Corktown

Corktown is a port city built at the end of a rocky peninsula, at the edge of the known lands. A mighty wall shelters it from storms and invasions. Overcrowded, dirty, foul-smelling and twisting, the city is also cosmopolitan, exotic and free.

It draws the sailors and scoundrels of every sea: one-eyed parrots, tattooed and muscular crabs, fish in diving suits. They travel on motley ships, elegant vessels or patched-up old tubs, and are by turns traders, pirates, explorers or plain stokers. They return to port laden with fabulous goods and fantastic stories.

Drinking houses are countless, homes are often barrel-shaped and drunken nights are legendary. The city is as famous for its taverns as for its harbor, and its festive mood draws sailors and landlubbers alike. The most famous include The Happy Hog, The Pink Seagull, The Bar at the End of the World and The Apple in the Mouth.

Justice and law count for little here: strength, money or a big mouth decides. This lax atmosphere attracts those who want to go about shady business in peace and those who want to be forgotten.

The Rinswith-Gutrotter family runs the city: every tavern has a Rinswith-Gutrotter behind the bar or as its owner, and the most powerful of them holds the title of Baron. Today that is Embergrunt, who succeeded his uncle. His militia, the Iron Loins, guards the gates and patrols the streets to defend the family's interests alone.

At unpredictable intervals, a thick fog rolls in from the sea and blankets the city for anything from a single day to nearly ten days. During this foggy season, ships stay in port, crews party non-stop and the craftiest use the fog to go about their business unseen.

Districts

The city has four districts: the Wall and the Salt Gate, where visitors enter, the Porkery in the center, home to the wealthy, the Hook, the poor district behind the wall, and Land's End Port, down by the water.