Port Thresthelm

Port Thresthelm is a coastal Mordish city, nestled in a range of hills and West of the haunted island Stormclaw. The location of the city shields it from storms, while allowing it access to the ocean. Port Thresthelm is in the County of Quarinov and the seat of power of the Shevenor family. It is the main point of trade between Carufell and the rest of Mordehall. The city was built around an old War of Ascendance fortress, and rose to prominence around AeP 200. Port Thresthelm University is known for its writers and religious scholars. The city is also known for its lumber processing facilities, shipyards, markets, restaurants, and printing mills.

In Ghuramus of AeP 447, Port Thresthelm was the site of an opening skirmish of the Mordish Civil War. In order to convince the Shevenor family to join their side, the Mordish Birding Society ordered the execution of Lord Gavin Bellest. He was killed between the shipyards and Hilltop.

Economic Importance
Port Thresthelm is the main node of trade between all of Mordehall and Eastern Carufell. The seas of Carufell are too icy to travel four months out of the year. In the remaining four months small trade ships will head North. They bring back animal pelts, salt, Northern Pine, and oddities from various towns near the coast. Port Thresthelm’s main exports to Carufell are clothing, mordish crafted weaponry, and preserved food. Port Thresthelm then serves as a processing city for the imported goods. Northern logs are turned into planks, furs are cleaned and sent to Pruzer or Toalla, and the salt is purified and sent South. Merchants in Port Thresthelm make good money selling survival supplies to expeditions heading North.

Waterfront
The waterfront of Port Thresthelm spans just over two miles. It contains trading docks, shipyards, an explorer’s college, and fish markets. The waterfront is not its own neighborhood. Instead it varies greatly by region. In the South near the Narrows, the docks are wider and cleaner. They are mostly composed of trading docks where ships from the South arrive. North of those are the Kaiser’s shipyards, an immense facility where warships are built. Further up the coast are docks reserved for nobility and the Shevenor Familt’s trading fleet. Right by them is Dockside College, a school that teaches mapmaking, exploration, ship building, and other trade related skills. The docks by Northside are rougher and dirtier. There are small private shipyards, trading docks with the North, and daily fish markets. People often hire manual laborers for the day here. The Waterfront also held many taverns frequented by dockworkers and members of local militias.

The Shipyards
The Crown’s shipyards in Port Thresthelm are the third biggest yards in Mordehall. The first two are both in Cape Red. The facilities span a large section of the docks and are walled off. Entrance is carefully regulated to allow only workers and lords inside. The Crown’s own forces provide security for the yards and the sea is guarded by several warships. No unauthorized boats are allowed close. In times of peace the yards can make one ship every twenty-five days. These ships are typically large and state of the art. Depending on the crown’s needs the ships are either outfitted for war and added to the royal fleet, or outfitted for trade and sold to nobles and merchants. Ships from these docks are known to be fast and elegant. One such ship was Kirinda’s Jewel owned by Melar Peterson and often hired by Lord Keel. The inside of the yards contains four large ports for shipwrights to work on, lumber processing mills, and administrative buildings. Ship designs are usually kept secret and the shipwrights are paid well to stop them from leaving. To become a shipwright, the Master of the Yards must first approve your application, then you must apprentice under a shipwright for at least a year. The work itself is done by hired laborers.

In AeP 447, Gavin Bellest was the Master of the Yards. Due to the unrest in Pellisberg and Tasserich, security was reinforced in the early months of the year. Additionally under orders from the Kaiser, the yard's production was increased. This was due to the main shipyards of the crown being in Cape Red, Pellisberg. Increasing production required hiring new workers and importing new lumber and steel. Gavin kept a workshop that only he, his family, and trusted advisor could enter. It was burned down by the Mordish Birding Society, and his notes were stolen by Alekiai.

Hilltop
Hilltop is a walled off neighborhood, home to the richest members of Port Thresthlem. Hilltop was once a fortress used in the War of Ascendance and has been the home of the Shevenor family since the beginning of Mordehall. Port Thresthelm formed around the main bulding of the fort, which became the Count's Castle. The region gets its name from being on the tallest hill in the city. The Southwestern part is a sheer cliff with stairs built in to reach the grey stone castle. No buildings are allowed near the base of the cliff or outer area of the wall. In Hilltop there are a variety of manors, cultivated gardens and wide streets. The Kaiser’s Viceroy has their mansion here and the Port Thresthelm University has a sprawling complex of ten buildings. It specializes in the written word, political science, and geology. Public entrance into Hilltop is limited to an East and West gate guarded by the Count’s soldiers and Mordish Regulars under command of the Viceroy. Anyone who doesn’t look like they belong is checked and questioned. The only other way to access Hilltop is through the castle. Hilltop’s wall varies in height depending on the geography. However it is never shorter than twenty feet and the ramparts are patrolled. One such place was called the Tavern with the Blue Door. It was was a mix of all different Carufellan cultures. In AeP 447, Larin started working there.

The Narrows
The section of the city between Hilltop and the South wall is called The Narrows. It is the markert region of the city and well as the home to famous restaurants. The docks in this region are used by Toallan merchants and other Southern traders. The boulevard from the Count’s Castle to the Crown Door out of the city, is lined with bookstores. It is referred to as Ink Street. Novels are very popular in Port Thresthelm. To find the newest and most popular books, people need to go here. There are also stores for Southern spices, cloth, and jewelry. The most famous road in the Narrows runs from the docks to Ink Street. It is called Cook’s Pass. The street is full of restaurants, tea houses, bakeries, and taverns. It is a popular place among lords, visitors, and university students.

Northside
The most populous area of Port Thresthelm is Northside. This area is home to docks, factory workers, lumber processing mills, smithies, and large businesses that copy texts for mass distribution. The streets here are tight and the buildings are all squat and made of stone. All the factories are close to the docks. Closer to the West wall and Hilltop, there are larger homes including multi storey tenements and apartment buildings. Northside is also home to the most famous alchemic college in Mordehall as well as a massive holy building called the Temple of Six. Northside has a thriving culture. It is known to be one of the more religious areas in the city. It contains many squares and statues of famous people from the city. Citizens will often paint the statues. There are many taverns, map stores, and alchemists in this part of the city. There is also evidence of Carufellan influence in Northside. Many of the taverns are full of Carufellan artifacts.

Stormclaw
The uninhabited island to the East of Port Thresthelm, is named Stormclaw in honor of Rallia’s famous spear. The island breaks storms which protects the city and keeps the waters calm. However the island is said to be haunted by ghosts of the old gods. People often see strange lights there and sailors report unnatural sounds. Fishermen avoid Stormclaw, as do the fish.

Important Events
AeP 139- The outer walls of Port Thresthelm were built. They were formed around a mortal stronghold from the War of Ascendance, which afterward was known as the neighbourhood Hilltop. AeP 447- Gavin Bellest was assassinated by Alekiai, Jorso, Ricard, Waxwing, and Willa.

People
The County of Quarinov is run by the Shevenor family. They have a long history of loyalty to Mordehall and have their origins in the War of Ascendance. The Shevenor are known to be religious and practical. They control a significant amount of trade in Port Thresthlem. The first Count of Quarinov was Emannuel Shevenor, a high ranking officer in the Army of Mortals. Sixteen generations later, in AeP 447, the Count was Penelope Shevenor. She was married to the son of the Baron of Kerriisk. Though the Shevenor family had long been an ally of the Kaiser, by this time rumors began to spread of fading allegiance.

In AeP 447, Gavin Bellest was the Master of the Crown’s Shipyards in Port Thresthlem, having held that position for over a decade. Until his death, some said he was the true power in Port Thresthelm, having more influence than the Count and the Viceroy. He employed Mobius as his bodyguard, and would often use him as an assassin. Gavin and Mobius were killed by the Mordish Birding Society. Ricard Joyce was a local crime lord in the city. He was responsible for the sale of drugs in the Narrows and on Northside. Ricard employed a wide variety of people and was owed favors by many people, including local lords and officials. Jorso was a pickpocket and thief from the Wildlands. He was often hired by Ricard. Alekiai and Larin, along with their two kids and Willa, moved to Port Thresthlem after leaving Carufell.

List of Appearances
Campaigns Supplemental
 * 1) One Crime at a Time Session 1: A Storm is Coming
 * 2) One Crime at a Time Session 2: Revelations
 * 3) One Crime at a Time Session 3: Honor Among Thieves
 * 4) One Crime at a Time Session 4: Rat in the Trap
 * 1) OCaaT Auxiliary: Alekiai’s Reflections, Night One
 * 2) OCaaT Auxiliary: Alekiai’s Reflections, The Tavern With The Blue Door