The port city of Kethmar is a medium sized city of about 16,000 people. It is by far the largest city on the relatively wild, untamed continent of Caerdith. The city is run by a council that rules with a light if rather corrupt hand.
Laws
Laws in Kethmar are like laws in most cities, except that they're rarely enforced very vigorously. If a pretty (and unknown) halfling woman is getting raped in a bad part of town, some of the city guard are as apt to join in as to help her. This is, of course not true in the better parts of town, or if the halfling in question is some one important. The truth of the matter is that Kethmar is a frontier city that was founded by smugglers and slave traders, and that the rule of law is often replaced by the old adage of "might makes right" when people think they can get away with it.
Slavery
While some people feel that slavery is immoral, it is perfectly legal to own slaves in Kethmar, although enslaving a free man or woman is a crime, it, like so many laws, is often not enforced very vigorously.
The various districts
The dock and warehouse district: A mixed area. During the day, the docks are well patrolled and fairly safe, as merchants hustle about conducting the business that is the lifeblood of the city. At night, the area changes, rowdy drunken sailors, petty criminals, and whores wander the area. Few guards are around, and those that are are in large groups and carry torches, so that the criminal element wont bother them as they make their patrols or escort important people who need to conduct business at night.
The merchants quarter: Unlike most of the city, the merchant's quarter is safe, tidy, heavily patrolled, and even well lit at night. it is here you can go to buy a barrel of fish, a new sword, or a platinum slave collar with diamond studs. Many of the larger shops are open 24 hours a day, but during the daytime the square in the center hosts one of the largest and best bazaars in the world. It is located on the east side of town, between the military district, the east town wall, the docks and the poor south quarter.
The keep and military district: Another neat and safe part of the city filled with the homes of the guard, as well as the main city barracks and training yard. Closer to the keep are the houses of the officers, and closer still are the estates of the wealthy.
The Nobles Quarter: What was once the slums, has since been replaced by the exact opposite. Now known as the Nobles quarter, this section includes many of the wealthy and extravagant homes of Kethmar, catering mostly to the nobles of the city. Though some businesses can be found here due to the mixed borders of the cultural/bazaar district and the merchants’ quarter, the majority of this section of town is mostly housing, which is all rather freshly built due to the recent fire that completely destroy what used to be the slums. Though regularly patrolled at night, the naïve fool will attempt to break into some of these homes, unaware that many are protected by magical means, as well as personal guards, constructs, and other such magically produced protective creatures.
The Forign quarter: Once known as the poor quarter, the foreign quarter is one of the more recent addictions to the city to accommodate its growing population. Though, with the building of Kardales’ Silver Stag Inn, the quarter quickly drew many foreign adventurers and mercenaries. As time went on, this group of people coming from all corners of the world to the legendary tavern began to overrun the poor quarter for their own homes. Though today it’s still somewhat of a mixture of the poor and the adventuring foreigners the adventuring crowd has taken ownership of the district. And yet, the Kethmar Guard barely considers it a part of the city, as their rounds in the section are fairly rare. That being said this section of town has become a rather dangerous one, with the high populace of adventurers and thieves. Day or night, one should be weary to venture through this portion of the city alone. Though mostly populated by adventurers, many lower working class peasants reside here due to it’s originally being called the Poor quarter with it’s low housing rates. This populace now however is in the majority, making ust enough to stay there nd to keep themselves out of the Refugee ward.
The Refugee Ward: Being the newest addiction to the city, this section houses the cities poorest. Though the Kethmar Government still says it was created to accommodate refugees of the city that could not be housed in the walls, many people believe otherwise. This is due to the fact the almost immediately after construction on the quarter was completed, the mysterious fire in the slums erupted, forcing the entire populace of the slums to move here. Though highly populated, the section of the city is very underdeveloped and dirty still, as many of the poor sleep in make shift tents or huts, if their lucky. As Kethmar became a major bastion of focus of the Sisters of Light religion, their massive temple was erected in the slums, including a hospital of sorts, and some very economic housing. Due to the traffic this brings, some small shops have appeared trying to capitalize on the lack of competition but struggle because of the frequent burglaries. The Kethmar Guard considers this portion of the city even less an actual part of the city than the foreign quarter, and a Kethmar Guard is very rare to be seen in the section, unless called to the area for something of significant importance, with the exception of the main roads, the walls, and The Sisters Temple which is patrolled regularly.. Crime is abundant here, though most of the city turns a blind eye as it’s only a matter of the poor stealing from the poor and likewise, so no one really cares.
