankind.

That isn't to say the capital of the Republic of Quivyn doesn't have its issues. With the overall pervading sense of freedom, comes the willingness from the less-than-just to exploit that freedom. Crime, while not rampant, is something of a problem in the city, and one the Lord-General carries with considerable weight. Ironically, with the formation of several local gangs, and at least two opposing thieves guilds, North Reach's trouble-makers more or less regulate themselves, save for the most notorious amongst them.

North Reach's crowning achievement is the development of airplanes, as a smaller, and less expensive alternative to sorcerous driven airships. These bi-plane style craft are manufactured by the famous aviation company, Campbell & Muirdale (Theodore Muirdale invented the airplane, Kevin Campbell crafted the steam-powered engine that it runs upon). Used primarily as a means of air defense, what the airplanes lack in size and in overall firepower, they make up for in maneuverability, speed and inexpensiveness to manufacture, giving them an edge against technology-crippled Sengaard.

For the more entertainment inclined, there is the entirety of the Gambler's District, in which to amuse one's self. With inns, taverns, gambling houses, theater, whore houses, and all manner of sundry for debauchery, this is without a doubt, the most active part of the city. Amongst the gambling houses, none are more prestigious than Riverman Rhoan's House of Chance. The establishment is a steam boat that travels up and down the length of the Ututowman River, for the stretch that winds through the city, giving gamblers, socialites and others a spectacular view of blossoming North Reach.

There has been some conjecture as to whether the owner of the establishment, the enigmatic Rhoan Sivhan even exists. Rumors persist the man was slain during the Three Way War, other stories suggest that Rhoan is an alter ego for a more nefarious sort, that has connections to the Thieves Guild that controls the East side of the city, ostentatiously called, The Riverway Rogues. Still others suggest that Rhoan is actually the avatar of Vanidyr, having a bit of fun on the mortal realm. Whatever the case, few can actually say they have seen Rhoan, save for special occasions, where he is described as a thin, tall man, likely Sengaardian in upbringing, with a taste for good quality clothing and a hawk's eye for cheats and thieves.

To address the more carnal needs of amusement, there is Pahcheeka's Parlor of Plenty. A Plainswoman, Pahcheeka shed both her given Quivyn tribal name, association with her family and her tribe, for reasons she does not discuss openly. A dark-haired beauty in her own right, Pahcheeka is shrewd, savvy and quite familiar with both Neo-Quivynite business practices and their bias against her kind. Both she uses to her advantage quite often, to gain the upper hand with those who believe her to be simply a ‘trussed up savage.' The establishment itself is highly respected, as far as whore houses go, with the whores (male and female, both), considerably clean and prices reasonable. Like most businesses on the east side of the river, the Parlor has ‘protection' given to it, by the Riverway Rogues, most of which is covered in more ‘physical' compensation.

As previously mentioned, North Reach is home to two thieves guilds, and several smaller gangs that orbit around the two guilds. The easterly half of the city is controlled by the Riverway Rogues, and the western half of the city is controlled by a gang called the Robber-Barons of the Reach. At present, there is a tentative and highly volatile peace between the two guilds. Up until a year ago, the guilds were at each other's throats, with open violence in the streets, until the Lord-General had enough, and rolled heavily armored and armed Siege Wagons into the city. Not a shot was fired that day, nor blade run across the throat of another, nor did the Lord-General make any particular announcement. With that simple show of overwhelming force, the two guilds had a secret ‘sit-down' and a truce of sorts was struck. Robber-Barons keep to the west side of the city, Rogues to the east. Crossing over means one is on their own (even if they were sent there to cause a bit of trouble) and death from crossing over goes unavenged.

While there is plenty to do in North Reach (both legal, illegal and downright naughty), it is a city that never quite stopped being ready for war. As such, there is always a considerable city watch, and most of the watch are veterans of the Three Way War, which means they aren't to be taken lightly. Despite this heavy armed presence, there is a sort of unspoken respect between the felons of the city and her defenders. While pockets have been made lighter on more than one occasion, and perhaps punches traded, no man or woman of the North Reach Watch has been ever slain by the ‘usual suspects' of the city, and by and large, with a little ‘monetary consideration,' the Watch is happy to look the other way for small time mischief.