Beauport

Beauport is a costal settlement along the Bay of Stones on the continent of Ishtar.

Slightly inland along the widest stretch of the Copperbelly River the town of Beauport is a thriving trade hub despite the somewhat dangerous nature of traversing the waters along the Bay. Beauport is also quite famous for their copper mines to which they are one of the main supplies of copper ore to the neighbouring settlements and kingdoms.

History

Beauport began as a small coastal village established by a shipwrecked vessel whose name has been forgotten. Over the years the population grew and more trade was done with local villages in Ishtar.

When copper was discovered to be plentiful in the hills around the village it attracted the attention of many would-be miners who sought to profit off the wealth of ore. The village boomed in population and established many different mining companies that all fought for control of the rich veins in the hills.

On a cold, December night In 991 A.D. all but one mining concern was left standing after a sudden and coordinated assault on the others by Finn Beauport. A ruthless and greedy man, Beauport organized his hostile takeover and took control of all the mining veins in the area as well as the town, casting aside its previous name and history in favour of his own.

In his history, Beauport was the one who founded the village and fought off those would seek to steal the wealth of the townsfolk. Though he succeeded in destroying much of the rest of the history of the town, his own version of the story didn't hold up if only due to the enmity he had garnered with the surviving family of those he had murdered.

Over the years, successive Beauports have tightened their hold upon the town though they have had to deal with several attempts at unionization or usurping the town by outsiders. At least three of the Beauport family have been the victims of assassination.

As of 1295 A.D. the town is once more hearing the murmurings of uprising after the collapse of one of the mines which resulted in the death of 20 miners. Whether the next overthrow attempt is successful remains to be seen.

Geography

Beauport is built upon the widest point of the Copperbelly River a kilometer from where it spills into the Bay of Stones. Still deep enough to allow boat passage up to the town itself, any further passage beyond the town is blocked by the small series of waterfalls as the copper-rich foothills begin.

Economy

Beauport is known for its copper mines. With a dozen or so distinct mining operations around the hills of the town all under the direction of Beauport Mining Group. BMG handles all trade, taxation, and economic concerns within the town.

While able to supply itself with what farming is available in the area, they have made themselves a rather potent coastal trading hub, particularly between various parties which may not be aligned. Much of this is handled by the Ishtar Trading Company with the necessary dues paid to Beauport, though Beauport is unable to do much about any trades that happen in the waters beyond their jurisdiction.

The ITC and a very few number of individuals (mainly in the Docks) are permitted to do trade in copper, silver, or gold. The rest of the citizenry are issued wooden coins known as Beauport Nickels, a company script used to pay employees and for employees to purchase goods and services in the town.

Government

Beauport is a authoritarian corpocracy, essentially a company town run by Augustus Beauport of the Beauport Mining Group. It is essentially a company town. All legal disputes are overseen by Beauport or one of his people and all of the security within the town are employees of Beauport Mining Group. The town protects itself and its employees, but it also ensures that they stay in line.

Citizens (employees) of the town must be careful about what they say about the way the town is run and any hint or whisper of the word 'union' is often met with reprisals whether they are justified or not. The great oak tree outside of Beauport Company Hall has seen only a handful of would-be union leaders swinging from its branches. Enough to act as a deterrent to the rest of the population.

Relationships

Ashford

Beauport has a close relationship with the town of Ashford with the former acting as the main trading hub to receive ash wood from the agroforestry cultivation that Ashford does while also acting to get in materials that the town may need that is absent in the area. Post from Beauport often contains letters from families abroad or packages of rare ingredients or simply new books for the town.

Dragon Rider Conclave

Beauport has little interest in interacting with the DRC. The Beauport Mining Group seems the DRC as an annoyance at best and a threat at worst. Though they recognize that shipments from other areas of the world from the DRC is often lucrative as they flow through the town, Beauport holds little interest in offering tithe or requesting aid from the dragon riders.

Fey

Beauport is openly hostile toward the fey. While some rural farmers may make offerings they do so surreptitiously to ensure no reprisals from the company. Iron nails adorn every home and business within Beauport and fey interference in their mining is met with force.

Giants

Beauport is too far South to be of much concern to any giants though there have been the occasional wanderer that has been sighted near the town.

Kingdom of Ausra

Beauport has little interest in being part of a greater kingdom, but accepts trade from Ausra. One of the old families of a mining concern eliminated by the Beauports when they took over resides in the capital of Ausra, Wicklow. It is rumoured that they have eyes and ears within Beauport as they plan the family's downfall.

Kingdom of Mercia

Beauport has little interest in being part of a greater kingdom, but accepts trade from Mercia.

Kingdom of Moray

Beauport has little interest in being part of a greater kingdom, but accepts trade from Moray.

Montrose Barony

Beauport has little interest in being part of a greater kingdom, but accepts trade from the Barony despite overtures from the Barony about joining them. Many believe that these overtures are a front for spies to assess the strength of the town as there are a number of old families within the Barony who lost ancestors to the Beauports.

Republic of Dewyr

Beauport sees a fair bit of trade from Dewyr, however, the Republic is officially against any formal relationship with the township as they view the company town as little more than indentured servitude. The government does not interfere in merchant trade as they recognize the necessity of trade, but they will often send representatives to Beauport whenever one of their citizens is in trouble with the company.

Vanya

Beauport does not see many Vanya come through town. The Vanya's barter and oath system of payment is not conducive to the economic model of the town. The BMG has spread rumours that the Vanya are little more than bandits who seek to take whatever they want, resulting in some discrimination sent their way by local townsfolk who do not know better.

Wyldspeakers

Beauport is basically in open war against the Wyldspeakers. Anyone entering town suspected of being a member of the Wyldspeakers is attacked and killed or locked up. The Wyldspeakers see the mass stripping of resources from the land and the disregard to plant, animal, and the lives of people to be anathema.

Notable Locations

• Beauport Company Hall

Notable People

• Augustus Beauport