Sluicebaile

Thriving merchant colony on the southeastern side of The Curl, Phineas's Arm. Begor Bay supplies the currents and ships to its lustrous shores. The avians of Samba Ka prefer this port over the closer Eastport for its uniqueness and good service. An autonomous kingdom until the beginning of the fourth era, the halfling precursors built it as a port village. The happy, little creatures never could have imagined that the tides and tales would bring so many things from far and wide to their doorstep. The first mayor, Kelly Swiftfist, enacted the village a city after receiving refugees from the wars that engulfed all of Daeg, even from rumored Sefir Daeg passed the distant, burning north. Soon, the whole town would be abuzz with energy and, of course, trade. Some of the finest merchants come from Suilcebaile, but don't let the Lochesians hear you say it!
Originally, there were no sluices crisscrossing the city, but the Sefir Daegers brought with them strange architecture and tools to configure and carve the canals. They used magics and in the span of a week had perfectly carved the whole city into ample districts. They spoke some strange language no one had ever heard, so it was impossible to argue with them when they refused payment. The newly canalled city enjoyed the fresh fish that would practically swim up to their doorsteps. This newfound plenty traveled further than the wind could carry its song and sweet-scented stalls to lands and peoples seeking respite from the conflicts engulfing the world.
It's origin of being the cultural hub of Phineas's Arm comes from Sluicebaile evolving to be the interdimensional port of call. Races like the githyanki and illithid frequented the lowest section called the Flotsam, which is subject to the tides and only accessible during low tide and impossible during high. Creatures from beyond the stars and known planes of existence, outlanders, would come to the Planks, the next highest section where discretion could be bought. The general public frequent the Landing, the always-sunny ground level that sometimes dipped into the canalworks. Aristocracy and higher beings promenaded along the lofty Hightower tier that houses The Plaza, a vast area with buildings and parade grounds and salons.

Demographics

Mostly halflings, with humans being the highest of the minority. Natural merchants, half-elves are the next obvious race. Avians are next, using the spot as a launching off point to travel further into the continent or simply vacation. The other races such as illithid, dwarves, tieflings, etc. are the lowest populace but make up a good bit of the denizens.

Government

Lawful council that obeys the royal seat in Iron Quay.

Infrastructure

Plenty of watermills, furnaces, tailors, bowers, wainwrights, smithies, restaurants, and similar things exist inside the city. The river Argo dives and spreads throughout the city, mostly under water. Windmills dot the lush rolling countryside outside the city.

History

Sluicebaile boasts a diverse populace with the major races and some minor ones coming together for one purpose: lucre. The dreams of wealth bind the people together under one banner. The first council of lords and lady of the city used the unification to their advantage and with citizen-funded bonds, bought up the regional farms and lands. The halflings there still worked the land with the benefit of guaranteed wages even during the winter months. The whole city at this time erupted with people. At first the city became a haven for the ambitious and lazy alike. The promise of pay without work got into the heads of the lazy while the ambitious saw the opportunity to grow their wealth and station.
This fortune could not last forever. Eventually the city declined as the social gap widened. After a few hundred years of success the city saw disparity among its citizens. The aristocracy took to their lofty Hightower and the poverty-stricken beggars dominated the lower Flotsam and the Planks. It took Unifier to clean the city. This tumultuous time period would take novels to fully historize. Suffice it to say Unifier straddled the social gaps, communicated with the council, and fought in the riotous streets against everyone. Unifier is rumored to be more than one, but historians cannot confirm this hypothesis.
Growing, rebuilding, unrest, wars, all these occurred in the few thousand years after Unifier rise. The city continued to prosper, however, unfazed by outside influences until the Riverlands sought to make the thriving township into its won city-state. The halfling king Jordain Wideheel persuaded the council to give its sovereignty over to him for favorable -trading deals and cut taxes. After weeks of deliberation the vote concluded with 7-2 vote in favor of giving up sovereignty.

Type

Large town

Population

125,000 (city), 1,000,000 (surrounding)

Inhabitant Demonym

Sluicers