Karolis

The town of Karolis sits at the crossroads of Isarshael, Faelon’s Northern Continent. It was built on the foundation of a Krai Jan fortress that guarded their trade roads into four different Kingdoms: Thormenal, Trilias, Kandor, and Haradel.
Karolis sits astride the Soremna Dakel, - The Soremna Road - a trade route that leaves Mahnlin and works its way through the Soremna pass and into the grasslands that border Haradel, Thormenal, and Trilias.
The Soremna Dakel splits at the Soremna Amalish - The Soremna Branching. The Soremna Dakel continues east through the southern Reach of Trilias and then turns south abruptly into the Paz Zar, a precipitous pass through the Ikkendrach Danar into Kandor. The Soremna - Altanos Dakel heads south from the Soremna Amalish to the great Thormenalan city of Altanos, one of the major trade hubs of Thormenal.
The walls of Karolis keep the Soremna Amalish safe and secure while giving the merchants and traders that ply the Soremna Dakel a place to offload their goods without traveling the entire road to their destination.

Administration of Karolis

Karolis serves the trade interests of four different kingdoms. The town has six distinct districts, one for each of the kingdoms that trade along the road, one for a Bazaar, and one that houses the government of Karolis, its courts, and its guards.
The Governance of Karolis falls to a Linvolkan - a mayor - and Voleshderin, a conclave of Regents. Karolis is in Haradel but was given independence from the local Thael after the Tall Grass War of 532. The King of Haradel appoints a Linvolkan, usually for life. This is typically a person who has proven themselves as an administrator at the court of a Thael, Count, or Warden. In some cases, the Linvolkan comes straight from the King’s court.
In 1008, the Linvolkan of Karolis is Vonal Perlo. Vonal is an aging courtier and economic advisor to King Mundar, who was assigned to Karolis as Linvolkan in 1004. Vonal is colossal, half a head taller than most other Faelers. His very imposing presence earned him the nickname Vonal Flor - Vonal the Great.
Vonal is a no-nonsense analytical man who has guided Haradelan economic and tax policy for many years. It’s all about the numbers for Vonal, who is more at home with a ledger and quill than he is around people. Posting Vonal to Karolis shocked the man, who had been used to life at court for many years. However, Vonal’s ability to see beyond hubris and look impassionately at the numbers has helped Karolis become a lucrative venture for the Haradelans.
The Voleshderin - the Regents - are each from one of the four Kingdoms represented in Karolis. Each Kingdom gets to appoint its Voleshderin, and they serve for a term dictated by their Kingdom’s custom.
During their term, they help the Linvolkan administer the town, settle disputes, run the Karolis Guard, and make sure the members of their faction behave admirably.
The Haradelan Voleshderin in 1008 is Tukia Davtor of Mahnlin. Tukia is the third daughter of Countess Orlis Ardnor of Vasilar. The Haradelan Voleshderin is usually appointed by the Linvolkan and approved by the King. Tukia was selected because her husband is one of the leading merchants in Mahnlin, and she has a mind for organization and trade.
The Soremna Dakel ends at Mahnlin on the Haradelan side. It is a large city dominated by Castle Vasilar and is the trade hub in southeast Haradel. Many Haradelan Voleshderin come from Mahnlin.
The Council of Altanos appoints the Thormenalan Voleshderin. They are always a highly skilled merchant from Altanos and usually opponents of the ruling families. By assigning their enemies to this highly reputable and profitable position, they get the merchant out of town and force them to serve the interests of Altanos by default.
In 1008, the Thormenalan Voleshderin is Chelhar Pelnia, a scion of the Pelnia family. The Pelnia family is a long line of merchant Lords in Altanos, and they move anything they can make a profit on. Still, primarily they have established themselves as sellers of fine tobacco, wine, and oil. Lately, they have set themselves up as financiers in Foreign Kingdoms. As their money and reputation are on the rise, the Council of Altanos has moved that Chelhar spend some time in Karolis overseeing the interests of his people.
The Voleshderin from Trilias is almost always appointed by the High Queen or King of Trilias, but in recent decades has been someone from the Reach, whose interests are mostly intertwined with the Soremna. Though the Trilian block of Karolis is smaller than the other kingdoms represented there, there is a disproportionate number of Trilians that come through Karolis.
In 1008, Starseeker Haelda Jaeril, lately leader of the Freeband Ya’ad Sel Ferin - The Grey Foxes - and famed defender of Uhali Gliv - Apple Valley, is the Trilian Voleshderin.
A slaving party from the Dusk Cartel descended on the small village west of the Paz Zar and tried to carry away its inhabitants. Luckily, the Grey Foxes had been patrolling near Uhali Gliv and intercepted the raiding party, dealing it enough of a blow that they could get back to town and get the word out of the impending attack.
The Grey Foxes and armed villagers held off the Dusk Cartel until local Bladeriders thundered in and drove off the Cartel into the Ikkendrach Danar. There were many casualties, but not a single Trilian was captured by the Kandoran Slavers.
Haelda was celebrated as the reason for victory. Because of this, she was offered the Voleshderin of Karolis to prove she had the skills to make peace and war.
Kandor’s Voleshderin is appointed by the Ash Khan with the council of significant merchant interests in Kandor. The Ash Khan will put forth two or three candidates for the position. They are usually a mix of urban merchants and administrators.
Yangez Uvogel is the Kandoran Voleshderin in 1008. Yangez was an administrator in the town of Opralax Varkusun - Serpent Oasis. Serpent Oasis is a caravan stop for goods coming and going in the Paz Hrol to Thormenal. It is a major commercial center in western Kandor.
Yangez was appointed to Karolis before the Redstone Pass War and was instrumental in keeping the Kandoran merchants in Karolis safe during that time. He was also responsible for rebuilding trade relationships with Thormenal after the war, which was much more difficult.

The Merchant's League

The other significant power in Karolis is the Merchant’s League. The Merchant’s League is an optional group for merchants in Karolis. Merchants pay a yearly fee to enjoy the privilege.
Membership in the League is expensive but has many benefits. The first of those benefits is influence. A monthly meeting of members is held to discuss grievances, petition the Linvolkan and their Voleshderin, and connect with other merchants.
League members pay a lower tax rate than non-members. While non-members are assessed by the government of Karolis and levied at the gates, Merchant League members are evaluated by League Assessors when they get to their destination, bypassing the sometimes long line at the town gates.
Membership in the Merchant’s League also buys a merchant increased security. Members can ask for League muscle for sensitive shipments or at times when a quarrel in town has a member worried about their own safety. For a few coins more, they can get a member of The Master’s Own, a small but professional group of mercenaries that bring both protection and status.
Though the Merchant League Master does not have a seat in city government, the Linvolkan and the Voleshderin listen to them. They are present at many meetings and can always find an open door when they knock at Karolis’ Keep.
The Master is elected every year by League members. They are very popular, very powerful, or both. They are often Faeler, but there have been Kandoran and Trilian Masters.
In 1008, the Merchant League Master is Erinda Mallor, a Thormenalan wine merchant. Erinda is known for being the life of the party and for being cutthroat when it comes to closing a deal.
She is a paradox. On the one hand, she had many times provided free libations for events, including parties and weddings, and even gave generous gifts for birthdays for Merchant League members. She once also waged a personal war against a fellow wine merchant and literally burned their operation to the ground, both in Karolis and Larmedin, where the merchant kept their headquarters.
Erinda has proven extremely capable of administering the Merhcant League and wringing tax concessions out of Vonal Perlo. She also personally brokered the deal between Yongez Ugovel and Chelhar Pelnia, closing the trade rift formed after the Redstone Pass War.
While wielding no political power, Erlinda may be the most influential person in Karolis. She doesn’t let it go to her head, but ultimately none knows what her ultimate goal may be.

The Karolis Guard

No military forces from the kingdoms are allowed within the walls of the Karolis. There have been conflicts and tense moments between the four powers represented there, and each domain deals with this uniquely.
Haradel and Thormenal have built small outposts outside Karolis on their respective sides. This allows them to assign escorts to goods leaving for cities within their borders and gives a way-station to troops patrolling along the road to keep it safe.
The Trilians don’t keep a military presence at Karolis, but patrols sweep the road east into the Reach. They often pitch camp outside the town, sleeping under the stars except in harsh weather.
The Kandorans take a sneakier approach to the problem. The military might be prohibited from entering Karolis, but mercenaries are not. The Kandorans disguise their forces as mercenaries or use actual mercenaries (oddly always Kandoran) and march right through the gates with the goods they are escorting.
Instead of allowing armed troops beyond the walls, the mayor and regents of Karolis bankroll a town guard. The Karolis Guard splits its membership equally between the four powers, and members serve a term of one year.
The leadership of the Karolis Guard falls to one of the Regents, the board of councilors that helps the mayor run the city. Each of the regents is from a different kingdom. Like the members of the Karolis Guard, the Regents each take one year of their four-year terms to oversee the Karolis Guard. By this method, all of the Regents will have spent some time from their term organizing, training, and leading the Karolis Guard.
The tabard of the Karolis Guard is the Sky Blue of Hardel, as Karolis sits squarely in Haradelan territory. Weaponry and armor for the Karolis Guard are regulated. Guards carry the spear and shield of the Haradelan militias, and most also have a short sword. In practice, the spear is rarely used except as a club, as killing a civilian is frowned upon by the Guard and Karolis’ administration.
They wear light armor, usually a mail shirt and coif. Their tabard is always worn to give them legitimacy and separate them from the mercenaries in town. Their shields display Karolis’ heraldry, a perfectly balanced scale on a sky-blue field.
The Karolis Guards pledge themselves to the good of the many above the needs of their own faction. They take an oath of allegiance to Karolis, including a strict code of behavior. They are well respected by all parties in town and are noted for their fairness in upholding the law.
Because the military is not allowed behind the walls, merchants are encouraged to hire guards to protect their shipments. Many freebands operate out of Karolis to help with this. Some are employed and retained as private guards, and others are hired freelance out of the local mercenary hangout, the Bored Raven.

Trade Goods of Karolis

Many goods come through Karolis, but some can be found ubiquitously in the Karolis storehouses. These staple goods form the backbone of trade and are the glue of merchant society in the area.
Horses are an essential good in Karolis. Trilian horses are well-known for their speed and stamina. They are highly prized by the Haradelan patrollers and, to a lesser extent, by the nomadic desert tribes of Kandor.
Tobacco is another major trade good. Tobacco is a crop grown in the Soremna. Some of the best tobacco in Isarshael is developed there, right in the heart of the area, shared by Haradel, Thormenal, and Trilias. Tobacco merchants are a significant staple of Karolis’ population. Several warehouses are even given over to drying the leaves after harvest season.
Wine coming north from Thormenal dominates trade in Karolis. Due in part to the machinations of Erinda Mallor, wine has skyrocketed to the top of goods traded in Karolis in just the past few years, eclipsing spice and cloth trading combined. Although wine is made in many places in Faelon, Thormenal is noted for its fine wines, or at least it has marketed itself as having fine wines. The upper classes everywhere have been happy to pay exorbitant prices to keep bottles of Thormenalan wines on hand.
Cloth coming from Kandor is another popular commodity in Karolis. The Kandorans weave unique cloth and export much of it to make up what is usually a trade surplus with other kingdoms. Kandoran cloth and clothing have already hit the streets of Thormenal, especially in Altanos and Raalin. It is slowly becoming popular in eastern Haradel. However, dress there is still fairly traditional, and only the rich have begun to purchase clothing from other cultures.
Grain is still the second most moved commodity in Karolis. The area around the Soremna is agricultural, and grains dominate the small farms that dot the countryside. These grains are processed, stored, and then taken to markets, frequently in Karolis, where they are eagerly bought up by Kandoran grain merchants. Kandor needs help producing enough food for its growing population; the small agricultural areas along the Horseblood River do what they can, but ultimately food needs to be brought in from out of the country, especially to urban areas.

History of Karolis

Karolis started simply enough. The Krai Jan built a fortress astride the road to guard their caravans against the Trilians. While the Krai Jan and later the Traazorites could conquer most of the northern continent south of the Dorsang Danar and west of the Bar Mahn, they could never penetrate the Foxwood and bring its wily inhabitants to heel.
Ghabaz Pathai - Woodwatch - was built to guard against the relentless raids of the Trilians against Krai Jan supply convoys and troop movements moving along the Kandor - Vasilar Road. The Ruby-shaped fort, as many smaller forts the Krai Jan built were, was built around the crossroads of what is today the Soremna Amalish.
Ghabaz Pathai held a small garrison and was a waypoint for military patrols and convoys traveling the region. When the Traazorites overthrew the Krai Jan, they inherited the same issues with the Trilians and kept the fortress in operation.
After the Traazorites left the area to the advancing Faeler people, the fortress was taken over by the people of the Eagle Tribe that would later become the Haradelans. The fort was manned and overseen by one of the new Thaels, the direct family of the Chieftain of the Kal Malkolur - The FullTalon Clan.
The new Thael, Oktor Malkolur, occupied the fortress and ran his fief, helping his kinsfolk establish farms in the area and overseeing relations with the adjacent Trilians and nearby tribes that inhabited what is now Thormenal.
A Thael of the Kal Malkolur line was lord over the area until 532. The Thael at that time was Chorcad Malkolur. Chorcad was more about enriching himself and his line than being an agent of the King on Haradel’s eastern border.
His belligerence came to a head in 532 with the imposition of exorbitant taxes on goods moving through the area. Many traders moving goods through the region chose to ignore the road and the Thael’s taxes, and they tried to bypass the area.
To combat this, the Thael assembled his militia and mustered the peasants. The first traders he caught trying to sneak through his lands were massacred. Word quickly reached Count Vasilar and the Electors in Altanos, where the traders originated. A small war ensued, known as the Tall Grass War.
Chorcad Malkolur put together a small coalition of local Thaels with the promise of shared tax revenues. Still, they were no match for the forces that pressed on him from Vasilar and Altanos. The final battle was fought just outside the walls of the Malkolur Kinad - Fulltalon Nest - which Chorcad and his ancestors called their citadel. The forces of Vasilar and Altanos surrounded the fort and threatened to lay siege. Chorcad sallied forth with the remainder of his troops and was soundly defeated before his gates.
After the Tallgrass War, it was determined that the Soremna Crossroads was too important an area to have Thael control. The Soremna Declaration of 534, signed by Thormenal, Haradel, and Trilias, established the current trade and political system and created a charter for the town of Karolis at its heart. Kandor would later join the Declaration and complete the agreement’s members still held in 1008.

Town of Karolis

Karolis is divided roughly into six districts. Each district has its distinct feel, culture, and even architecture. From the time of the Soremna Declaration in 534, the town of Karolis was purpose-built with the four interested Kingdoms in mind. Each was allowed latitude in designing and shaping their district, as it would be home to their merchants.
Four of these districts are areas where the merchants from a particular kingdom have set up their businesses. These are the Haradelan District, the Kandoran District, the Thormenalan District, and the Little Reach.
The other two districts are divided between the town’s administration, which has set up in the remains of the old fort. The other, the Bazaar, is a neutral area in the middle of Karolis where goods not already owed on futures or pre-arranged deals can be purchased by any buyer with enough cash and the transport to take them away.

The town of Karolis

The Linvolkan of Karolis - Vonal Perlo

Type

Town