¶ Slow Tide Harbor
Slow Tide Harbor, otherwise known as Taimana Choryū, is an obscure, but thriving port town located a day's ride north of the Imperial Capital of Otosan Uchi. It is a major holding of the Tortoise clan and a bustling port for the smuggling and trade of illicit goods and services. [1]
Built on a swampy peninsula in the Bay of the Golden Sun, this small town is home to roughly 3,000 residents; a mix of peasants, Tortoise clan samurai, and foreigners here for trade or drugs. [1:1]
¶ Crime
A busy port trafficking in illegal drugs, stolen goods, and Gaijin imports, Slow Tide Harbor plays host to several criminal organizations. These gangs own several of the opium dens, brothels, and bath houses in Slow Tide Harbor, in addition to controlling distribution of these goods and services. They operate openly under a tenuous truce with the Tortoise Clan. [1:2]
The three most powerful gangs, controlling most of the activity in the port, are listed below by their leaders: [2]
¶ Opium
The open abuse of opium is highly tolerated within Slow Tide Harbor, rivaling even the reputations of the Scorpion cities of Ryokō Owari or The City of the Open Hand. [3]
¶ Points of Interest
The city stretches for nearly a li along the coastline, with wharfs and piers dotting the shoreline. The town is divided into several districts featuring many key landmarks: [2:1]
¶ Districts
- The Wallow - Poorer District
- The Dockside - Trade area with warehouses and piers
- Burakumin Village - On the outskirts of town
- Residential & Farming
- Merchant's District
- Governor's Neighborhood - The closest thing to a "Noble Quarter"
¶ Landmarks
- Shrine to Jikoju
- Golden Dream - Popular opium den
- Inn of Many Paths
- Splendid Visions
¶ Notable Residents
Slow Tide Harbor is one of the few major Tortoise Clan holdings. [1:3] The clan has significant presence in the city, but due to a relaxed attitude towards Rokugan's social caste system, many Tortoise Samurai are indistinguishable from average peasants. This is further muddled by the strong Gaijin and criminal element in the city, which brings customs and cultural norms from all over the world together. [3:1]
Some of the most notable residents are outlined below: [2:2]
¶ Administration
- Kasuga Mugatsu - Govenor (c. 1123)
- Kasuga Mikoto - Local Magistrate (c. 1123)
¶ Other Residents
- Kasuga Yumiko - Samurai, Merchant Sponsor