Arastmith

Nestled near the southern tip of the largest island in the Bloody Islands chain, Arastmith stands as the heart and soul of Cruentum, a sprawling city born from piracy, perseverance, and pragmatism. Today, it is a bustling capital of industry, and culture, its streets imbued with the echoes of its storied past.

Legacy of the Wretched Dame

At the heart of Arastmith lies the remains of the Wretched Dame, the infamous ship once captained by the city's founder, Arastmith Lurk. After its dismantling, the timbers and bones of the vessel were transformed into the Lord's Manor, an imposing yet weathered structure that serves as both a monument and a symbol of power.

Surrounding the manor is the Old City, a dense and vibrant 2.2-square-kilometer core, its narrow cobbled streets winding like veins through tightly packed stone and timber buildings. The architecture reflects layers of history—pirate hovels alongside elegant merchant houses, shipbuilders' workshops alongside grand halls adorned with nautical motifs. Inns, taverns, and markets dominate the city centre, filled with the laughter of sailors, the cries of merchants hawking exotic goods, and the faint melodies of sea shanties.

Manufacturing and Industry

Beyond the Old City lies Arastmith’s manufacturing quarter, a testament to the city's industrious spirit. Here, the rhythmic hammering of forges and shipwrights' tools fills the air as blacksmiths, carpenters, and sailmakers work tirelessly. Cruentum is world-renowned for its shipbuilding industry, producing vessels of unmatched quality that sail to every corner of the known world. The Capital produces tools, parts and sails for use both by the Vanron-Lurk Shipwrights and the repair and maintenance performed at South Ports many docks.

The Surrounding Lands

Radiating outward from the manufacturing centre is a patchwork of farmland and woodland, cultivated and cleared over generations. The southern farmlands are dotted with small homesteads and fields of grain, vegetables, and grazing livestock—providing much of the city’s food supply. These fields are tilled by hardy folk, descendants of adventurers, pirates, and settlers who found permanence in the fertile soil.

To the north lies a traveller's clearing, a broad semi-forested space where merchants, travellers, and settlers from up-island can stop to rest. Wagon trains and caravans park here, their animals grazing in semi-cleared pastures as families set up temporary campsites. Makeshift stalls sell supplies to those passing through, and small shrines dedicated to various gods of travel, commerce, and fortune line the path toward the city gates.

The forested areas that fringe Arastmith are remnants of the island’s untapped natural wealth. While most have been cleared for building or farmland, sections of dense, old-growth forest remain untouched—providing timber, wild game, and mystery. Folktales whisper of spirits lingering in these woods, guardians of the island’s untamed past.

Arastmith as the Capital

As the capital of Cruentum, Arastmith is a centre of governance, culture, and power. The Lord’s Manor, rising above the city centre, is home to the current ruler, a visible reminder of the city’s foundation under Arastmith Lurk. The city council and First Admiral’s offices also reside here, ensuring trade, defence, and diplomacy flow smoothly. Though much of its piratical past has been relegated to legend, traces of that identity persist in the form of naval pride and a fierce independence among its citizens.

The Spirit of Arastmith

Arastmith is a city where contrasts thrive: wealth and poverty, order and chaos, history and progress. Adventurers still wander through its gates, drawn by tales of treasures hidden in the north. Merchants fill its streets, while artisans and labourers fuel its industry.

Above all, Arastmith remains a symbol of freedom and opportunity, a city born from the vision of a pirate lord and nurtured by generations of outcasts, dreamers, and builders. It is a place where anyone—be they criminal, noble, or adventurer—can carve out a place for themselves amid the salty sea breeze and the hum of the city’s ceaseless life.