Wingsport self interest

Wingsport – Surviving the Waves
A Pragmatic Approach
Wingsport has always been a trading city, strategically located on one of the main North/South trade routes it has managed over the years to prosper and thrive. In order to do this it has had to remain adaptable to the changing fortunes of surrounding powers, those that might otherwise simply swallow it up. Recently, this has seen it ally with Alvera, and those bonds were strengthened when Alvera negotiated a peace treaty with the Empire. However, let nobody be fooled, the city will still be trading with others, some of whom might be seen as enemies of the Alveran/Empire alliance.
This pragmatic approach is supported by the cities open acceptance of nearly all religions, the only exception being those that publicly espouse racial superiority (Gemidiah and Hashandara). One question often debated by city philosophers is that of what would the cities view of an Ariel God be?
The city maintains a strong central control over the economy and trade, with the net result that whilst merchant houses can exist within the city, a formalised Guild of Merchants is prohibited. Similarly organised crime has never managed to really coalesce into a single power, being fragmented between a number of competing gangs….obviously something the city authorities encourage.
As one Beriesan Ariel merchant once put it “I like visiting and doing business with Wingsport, but I always check which way the wind is blowing before I land there”