“The strip of land along the Taunis River, within the boundaries of the huge city of Nevripal, was called the Independent Northern Bank and was not part of the city. Formed as a political misunderstanding when centuries ago the wizards of the Khan Empire pleaded for peace after the War of the Ten Emperors, the lands along the calm dark river were given to the Council of Nestripon, but an exception was made for the winter palace of the Khan Empire and the lands around it, so beloved by the Empress. As a sentimental gesture of goodwill, which often follows wars between monarchs from the same family, the lands were formally left in the ownership of the Khan Empire, even though there were no citizens or authorities there. The mayor and townspeople of Nevripal, far from sharing intra-family generosity towards defeated enemies, declared that the survival of the Independent Northern Bank was the problem of its population and no one else. Since there were no authorities of the Khan Empire here, and the authorities of Nestripon did not want to take on any responsibility, the place became truly unique. An autonomous zone where the law protected and enforced lawlessness. Over the years, the North Shore has become an exceptionally curious place. The scum of a dozen different cultures gathered here, either voluntarily or forced when there was nowhere else to run. The lazy dark waters of Taunis pulled barges and rafts that landed on the swampy shore. Criminals and debtors fled here, refugees of wars, interstate and civil, slaves of vicious habits and hopeless poor..."