West Arda Trading Company Outpost TC#1
Map: R12
TC#1 with Lock Tankers
The West Arda Trading Company's outpost is the Westernmost Sky Lock of the Great Inland Waterway , with tankers running to Sîrnan and PK#6. It is at the navigable headwaters of the Norpul River, receiving river traffic that has already cleared IN#40 and PK#7.
They grow a heritage strain of Harnic Rice which has larger and sweeter grains, and which matures more quickly than Arda-native strains. The treeforts top deeply terraced hills, and with minor clerical assistance the yield is immense. It is highly prized by the nations of the Thanihazad to the South. They brew Norpul Sake, which has a fine smoky flavor, and distill a rice-caraway liquor they call Norpul Lightning. Excellent native olives are grown for oil on the lower terraces, and make a popular local drink garnish.
They have significant ship repair facilities, and the chief shipwright is building a small swan ship with movable wing sails, though it is niether completed nor yet equipped with a 'Jammer helm.
Much of the trade on Arda's West Coast passes through TC#1, and there is considerable dockside warehousing. Several WATC Fleet Hammerships pass through most days, along with dozens of wet-hull ships riding the Lock Tankers. In addition to Free Imperia registered shipping, there are a wide variety of other ships that are willing to pay the toll to save sailing around the Thanihazad, but only those from favored nations are permitted.
Military security is provided by two cohorts of the Paurgiliath Peacekeepers, from the 4th(Naval Legion) and 10th(Rangers), along with occasional apprentice centuries or cohorts, and Air Operations specialist elements of the Field Engineering Corps on exercises. The first levy here is larger and better trained than at most outposts, including a sizable number of semi-retired veterans. The Peacekeepers maintain a small branch orphanage and school here, along with a large inn for travelers.
