Pitax

Pitax is one of the most northerly of the River Kingdoms, bordering as it does on the Stolen Lands. The city of Pitax was founded four hundred years ago as a base for criminals from Rostland who had found the law bearing down on them in their native land. Using the gold from their illicit operations they built walls round what had been a sleepy fishing village and hired mercenaries to protect them against any retribution from the north.

Soon the Cattanei crime family were also turning their attention to legitimate businesses and a short time after that they were calling themselves kings and taxing their growing realm. In the history of the realm the king has generally been from either the Liacenzas or the Cattanei but twenty years ago a Numerian bard ingratiated himself into Pitax society and astonishingly won the kingship in a high stakes card game. Many were surprised that the crown passed to an outsider so peacefully but the Cattanei family have just returned to their lucrative criminal enterprises.

The new king, who many believe to be the bastard son of a Numerian lord, is Castruccio Iravetti. Not content with just enjoying the fruits of his position Iravetti has decided to become a great patron of the arts. Although he freely sponsors bards and other performers, however, such patronage comes with a catch. Still continuing to perform himself Iravetti becomes absurdly jealous of anyone whose performances are better received than his own with many unfortunate performers ending up in jail on trumped up charges. Meanwhile he has shown little appetite for cutting down on the widespread smuggling and protection rackets that thrive in the city. Even the most honest merchants must pay off the criminals to survive and the Thieves Guild controls much of what goes on in the city.

Pitax has a population of over 8,000 which is 90% human. The largest minorities are elves and halflings. Its chief exports are fruit and wine and its chief import needs are stone and metal.