Ishtar is situated at the mouth of the River Katzo and controls the lucrative trade coming down the river particularly the mineral wealth
from the Rwenzari Mountains. It is essentially a working town with industrial pollution making it a less than attractive place to live.
Unfortunately for the townsfolk following a largescale riot almost 90 years ago the town has been ruled by a military governor and
transition to a more civil form of government has always been blocked by the three
Westcrown families who own the mines in the Mountains and the vast majority of businesses in Ishtar.
Despite its reputation Ishtar manages to attract workers with seemingly attractive pay for long term contracts. The catch is that
no worker can terminate his contract without paying punitive damages to his employers. Further prices in the town tend to be
high due to the cartel of business owners making the cost of living unexpectedly high compared to life in Westcrown. A second catch is that
those found guilty of even minor misdemeanours are generally punished by extensions to their contracts or for more serious offences
a spell of forced labour in the mines.
The 'Watch' are just army 'volunteers' generally drafted to Ishtar as some sort of punishment and they are backed up by the
'Order' who have a heavy presence locally. It should be noted that
the conditions in the mines are even worse with many of the miners tricked into indentured service there. The Order has in fact
for the last few decades refused to intervene in any more disturbances in the mines as they feel they are so badly run.