Keipan - The Tamaran Gateway

        Second-largest of the Erdani city states, Keipan spawls its way down the southern slopes of mount Thann and overlooks the vast expanse of Blacksail Bay. Heavily fortified, the walled city is one of the main trading ports for slavers and Tamaran privateers, who ferry their cargo down the Tethys before stopping here to switch vessels. As a result, the city accommodates large numbers slave pens and beast kennels to help facilitate this transition from small river craft to large, ocean-going ships destined for Tamara. This is a segregated portion of the city kept by czath taskmasters and low-ranking soldiery, with none of the fine architecture seen elsewhere. The further one goes up the mountainside, the more splendid the constructions, ending in the baroness' castle at the highest echelon.

Keipan is the main port through which all new Tamaran citizens must apply. The city is filled with hopeful social-climbers from all six baronies, each seeking to convince the Decider's personal review board of their worthiness. Just getting to the interview is a feat in and of itself, requiring references, complicated application forms, and all manner of bribery. Only young, good-looking, and talented folk are ever considered by the review board, which hands out the papers required for entry to the exclusive island nation. Rejects are simply thrown out the door, or worse yet, tricked into thinking they've been accepted, only to end up in the Tamaran arenas or slave markets. Alazarin herself often presides over such interviews, though only in special circumstances - the baroness considers such affairs beneath her.

        The citizenry is mostly human, as with the majority of Erdani communities. Non-human races are slaves or second class citizens at best, forced to live in the lower district, near the water. This entire area is considered to be the bad part of town, best left to the slavers, pirates, and dockside merchants. Those coming in by ship are rarely questioned unless they wish to enter the upper city, in which case rejection is common without the proper escort or papers. Only local citizens are welcome, and non-citizens are promptly escorted back to the lower quarter unless they have a valid reason for visiting. The higher up one goes, the more exclusive the communities become, and the less they think of anyone below them. Some of the 'up-townerns' are truly, insufferably arrogant.

        Control of the city is divided among the baroness' six advisors, though the final say is hers. Accountable only to the Decider, baroness Alazarin has the freedom to make her own policies within the city, though ultimate control still defaults to the Tamaran queen if she so wills it. Order is maintained for all who can afford it, with laws enforced by the usual array of Erdani reserves. Those that distinguish themselves here are more likely to be transferred to the islands, though for the most part only female soldiers are eligeable. The tougher, meaner militia end up in the city's lower districts, keeping the peace among the mercenary riffraff who supply the slaves and beasts to the Tamaran market.

Baroness Alazarin Brima

         Though she appears to be human, Keipan's baroness conceals a fearsome secret. She devoured the real baroness long ago. For this cunning dragon, it was the perfect way to hide from the City Mind. She claims to be a powerful sorceress (not untrue), and conceals her true form and spirit with powerful magic. She has outlived the majority of her 'relatives', crediting her youthful looks to magical elixirs and holding the Decider's favor with the occasional (much-resented) bribe from her personal treasure trove. It's nothing compared to the cleverly-hidden kickbacks she arranges for herself, finding a large number of fringe benefits to offset the irritation of human form and behavior. She isn't especially cruel, though she dreams of devouring more than one of her nasal advisors all the time, especially when they're telling her what to do. She doesn't like mortals, rich or poor, but chokes it all down to stay hidden. All she has to do is tell herself that taxes are a kind of fearful tribute in her name, and that her political power makes her as fearsome as the great beast she once was.

        Alazarin's veneer of humanity has faded year after year, and some have begun to wonder if dabblings in powerful magic have driven their ruler insane. They never wonder out loud, however, lest they become dead. Her draconic nature shows through in some ways that she isn't aware of, such as her week-long 'beauty rests' and inconceivable hoards of clothing. Over the years, the baroness has grown increasingly paranoid that her true nature has been discovered by some elusive, plotting faction, and has spies all over the city, listening in on anyone considered 'suspicious'. To cope with her anxiety, and having to walk around as a puny human, the disguised dragon has turned to a colorful variety of mind-altering substances, fleeing to her secret mountain lair every now and then to roll around in her wealth and unwind. It takes a lot out of her to put up with things she would ordinarily destroy.

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