Coltar

Coltar, is the capital of the Coltar Freehold in the Commonwealth of Pem. It is the historic seat of power for the Coltar Mayorate, is a major banking centre and has long been a centre of the arts and of floral horticulture in Pem, with the annual Coltar Fringe Festival and Coltar Flower Festival being a highlight of the year.

Coltar is connected to the Super Canal and has direct railway routes to Pembleton, Woleseat and Wasmeinau-ist-Deinau in Hansea, with additional rail and air routes planned. The area around the city features the historical Fort Skyrain and an accompanying Imperial Guard military base.

## Economy

### Banking

In the Emergent Era, Coltar's Mayor and Central Bank, established the basis for the modern banking system and its customs, and the city was a financial centre of the Centrelands. However, following the Spice Crash of 359BGE its banking sector partly collapsed and its status as a a financial hub was diluted by other major cities such as Pembleton and Rubellium. Nevertheless, the city has significantly rebuilt its financial sector and is seen as a hub of commercial financial activity, in particular its loan and financing sectors.

### Rail

Coltar has a strong tradition of railway industry dating back to the establishment of the Known World's first privately run railway, the Eastern Blue Railway, by Malcolm Tavistock in 335BGE. The Eastern Blue Railway company and Coltar's banking institutions have been major contributors to investment in railway concerns across the Centrelands and abroad. More recently, Coltar's has promoted itself as rail-hub, with its rail and finance sectors being heavily involved in the construction of The Great Transmarch Railway, which links Coltar with Wasmeinau-ist-Deinau in Hansea. There are also plans for a branch line to Archpolonia and rumours of a possible rail link between Coltar and Chadeau Gravité in Alleuria.

### Horticulture

Coltar also has a strong history of horticultural and floral pursuits, for which it has gained the moniker "City of Flowers". Macintosh's Flower Shop, run by the wealthy Macintosh family, is a longstanding feature of the city centre and is one of the few historical mainstays of Coltar's economy not centering around finance. Furthermore, since 174BGE the Duke of Coltar has been the head of Harrington's, a flower company originating in Rubellium. The Dukes of Coltar have respected the importance of the Macintosh brand in Coltar, but their link to Harrington's has only served to strengthen Coltar's reputation as a city with a strong floral tradition.

### Other Industry

Coltar has a burgeoning middle-class population, which has encouraged a fashion industry to establish itself in the city, alongside its long-standing status as a centre of the arts. Expensive import jewellery and clothing items can be found in the shops of the city, although it has yet to burgeon a strong local industry for the production of similar items.

## Districts

### Banker's Purview

Banker's Purview encompasses Banker's Square, Banker's Street and Banker's Lane and, as the names suggest, is the traditional banking and financial sector of the city. Although the district now features a diverse range of housing, pubs and businesses, it is still home to many of Coltar's financial companies. The imposing Old Banking House feature's prominently in the district, housing many of the city's affluent citizens - the building itself having been heavily refurbished following abandonment and dilapidation after the Spice Crash. The district is also home to the Banker's Ghast pub, a hotbed of financial finagling over a pint. It is said the pub is haunted by the ghost of "The Banker", who whispers poor financial advice to any patron unfortunate enough to listen.