Traveler's Guide to Old Port by Galleous Albedos

[Oroborous]

Travelers Introduction to Old Port
By Galleous Albedos

The following traveler's guide was created in 1375 by the author's own observations of the island of Old Port. Where ever possible, information not witnessed by this author was confirmed by several outside sources including Manchakan agents, local citizens, and members of significant community standing. The danger of Old Port for those not aware of its nature can not be over-stressed. During the initial visit that led to this work, one of my companions was sold into slavery after being foolishly led into captivity by the Manchakan agents who clearly had the support of local law, and his freedom was purchased at great cost. This guide is invaluable for traveling safety through Old Port, which is the only available route for finding ships that will return to the mainland.

Old Port is situated to the north-east of Ymph. It is a small island, entirely built over by the decaying remnants of a once populated and fortified city. Access to the Old Port harbor is actually gained by navigating up a canal which passes between two towering but weathered statues depicting unknown men.

The first glimpse of Old Port indicates its fortified nature. High walls and towers, a fortress now occupied by Count Zarono Senuspur and his elite warriors the Rubies rises above the dilapidated towers and decrepit buildings that cover the city. A handful of guardsmen protect the harbor and the visitor's section of the city.

All travel to other regions has been forbidden for considerable time. Slavery is tolerated in Old Port, and in fact, actively encouraged by several factions upon the island. There was an uprising against the slave trade which resulted in the hanging of several merchants within the last few decades. This uprising is poorly detailed, and was quickly crushed by the Count, who used it as an excuse to limit all visitor contact from a majority of Old Port. Today, visitors are allowed only in a small section of the actual city. How much of the remainder is populated is not known.

Several notable powers exist upon Old Port. The most powerful is the Count himself and his elite guards. They occupy a fortress that overlooks the visitor's section and watch down at the slave sales from a balcony. Sunuspur is the decendant of exiled Tethyrian nobles who traveled to Old Port in the distant past.

When his ancestors arrived in Old Port it was already a thriving community. Originally, this settlement was founded on the trade of cat pelts hunted on the nearby, and considerably larger, island of Ymph. Since then, the island had also become the home of several pirate bands operating in the Shining Sea. At least some of the island's fortifications were useful in repelling the occasional attack of drow raiders from the Underdark city of Traensyr. However, repelling these attacks does not account for the large harbor walls and stone fortress. Indeed, if the entire city is covered by buildings-then the rock to construct them was quarried elsewhere and transported at great expense to Old Port.

These pirates occasionally sold their captives into slavery, trading them with other vessels and fleets. This slave trade rapidly expanded when the drow began to purchase slaves from the pirates rather than raid the island. This proved enormously profitable for all sides involved, and literally thousands of slaves have found their way to the Underdark. Many of those who managed to escape, interestingly enough found their way to the city of Sanctuary, also called Dunwarren.

A group of slave traders called Manchakan appear to control many of the merchants in the public sector. Their forces operate with near impunity within Old Port, and are well known by this author to kidnap or trick travelers into slavery. They are easily recognized in their black armor, and seem to show no fear of reprisal from Count Sunuspur for their harassment of visitors to the island. It is well known amongst the locals that the Count disdains travelers in the first place, but this does not entirely discount the feasibility of a deal between the Count and the Manchakan. The Manchakan supply local shops with some trade goods, including those favored by wizards who specialize in necromancy.

Additionally, a group of mercenaries called the Stygian Armada operates out of Old Port with an additional base of operations on Ymph. These mercenaries are well-trained fighters, and their ranks are open to monstrous humanoid species such as sahaugin. While rumors abound that the Stygians engage in the slave trade, no concrete evidence has ever been presented. The mercenaries themselves are well-regarded for their pragmatism and sense of honor, when they agree to a contract it appears they fulfill it by any means necessary.

The true origins of Old Port are entirely unknown. The presence of stone-worked buildings, as indicated, suggests the settlement was built at high cost and is not indicative of a simple trading post or pirate harbor. Visitors to Old Port will want to find themselves a room at the Golden Cup inn, and if you hope to gain information from the other patrons there be prepared to buy many a bottle of Sembian rum. It is highly likely that the settlement was part of the old Netherese colony, but evidence to support this is not forthcoming.

Travel to Old Port is extremely dangerous and few will dare to make the trip. As with much of the Ymph Archepelago, the dangerous Mist makes travel difficult. Tales abound of ships running aground, losing their bearings or simply failing to ever make port. Most those of Old Port are convinced that the Mist is the breathe of Umberlee, given life by her will. Morthus Dhaezrig is a prominent supporter of this belief, and master of the Bitch Queen's temple in Old Port. His clergy has encouraged ritual blood sacrifices by sailors to appease the Mist, and few ships will dare set sail without some living creature to offer to Umberlee, as this author witnessed himself aboard the Leaky Spirit captained by Nell Silverfish.