Marlton

Marlton
Location	North Urushee
Population	~200 (Largely tourists from Srenluna)
Founded	Trint 998 (184 years ago)
Leaders	Local gangs
Significance	Criminal gambling-centric settlement south of Srenluna

Marlton is a gambling settlement south east of Srenluna largely run by criminal enterprises, landmarked by its signature Casino, The Black Rose. Despite its heavy ties to the underworld, the gangs have a vested financial stake in ensuring the town remains accommodating to its residents.

History

Early History

Established in 998 as an attempt at an overflow settlement for the burgeoning population of the Urusheen capital, Marlton's authorites were quickly ousted by the smuggling organisation Black Blossom. While the town then served as a smuggling outfit for a few months, the large influx of travellers to Srenluna having to pass through the area, as well as the potential for retaliation if any Grand Urusheen Railway trains were interfered with, lead to the outfit scaling back the public face of their operations and establishing a "front" in charge of the town itself.

Initially, this would serve as a hub for individuals travelling North Urushee, with various inns and hostels being available to passersby, as well as offering more permanent housing solutions largely reserved for members of the Black Blossom. Due to the high influx of traffic to the area, this effectively camoflagued the group's smuggling operations from local authorities, allowing them to establish a secondary base of operations outside of the capital city.

Gambling operations that eventually came to define Marlton existed in the settlement for some considerable time before it gained a reputation and infrastructure for them, largely occurring between bored gang members and the town's temporary residents. However, with the frequency of violent disputes over the outcomes of monetary games, the gang's leadership would be forced to address the situation and provide structure for the recreational activities before the viability of Marlton as a commercial hub was threatened. This would lead to the creation of The Black Rose in 1001.

Loss of Black Blossom influence

For several unknown reasons, the control the Black Blossom maintained over Marlton waned over the following years, speculated to be the interference of other Srenlunan gangs undermining business operations in the area. This would come to a violent head in 1008, when several armed conflicts in the town forced routed the Black Blossom's leadership. In the decades that followed, various criminal elements would assume principal ownership of Marlton and then be ousted at a later date. Curiously, there does seem to be a pattern in the events preceding these changes where civilian residents of the town not affiliated with any involved parties are purposely ignored, with attacks and battles occurring outside of typical business hours and away from the primary residential area - Likely suggesting a mutual understanding that harm coming to them would disrupt an otherwise lucrative side business.

Notable among the leaders of Marlton since the Black Blossom left the town include future leader of The Dragon's Court, Rena, who remained in power from 1014 to 1019.