Prikastel

Prikastel is a floating trade city in the Bay of Bisquick near the Red Citadel. It is a founding member and the de facto capital of the Confederation of Independent States (CIS). It is ruled as the private property of House Mingus, currently led by Bingus of House Mingus.
=== Names and Language ===
Owing to its multi-ethnic population and role as an international trading city, Prikastel has four official languages; these are 1.) the Tenuvian language, 2.) the Juzhosloveny language, 3.) the Nigyar language, and 4.) the Londrian language.
The name of the city thus has four variants. Prikastel is the Londrian variant, while it is referred to as Pricastrum, Придворје (Pridvorje), and Privár in Tenuvian, Juzhosloveny, and Nigyar respectively.
=== History ===
Prikastel was founded by House Mingus, a Tenuvian noble family from the Red Citadel who established the city to serve as a tax haven for merchants who do business in the neighboring capital. Nigyar workslaves were purchased from Juzhosloveny fleshmongers in what was then Satemid controlled Semolis (later the Tenuvian occupied Burnt Hills), and imported to do the impossible: build a floating city in the sea. This was accomplished by driving wooden logs into the earth below (a process during which hundreds of Nigyars perished) and building atop them with stone. There are tales of the fallen Nigyar slaves being ground into paste and added to the mortar between the foundation stones of the city.
Beyond sheltering the Red Citadel's richest from paying any tax, Prikasteler merchants were able to take advantage of the city's neutrality and trade with both the Centumii and Satemids, fostering close relations with Juzhosloveny merchants in Semolis. During the Great War and the destruction of the Semivian occident, many Juzhosloveny merchants, now homeless, sought refuge in Prikastel, contributing valuable trade networks within the Satemid Empire to the city.
This history has led Prikastel to having a multi-ethnic local make-up, largely consisting of Tenuvians, Juzhosloveny, and Nigyars, or mongrels thereof. Additionally, one can find traders from all corners of the Thinlands on its docks.
In hopes to expand the political influence of Prikastel and diversify its economy beyond a mere tax haven, Dingus of House Mingus built relations with other unincorporated cities within the Thinlands, specifically Pextana and (unnamed bridge city), and founded the Confederation of Independent States. This organization features a common currency controlled directly by House Mingus known as International Dabloons, which allow CIS member states to trade without having to balance reserves of Centumii Cents or Satemid Dinars. International Dabloons have come to be the dominant international trade currency in the Thinlands.
With the death of Dingus of House Mingus, the young Bingus of House Mingus has continued his father's vision for the city, making plays at expanding its power through diplomacy and trade.
=== International Relations ===
Prikastel has close economic ties and deep trading relationships in both the Foederatio of Centum and the Satemid Empire. The CIS has an embassy in both the Red Citadel and Malipoli, and Prikastel advances its interests in other non-aligned settlements as well. They maintain a Mission in Service of Prikastel Interests in Pextana through which they deal directly with the Van Dum family in controlling the politics of Pepetela, as well as a Prikastel Literacy Program in Boarswallow in order to foster better relations with the Stink People, that they might join the CIS and offer a port at the mouth of the Slapahoe river. However, Prikasteler missions to the Nyiqqa at the Snow Mounds of Nigmag-Nog have met ambivalence, while their envoy to Urland was beaten to death with sticks like a piñata (the Mongoloids hoped candy would come out of the colorfully dressed diplomat).
=== Behind the Scenes ===
Prikastel was the very first settlement built in Bloatcraft. After Herman's Hut and Dead N**ga Storage, it was the third location ever built in the game.
It has since been moved from its original location as the Red Citadel expanded in size beyond its original scope.
The etymology of its name approximately means "before the Castle", akin to Serbo-Croatian toponyms such as Prigorje or Primorje, with the "Juzhosloveny name" Pridvorje being the name of a real village in Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Croatia.