The city was founded as a fishing village 500 years ago, in a small harbor. The harbor was in a prime location, and was well protected, but the sides of the harbor were steep and difficult to build upon.
As the fishing improved, the city began to migrate out into the harbor as housing got more scarce. Unable to build on the walls of the harbor, they began to build houses on stilts in the water of the harbor. Within four generations, the city covered the entire 1 mile diameter harbor, and most buildings had begun to support each other in a weblike structure.
At this point, the city began to move to trading, selling, and "small raiding." (Referred to, of course, as "piracy" by the uncouth.) The city had a very laissez-faire attitude towards just about everything, so very soon it became a haven for cut-throats, thieves and adventurers.
The city soon spread to the land, but didn't forget its roots, as sea trading continued to be the largest source of revenue. Due to a few incidents (gang wars) in which the city itself was threatened, the citizens banded together to make a police force (with limited powers), fire department, and elected a psuedo-government. The laws passed by the government were largely superficial in nature, and the police force lacked any sort of power. The citizens enjoyed this - it stopped the neighbors from throwing bodies into the harbor too obviously, but kept the freedom most of them enjoyed.
When the Nathi-Elven war flared up about 150 years ago, Havna was attacked, much to the surprise of its residents. (Previous to this, anyone who might have thought of such a thing _lived_ in Havna.) To this day, nobody knew if it was Elves or Nathi that started it, but Havna was soon the focus of the largest naval engagement in half a century. The two sides cut through the city's own fleet like a sword through silk, as most of the privateers refused to work together.
As was bound to happen, a stray lightning bolt scythed through the warrenlike dock area beneath the city, collapsing pillars and starting a fire. Thousands died, and the city was almost destroyed before the fire was contained. After the battle, the city was rebuilt within 20 years. The new city was built on the ruins of the old, and as a result the city became even more overgrown then it was before. The privateers and traders returned, and life resumed.
Havna Structure Havna appears, from a first glance, to be a jumble of sticks and boxes with no real order. After looking at it longer, it still appears that way.
The city was built with no central plan in mind, so it is a bit chaotic. It can be divided roughly into 3 layers. The lowest is the dock level. Here ships dock and unload, and many of the illicit deals (and illicit bodies) are made and played.
The next level is the trading level. Most trading houses are built just above their docks, so their cargo is always available and fresh.
The next level up is the housing level. This level is the part of Havna always talked about in stories - the fabulous inns, the wild taverns, and the various "entertainment" establishments. This level is usually open to the air.
On the third, and, sometimes second level, one can almost forget one is not in a land based city. Typically though, on the second level, winches, ropes and ladders allow communication between the various sections of the city.
Life in Havna The humans in Havna are fiercely independent, with a feisty temperament. They tend to be self-sufficient, and expect others to do the same. Most do not venture outside too often, but know the city streets like no one else.
The government of Havna is mainly for show. The real power lies with six or seven "families", who have their own spheres of influence within the city, and each controlling a part of the rat's nest that makes up Havnite industry. Currently, the top few families are: The Del'Marcos, who control the northern half of the docks and warehouses, and seem favorably disposed to the Elves, the Reaves, who have most of the other docks, and seem to like the Nathi at the moment, the Calabrese, who run the city's gambling and prostitution rings, and the O'Mara, who involve themselves with "causes". What these causes are is anyone's guess, but they are deadly serious about them. The O'Mara hold the docks that the Del'Marcos and Reaves do not. The Del'Marcos and Reaves do not attempt to take over the O'Mara docks, and nobody really knows why, as headless bodies in the harbor don't share secrets.
Lesser families eke out bits of influence wherever they can find them, often forming transitory guilds, based on the numbers and professions of their current supporters.
Expressions:
"Go below!" Get out. "Go below! We don't like your kind!"
"Ladderclimber." Someone who knows many of the shortcuts around the city. "Trust me. I'm one of the best ladderclimbers in Havna."
"Munch." Many of the street children who swing around the second level, like chimps. "Then some munchies got my purse."
"Seaside." The part of the city over water - normally this is where more of the sea traders live.
"Landside." The part of the city over land.
"Smokers." Those old curmudgeons who always have a story about the Bad Old Days, and have Opinions about either the Elves or the Nathi, and how "we gotta keep the traitorous varmints out."