Ichor Hall

Ichor Hall is a large town in the Atarlie Frontier which serves as the capital of the province. It is situated along the road between the harbours at South Point and the elven protectorate of the Hearthlands. The town is considered the only noteworthy civilian community in the Frontier, as both South Point and Navarre's Crossing are under military control. The town is best known for, and takes its name from, the local temple to Shalaevar Shamaris, so named for its trade in the produce of the giant spiders which are native to the area, and ranched there.

Geography

Ichor Hall sits along the South Point Road, about halfway from the Hearthlands Boundary to the city of South Point. At one point, this was the furthest southern extent of Elven influence, though at that time it was a city in active rebellion and was only incorporated into the empire after it was conquered by it. The town is a traditional elven settlement, hard to pick out from the forest that surrounds it to its north - the Ichorwood, which is known for the monsterous spiders (and other vermin) which inhabit it.

Economy

Ichor Hall is not a prime economic mover. While self-sufficient, it relies to a degree on trade with either South Point or the Hearthlands for supplemental goods. This trade has made the city wealthy, as taxes and tolls are collected by it along that road, and this road is the main way that the Hearthlands can trade with the ports along the south coast of the Shimmering Shore, and the halflings and gnomes who live there have a thirst for luxury goods of all kinds.

Politics

Ichor Hall is a syndicate town - while it is under official control of the empire through its Prefect, that prefect is in a tenous position and has recognized the need to work with the old power structure - elven nobles who predate the town joining the empire, and priests from the city temple. While the Frontier is a relatively recent addition to the Empire it has had a surprising number of prefects, as those who hold court at Ichor Hall seem to be horrifically accident prone.