Iska Tower

**Iska Tower** is a massive fortified lighthouse and port in the southern part of the Democratic States of Mercalia.

## History

Iska Tower was initially a small fishing village called Iskan under the domain of the city-state Hythia. They had a small militia that kept the area safe from monsters and invaders. This in turn led to more people moving in the area, and soon enough a small port town was made profiting off of the trade from Bahari Bay.

In 592 AS, a massive wave destroyed the half of the town and killing many of the population. People thought the gods were angry with them, and they built many temples in the area to Strum and Shimardis in order to appease them. They are considered one of the very few locations to have an open temple to Strum.

It wasn't until 841 AS that Iska Tower was truly founded. Hythia was in dire need of commerce and trade. They funded the growth of the town, and built a massive lighthouse on top of the cliffs. Instead of a burning brazier, they installed an immense glass sphere with light magic imbued within it. The light that emanates from it keeps the area lit up with daylight, even at night. This allows trade and commerce to prosper here as the most dangerous time to be out has now been removed. A paladin order was created after the construction, The Order of the Burning Light, and they keep the lighthouse lit at all times so that all that dwell here may feel safe and protected from danger.

## Culture

The people of Iska Tower are most commonly known to be the friendliest Mercalians you will come across. However, that still doesn't say much as they are quite direct and rough around the edges in most conversations. They dress typically in togas and sandals, with a little blue embellishments due to their domain state of Hythia having blue coloration. The people here enjoy a good fresh caught bass and salmon from the rivers and sea nearby, however they are most spoiled than most Mercalians due to their trade hub and rarely order without spices and exotic fruit from far off lands. The people here have a sense of nobility, and they are proud of their culture and heritage and will display their fine arts and works of the craft whenever they can.

## Geography

The area around the port town is rocky and dry. Trees dot the land with dry grass and brush, but no forests or farms are to be seen due to the infertile terrain. The ground is hard and difficult to dig into, making agriculture more difficult than for what it is worth. However, this hard terrain makes for excellent trade roads and quarries leading the port town into a good trade location. The Bay of Bahari sits to the south, its tropical blue water is filled with fish of all kinds giving the area an excellent food source.

## Trade

Trade at Iska Tower is prominent due to their access to the bay and inland roads. They are often sent goods from cities within Mercalia to be loaded onto vessels and traded elsewhere. Iska Tower itself boasts an excellent sculpture guild called the Marbled Masons, and with their close proximity to the quarries they profit heavily off of them. The town imports in everything that other nations are willing to trade, especially from the Vostarian Empire and Lyria due to the lack of any land routes for them to take.

## Rumors and Legends

Legend has it that a ghost vessel docks within the port from time to time. Sailors swear upon its sighting, however none of them have been proven yet. The sailors say that if you board the vessel it will lead you into the Underworld where you are never seen from again.