Hardport
The Last Bastion of the North
Nestled on the frozen edge of Devil’s Bay, Hardport is the northernmost city of Pharus, standing defiant against the relentless chill of the polar winds. This small yet resilient port city endures the wrath of the elements, its people hardened by generations of survival in one of the most unforgiving landscapes known to man.
Hardport is not for the faint of heart. It is a city of steel, ale, and frost, where only the strong endure. Ruled by the Oerfels and shaped by the unforgiving cold, it stands as a testament to human resilience at the very edge of the world.
Government
Hardport is ruled by the Oerfel Family, an aristocracy led by King Eldric Oerfel and his six sons—Prince Alaric, Prince Bentin, Prince Eldric, Prince Ranald, Prince Willem, and Prince Wilmark. Each prince oversees a different aspect of the city’s governance, from trade and defense to law and the harsh justice that keeps order in this frozen land. The Oerfels’ word is law, and their iron rule has maintained Hardport’s survival, even as the ice closes in and supplies grow scarce.
Industry & Trade
Hardport thrives on industries that suit its rugged environment:
- Fishing: The lifeblood of the city, with hardy sailors braving the frigid waters for fish and seals.
- Tanning: The hides of beasts—both common and rare—are worked into durable leathers.
- Brewing: Hardport’s beer and ale are prized for their strength and warmth, a necessary luxury in the bitter cold.
- Blacksmithing: Skilled smiths forge sturdy armor and weapons to withstand the elements and protect against raiders.
- Lumber & Furs: The surrounding tundra provides valuable timber and thick pelts, traded with distant cities for goods Hardport cannot produce itself.
- Ice Trade: Blocks of crystal-clear glacial ice are cut, stored, and shipped south, fetching a high price in the warmer lands.
Infrastructure
Life in Hardport is cold, cruel, and without mercy. The people are weathered and unyielding, shaped by the bitter winters and long, sunless nights. Honor and tradition run deep, and debts—whether of coin or blood—are never forgotten. Strength is respected, weakness is scorned, and survival is earned. Many in Hardport live by the old saying:
"Only the strong see the thaw."
The city’s taverns are filled with harsh laughter, strong ale, and tales of sea beasts, ice demons, and lost ships swallowed by the frozen abyss. The warriors of Hardport are fierce, heavily clad in furs and steel, and the merchants drive hard bargains, knowing that every coin must be stretched through the long, deadly winters.
Points of interest
- The Frozen Docks – A sprawling set of ice-crusted piers, where fishing ships and merchant vessels brave the treacherous bay.
- The Oerfel Keep – A fortress of black stone and thick timbers, where the royal family rules with a firm and frostbitten hand.
- The Frosted Anvil – The city’s most renowned blacksmith, crafting armor and weapons that can endure the bitterest cold.
- The Last Keg – The most infamous tavern in Hardport, where sailors, hunters, and warriors gather to drink, fight, and scheme.
Type
City
Population
28,905
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Additional Rulers/Owners
Owning Organization
- Iceborn Beasts lurk beyond the safety of the city, hunting those foolish enough to wander too far.
- Pirates of Devil’s Bay often raid Hardport’s ships, seeking plunder before vanishing into the fog.
- The Sunless Curse—an old legend whispers of an approaching winter that will never end.
- The Forgotten Vaults beneath Oerfel Keep may hold ancient secrets… or something far worse.