Dovesport

Dovesport is a moderately diverse town. The majority of the population is Aurelian (around 65%) with several other ethnicities rounding out the numbers. The Mbali population (around 20%) is concentrated near the Docks and South District. There are a lot of traders and travelers here. Dovesport open port draws people from across the region, making it slightly more cosmopolitan than other towns of its size.

Dovesport is governed by a Magisterial Council, chaired by a Magister of the Port, who is appointed directly by the Duke or Duchess of Zhilos. While the Duchy retains control of key judicial and military functions, the Council handles most day-to-day governance: trade regulation, public works, and dispute resolution. Positions on the council are elected by property owners every four years, though it's not uncommon for family names to remain in power across generations.

The port itself is managed independently under a Harbormaster, who answers directly to the Duchy’s naval office.

Primary Exports: Salted fish, handcrafted pearl goods, sea silk, timber planks (from inland Zhilos), and fermented seaweed tonics.

Imports: Stone, metals, grain, wine, cloth bolts, livestock.

Major Industries: Shipbuilding, artisanal crafts, light fishing, and trade logistics.

Paved roads run through the major districts, with cobbled alleys in historic areas like Old Dovesport and Narrow Steps.

A central aqueduct system supplies clean water to the town, drawing from upland springs and filtering through stone cisterns.

Public transport includes ferry boats that shuttle between key docks and private carriages that travel between districts.

Lighthouse systems along the cliffs of Narrow Steps help guide nighttime and storm-bound ships.

Electric lanterns have begun to replace oil in some wealthy districts thanks to new tech out of Ozelsk.

Old Dovesport

The cultural and historic core. Home to the oldest tavern in North Chrysalis, The Glass Roost, and several museums. The town square hosts monthly open-air performances, speeches, and public dances. Quaint shops and charming cafes dot the area, inviting visitors to stroll through its picturesque streets and immerse themselves in its rich history and culture.

Pearlforge

The artisan's haven. A vibrant and industrious district nestled in the heart of Dovesport, its streets alive with the constant hum of activity. Here, skilled craftsmen and artisans ply their trade, forging goods of exquisite quality and craftsmanship. The district's bustling markets are a feast for the senses, offering a dazzling array of wares from across the country. Originally known for pearl craftsmanship, it now hosts jewelers, weavers, carpenters, and sculptors. Dovesport’s most prized exports. delicate pearl-inlaid boxes, sea silk garments, and mosaic tiles, are made here.

South District

Family-centered and full of life. The South District of Dovesport is a vibrant residential area, where colorful homes and verdant gardens line the streets. Local parks and community centers host events while festivals like Lantern Night and The Day of Singing Trees draw big crowds. Houses here are painted in soft pastels with common wells.

The Docks

The Docks of Dovesport are a bustling hub of activity, where cargo ships from distant lands unload their goods and fishing boats return with their daily catch. Cranes and warehouses line the waterfront, while sailors and dockworkers bustle about, loading and unloading cargo with practiced efficiency. The air is filled with the tangy scent of saltwater and the sound of seagulls wheeling overhead, creating a lively and energetic atmosphere. This is also where shipbuilders ply their trade, crafting vessels of all shapes and sizes and setting sail to distant shores in search of adventure and fortune.

Narrow Steps

Narrow Steps is a quaint and picturesque district nestled along the rocky cliffs overlooking the sea. Winding staircases and cobblestone pathways lead visitors through a maze of narrow alleys and hidden courtyards, offering stunning views of the sparkling ocean below. Artists and recluses often settle here, along with lighthouse keepers and seasonal guides. Locals sell handmade soap, driftwood carvings, and herbal sea tonics.

A protected harbor, shielded from most sea storms.

Three lighthouses, one of which dates back to the town's founding.

Naval outpost shared with the Duchy for coast patrol and customs enforcement.

Seafront marketplace, drawing traders from all over.

A growing educational guild specializing in practical arts—boat-making, tool-forging, and navigation.

The Pearlforge Artisan Circle

The Fishermen's Brotherhood

The Mariners’ Assembly

Founded as a trade and fishing post, Dovesport originally served as a quiet waypoint between larger cities. But the discovery of fine-quality pearls and silkworm-touched kelp in nearby waters led to a boom in trade and craftsmanship.

During the Stormfire Years (1830s AR), Dovesport was spared most of the conflict due to its natural defensibility, but it became a haven for refugees and rogue traders. After the war, it gained more formal recognition and investment from the Duchy.

In the early 1900s AR, a plague swept through the town—especially the South District—leading to mass graves beneath what is now Bloomfield Park. This trauma fostered a strong community spirit that persists today.

The Glass Roost: A multi-story tavern and inn in Old Dovesport that’s hosted smugglers, diplomats, and poets alike.

Lantern Way: A cliffside path in Narrow Steps known for its sunset views and yearly Lantern Walk procession.

The Fishbell Archive: A quirky museum cataloging “sea oddities,” curated by a retired sailor-scholar.

Bloomfield Park: Built over plague grounds, it's now a lush garden with a small chapel and memorial stones.

Dovesport blends seaside rustic with Zhilosian ornamental style. Buildings in Old Dovesport and Pearlforge are stone and wood, with tiled rooftops and painted shutters. The Docks feature taller, utilitarian warehouses, while Narrow Steps mixes coastal cottages with occasional tower-like homes.

Newer buildings in the South District show a shift toward plaster and whitewash, with arched porticoes and airy interiors.

Dovesport hugs a crescent-shaped natural harbor, bordered to the north by rugged cliffs and to the south by a salt marsh. A small river, the Tarnel. feeds into the harbor from the inland hills.

The town climbs in elevation from the Docks upward through Pearlforge and Old Dovesport, peaking at Narrow Steps, where the cliffs drop into the sea.

Mild coastal, with warm, wet springs and temperate summers. Autumns are windy but pleasant. Winters are rainy rather than snowy, though cold gales off the water are common. Occasional sea fog rolls in during the early morning, giving the town a dreamlike haze.

Pearls and kelp harvested from nearby coves.

Salt from marsh evaporation pools.

Driftwood and seaweed, used in crafts and remedies.

Freshwater springs inland support farming in limited plots just outside town.