Amber HarbourThe harbour of Amber lies south of the city, and forms a great semicircle with an area of over 65 square kilometers (or over 25 square miles, as the natives prefer). There is sufficient anchorage within the harbour for over a thousand ships of the line, although it is mostly merchant ships while Amber is at peace. The loyalty of most of the officers and men of the Royal Navy is closely tied to the Amberite royal family, particularly Gerard and Caine, and enlisted foreign-born sailors are one of the prime means by which extraordinary men of Shadow become citizens. Merchant vessels are constantly coming and going, for Amber depends heavily on sea trade. Ships from the sea-going realms of the Golden Circle, as well as dozens of less favoured shadows, can be found within the harbour at any time, their crews enjoying shore leave in the fabled city, gambling, drinking, whoring, and occasionally vanishing completely, much to the bewilderment of the innocent residents of the dockside, who know nothing whatsoever about any missing sailors, no sir, sorry, can’t help you at all. The mouth of the harbour is broken by a small series of islands, which serve as a natural breakwater against the open sea. The dockyards are arranged to the south of the harbour, scent of constant activity as ships are built, repaired, and dismantled. The western shore nearest the harbour is the sight of the admiralty buildings, the Port Authority, and countless warehouses, guarded night and day against theft and the ever present danger of fire. Past the warehouses to the west, and hugging the northern coast, lies the area called Dockside, where those who make a living on the sea, and off those whose livelihood is the sea, dwell. A maze of narrow twisted passages and alleyways, their true extent unknown to anyone save natives, even members of the Royal family experienced guards only enter this area with considerable caution and under the direst necessity. Or, of course, in search of excitement when extremely bored. The roughest section of Dockside is called Death Alley. It is not actually a single alley, but rather an interconnected series of alleyways and tunnels. Bloody Bill’s is located here, and a portrait of the former owner defiantly gazes down on diners. The northern edge of Dockside gradually merges into nameless shantytowns, which then gradually fade into Amber City proper. |
