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The Alabaster Coast is best known for the Carmine Bodega perched upon its seaside cliffs, known far and wide for its beautiful architecture. This specific region has never been officially named as it is, technically, part of the Stonehollow Vale, however it has become known as the Alabaster Coast because of the brilliant white of its seaside cliffs.

The Carmine Bodega is, in essence, a huge market with almost no permanent residents. It is, effectively split into three different areas, the Inner Market for specialty and luxury goods, the Outer Market for mid-range goods, and the Lower Outer Market for common goods and supplies. Traders and merchants gather here to sell their wares and goods to each other. The market is so massive in importance that anything a person could desire is either found here or could be contracted to be obtained; nothing is seemingly unavailable. As such, this is also, sadly, the center for the Empire's entire slave trade with almost every slave in the known world passing through this area. Because of the massive market for slaves there is a rather large bureaucracy working behind the scenes at the Carmine Bodega for that specific aspect of the market.



Firstly, there is the Heraldist who keeps track of the slave's genealogical records, almost as a horse breeder does, marking selective breeding. The slave merchants arrange planned matings to produce specifically desired characteristics to ensure the most profitable sale. Secondly, there is the Sale Records office which documents and tracks each sale. This is to ensure that fraud can be tracked and resolved, should it occur. Thirdly, there is the Inventory Clerk whose job it is to track and record the slaves for sale currently at the Carmine Bodega. This office works closely with both the Constable and the Sale Records office to ensure inventory balances.



The Caliph of the Carmine Bodega has zero tolerance for crimes, minor or major, and runaway slaves; many are executed as soon as they are caught. Because of this crime is amazingly low, however occasionally, a slave or two does disappear from the market or slave quarters. The Caliph specially designated a Constable to monitor the security of the slaves to ensure none run away or are stolen. Much to the dismay of the Caliph this has not seemed to do much for the problem. To some, it seems that slaves are actually disappearing slightly more often, but this may simply be due to the growth of the slave market. Over time, the Constableo s duties have expanded to resolving contract disputes, trade agreements, and the like, as well.



If the almost universal death penalty doesno t deter a merchant or traveler from anything unseemly the rather large garrison of mercenaries will. The Caliph has actually contracted the majority of his security out to a private mercenary group who consistently abuse their power with almost complete impunity.



There is a small Royal Guard who is actually employed by the Caliph himself and whose only job is to ensure his and his heiro s safety. These guards are known for their extensive training and extremely effective combat abilities. They are rarely sold to others, but when they are they go for an enormous amount of money, are only sold individually, and very far apart.



The Caliph establishes a tax on each merchant individually for the goods they sell at the Carmine Bodega; this is something the Sale Records office tracks as well. Because of this policy of individual taxation, the Caliph and his heir never have to grow or even pay for their own food. Merchants who visit the Carmine Bodega always bring with them exotic foods and delicacies in an attempt to curry favor with him. But theCaliphis almost universally despised behind closed doors; he is fat, uncaring, and only interested in expanding his power and influence. He is extremely intelligent and often plays the fool to people, either for his own enjoyment or to help his current cause.

The Caliph is extremely paranoid about his heir presumptive. As the Caliph is unable to have children himself he has, more or less, taken one of his niece's children as his own. There is a member of the Caliph's Royal Guard outside his room at all times, even when the child is elsewhere to ensure nothing can get in or out with the Caliph's knowledge. He has even gone so far as to move his heir to a room with absolutely no windows so there is no other way in or out. The poor child has not once had a time when there wasn't a member of the Royal Guard with him, who are forbidden to speak to him, nor any chance to socialize with people other than his father and his court. Many people who've actually had the chance to meet with him have seen two people developing within him. There are times when he is soft spoken and considering, but other times, he is egotistical and unreasonably demanding; which side wins out when he is in charge is anybody's guess.



The Emperor himself does not care for this particular Caliph as he openly mocks him and is almost always a torn in his side. This is further exacerbated by the Caliph acting and working as if he is his own province within the Empire rather than part of Stonehollow Vale and under their direction. However, he is forced to maintain, at least, cold relations with him simply because of the amount of goods that pass through and income that arrives from the Carmine Bodega. If relations where to deteriorate any worse the Empire may lose a significant amount of income and a major trade center used to supply much of the Empireo s Bourgeois with the luxury goods they constantly demand.

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Additional Notes

You can view a massive amount of pictures for this build at the corresponding Imgur Album.

Best viewed with the Conquest Resource pack as the white cliffs would look like stone brick otherwise. However, with simple WEing, changing 98:6 to whatever you like would work.