Asraport is a corporate-run state located in the Ruined Sea, owned by the dwarvish Asra Bank. It was established in 1502 by Runmar Goldstone after he proposed creating a colony in order to better access the wealth being generated by the race for Aelantir. Soon after its establishment, Asraport became the first port of call for adventurers and settlers alike trying to find a home in Aelantir.
In line with their Halcanni brethren, the dwarves of Asraport have adopted their own mineral moniker: alloy dwarves. Hailing from all corners of Halcanni civilization, the alloy dwarves pride themselves on mixing together into a culture that is greater than the sum of its parts. Unlike dwarven society back in their old homes, the alloy dwarves do not cleave to the same rigid clan structures that dominate traditional dwarven culture, resulting in the creation of a historically-unprecedented nation of “clanless” dwarves. Though more traditionally-minded dwarves may see Asraporter society as chaotic and aimless, the alloy dwarves themselves see the lack of clans contributing to a spirit of freedom and dynamism that is absent from all other dwarven cultures.
Construction[]
Upon their first landing, the dwarves of the Asra Bank were out of sorts. Brought up in the ways of traditional hold construction, the raging seas and hostile jungles of the Ruin were nigh-inhospitable to them. Yet, their luck improved as they sighted an island covered in massive columns of basalt. Claiming the land for themselves, the dwarves immediately set to work building into the stone.
Before long, the city of Asraport extended both above and below, with soaring towers and deep mines. It may not have been a hold, but its construction was no doubt exemplary of modern dwarvish engineering. The crown jewel of the city was in its harbor. Asraport’s coastline was lined with cliffs and rough seas that made the construction of a conventional harbor unfeasible. Instead, a web of scaffolding rose up from the water, which in turn supported a harbor raised far above the raging waters. Ships would drop anchor below, and a system of lifts and pulleys raised the cargo up to the city itself. For those willing to pay, entire ships could be raised out of the water for shelter and maintenance.
Diplomacy[]
Historically one of Asraport’s greatest material needs has been lumber. Either for their ever-expanding construction or for shipbuilding, local sources never seemed to be enough. To remedy this, a number of contracts were signed with the various nations of the Ruined Sea granting Asraporter lumbering teams exploitation rights. Such agreements were mutually beneficial, as once the lumberjacks had done their work, the host country was left with an open field where they could further expand their own domain.
Asraport’s greatest rival in the region was the Pirate Confederacy of Mykx. The gnollish raiders took every opportunity to harass Asraporter shipping lanes, but took a special interest in ships arriving in Asraport from their stakeholders in Cannor, which were more often than not loaded with bullion from the coffers of the Asra Bank. The disruption this caused to Asraport’s industry was immense, yet commissioning ships of their own would have taken up valuable dock space that would otherwise be used for commerce. To work around this, the governing board of Asraport created an anti-pirate bounty posting system. This system practically single-handedly created a market for naval mercenaries in the Ruined Sea, and the age of piracy would reach a new high in intensity, as pirates and mercenaries clashed all over Aelantir.
The final destruction of Mykx in 1604 did not come at the hands of Asraport nor its mercenaries, but the fleets of Saamiršes. However, they were no longer a thorn in the side of the Alloy Dwarves. By the mid-17th century, Asraport was finally allowed to hit its stride; free from piratical harassment, it became the premier shipping port in the Ruined Sea, with goods from across Aelantir flowing in and out of the port.