One thing I think is easy to underestimate is just how much the impact of sailing and oceanic trade is on Nochet. Probably about 40% of ALL Gloranthan maritime traffic passes through the Holy Country, loading and unloading goods, with 90% of that going through Nochet.
There are some 420 merchant tubs in the Holy Country. On average there are some 30 to 37 merchant ships in Nochet, but this number rises dramatically in Dark and Storm Seasons as ships take shelter in the Mirrorsea Bay. During Sacred Time there can be nearly 400 ships taking shelter in the Mirrorsea Bay, waiting for the Cloudburst to make travel safe again.
As a result there is huge transient population of sailors and rowers in Nochet. ranging from a low of 250 to a high of as many as 5,000 (during Sacred Time), with as many as 2/3rds of them being from overseas. Taverns, inns, brothels, and baths abound near the docks. Think medieval Venice and Genoa. I imagine there are 100-200 drinking establishments near the docks, and numerous baths and brothels.
The amount of tonnage that goes through Nochet in a year is pretty staggering, over 50,000 metric tons! That’s the equivalent of some 2000 40-ft containers. But put that in perspective – the Port of Seattle handles 1500 times that number every year.
Remember Nochet is no more the most important place in the detailed setting than Alexandria was during the 2nd or 1 century BCE. It is a very important and large city, but like many cities based on trade, it punches below its weight militarily. And the conflict between the Lunar Empire and Sartar has huge ramifications even in Esrolia and beyond.
