Cragwater

**Cragwater** is a large city known for its large marketplace in the 'central hub' right in the middle of the merchant's establishment. It lies on the floodplain of the Nipeek River and exists close to the large swampland formed.

## History of Cragwater

Settled 300 years ago on the ruins of a precursor city, Cragwater was the first major settlement in The Dead Lands. Named for its position in between the Hexdol Sea and The Cloud Catcher Mountains Cragwater presented an interesting opportunity to the first settlers looking for a new life within The Dead Lands, with incredibly fertile lands and a strategic position on the Nipeek, Cragwater seemed to be a great merchants hub, with a marketplace growing faster and faster. While many came in search for a better life, the rewards of these lands were mostly reaped by the great merchant princes and nobility who came, looking for more profits and power. These wealthy folk easily took control of nearly all of the value within the newly discovered land, and became known as the founding families. Resources like furs and "mud bugs" poured into Cragwater from the surrounding area only increasing the massive trading potential the growing city had. This was all dwarfed in comparison to the effect of the Nipeek gold rush. When curiosity and a yellow glint was seen in the waters of the Nipeek some trappers began their ventures into the gold industry, and to much excitement, it was a lucrative industry. Immediately the population of Cragwater exploded to well over 100,000 souls, with mass amounts of immigrants from the old world coming to test their luck with gold. Those seeking gold would go on to establish the mining operations found in the Cloud Catcher Mountains, leading to a steady supply of valuable metals, leading to even more growth as a consequence. During this time the industry of lumber, with The River Rats being a major player, was established. With resources pouring in from seemingly every direction Cragwater quickly and steadily grew into a massive metropolis in The Dead Lands beginning the golden age of Cragwater.

### The Golden Age of Cragwater

In the following 50 years the population swelled to an extraordinary 2,000,000 souls, massive city projects like a waste management and sewer system. The arts and sciences flourished as well with the construction of theatres, an opera house, the Grand Museum, and a university all being constructed. Inhabitants of the city were well fed, disease was relatively rare, and it seemed that this city was truly what was promised as a better life. And while life surely improved for everyone around the city, none showed it more than the merchant princes. These merchant princes sought to capitalize on the good times and created massive plantations out of the farmlands, with the largest and most ostentatious manors imaginable. It was said that the merchant princes of Cragwater lived more lavish lives than the kings of the old world. These merchant princes also used wealth to buy power, quickly replacing all of the founding families on the city council and transforming the city into something of a plutocracy.

### The Downfall

This golden age was doomed to end however, and when the mining industries of The Cloud Catcher Mountains and lumber of the Western Woods began to collapse, so did Cragwater. With less splendor to be had, the intake of wealth via merchants and traders began to diminish, and with it did the population, with more than half the population leaving to find their lives elsewhere in The Dead Lands. With this lack of population, the great plantations of the merchant princes became obsolete, that is for the growth of food. Many turned to the growth of narcotic herbs as a way to continue their lavish lives, however damaging to the people of Cragwater.

Cragwater exists as a shell of its former self, with many parts of the city abandoned and crumbling away. The population has dwindled to well under 1,000,000 souls, and those who do still live here find themselves in poor standing. The drug trade has caused the merchant families to have more power than ever before, however harmful their means of attaining that power might be. Despite this a glimmer of hope remains, with the merchant's district still acting as a strong center of trade, and the implementation of programs that may yet bring life back to Cragwater.

## Locations

Inns:

Donweb's inn