The current flag of the city-state.
"If there's such a thing as controlled anarchy, you'll find it in the Cove. My God, is it amazing..."
Silver Jameson, describing the city
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Geography and climate[]
"Nobody ever planned on founding a city there. Before the Cove, the island was just one giant jungle."
Hammerhead Cove is situated on the largest island in small archipelago, roughly halfway between Vacuo and Vale. There are a total of 12 islands, all technically under control of the Cove, though the only permanent settlement is the city itself. The island is a natural fortress, circular in shape, with only
A view of the entrance into the harbor.
The jungles of the island.
one opening on it's eastern end to get in or out. The only ways onto the island are through said straight by ship (Approaching the island is otherwise impossible as the 3 mile-high cliffs offer no passage to the jungle), or landing on one of the few airstrips outside the city. The harbor is surprisingly open, with enough room for the high volume of ships it receives to maneuver relatively easily, entrances and exits being the exception.
The city is not built on a beach so much as a swamp. Canals, both man-made and natural, are the main ways to get around, and the city has a very "wild" look to its architecture. Overgrown trees with moss crack through the boardwalk, among other features that make it seem less like the swamp is part of the city, and more the opposite.
Naturally, with a jungle island, the climate is consistently hot and humid. Temperatures normally range between 80-100F, with the highest recorded temperature being 115F. This is somewhat off-set by the constant rain and thunderstorms, which are nearly daily occurrences. A harsh environment to be sure, but the people of the city don't seem to mind it. The rest of the island, and indeed the archipelago, is wild and untamed jungle. As far as anyone knows, the Cove is the first permanent settlement, though admittedly less than 10% of the archipelago, and less than 50% of the main island itself, has been mapped, so it is possible ruins of previous settlers do exist.
Founding and History[]
"The history of the Cove is pretty simple, all things considered. Some unfortunate ships looked for shelter from the law and storms, and in their desperation, they found paradise."
Records are unclear as to the earliest date of the settlement that would eventually become Hammerhead Cove, though recent archaeological evidence suggests that it could be as old as 500 years. However old it may be, the evolution of the port is a little clearer. It was originally a refuge for smugglers and pirates being hunted between Vale and Vacuo. While those who discovered the island intended to keep it secret, a natural fortress with lush jungle would not stay quiet for long. Within a few decades of its discovery, the Cove had become a glorified fishing village, with only a few brave settlers daring to live in the swampy port outside the safety of its increasingly wealthy plantations.
The city as it exists today came into being during the Faunus War. Because of its natural defenses, the Cove became incredibly wealthy nearly overnight smuggling weapons, Dust, and other necessary supplies to both sides. The city also experienced a population boom, filling in with, among others, Faunus refugees, deserters, and more than a few shrewd businessmen who capitalized on the smuggling.
After the Faunus War, the city had expanded to more than three times its pre-war size, with no signs of its growth stopping. Realizing that there needed to be a new order in the Cove, the owners of the city's plantations, along with several powerful pirate captains, formed the Council of Free Captains to attempt to govern the city. Success was limited, but the city kept thriving and growing despite the lackluster governing.
City Layout[]
"Watch yourself. One minute you're walking down the street of the marketplace, you turn a corner, next thing you know, you're trying to get through the Storm Quarter without being attacked by an alligator."
The City is broken up into six distinct districts: The Harbor, The Marketplace, The Storm Quarter, Steel Town, The Admiralty Quarter, and The Free Plantations (Which is a slightly misleading name.). The Harbor, as the name implies, is where the ships come to dock and load/unload their goods, as well as a good place to fill up their crews and buy new ships. The Harbor takes up roughly most of the southern half of the city, and parts of The Marketplace and The Storm Quarter spill into The Harbor, making the lines between them hard to distinguish. The Marketplace is north-west of The Harbor, and contains the majority of the city's shops and merchants. The Storm Quarter is east of The Marketplace and north-east of The Harbor, and is where the majority of the city's residents live. It was so named for is habit of minor flooding during especially heavy storms, and as such, has a noticeable problem of swamp animals roaming the streets, more so than any other area of the city. Steel Town is north of the Storm Quarter, and is home to the city's craftsmen. The Cove takes great pride in its smiths, and swords made in Steel Town are among the best-crafted in the world. The Admiralty Quarter is north of The Marketplace and west of Steel Town, and is home to The Captain's Cabin, the meeting place of the Council of Free Captains, as well as the home of the city's wealthier citizens. The Free Plantations are north of the city proper, and are home to the city's plantations and distilleries, both private and government-owned, as well as the few airstrips in the city.
Culture[]
"It's good thing there aren't any Grimm in the jungle: The people are dangerous enough."
The people of Hammerhead Cove, above all, value their personal freedom. It's often said by the people that Hammerhead is the freest city on Remnant, and in many ways, they're correct... But, it's free in both the best and worst senses of the word. Culturally, it is still very much a pirate port, and very few things are actually illegal on the island. As a result, things that would be considered crimes anywhere else in the world, e.g. theft, selling dangerous narcotics, violence, etc., run rampant, and the city is dangerous for those who don't know it.
Economically, there is a large gap between the working class inhabitants of the city and the wealthy plantation and distillery owners outside the city walls. However, the masses are kept content both with a tavern on nearly street, complete with locally distilled rum and imported ales, and the knowledge that because of the free trade in the city, anyone can save up enough money to eventually buy a ship, which is a symbol of respect and wealth in the Cove. Additionally, owning a ship serves a more practical function- Getting a seat and vote on the Council of Free Captains.
Despite its flaws and inherent danger (Or rather, because of it, depending on who you ask), there is still plenty of beauty and much to see and do in the Cove. The architecture of the city, and the way it blends into the swamp it's built in, gives the Cove a look entirely its own, as well as an energy and life that can't be found anywhere else. Hammerhead Cove is not for the faint of heart, but if the city doesn't kill you, it'll show you a great time.
The Council of Free Captains[]
"The city runs itself, really. The Council is really just a glorified dick-measuring contest between the city, plantations and pirates disguised as a government."
The governing body that rules Hammerhead Cove, at least in name, is the Council of Free Captains, a democratic senate that operates by popular vote. Requirements for a seat on the council are ownership of at least one "active" ship (The rules on what constitutes an active ship are quite broad, and range from fishing to piracy, and anything in between.), and either permanent residence in the city, or making port in the Cove at least 8 times annually. Now, these requirements might lead one to believe the city's residents hold most of the power, since making port 8 times annually is not an easy task. However, while simply owning a ship gets one a seat on the council, each subsequent ship registered in a captain's name earns them another vote. So, the more ships an individual owns, the more power they individually hold. Due to this, the pirates and city residents more or less equal each other in power, often leading the plantation owners to be the deciding votes. Coalitions between the factions (The Council intentionally avoids the term "political parties" since politics is merely a means to become richer to them) are common, though nearly always short-lived.
Economy[]
"In the Hammerhead marketplace, you can see all of Remnant for sale."
The only area of the island's well-being the Council has any interest (And any effective results) in is its economy, specifically its exports. Its main industries are fishing and variants of it, pearl farming, whaling, shrimping, lobster and crab farming, etc. (Though it is noteworthy that, as they are the symbol of the city, hunting the hammerhead sharks native to the archipelago is punishable by death.), as well as the many state-owned rum distilleries on the outskirts of the city. Sugar is a naturally occurring resource on the island, and the state devotes much of its manpower to the operation of the sugar plantations and distilleries, as well as their protection. In addition to these, there are several privately-owned plantations that grow citrus fruits and bananas, valuable commodities within the city itself.
For the traveling merchants coming into the city, the only restriction on trade is that slave trading is strictly forbidden in Hammerhead Cove. All ships that dock are searched for human and/or Faunus cargo, and if any is found, the ship is evicted from the city, and the harbor patrol is given standing orders to fire should the ship attempt to return. Aside from that, any goods can be freely sold in the marketplace, which many take advantage of to sell goods illegal in the Four Kingdoms, or unload stolen goods without fear of them being traced back to those who "acquired" them.
Known Inhabitants[]
- Silver Jameson (Birthplace)
- Kaili Hart (Birthplace)
- Isolde Itri (Birthplace)
Trivia[]
- The flag of the city is the flag of the fictitious nation the Shackles, from the Pathfinder RPG.
- Very few actually refer to it as "Hammerhead Cove". Most simply call it "Hammerhead", "The Cove", or "The City".