Makarte

**Makarte**

Neutral Good Large Town (South)

Corruption +2; Crime -3; Economy +2; Law +3; Lore +1; Society -1

Qualities Deep Traditions, Insular, Racially Tolerant (Lizardfolk)

Danger 10

Government Autocracy

Population 3,700 (2,400 human, 300 Lizardfolk, 300 elf, 200 Vishkanya, 100 Kobold, 100 half-elf, 100 halfling, 200 other)

**Notable NPCs**

**Lord Tahoda Wadono** TN Male Human Aristocrat 7

**Mayor Alais Manay** CG Female Human Rogue 11

**Harbormaster Glint Ronnel** NG Male Human Cleric of Harkon 9

**Captain Orseus Jombe** NG Male Half-Elf Alchemist 10

**Merchantmaster Gerome Wainsworth** LE Male Lizardfolk Occultist 10

Marketplace

Base Value 2000 gp; Purchase Limit 10000 gp; Spellcasting 5th

Minor Items 3d4; Medium Items 2d4; Major Items 1d4

The trading city of Makarte lies along the ragged and sparsely
populated Macuya coastline, and is an important layover for any ship
plying the trading routes of the southern seas. It has a bloody history
of conflict, being seized and liberated countless times by various
powers seeking to leverage advantage over these trade routes. Many of
the kingdoms and empires that once laid claim to Makarte now lie in
ruin. Most recently it was associated with the Kingdom of Cohaiwa, but
the conquest of Cohaiwa by the Empire of Grandia left this small colony
both independent and vulnerable.

The ruling Wadono family had only a small contingent of soldiers and
two warships at their disposal, but Jadeiwa Wadono quickly moved to
ensure Makarte remained prosperous and safe. In her time she was
successful, playing foreign powers against each other while retaining
mercenaries and growing the small fleet of warships that protected the
territorial waters around Makarte. How she maintained the cities coffers
 amidst this massive expenditure remains a mystery, but her successors
proved much less able than her. It was only three years after her death
that the treasury of the city was emptied.

Jadeiwa's successor, Madaho Wadono, raised taxes and began to cut
deals with various foreign merchant guilds to keep the town afloat.
While the Wadono family remains relatively wealthy they now rule in name
 only. The real powers in town are the trade guilds they made deals
with. These powerbrokers elect the mayor, who makes all decisions of
importance in the town. The traditional locals resent this, but they
have little recourse as the merchant guilds pay for the mercenaries that
 keep them safe.

Although outside of the sphere of influence of Grandia, lizardfolk
traders routinely ply the southern seas and make stops here. They are
arrogant and dismissive of the legitimacy of any human authority, but
their coin and the ominous threat of their great empire ensures that
they remain welcome and well-treated. They are essentially immune to the
 local laws, and even the most flagrant offenses seldom merit more than a
 fine.

Makarte has a reputation as an unflappable neutral safe zone, and an
enemy of piracy. Traders who pass through its territorial waters are
guaranteed safe passage. However, this requires a fairly large mercenary
 fleet and significant funding. Only so much of that coin can come from
traders, and a great deal more is skimmed off of smuggling operations
based out of Makarte. The town's treasury is constantly in danger of
emptying, requiring new and creative sources of income that won't bring
the weight of Grandia - or anyone else, for that matter - down on their
heads.

The port itself is defended by a series of four fortifications that
would make landing very difficult for a would-be invader while making it
 very difficult to blockade all the different approaches to the harbor.
Combined with its supporting fleet it has not faced any invasion in the
last century.

Makarte is a blend of cultures and different peoples from around the
southern sea. These people hold on to a variety of strange traditions -
many since forgotten in the lands they came from - and the locals take
great pride in the cities long history and connections to different
kingdoms and empires throughout the world.