Venetta

Venetta is the northern-most city-state of The Concords. It holds an important position in trade, as it is the largest port within Harvest Meadows and is used by the Reed-Creed for exports just as much as the other Concord city-states.

## City Data (circa A.A. 3360)

* Population: ~3 500
* Area: ~6 km2

## History

### Early History

The location around Venetta was populated long before the Firstlings came around, however the city-state itself was established in A.A. 46 by the Firstling Empire. The settlement was an important harbor for far-traveling traders and weary troops who where stationed in Venetta to fend back the untamed wilds to the north, monsters and beasts included.

During its early years, Venetta grew rapidly due to the positioned military bringing their families over to live there, but eventually its growth slowed. Afterwards it slowly accrued more people due to its prominence in trade, fishing and farming.

### After the empire

Even after the Firstling Empire decayed, Venetta maintained its economical importance to the region. For over three millennia, throughout various wars and disasters, the city-state stood as the largest port in the north of Dahn and an important economical and cultural hub within Harvest Meadows.

### Neu-Quintex Epoch

As the Mortal Veil was first documented in Venetta, you would be correct to think that the locale was absolutely ravaged by the disease. The city's prosperity is now only evident if you compare it to its peers.

## Geography

Venetta is located in the northern part of Dahn upon the mouth of the river Yurmala, at the northern edge of Harvest Meadows. The city hugs Giramoor to its north and one can almost make out the Stepping-Stone islands to the north-east across the sea if the weather is permitting.

Venetta is directly connected to the Firstling's Highway.

## Governance

Just like all other city-states in the Concords, Venetta is governed by a ruling caste of nobles and burghers. The Mortal Veil took a heavy toll on the dynasties present, however the ever-present stewards of the city-state, the Safford dynasty still manages to abide.

## People and Customs

Venetta is very non-traditional in its composition due to the prosperous nature of the city-state, as it is mostly made up of the middle class. Most of the people here have some form of trade, are merchants, or decently paid soldiers.

Pretty much everyone here is equatorial, however due to the constant movement of trade through the harbors, there's a shifting, but permanent minority of reedlanders in the city-state.

The people here venerate the second heir - Harvest, as their venerated Firstling.

House Safford, even though not technically ruling the city, is generally seen as the city-state's stewards, hailing from the very first governors placed in Venetta ever since the city's founding by the old empire.

## Economy

The two keys to Venetta's economy are tariffs and taxes, there are a lot of goods moving through the harbor - most of which are taxed. The merchants are usually alright with the taxation due to the fact that the harbors of Venetta are by far the safest and most well maintained in all of the Concords.

Otherwise, Venetta does have many artisans and craftsmen, the farms surrounding the city-state aren't shabby either.