Armini (ar-mihn-ee)

The permanent population of Armini is made up mostly of halflings and humans, though the lucrative hospitality industry has attracted folks from all different backgrounds and cultures. Many of the spas and resorts have exotic themes and employ only tieflings, for instance, contributing to the local diversity.   Most people in Armini are either directly employed in the hospitality industry or support it in some way, such as the farmers and merchants that work to supply the produce and goods necessary to keep the resorts running. Because there are a variety of facilities with a variety of price points and target clientele, the workers make drastically different amounts of money at different workplaces. The average worker in town lives a comfortable lifestyle that would be comparable to lower-middle class in other large cities, while some regular resort workers manage to eke out the lifestyle of a minor noble. The owners of the most expensive and lucrative resorts make up the town's aristocracy, along with the higher paid workers of the high-end resorts.

The town of Armini elects their mayor and four council members - who represent four different geographical districts - every five years. The town charter specifically mentions that none of these positions can be held by anyone whose family owns a spa or resort, making sure that the other citizens' needs are addressed as well as those of the main money-making ventures. These public servants can be elected three consecutive terms, then they must sit out for ten years before running for public office again. The mayor and council appoint the town's judges, who serve ten-year terms and can be re-appointed indefinitely.   The tax system in Armini is robust, similar to that of the other towns and cities on Ostroven. Workers pay twenty percent of their earnings to the town for upkeep of streets, law enforcement, etc. Businesses pay the town taxes equivalent to seventy percent of their profits, which go to funding social programs for the poorer citizens, as well as town maintenance and administrative costs for the accountants who double and triple check every resort's books for illicit activity.

The inland perimeter of Armini is surrounded by a smallish stone wall, to protect against beasts and creatures from the jungle. Watch towers that monitor the jungle tree line are spread roughly every half mile, always in view of each other, and are manned by trained rangers who specialize in archery and long-range targeting. The port side of town has half a dozen watch towers that scan the horizon for pirates or other threats to their clintele. Long-range ballistae and arcane cannons sit atop each of these towers, able to hit ships more than a mile offshore. Due to the wealth of many clients, ships coming into Armini are prime targets for pirates to attack and extort.

The town of Armini is the pinnacle of cleanliness and beauty, envied by many other towns across the world. Every street is cobbled and well maintained, and the main public areas have geometric patterns in their streets. The buildings are clean and free of grime and dirt, thanks to specific town workers who scrub the salty ocean grime off weekly. The town has one of the few desalination plants in the world, which makes seawater potable and safe for the townsfolk to use. It also has running water to the communal areas of the resorts, though not to individual rooms or lavatories. The sewer system is relatively new and moves waste far away from the town before emptying into the ocean.

Since the establishment of the mines at Vurothil, other settlements on Ostroven Island have slowly popped up, with a few growing to larger towns. Armini is one such settlement that consisted mainly of a few gathered huts and farms before eventually expanding to a town with industry and tourist attractions.   The main boom and growth for the town came just at the beginning of the Second Age, when the displaced halflings landed on Ostroven and began looking for places to start their new lives. While many stayed in Port O'Connor and set up homes and businesses there, others ventured out into the jungle to find liveable areas they could settle. One group of around 200 made it to the southern coast and came across the small farming village that existed in this location. Something about the land and the view of the sun setting over the ocean convinced the halfling group to make this place their home, and thus Armini was founded in the year 9 2A.   For several centuries, the town slowly grew as it continued to focus on farming tropical produce and exporting that to Port O'Connor or other parts of the world. Other exiles and settlers from afar found their way to Ostroven and made it to Armini, and the townsfolk had kids at rapid pace. As the population grew, farming became less of the main industry, and the townsfolk realized they needed to find other industries to start to provide for everyone and keep the town solvent.   According to town myth, around the year 600 2A a halfling from distant lands arrived in Armini with a vision that would change the town forever. Inspired by lavish chateaus and lounges the man had been to and read about, he decided that the tropical paradise of Armini would make a wonderful location for spas, resorts, and other vacation activities for the rich and connected. He founded the first spa, the Paradise Resort, on a small hill near the coast - where it is still located today. In the early years, this resort offered spa treatments, as much fresh fruit as visitors wanted, and private beaches to relax and watch the ocean.   After accruing massive debts to market the Paradise Resort internationally, the founder saw his efforts come to fruition. Within two years, he had paid off his debts fully and made triple that in personal profits. The resort was a resounding success, and people had begun to travel from all over the world to vacation here. This, of course, inspired others to open their own spas and resorts to compete with the Paradise or offer some other niche value, and soon the entire town began to transform into a resort and vacation town.   Nowadays, if one visits the Paradise Resort, they will find a sprawling mini-village that guests never have to leave if they wish. It has its own private pier and docks where wealthy guests can moor their personal ships. The spa area has been - slowly over time - enchanted with healing and relaxation magic that are alleged to ease all manner of conditions like gout, arthritis, etc. There is even a high-end shopping mall in the resort compound that will either arrange to deliver goods anywhere in the world or personally load them on the private ships if asked. And the Paradise is far from the only resort with this setup; many others have similar features but offer specific themes or niche attractions to find their own spot in the thriving vacation economy.

Tourists come from all over the world to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of Armini and its many spas and resorts. Several of these spas have magical healing and restorative effects, making them ideal for the injured and elderly who struggle with chronic pain or conditions such as gout and arthritis. Though many who visit and feel refreshed by the spas wish to live here and continue the treatments indefinitely, overexposure to the magic can cause the healing to undo itself and pain or discomfort to return. Once someone has availed themselves of the magical healing, it lasts for around two years before they must make the trek back to Armini and re-soak in its healing spas.   Many others come here just to relax and vacation among the wealthy and elite of society. Aristocrats from around the world spend holidays in this resort town, often forming bonds or connections that they carry back home and use to influence business decisions or social interactions.

The architecture of Armini is varied but impressive. The houses and "local" businesses are built in a style reminiscent of traditional Japanese homes, made of wood and airy, allowing plenty of the ocean breeze to cool and refresh the buildings. The government buildings and temples resemble pagodas, with tiered roofs that have upcurved vertices. The resorts and spas are where the real diversity can be seen. One resort may adhere closer to local custom, though on a larger scale, while the building across the street is themed to a desert and built to resemble pyramids or other clay structures. Walking through the different resorts of Armini is like visiting Las Vegas and seeing the different interpretations of themes and other locations in the world.