A Travelers Questions

A Travelers Questions

As he steps off the ship, the traveler looks around at the constant bustle of the dockworkers preparing to unload the large sailing vessel. He is a man of average height and somewhat stocky of build, but with an unusually dark complexion for this part of the world. Short, straight black hair and a goatee adorn his head, while a long loose fitting brown robe with a matching cloth sash tied around his waist conceal his body. He smiles at the new surroundings, his face creased by the many sights and experiences of his 30 or so years of life.
The ships navigator walks down the plank and says, “Thengel? So… never been to the grand city of Argentum before, eh?”
Thengel nods in agreement.
“Well, let me give ya a hint. When ya leave the Balandith docks, head straight for the tavern across the street from the gate here,” the navigator says as he points to the north across the low, stone-arched bridge that connects the small island with the larger island of Argentum. He continues, “They have the best grub you’s gonna find with'n walk'n distance for those weary sea legs o’your’n. The Innkeeper’s a good friend o’mine. Ya’ can also talk with old Balindar, he’ll tell ya anything y’all wana know bout the cities here, or anywh'ers else in the world for that matter, if'n yer willin' ta buy him a drink.”
Thengel replies, “Thanks” and walks for the bridge with his worn brown cloth bag slung over his left shoulder, and checks his scimitar and dagger in their scabbards at his waist, just in case. After all, the streets of Argentum can be dangerous for a foreigner who doesn’t know his way around, or so he has heard. As he walks around the massive stone block warehouse towards the bridge, he glances over to his right at the large mansion that dominates the other half of the small island. As he crosses the top of the bridge, he looks over the roofs of the warehouses on the main island that the City of Argentum covers.
The warehouses line the shore of this almost 2 square mile island/city-state, evidence of an economy based on trade. Behind the warehouses he sees various shops with upstairs apartments forming the second ring of buildings around the island (several blocks deep). As Thengel walks down the bridge, the shops disappear behind the first row of warehouses.
However, still visible above it all is the large solid stone, flat-topped hill that dominates the center of the island, seeming like a lone sentinel overlooking the otherwise relatively flat landscape of the Channel Region from his approach into port. Now closer he sees it is covered with huge manor houses and estates of the wealthy merchants who make Argentum their home. He then glances to the west to see the sun, almost ready to drop behind the buildings that make up Gorled and Dorgard.
He wonders what secrets the massive structures of the High Tower of Magic in Dorgard hold and what glories are hidden among the bell towers of the Grand Cathedral of the All Father in Gorled. The two towers are perched on either side of the Loudewater River rising high above the rest of the two cities on the west side of the channel that separates the two continents. Almost within catapult range of one another, the two towers seem to challenge one another for dominance, like a couple of drunken sailors in a tavern. He then decides that he will go and see first hand these massive buildings, as well as the largest structure within the five cities, the old Royal Palace of Martelain. According to rumor, the palace is now used to house troops of the Northern Empire’s huge army to protect the Governor from assassination by his own people.
The stories of the political intrigue of the five Channel Cites is what lures most adventure seekers here, to the heart of civilization in the world of Ærnth. Fortunes wait to be won or lost among the warehouses and docks of Argentum. The turmoil, riots, and unrest in Martelain, once second only to Argentum in wealth and power; have reduced it to a half empty city full of burned out buildings and broken people. Those who remain try to squeak out a living from beneath the heels of the Northern Empire that wrested control from and then executed the old Royal family only a few decades ago.
There are frequent wars between the powerful Gorled Kingdom north of the Loudewater River and the fifteen Petty Kingdoms that all claim Dorgard as their mutual capital on the south side of the river. The ship’s navigator had told him about the regular burning of the bridge that connects the cities of Gorled and Dorgard each time they have a squabble over anything. Then there are the rulers of the fifteen Petty Kingdoms, always vying for power and the upper hand. Finally, there is the “Gem” of the Channel Cities, South Shore, the huge city of freedom (and thieves), where skilled artisans can produce their goods and sell them to the merchants of Argentum for transport around the world. Some say the same freedom that allows South Shore to prosper contributes to the social turmoil that is common among the city’s wide streets. Others say it has caused the corruption and degradation of morals that may one-day rival the legendary corruption of the former Ruglund Empire, which fell millennia ago.
Fifteen square miles of cities, that is staggering, and with more than half a million people he thinks to himself nodding. Then there is the darker side of the five cities, (there is always a dark side to every large city), but this will take some time to learn, as that kind of information does not travel the 1,000 miles to his homeland in the east.
“Well on to this tavern, to meet Balindar. He must truly be a man of the world if he is as knowledgeable as the navigator says.”
The small, three-story Inn is constructed of the same grey cut stone that predominates the city. He had heard someone aboard the ship mention huge stone quarries southeast of South Shore, where much of this grey stone must come from. The Inn is set in the middle of the block, directly across the street from the gate that limits access to the island that is Balandith Shipping’s main warehouse and place of business. It also has a slate roof and a painted sign hanging over the door that says in fancy green letters:

My Brother’s Place

Inn & Tavern

As he walks in, he notices that the “common room” or tavern takes up most of the first floor. The kitchens are located in the back, as can be seen by the serving people rushing in and out of the door at the far end of the bar. The place is relatively quiet for a tavern so close to the docks of a--or rather thee--major trade center of the world, especially since the place is nearly half full. The place is also in excellent condition for an older building. The patrons appear to be of the fairly well off crowd. ‘Petty merchants, artisans, and learned men of various sorts,’ Thengel guesses. The two windows facing south let in very little light this late in the day, and the low fire in the hearth only provides light for the few tables close to it. Scattered oil lamps cast a dim and muted light through the smoky haze of the room.
Thengel walks up to the bar and asks the burly man behind it, “Can I get a large mug of hot spiced Cider, and some bread, and cheese?” As the man tops off a mug with a frothy beverage and glares at him, Thengel continues,” And I am also looking for a man named… Balindar? I think?”
The man grunts and nods then points to an older man sitting by himself at the table nearest to the hearth. The old man wears a worn blue hooded cloak, has long and grey hair, as is his beard and moustache. He appears to be of tall and thin build, and has a look of wisdom and experience about him, or else it is just the wreaths of smoke emerging from his intricately carved pipe that casts such an illusion. The older man smiles, as if listening to the talk of the other patrons, or maybe deep in his own thoughts.
“Can you bring it over to the table, and bring another of whatever he is drinking as well?”
The gruff barkeep says, “Seven copper pence.”
The traveler pulls a full copper coin from his coin pouch and sits it on the bar saying, “Keep the change.”
“Yeah, right. An’ I suppose you want yer boots polished too,” he replies with a sneer.
Thengel chuckles and then walks over to the table and stops.
The older man sits there for a moment not seeming to notice. Then after several moments, suddenly looks up with a start saying, “Hello there, stranger. From the east I see. Salinath blood I would guess. Have a seat my good fellow, I would like to hear the tales of your travels to this fair city of ours. That is, if you don’t mind sharing them with me?”
Thengel swings his bag down to the floor part way under the table and sits on the three-legged stool opposite the older man. He replies with a strong eastern accent, “Yes, I am of Salinath lineage, you obviously know a lot about the peoples of the world. I would be more than happy to tell you my tales. But I would also like to find out a little about the Channel Cities in return, as I have traveled far to seek my fortune here.”
A tall barmaid with long hair tied back in a ponytail brings over two mugs and sits one down in front of the older man and the other in front of the newcomer. She then sits down a basket with a large steaming loaf of fresh bread and a block of cheese in the middle of the table.
Balindar replies, “If a person is of pure blood it is not difficult just by looking at them. Hair, build, skin, eyes, clothing style, although this one can be the most misleading. And of course their way of speaking can give it away as well. For example, our server here is of Algleth bloodlines, as can be seen from her height and the long, thin, light-brown, almost blond hair. And her fair skin color and hazel eyes.”
She says with a sarcastic smile, “And what bloodlines are you from then, old and mighty wise one?”
He smiles back saying, “That should be obvious. I am of Archendurn lineage.”
She says, “Yeah, but how would a stranger know this, your hair has turned grey and while you are fairly tall, your height is common among several different peoples, including my own kind.”
“Yes, but I have green eyes. The least common eye color there is among humans. That should give it away right there,” the elderly man says.
Thengel tears off a piece of bread and a small piece of the cheese, taking a bite of each. After washing it down with a drink from his mug, he says, “I see that between the three of us, we have probably seen much of the world then. What with the young lady here being from the remains of the once powerful Ruglund Empire far to the west, and you fine sir being from lands less westerly than she.”
She then says, “My homeland is not that close to the old Empire, but he,” pointing to the elderly man, “has walked the Forbidden Plains himself. He also has stories about the mysterious Southern Continent that very few have ever visited. He even claims to have set foot on the Sacred Isle at the heart of the great Clearwater Lake, that is the center of the Druidical religion.”
Thengel laughs, then says, “I can’t imagine a lake as big as what I have heard about this Clearwater Lake. But then again, having grown up near the great Sea of Sands, the first time I ever laid eyes on the open sea, I was amazed by it’s vastness.”
“Clearwater Lake is a sea of sorts, it is just that rather than separating any large land masses, it is set in the middle of one. But like the other great seas, the narrowest parts are further than even the sharp-eyed Elves of the Golden Woods can see across,” The old man says with a smile as if remembering something. After staring off into nothingness for a moment, he finishes off the last of his old mug then he pulls the new mug closer, and continues, “Thanks. Druidry is more than a religion; it’s a philosophy and culture that many others could learn a thing or two from. My name is Balindar Filost and this beautiful young lass is Alerelean. And what is your name, my friend?”
Alerelean waves her hand in greeting and says, “I have other patrons to see to. If you need anything, just call. If things slow down enough, I’ll be back to listen to the stories that I’m sure the two of you will be telling till the wee hours of the morning. Maybe I’ll even tell a few of my own.”
The traveler finishes chewing another bite of the soft yellow cheese and takes another drink, then says, “I am Thengel, of the Bachsnean Clan. From a small village five days walk west of the coast of Arichniab. I have traveled much of the world myself, having worked my way down the coast of the Eastern Continent and around to some of the coastal areas of the Southern Continent. Then I spent some time in the far west, well beyond the remains of the old Ruglund Empire. I had to leave that area rather suddenly a few months back, so I jumped on board the first ship out of the region, and eventually ended up here. So you see I am interested to hear what you have to tell about this portion of the world, myself being a mercenary and bounty hunter by trade. I’m also interested in hearing of your travels around other parts of the world. For you never know when the need to take a sudden trip may present itself.”
“Well what would you like to hear about first?”
Thengel says, “Tell me of this fair city of Argentum that surrounds us. Who truly rules here, and what goes on among the back streets and alleys? Later we can discuss the other cities.”
Balindar laughs and says, “Right to the point. I can respect that. So you want to know the true secrets of the cities? Not the common knowledge that anyone can easily gather. That is truly asking a lot.”
“Like I said, I’m a mercenary and bounty hunter by trade, so this type of information is my livelihood.”
“Where to begin?" Balindar asks himself as he rubs his chin as if deep in thought. Then continues, "As far as people of power, there is Turin Balandith. He is the most well known, and wealthiest of the merchants of Argentum, if not the wealthiest and most powerful merchant in the world. He tends to avoid the political scene though. As far as your services, he has his own extensive security staff, as do many of the wealthy merchants who reside on top of the hill.” Balindar then takes a sip from his mug, and tears a piece of bread from the loaf and nibbles at it. “They say that they build their manors and estates on the hill so they can look down on the lowly commoners, making it easier to squash them into submission. Which is probably part of the reason that Turin is somewhat popular, being that he is the only one that does not live up there. And the fact that he treats his employees very well.”
After taking another drink, Thengel says, “I’ve heard a lot about this Turin fellow. It was one of his ships that I traveled aboard to get here. The crew spoke very highly of him. I doubt that he will be of much interest to me though. It isn’t very often that you hear about someone inheriting a large empire, whether it be land or wealth, without it going to their head.”
Balindar replies, "Oh, but he never inherited anything. He came to this city much as you did today, with only what he could carry on his back. He built up his world-spanning trade empire himself. Some claim that he even has more ships at his disposal than the Glandbeln Pirates in the far west. But then again, he also owns the largest of the shipyards here in the Channel Cities."
"Let's not bring them into this. They're the reason that I came here, if you catch my meaning," Thengel says with a chuckle. "But how can someone gain that much wealth, even in a lifetime?"
"Because his lifetime exceeds mine and yours combined, by many centuries. He is of Elven blood, you know. However, he has something that is exceedingly rare among the Elven people, he has discipline and a sense of direction. Therefore, he does not tarry like most of the Elven peoples do." Balindar taps the ash out of his pipe and pulls a leather pouch of tobacco from beneath his cloak. He continues as he fills his pipe, "When he sees an opportunity he jumps on it, instead of waiting for a hundred or so years to get around to it, only to find it no longer worth chasing."
Thengel then asks, "While he sounds interesting, I don't think he is really relevant to what I'm trying to learn. Are there any more merchants who dabble in the less visible or more secretive end of business? They are more the types that I am interested in."
"There are probably dozens of them. I can name a few possibilities." Then Balindar pulls a small splinter of wood from the same tobacco pouch and leans over to the hearth and lights it on the hot coals. He uses it to light his pipe, and after a couple of puffs, he asks, "So what did you do to make the Glandbeln Pirates angry, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Let's just say that I had a run in with one of old man Glandbel's sons. But that's a story for another time."
Balindar chuckles and shakes his head saying, "You have lived dangerously, my friend. You know they will not rest until you are no longer among the living."
"Yes, but that time will not come for a while yet. They are not likely to come to the Channel Cities in force just for me," Thengel says as he tears off another piece of cheese and takes a bite. "But you still have not told me who controls Argentum's darker side."
Balindar then continues, "If you must know, there are more than a dozen organized underworld guilds within the Channel Cities. Here in Argentum, the dominant ones are the Red Hoods, the Black Widows, and the Mist Riders. Of course the Black Widows and the Mist Riders also have a presence within other cities as well. Then of course there is... never mind."
Thengel looks quizzically at the old man, as he puffs on his pipe and then starts to speak again, "Some of the more prominent merchants include Thadeius Philinstar, Bragen Sintol, Vairn Halgen, the Toldos family, Freim Dascol, Clanderneb, the Stien brothers that own the Silver Stien Brewery, Caleb Dingol, the Relinost family, and..."
Thengel interrupts, "I will find out who the prominent merchants are in time. I am more concerned with the behind the scenes powers. You started to tell me about some one or some group, but stopped. Who was it?"
Balindar says, "The place for you to go is the Splaid Goat, or maybe the North Sea Mist Inn & Tavern. These places are the common hangouts of the darker side of Argentum's residents. The Silver Coin Tavern is another good place to visit, or maybe the Sailors Red Light Delights, or even the Dripping Blade down next to the Arena. As far as taverns where strange goings-ons occur, away from the guilds and such, there is the East Side Tavern or the Hillside Hostel. The Hillside is a scary place just to walk into, though. There is an eerie feel about the place."
"Who where you going to mention?" Thengel asks again with a stern look on his face.
The elderly man takes a sip of his mug, breathes deeply, and then says in a whisper as he leans across the table, "The Scorpion."
The room goes from quiet talk and the clatter of plate and cup to deathly silence...
Thengel looks around the room. Everyone in the place is staring at him and Balindar.
Balindar breathes deep again with a bit of a shudder.
Alerelean walks over to the table and says to Thengel, "If you want to know about the Scorpion, just wait. The Scorpion could very well visit you when you least expect it now, and you are not likely to enjoy the encounter in the least."
Thengel looks around, "Alright! I have never met anyone who could strike fear into peoples' hearts by the mere sound of his name. Is he truly that bad?"
Balindar says with a very stern look, "You left the far west out of fear of the Glandbeln Pirates. Old man Glandbel had come to the Channel Cities long ago and plied his mayhem here, making several powerful people very angry, including Balandith. Balandith contacted the Scorpion and it is said that he paid the Scorpion a very large sum to visit old man Glandbel. His small fleet, at that time, only about 30 ships, set sail the next morning, never to return this far east again. It is said that they have never, in the forty years since, attacked a single one of Turin Balandith's ships."
Balindar takes another long drink from his mug and continues, "You have to think that the Scorpion must have made quite an impression on old man Glandbel to scare him like that. He moved his operation half way around the world from the place where it would be the most profitable. Even the Gorled Navy was unable to deal with the fleet of the Pirate Lord, yet the Scorpion convinced him to leave and never again return with a single visit."
"As you can see, the Scorpion is not one to be trifled with. The assassin's guilds around the Channel Cities have joined together to offered a very large bounty for the head of the Scorpion, because of the competition. But none of the locals dare, and those visitors crazy enough to try, usually turn up floating in the channel or lying with a telltale dagger protruding from their chest. And these other guilds have been watching their backs like never before since they announced it. The Scorpion is the only reason for the other guilds to put aside their differences and work together."
"What do you mean, by telltale dagger?"
"The Scorpion's victim's are almost always found with a very high quality steal dagger, with the pommel made from ivory carved in the shape of a scorpion, thus the name," says Balindar, taking another drink from his mug.
Thengel looks around nervously and says, "So obviously he is way out of my league then. That is fine, I just want to know what type of environment I am up against here."
Balindar replies, "Yes out of your league, and everyone else's as well. And you should not refer to the Scorpion as a 'he. No one knows if it is a he, she, it, or a large group. No one knows, or if they do, they are not saying where others can hear."
Alerelean then says, "It's a good thing that you realize now, just how dangerous the Scorpion can be. I was beginning to enjoy your company, but anyone stupid enough to go after the Scorpion is best to stay away from if you want to live long."
Thengel looks at her and replies, "Okay, we can change the subject then. So where can someone like myself go to find work plying my trade then?"
She says, "If you think you can hold your own in battle, then you can go to the Arena in the south-east corner of the city. They hold regular battles there, pitting slaves or those who are desperate enough to risk their lives for a gold coin against each other or against wild beasts. It is entertaining, for those willing to pay the Copper Coin fee to enter."
"Or you can check out some of the other taverns that I mentioned previously. There are nearly a hundred within Argentum alone," Balindar mentions.
Alerelean then says, "Maybe it would be best if you spent tonight in one of the other cities, after asking so many questions about the Scorpion. Maybe you should go down to South Shore or over to Martelain for a couple of days and lay low. Tell you what, I'll even go with you since a few of my customers left, and I can tell you a little bit more about the city of Argentum along the way."
Balindar then says, "You wouldn't be any safer in South Shore than here. If the Scorpion is going to visit you, there is nowhere safe to hide."
Taking another long puff from his pipe, he says, "If you want to know about the Black Widows, their contact is a blind storyteller who can usually be found sitting in either the Screaming Raven or the Splaid Goat up near the Channel Light Tower. His name is... Castinow..." Balindar squints his eyes in thought. "Varlon... if I remember correctly? Yes, Castinow Varlon. A somewhat tall, thin, dark haired, elderly man. If not at one of these places, he can be seen telling stories to children out on the streets around the city sometimes.
But don't underestimate his lack of eyesight, for he knows what is going on around him with a clarity that is unreal. And his oversized walking stick has cracked plenty of thieving skulls in its day."
"Now we are getting somewhere," comments Thengel as he lifts his mug for another drink of his now grown-cold hot spiced cider.
Balindar continues, "The Red Hoods specialize in petty thievery and pick pocketing. They are easy to spot when not pilfering someone's coin purse. They wear red hooded cloaks, red hats, or red sashes around their foreheads or upper arms. As many of the guilds, they openly show who they are when not plying their trade, in the hopes of striking fear into the honest people of the city. They are a small time operation and limit their activities to Argentum."
"The Mist Riders are not so flamboyant, even though they wear their colors as well," says Alerelean. "They wear grey sashes, but often conceal them under grey cloaks. They only flash their sash in public to frighten actual victims. And you can imagine how many people in the streets of Argentum wear grey cloaks, only about half the residents of the city, as well as the other four cities. They also have a strong presence in the city of Gorled."
"Then there is the Brotherhood," Balindar says in a quiet voice. "Nearly as feared as the Scorpion, by the unknowing commoners. The Brotherhood has their fingers into anything and everything of an illegal nature within, and throughout, the Channel cities. But that is another story in itself. I'm afraid that I can't point you in their direction though."
Thengel smiles and looks at Alerelean, "Sounds like there is a lot to learn right here. Do you mind bringing three complete meals out for us? At my expense, of course. If you are going off-duty, that is? And a bottle of fine drink, maybe some brandy or whatever you prefer."
She smiles and says, "So you want me to start a tab for you then?"
"Sure, if you trust me that is," Thengel says with a laugh.
"Do you want me to add a room to your tab for the night, or are you going to take me up on the offer to walk you over to one of the other cities for the night?" she asks with a sly smirk.
"Yes, a private room sounds good. I think I'll be staying right here tonight." Then turning back to Balindar, Thengel asks, "This Brotherhood sounds interesting. But first maybe I should learn more about some of the other cities." He hums, strokes his goatee, then continues, "Maybe you can tell me about Martelain next."
As Alerelean walks towards the kitchens, Balindar replies with a chuckle, “For a meal and a bottle of brandy, I would be delighted to tell you about Martelain, Thengel my friend.”
Thengel says, “I have heard a lot about the unrest in Martelain on the ship traveling here. Some of the ships crew where from Martelain. On the rare occasions when they spoke of it, they had anger in their voices.”
“And with good reason,” replies Balindar with a grim smile. “Martelain was a city of wealth and power only four decades ago. Before the Northern Empire decided that they wanted to seize control of the mines in the Red Mountains, about 250 miles to the east of Martelain.”
Thengel asks, “So what happened 40 years ago?”
“Actually, the turmoil started about 45 or 50 years ago,” says Balindar. He takes another long draw off his pipe and continues, “It seems that Emperor Vladock the Ruthless decided that he wanted the mines that had made the royal family and metal smiths of Martelain wealthy for several centuries. So it seems he started to see to it that certain people, who where under his control, were planted in positions of power within the hierarchy of the Martelain government. While several more that already held positions of power, where swayed with the weight of Northerner gold in their pockets. From which he could undermine the whole political structure of the kingdom from within. Of course it was not known until years later that the emperor had been behind it, and by then it was already too late.”
“But how did it get out that the northerners where behind it?” Thengel asks as takes another drink from his mug, and curling up his lip at the now-cold hot spiced cider that he had been drinking.
“Once the Northerners had taken over, these people who had been trusted members of the Martelain government where appointed to new positions of power under the first of the Northern Governors installed by the Emperor,” replies Balindar.
Thengel says, “That’s an underhanded way of conquering others.”
“But that is only the beginning of the underhanded things that occurred during the last 40 years.” Balindar then takes another sip of his mug as Alerelean returns with a large bottle of fine brandy with a pig dancing on its hind legs painted on the bottle and three smaller mugs, sitting them on the table, then taking her seat again.
Thengel thanks her with a smile as he slowly works the cork out of the bottle asking, “A dancing pig?”
She laughs, “It is made at a small Inn in Archendurn, called the Dancing Pig. The Innkeeper is a very accomplished brewer and fermenter, or so I have heard. The owner of My Brothers Place here,” as she sweeps her arms in the air indicating the tavern, in which they are sitting, “imports it directly from him. His raspberry brandy is world famous, unfortunately we are out, so his standard brandy will have to do for now.”
Thengel laughs and says, “I’ll have to remember that, world famous Dancing Pig Raspberry Brandy. One of these days I will have to get to Archendurn, I’ve heard a few tales about that wilderness kingdom.”
Balindar takes another long draw of smoke from his hand carved pipe and chuckles at Thengel’s fascination with the brandy. He then continues,” Forty years ago, this past spring, the kingdom was in such turmoil that the king of Martelain had his hands full dealing with the corruption and unrest that seemed to be growing at a phenomenal rate over the previous years. So when the Northern Empires armies marched over the mountains and took control of the mines and cut off the roads to Martelain, there was little that could be done. And within a few months, the armies marched down to the city itself. Since the metals from the mines stopped flowing into Martelain, trade started to falter, thus food was in short supply relatively quickly.”
Alerelean adds, “It still surprises me that none of the other channel cities tried to help out Martelain, instead they just let it fall to the Northerners.”
“Ah, but that is not the case “continues Balindar, “you see in Gorled, the king was having problems of his own, having just escaped an assassination attempt. And of course, Dorgard was accused of being behind the assassination attempt, and was readying themselves for another in a long series of wars with Gorled across the Loudewater river. At that time South Shore did not have a military that could help out in any way, as most of the growth of South Shore has come since the downfall of Martelain as the people fled across the Silver River. Argentum, was the only city that was in a position where they could have done anything, but the merchants of Argentum could not agree on a plan of action if their lives depended on it, so they did nothing, as it their way.”
“So the kingdom fell to the Northern Empire,” states Thengel in a matter of fact voice.
Balindar replies, “Yes. And things have never been the same since. Some say that the newest Governor is different from the previous 5 governors, in that he is slowly easing up on the people, but it is not overly apparent as of yet. Then again, if he eases up too much, the people are likely to rise up in revolt or even try to assassinate him as they did with two of his predecessors.”
“Martelain is one of the oldest of the Channel Cities then?” Asks Thengel.
“Yup, it was founded shortly after Argentum was founded as a port town by the Ruglund Empire to carry on trade with the Gambed and Balmast peoples that resided on either shore of the channel. At that time, they where are barbaric people, that relied on hunting and gathering for most of their needs, with a few tilled farms starting to develop. It did not take the Aquiladi long to realize that the metals that the Balmast peoples were trading to them for trinkets was superior to that turned out by their own mines in the far west. So it was the second of the five channel cities that now exist here.
In 1142 Third Age, the people of the region rebelled against the waning Ruglund Empire and broke free from their control. The leader of this rebellion was Vraingar VanDenlendesor, and was chosen by the people as king of the new independent lands. His descendants ruled the Martelain Kingdom for over 1,400 years before the Northerners seized control.”
Thengel places the first of the fresh mugs, which he just finished filling from the bottle of brandy, in front of Balindar, as he asks, “I have heard the mountains to the east referred to as the Iron Mountains, but you called them the Red Mountains. Am I missing something here?”
Alerelean speaks up as she accepts the second mug of brandy from Thengel, “The Iron mountains are the western most range of the Red Mountains. Different names used by different people, but they’re the same mountains.”
Thengel takes a drink from the third mug as he sets the bottle down. “So what should I watch out for when I visit Martelain in the morning?”
Balindar says with a chuckle, “Stay clear of any mobs of people. Riots can and sometimes do erupt from thin air among the streets of Martelain. Whenever a riot starts, the troops grab and imprison anyone near the fray, regardless of involvement. Many people have lost their lives by being in the wrong place at the wrong time in that wretched city.
Some say that the tide is changing and that the rebellion is gaining strength again. Others claim that the only living heir to the Martelain throne is coming out of hiding. Still others say that the last of the VanDenlendesor family was taken back to Gasran-Nogal, the capital city and executed shortly after the Northerners seized control. “
Alerelean says, “Its not such a bad place. I have a friend who works at the Red Hooded Traveler and another that works in the kitchens at the Grey Tortoise. She says that the rumors about an heir have really been flying around there. She says that supposedly, when the VanDenlendesor’s where taken into the heart of the Northern Empire, that the Emperors younger brother, who was one of the generals in the battle claimed one of the Kings daughters as his. This was supposed to have lead to a long and drawn out feud between the two, as the Emperor wanted the entire family put to death, but his brother wanted her spared as his personal play thing. Well she was supposed to have been hid away at the brother’s fortress for several years. Eventually the brother died in a battle to the east, and the Emperor had the girl found and executed immediately. Rumor has it though that the Emperors brother and the former king’s daughter had a son, and that this information was kept quiet from the Emperor, and he was raised along with the other children that where born to the general’s concubines. Of course there is no way of knowing the truth.”
“There is no telling.” says Balindar. “Rumors always surround anything that is at the center of people’s minds, and the rulership of Martelain is no exception.”
Thengel says, “I will have to check this city out. Sounds like the kind of place where my services might be of use. Is there anything else that I should watch out for there?”
The old man laughs and says, “Yes, the beggars, street urchins, and of course with the narrow streets that are common in all the cities of the channel area, you need to be very careful not to get caught between a wagon or cart and the wall. I’ve seen many an unwary person injured or maimed. Then there are the Terrambours, you have to watch out around them.”
“What are Terrambours?” asks Thengel.
“They are a group of people that wander the city playing various make-shift instruments, such as tambourines, drums, and other strange things. The problem is that as they pass through an area, people’s pockets seem to get lighter. I’m not sure if they actually perform the deeds themselves or if they have others who wander through the crowd and pick items off of the unwary, as they are being entertained or mesmerized by the sounds. They wander all five of the cities, so keep both eyes open when they are near.”
“I’ll try to remember that. Anything else?”
Alerelean replies, “Of course you will have to at least walk past the old Martelain Castle. It is one of the most amazing structures in the entire area. Dozens of towers, huge double walls, with each courtyard rising up to the palace proper. I have heard that it has over 800 rooms within its walls and several hundred more below in the dungeons. As well as enough out buildings to make a small town all its own.”
“If you do though, don’t hang around the gates too long or they will get suspicious of you. In which case you would likely see the inside of the castle dungeons in person.”
Thengel then asks, “So what is coming for dinner?”
Alerelean replies, “Smoked fish, berries, vegetable stew and of course bread and cheese. I should probably go see if it is nearly done yet. Mabbel is a wonder in the kitchen, she even cooks for the owner at his manor house when he has his big yearly parties.” She stands and heads for the inn’s kitchens again.
“So which city do you want to hear about next?” asks Balindar.
“I don’t know. You’re the expert on history and culture in the area, what do you think should be next?” answers Thengel, taking a long slow sip of his brandy.
“How about I tell you about Gorled? And of course I can’t talk about the history of Gorled without also talking about Dorgard. So I’ll cover that next.” Balindar then takes another long draw off of his hand carved pipe.
“Now that’s the big city on the west side of the channel, right?” Asks Thengel, as he takes another sip of brandy from his mug.
“Right you are, my friend,” replies Balindar as he removes the pipe from his lips and takes a drink of brandy. Setting the mug back down he then continues with the history lesson for the foreigner from the east, “Gorled was founded about the same time as Martelain, and not long after Argentum. It was started by one of the Masgand clan Chieftains, Flaid Gorled was his name, if my memory serves me correctly, or maybe it was one of his children or grandchildren, I don’t recall off hand. Anyway, he united several of the Masgand tribes, and later brought most of the Gambed tribes under his control as well. The intention was to remain free of control from the Ruglund Empire that founded the island trading colony of Argentum and the city of Martelain on the other side of the channel. They quickly founded the town that now bears their name. They utilized this village as a trading center with the Aquilai peoples, thus increasing their wealth and power by controlling the flow of wealth upon the western shore of the channel, and becoming a military power to be reckoned with within two centuries.”
Thengel says as he sets his mug down and wipes the brandy from his chin with his hand, “Guess I better slow down, getting a little messy here… So the Gorled kingdom formed pretty quick then?”
“Yes it did,” continues Balindar as his eyes light up at the sight of Alerelean walking through the kitchen door balancing a large tray in her right hand and carrying a small iron pot by it’s wooden handle in her left hand. “It didn’t take long before those who where not part of the kingdom on the west side of the channel, came to fear being forced into fealty under the ruler of the Gorled Kingdom.”
“It sounded like the kingdom got started with good intentions, what happened to cause this fear,” asks Thengel?
Alerelean sets the kettle down in the middle of the table as the smell of hot stew permeates the air and smothers the aroma of fine brandy. She then places a large wooden bowl in front of each of the three seats, along with three wooden plates, and bronze spoons. Then a large tarnished silver platter with several smoked trout, with the charred eyes looking out of the now motionless sockets is set down next to the stew. Then with a quick move a large wooden bowl of fruit and fresh baked bread is tossed into the air with a flip of the large tray, and caught with the other hand and place on the table as the large serving tray is placed on the floor leaning against the wall with a graceful motion.
Thengel dishes up three bowls of the stew, giving the first to Balindar, the second to Alerelean as she sits down at the table, and taking the third for himself. He then takes one of the smoked fish from the platter and starts to eat.
Balindar takes a spoonful of the stew, “Whoahhh, hot, hot!” then quickly takes a drink of his brandy when he realizes that it is still too hot to eat yet. “While the early rulers of the Gorled Kingdom watched out for those they ruled over, it did not take long before their greed got the better of them. The Gorled Kingdom with its large feudal military started a campaign of expansion that has lasted several centuries. This expansion results in 19 separate wars with the Petty Kingdoms to the south, the second of which sparked the numerous petty kingdoms to join together to try and fend off the onslaught of the Gorled forces. It also resulted in the destruction of four of the petty kingdoms that had originally existed on the west side of the channel.”
“The first of these wars saw the fall of the Hasthinol Petty Kingdom that had existed where the present village of Border Town sits in the river valleys that run just north of the Black Hills and Mangor Hills. The second, about 18 years later, was when the Gorled army crossed the river from the city into what is now Dorgard, capturing and executing the Dorhain family’s small kingdom. It was at this point that the other Petty kingdoms realized what the future held if they did not react, so they joined together to form the Dorgard Alliance, to guard against what had befallen the Dorhain kingdom.” Balindar pauses for a moment and dips his bread into the stew again to soak up the thick broth, taking a bite and then takes a drink of brandy. “With their combined forces, they where able to push the Gorled forces back across the river and set up the former Dorhain lands as the Dorgard Commons, to be ruled by the remaining kingdoms jointly. Thus was formed the city of Dorgard, from the ashes of the second petty kingdom to fall. It was not long before they decided that it would be best to elect a Margrave to rule over the Dorgard Commons, in the best interests of the remaining kingdoms.”
Thengel pauses eating a piece of smoked fish long enough to ask, “But this didn’t stop the Gorled Kingdom from attacking?”
“Right you are, my friend,” says Balindar. “This did not deter them from further attacks. They again attacked 24 years later, but where repelled with out too much difficulty. Battles between the Petty Kingdoms of Dorgard Alliance and Gorled have flared up every generation or two since then.”
Thengel asks with a puzzled look while refilling his mug with brandy, “You had said that four of these Petty Kingdoms fell to Gorled, but you only told me about two of them. There were another two after the Dorgard Alliance was formed?”
“Yes, after several wars over the river between the cities themselves, that never gained Gorled any more land, they decided to take a different approach. Two wars ago they attacked the Kaseldorn Petty Kingdom, which fell quickly due to its remote location along the mountains. By this time, the city of Gorled had overgrown its walls that had been constructed right after the Dorgard Alliance was formed, so the city walls were expanded to the north along the coast, thus when you visit you will see what are known as New Gorled and Old Gorled. The most recent war was only 19 years ago, and saw the fall of the next line of defense for the Dorgard Alliance along the foothills of the mountains, the Windyvale Petty Kingdom. Most of the royal family was able to escape, and they now reside in the city of Dorgard. They have sworn to avenge the deaths of their family members, and their troops that perished in the war. Some say that they are waiting and plotting for the appropriate time to attack and wrest their lands back from Gorled.”
“You will also likely notice that Dorgard is the only one of the main land cities that is not surrounded by a high stone wall. After the ninth war between the cities, Dorgard constructed several small stonework towers and built a large log palisade on the top of an earthen rampart made from the dirt that was dug to form a trench all the way around the outside of it. During the rainy season late in the fall and early winter, as well as during the spring melt up in the mountains, the trench has a tendency to become very muddy due to the water level in the river rising slightly. Sometimes it even rises enough to flood the trench, making the city of Dorgard an island of sorts for a week or two. After the eleventh war, the trench was deepened and lined with wooden spikes. There has been talk lately about building a stone wall around the city, or at least separating it from the mainland and along the river edge.”
Thengel then asks, “So how did the Great Cathedral of the All Father come to be in Gorled?”
Balindar laughs a little and says, “One of the most outspoken and convincing of the followers of the Church of the All Father managed to convert the king to his beliefs and convinced him that it was his duty to see to the building of a temple to rival the greatest structures of the worlds other leading religions, and to dedicate it to the All Father. Unlike most of the other religions that exist in the world, their religion believes that a single deity created the entire world. The king commissioned the finest stone masons in the world to design and construct it, and he covered the costs with the taxes of the people of the kingdom. It took several years to complete, and cost many lives due to the intricacies and massiveness of the structure. Now it is the center of world that the All Father was supposed to have created, but as you can tell, I do not agree with this view. All these different religions bickering back and forth, the only one that seems to avoid getting embroiled in the problems is the Druids, but then they have a different twist to their beliefs.”
Alerelean says, “I didn’t realize that it was the center of the religious activities of the Church of the All Father.”
“Yup, when the king gave up his supposedly heretical ways, he then made it the law of the land that all who reside in the Gorled Kingdom, either convert and submit to the Church of the All Father, or be cleansed of their sins through pain and penitence. So over night it became the second most powerful religion in the channel cities, and the third most powerful in the world,” replies Balindar, taking another draw from his pipe. He then taps it out on the side of the hearth next to his seat, before placing it into his tobacco sack, and tears a piece of bread from the loaf and dips it into the stew. “And to this day, The Great Cathedral of the All Father in Gorled has been the center of that religion.”
“The other major religions do not have that strong of a presence in the channel cities any more, the center of the Druidical society is on a remote island in the middle of Clearwater Lake, over the mountains to the west. The Jailsahaim religion is centered to the east, near your homeland Thengel. And the most widely held religion, World Pantheon, does not have a center due to the wide variation and animosity that exists between the different deities of this religion.”
Thengel adds, “Yes, it’s to the north of my homeland a few days’ travel.”
Balindar smiles and says, “Another part of the story that is quite interesting is the building of the High Tower of Magic, in Dorgard.”
Alerelean replies, “I’ve never heard that story.”
“Please tell us then,” adds Thengel.
Balindar smiles and continues, “Well, after the first two wars after the forming of the Dorgard Alliance and the retaking of the Dorgard Commons by the Alliance, Gorled realized that they would have to try something different. Since the 17 Petty Kingdoms that existed at that time, could raise enough troops to fend off the Gorled army, they began to stockpile siege equipment, such as catapults and ballistae and so forth. The most prominent of the guilds that magic wielders belonged to at that time was the ‘Inner Circle of Magi’. And they had been using a large old building in Argentum as their base of operations, but in…” Balindar strokes his beard for a moment as he thinks, then continues, “…in 1897 of the Third Age this building was severely damaged by fire. Some say that it was an apprentice trying to utilize more of the Essence than he had the training to safely use, and it caused the fire to sweep through the building to quickly for anyone to stop. The Dorgard Alliance saw an opportunity to take advantage of this situation and offered to allow the guild to build a new and larger structure within their lands, and that they would be free of any form of taxation as long as they stayed there. But this offer did not come without a price; they had to help with the defense of Dorgard against Gorled.”
“The Dorgard Alliance offered a very large piece of land right across the river from the most fabulous building in Gorled at the time, the Great Cathedral of the All Father. They jumped at the chance, not only because of what Dorgard offered, but also because of the trouble that the Church of the All Father was causing for any wielders of the magical realms that were not affiliated with them directly. The Church had been claiming that these ‘renegade spell casters’ where under the influence of demons and needed to be eradicated. As you can now see from anywhere in the channel region, the High Tower of Magic was built to cast a shadow over the Great Cathedral during the setting sun, and towers over everything in the five cities.”
“No one believed that such a tall building could be built by men, but amazing as it sounds, it was completed in less than a year. Some say that it is larger inside than it is outside, but who is to say what is possible when the greatest magic using minds of the world come together for a single project. Anyway, it was not long after that when the Fathers of the Church of the All Father, decided that they could not be out done. They planned to build the Great Bell Tower to a height above the High Tower, but no stone mason in the world was willing to undertake such a project due to the height of the work. Then the Church said that the Tower would be smitted down by the Hand of the All Father one day since it was an obvious insult to him, by humans claiming to be able to reach so close to heaven. But, as you can see, this has not happened as of yet.”
“They also went though a name change when the tower was completed. Changing the name of their guild from ‘Inner Circle of Magi’ to ‘The High Tower of Magic’, as it is known today. This massive building it is said houses the second largest library of knowledge in the world. The largest being on the Isle of Stars, out in the middle of the channel.”
Alerelean then adds, “There is also the bridge. The start of the more recent wars has been signaled by the burning of the bridge that ties the two cities together over some disagreement or incident.”
Balindar continues, “This is true. The only bridge between any of the channel cities is between the two cities that are at war with each other the most often. But then that is why neither side wants to build a more permanent stone bridge. All the other cities are separated by too much water to build bridges, except for maybe Martelain and South Shore. Then again, there is a lot of boat traffic that goes up and down the Silver River, and a bridge would interfere with this, so they have been content to use ferries.”
Thengel says, “This has been interesting and entertaining so far.”
Balindar replies, “Thanks. And thank you for the meal. This is a perfect time to tell you about the longest ferry between South Shore and Gorled, crossing one of the several islands in the channel. Then on to the history of South Shore and then to the most intriguing and mysterious part of the channel cities, the Isle’s of Stars. But first, let me enjoy this dinner, then I will continue.”
“Take your time, replies Thengel. He then turns to Alerelean and asks, “So how long have you been living in the Channel Cities if you are from the Forbidden Plains, so far west of here?”
She smiles and says, “Too long. My parents traveled here when I was but a child. My father had taken a job as a purchaser for Balandith Shipping, and eventually was promoted and asked to move here to Turin’s base of operations. My mother had died about three years after we got here, so he raised me. Turin Balandith being the caring fellow he is, offered to allow us to stay at his estate so that I would have others around and be given a good education while my father plied his trading and haggling skills for him. A few years later my father was on one of Balandith’s ships that disappeared somewhere south of the Eastern Continent. Turin allowed me to stay at his estate until I was old enough to fend for myself, then he offered me a job here at his inn waiting tables to make a living. So to make a long story short, about 20 years.” I would like to get out of here, I don’t really like the crowded streets here, nor the cramped living conditions.”
Balindar says, with a mouth half full of fish, “Ahhh… but there are worse places to live. At least here you don’t have to worry about brigands or wild critters that roam much of the less civilized lands. Or the sweltering heat of the jungles that cover most of the southern continent.”
“As bad as the heat is in the jungles, it gets hotter during the day in my homeland, but then it cools off way too much at night. And just finding water can be a week long search, if you are lucky enough to find it at all,’ says Thengel with his ‘desert folk’ accent.
After Balindar finishes chewing, he replies, “They say the best place in the Channel Cities for the common folk to live, is in South Shore. You have more freedom and are taxed less. Slavery doesn’t exist, as is also the case in Dorgard. However, unlike Dorgard where you have a council of nobility that rule and constantly bicker back and forth, or a council of greedy merchants in Argentum. Then there is the weak and corrupt king in Gorled, and a week king is not a good thing to have in a powerful military state because it is hard to tell who is truly in command. Or worst of all, the ruthless foreign governor from the Northern Empire slowly squashing the city of Martelain.”
“In South Shore you have an elected council of 25 who have to answer to those who elect them, otherwise they are not allowed to stay in office. This makes for a government that has the happiness of its citizens at heart, but also results in a system that can not keep corruption from filtering in. Many of the council members are from the wealthiest ranks of the artisans and merchants, and as such tend to sway things in their favor as much as possible, even to the point of paying actual coinage or trading goods and services for votes. They refer to it as a democracy, however only those who own land or have over a certain level of income are considered ‘citizenry’ and are allowed to vote. I have heard that it is the second largest of the Channel Cities, with nearly 250,000 people living in the 2-½ square miles that the city covers. But of those, only about 30,000 or so are allowed to vote for council members, and about half of them don’t bother doing so.”
“It sounds like it is a different flavor of corruption in South Shore then. So it is primarily working class folk that live there then,” asks Thengel?
“Sort of, you still have a lot of wealthy individuals who hold most of the power, although these are usually the Guild Masters of the various artisan’s guilds, and their closest companions. The dream of many of the people within the city is to some day be able to rise to a position of power within one of the numerous guild houses there,” says Balindar. Taking another drink of brandy, he continues, “Although this is not an easy task to accomplish, and can’t be done without making enemies from what I have heard. It is usually the most ruthless of the guild members who rise to these positions of power and wealth. But on the other hand it does promote learning the skills of the guild that they are a part of, thus making the products that come out of South Shore some of the best in the world.”
Thengel asks, “So where are good places to become familiar with in my line of work?”
That depends on what type of work you are looking for in South Shore,” replies Balindar. “If you are looking to work for council member, then the Councilors Haven is definitely the place to check out, but be warned, dressed like that they are as likely to kick you out as serve you any drinks. That is one of the few taverns in the cities that does not have rooms available for its patrons. While it is one of the smallest pubs around, they serve only the best of drinks and food, and charge a pretty coin for it.”
Alerelean interrupts, “You can also check out the Roc’s Nest. There is always something going on there. And you can’t help but meet people.”
Balindar laughs, “Yeah, and watch your pockets. The place is huge, probably the largest tavern you will ever see in your lifetime. A single floor of it will seat more patrons than any other tavern in the Channel Cities, and it has two floors. The inn itself has rooms available on four floors. It also has a large stable, which only one-in-ten of the other inns around here have.”
“But don’t try to get away with anything in there,” Alerelean cuts in while chewing some bread. “There is a guy that the innkeeper pays just for keeping people from getting out of hand. And he has no problems with using extreme force. I have seen him spike a man’s head to a pole with his crossbow from over a hundred feet away for raising a ruckus. He had jumped up on a table so that he had a clear shot over most of the intervening patron’s heads, but he hit him from half way across the room.”
“Half way across the room,” Thengel asks. “You said that it was over a hundred feet away.”
“Yup, about 35 paces, half way across the tavern! I’ve also seen him jump from the balcony of the second floor down on top of others who were fighting. This guy is vicious and ruthless when it comes to keeping trouble at a minimum.”
Balindar says, “When you have several hundred people drinking ale in a room like that, problems are bound to develop unless you do something to prevent it.”
“Are you serious, it has four floors,” asks Thengel?
“Yes,” replies Alerelean, “the place is huge for an inn, with thick stone outer-walls and a slate roof. I think most of the inner walls are wood, but some of those might be stone as well.”
Balindar takes another bite of his fish and chews it, then continues, “Another place you may want to check out is the Nesting Swan Inn and Tavern. It is a nice place, but some of the characters that hang out in there can be shady.”
“Of course, if you feel like hunting down slaves that have fled from Argentum they can usually be found on the streets of South Shore,” says Balindar as he takes another bite of his fish. “They tend to go there, since slavery is illegal within the city, although they do very little to protect those who have managed to escape from the other cities. But while slavery does exist in three of the other four cities, it is rare in all but Argentum. The Church of the All Father in Gorled frowns on the idea of slavery, but even with their power they have not been able to do away with it there. In fact, they were fairly common in the Martelain Palace until a slave had assassinated the previous Governor a few years ago. The new Governor doesn’t allow any slaves onto the palace grounds, but then he won’t usually step out in public either.”
Then Alerelean chuckles and says, “You will also see the ridiculous hats that most of the men in South Shore wear. They are these things with somewhat wide things that stick out around them.”
“Brims, they are called, and they are made of felt, which I have heard comes from wool, although I don’t know how they give it the thick and stiff feel that it has,” interrupts Balandith.
“Anyway, they are funny looking, but a lot of the men down there wear them. They only started about a year or so ago, but now everyone down there does. I even see them in the other cities occasionally. A lot of times they are a strange color, like red, bright green, or yellow. I have even seen a few people that stick bird feathers on them.”
After taking another bite of fish and then bread and washing it down with more brandy, Balindar continues, “You will need to keep an eye out for anyone wearing purple sashes around their waist, head, or arms. This is an indicator of the Purple League. They are a loosely organized group of thieves and burglars. If you see someone wearing their colors, they won’t bother you, but there very well could be someone else nearby who is associated with them.”
Balindar then takes out his pipe and tobacco again as he continues, “Also, stay clear of the Pallid Hand. There is no way of recognizing their members, as the assassins’ guilds don’t generally publicize themselves like some of the thieves’ guilds do. They are based out of the Roc’s Nest. They are a ruthless and untrustworthy group, to say the least. They have less couthe than probably any other of the underworld guilds in the Channel Cities, not that assassins and thieves are known for being very honorable anyway, but you get the idea.”
Thengel asks, “You had mentioned the ferry between Gorled and South Shore. What is so special about it?”
Balindar lights the tobacco with a splinter again and replies, ““Due to the distance between land around the Channel Cities, most are connected by ferries. These ferries are set up with very heavy ropes attached to each side of the shore and are long enough as well as being weighted such that they go into the water far enough that the large ships can get over them without a problem,” says Balindar. However other than the stretch between Gorled and South Shore, the longest distance covered by a ferry is about a quarter of a mile. However, the distance between Gorled and South Shore is greater than that, but luckily there is an island directly between them, so there are actually two ferries that cross between these two cities, each goes from one city to the island and then back. The island is fairly small and there aren’t any buildings on it other than the house of the family that operates the ferries, but it is just a little unusual to have a stop over in the middle with a ferry ride. But on the other hand, you can’t get to Dorgard by ferry from any of the other cities without passing through Gorled, so when the bridge between Gorled and Dorgard is burned and they are at war, you can not get to Dorgard except by boat.”
“Speaking of boats, what is the deal with the large group of small islands in the southern part of the channel that are all connected by small wooden bridges, and covered by trees and gardens,” asks Thengel?
“That,” replies Balindar, “is the best kept secret in the Channel Cities. It is the Isle of Stars.”
“You mentioned them earlier, what is this isle of stars, some strange cult?”
Balandith continues, “Not exactly. It is a monastery of sorts, but not a religious monastery, think of it more as an elite educational guild. Rumor has it that the biggest and most complete library in the entire world is on the largest of those small islands. It is a long story, but if you want to hear it, that island was the start of the entire Channel Cities area history. Long ago, I don’t even know how far back it was, a pair of people from the east, even further east than your homeland traveled to the area. The reason for them coming here isn’t known, although there are hundreds of rumors. They settled on the island and started to teach some of the barbaric peoples that lived in the area how to farm and how to smelt metals into bronze. Among other things they also preached of live in harmony with nature, much as the Druids were already doing. However, these easterners didn’t believe in the nature spirits that the Druids do.”
Alerelean says, “I have never heard the story behind them before. All I know are the rumor that people spread about them.”
After finishing off a small piece of cheese and taking another draw off his pipe, Balindar continues, “However their teachings were drastically different in many ways from those of the Druidical College. One way was that they rarely used weapons, instead they taught their students to defend themselves using an ancient martial art that had developed in the east long ago. This style of combat used fluid and circular motions to redirect an opponent’s force away from the defender and often times utilized the attacker’s own momentum against himself. It was demonstrated that with extensive practice it was possible to even develop these skills to the point where it was possible to take on an armed opponent and actually be able to subdue them or take them out of the fight. Another thing that was taught was the use of using simple farm implements as weapons, which when used correctly could be as dangerous as military weapons.”
“I think I had seen one of them come through my homeland many years ago,” says Thengel.
“You probably did,” replies Alerelean while Balindar takes a few more puffs and prepares to continue.
“Into the first winter these easterners started to build a structure out of wood. Not just using logs to support skins like the local people had done up till then, but they stacked them to make solid walls that could keep out the weather better than anything that anyone had previously seen. They continued to teach the local people these building skills, as well as farming, animal husbandry, and various manufacturing skills, until the demand for their services became greater than their ability to teach the material. After a while the school had grown into several teachers, but due to the increased population resulting from the new technology that was brought to the area by these educated easterners, they could not keep up with the demand.
They began only teaching those who could pay for their services. At first this made them fairly wealthy, however as time went by and the focus of the school slowly changed over the generations, they began to teach that wealth could corrupt. Which later was proven true by the fact that the wealthy children of powerful nobles started to create problems for one another. At one point a student, who happened to be the son of a Masgand noble murdered the son of another noble, thus escalating a feud that had already been going on between the families for several generations.”
“I can see where being involved in such a tragedy would cause them to change their ways,” retorts Thengel after tearing off another piece of bread and dipping it into his now cooled stew.
Balindar continues after another sip of brandy, “From that point on, the school started to be very selective as to whom they taught their arts to. They began to only accept those that had low birth rank, yet had great mental potential. They also started to teach smaller numbers due to their strict requirements of entry. This resulted in many of the members traveling to find children that they felt were worthy of this knowledge, and in the process they began to gather more knowledge. Now they are respected and revered men and women of learned mind and fit bodies, who have dedicated their lives to collecting and retaining knowledge on everything. Some say that they are preparing for a great cataclysm that is expected to nearly wipe out mankind, and that their knowledge will carry the survivors though the terrible event. Others say that they are just a bunch of mixed up and miss-guided monks and historians. Still others consider them to be freaks, and refuse to go near them.”
Balindar pauses to take a draw off his pipe and then blow a smoke ring into the air with a smile before continuing, “But they rarely have to worry about brigands or thieves, since during their travels, they never carry any money, and rely on their own abilities and the humanity of other’s for their livelihood. They can often be found stopping at a farm along their travels before sundown, and offering to work for several hours in exchange for food and shelter for the night, which most farmers will usually grant just for the added help.”
“What do they do, if they can’t find a place to stay then,” asks Alerelean?
Balindar answers, “They sleep where ever they happen to be when it gets late. I have seen them sleeping long side the road a couple of times over the years. That is unusual though, since they are well respected by most people of the world. They are a strange people though. They will not allow anyone that is not of their order on to their island for any reason. And they are very particular about those who they take on as students. The potential student, it is said, must swear loyalty to the order, and break off all contact with their natural families between the ages of 4 and 7 when they join the order. While most parents don’t want to see their children disappear, the majority of families whose children are selected are willing to see them go, as they know that their children will soon be part of the most learned and elite organization in the world. Even most neighbors will then treat the rest of the family with more respect than they otherwise would have due to the honor of having born a child that “takes up the walk”. I think they call it this because the monks from the Isle of Stars walk or take a boat everywhere that they travel. They always refuse to ride on a wagon or beast of burden, but no one I have ever talked to seems to know the reason behind this.”
He then leans forward and takes a sip of his brandy and says in a quiet tone, “There are even rumors that some of them, through their extreme discipline, develop amazing powers or magic wielding abilities. I have also heard stories about them being able to sometimes perform almost superhuman feats.”
Balindar then says, “If there is anything else you would like to know, just ask and I will answer to the best of my ability.”
“Fascinating. Thank you for the history and culture lesson on the Channel Cities,’ replies Thengel.
“You are welcome there young man, now I am curious to learn about some of the places that you have visited in your travels,” says Balindar as he brushes some of his long grey hair from in front of his eyes.
Return back to the Channel Cities article, or take a gander at the Religions. Or consider learning about other regions of the World of Ærnth or view the many Languages of the Channel Cities & World of Ærnth.