Hartlin City

Hartlin City is a medium-sized city (roughly 100,000 residents as of YCR 387) located in central Dorland.

For about a century during the early history of Dorland, the region was at the frontier of Dorland and its smaller neighbors to the west; however, as Dorland expanded, annexing or conquering these nations, the region eventually became part of the center of the nation. Castle Hartlin, a fortress that had served as part of the frontier defense became the basis for a farming village, which gradually grew into a center of trade between the region and the more populated and prosperous east, as Hartlin was located at the convergence of several rivers that flowed in that direction.

However, events in the third century of common reckoning led to Hartlin losing much of its position. The railroads that were built from Bridgewater and Hallerton bypassed Hartlin, and when a route was chosen to Port Eve, a more geographically advantageous southern route was chosen. The river trade largely dried up, although Hartlin was able to re-invent itself (as well as rename itself to Hartlin City) by exploiting opal mines located in the hill country to the west of the city. The freeway system that was developed in the 4th century also largely bypassed Hartlin City - not a single A or B road came within 100 kilometers of the city.

In the 39th decade, Hartlin City was in a relatively unusual position - located far from major roads and thus difficult to reach, it was also the only city of its size with no suburbs of any sort. Although there were over 100,000 people within city limits, the rest of the region could boast no more than about 10,000 (most working in the opal mines).

The population of Hartlin City is largely ethnically Dorlese; there is a small population of Karlingsene immigrants, including Mikela Danvers, who arrived in the city, along with her parents and younger siblings, in YCR 371 at the age of 10.

Hartlin City is not a major player in the Game; although the opal trade brings in significant money, there are low levels of corruption and thus little influence from syndicates. Most superheroes are engaged in either small scale crime fighting or civilian first response. However, an incident in 376 in which a group of Stockton crime bosses attempted to gain control of the opal trade led to its defeat by several local superheroes working with the Stockton hero council.