Outside it's city walls, Sasserine directly controls and relies on several assets in the surrounding region.
Amedio Highway: Paralleling the Thunder River for much of its length, the Amedio Highway connects Sasserine with Cauldron, it sister city high in the caldera of a dormant volcano. Although trade and correspondence between the two cities is brisk, the road's length is such that it is possible to go for long stretches without encountering other travelers. Much like the river, the Amedio Highway is relatively safe and crowded with merchant and lumber traffic where it runs through the marshlands and plantations close to Sasserine, but those who press on into the jungle find themselves increasingly at risk of being waylaid by lizardfolk, jungle predators, and the occasional hunter from the heights of the Hellfurnaces.
Blisterwall: Angry-looking, red Hellfurnace rocks and patches of hairy swamp mold give Blisterwall fortress both its name and a perpetually sore, gangreous look. Positioned to defend Sasserine's eastern plantations from jungle threats, the relatively secluded and perpetually moist location makes this post the least appealing assignment in the Sasserine military. The only serviceman who regularly refuses relocation is Erlyn Sveld, an half-elf scout who has successfully captured and trained several Hellfurnace hippogriffs and who is considered the most experienced mountain tracker in the region.
Castle Rakin: The reinforced wooden palisades of Castle Rakin make a regular stopping-off point for lumberjacks and traders along the Thunder River. While the castle proper is merely an unimpressive, three-story stone fortification surrounded by two curtains of sturdy wooden walls, the entire fort is referred to as "the castle." Although it maintains a small garrison of troops, the fort's functions more as a trading post, with noisy crowds of merchants, guides, jungle natives, and charlatans hocking their wares and services along the docks. Much of the business conducted at Castle Rakin would be frowned upon within Sasserine itself but considerable kickbacks to the fort's commanding officer, Major Augustine Meravanchi, assures that business proceeds uninterupted...
Fort Fendawor: A thick-walled coastal fortress erected by the Sea Princes who once held dominance in the region, Fort Fendawor now serves as harbor for Sasserine's depleted naval powers. Few seaworthy ships moor in the natural harbor beneath the fort's protective ballistae, the majority patrolling the coast and open sea in hunt of pirates. The fiery-tempered Commodore Brandlock commands the forces at Fort Fendawor and holds the eradication of piracy in the region as his personal crusade. Unfortunately, his efforts are frustrated by limited men, resources, and ships, as well as misinformation -- much of what he hears comes from Crimson Fleet operatives within his own fort.
Plantations: Just outside Sasserine, nearly 25 miles of jungle and swamp along the Thunder River have been cleared for use as sprawling, privately-owned plantations. Providing food crops and exports to the city, the river's seasonal flooding makes the land particularly rich, although those who farm it constantly battle reencroaching jungle vegetation and beasts. Cassava, coffee, cotton, millet, rice, sugarcane, and tea -- as well as some more traditional farm crops -- make up Sasserine's plantations' most abundant products. Aside from their products, a few particularl plantantations before further mention:
Boudinot Plantation: Run by the obese Boss Remming Boudinot, it's rumored that his fields of high growing sugarcane discuose a harvest of criminal crops and hide other nefarious dealings.
Dromdal Plantation: The sharp-tongued but genteel Josiah Imfrid Dromdal commands the largest plantation (cotton and tea) in the area. His greatest prides are his handsome manor house and widely desired daughter, Chablis. Josiah's six strapping sons prove quick to defend both his and their sister's honor.
Misroi Plantation: A cursed place, this untended plantation and burnt-out manor house once belong to one Anton Misroi, a cruel man who murdered his wife by drowning her in a nearby quicksand bog. When her corpse returned to slay her treacherous husband, the plantation's fearful workers burned the manor house and forever fled.
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