Inverportshire.— Some twenty years past, little marked this coastal outpost beyond a bustling port, a towering lighthouse, and a statue deemed by many to be of most questionable taste. Yet in the space of but two decades,
Inverportshire has risen with astonishing speed. Owing largely to its advantageous taxation policies, the town attracted a dozen banks and a host of commercial enterprises, bringing with them an army of labourers. So rapid was the ascent that
Inverportshire soon emerged a formidable rival to its neighbours—despite boasting scarcely a twentieth of their population or expanse—and, in due course, achieved its independence.
Inverportshire came to stand for growth, opportunity, and the promise of liberty.
Yet today, the tempo of progress shows signs of faltering. True, there are grand plans afoot: the recent acquisition of ten boroughs to the north; designs to extend westward; the near completion of a university; and the remarkable flourishing of the Abyssinian Wharf. But beneath this outward show of ambition lies a sobering reality: for three years now,
Inverportshire’s population has ceased its upward march.
Nowhere is this stagnation more evident than in the city’s great working-class districts. In the
Blethergate Rookery,
Cuddy Neuk, and
Craster Brig, not a single new dwelling has arisen in recent memory. Indeed, some residents have decamped to
Port Arlington, Calderstone, and Pilegron, drawn by the promise of improved living conditions.
What, then, has stemmed the tide of migration to
Inverportshire? Upon examining the matter, one cannot overlook the city’s taxation system, which, once its chief lure, has in recent years turned burdensome. A street survey conducted by The
Inverportshire Anchor last month revealed that many settlers were enticed here by the prospect of low levies. “Were it not for the taxes, we would have remained in Pilegron—indeed, we still commute there daily,” confessed a Blethergate resident.
Despite the city’s bustling industries, busy port, and ambitious plans for public conveyance, a considerable portion of the populace continues to labour beyond its borders.
As for the cause of the rising taxes, there appears no single explanation. The city administration, well aware of
Inverportshire’s fiscal appeal, attributes the increases to the manifold infrastructure and prestige projects presently under construction. In response to our inquiries, the administration candidly admitted that taxes may rise still further. “The bankruptcy of the
Inverportshire East India Trade Company has cast a shadow of financial uncertainty upon us,” an official stated. “While we have taken pains to diversify our economy, much of our wealth remains tethered to the fate of the IEITC.”
Is there cause for hope? Assuredly, though patience shall be required. The completion of
Rythoria University, the wharf’s expansion, and the inauguration of tramway line no. 11 are expected to lure back the working class. Yet it is equally plausible that such improvements will draw labourers to
Port Arlington, thereby imperiling
Inverportshire’s delicate tax balance.
A further glimmer of hope may be found in
Staithes. Recent years have seen housing developments flourish there, attracting a refined middle class and learned elite. This may serve to fortify the city against the storms of an impending financial crisis. Nevertheless, the fruits of such efforts remain to be seen.
In sum, the near future of
Inverportshire stands upon a knife’s edge. Fortune may yet favour the city—or abandon it to hardship. Happily, the funding for its principal infrastructure projects has already been secured and disbursed, ensuring that, at the very least, the foundations for prosperity are firmly laid.