Former Lands of Rauxes
Beyond The Capital
From Rauxes, troops and tax collecting militia have control over an area within a day's ride (one hex) and westward to Rifter. In a strip of land north of the Imeda, extending some 20 miles north and to within 20 miles of Grelden to the east and almost to Paralad, the excellent farmlands are owned by Prince Ishainken. Elsewhere, the lands are a patchwork quilt of Ivid's own lands, royal trust lands, and smallholdings by minor Naelax Princes Royal trust lands are administered by Protectors.
Outside of major settlements, hamlets and large farmsteads are "protected" by prowling bands of militia. In trust lands, or Ivid's own landholdings, these are the King's Own Regulars; elsewhere, they are soldiery of the local landholder. The Naelax princelings obey the overking's troops when they visit, but they give no active support to the overking. They have their own petty squabbles in addition.
These militia are supposed to protect farmers, keeping bandits and mutinous soldiers at bay, and to extract appropriate taxes, tithes, and tolls on the dirawaen roads to Delaric and Roland. They generally do so, but in some areas the local rulers are uncaring, and the militia extract whatever monies and goods they can from those passing through—unless the passersby have guards and fighters of their own.
In Ishainken's lands, the militia are virtually autonomous given that their liege is almost always absent. They even fight among themselves for the privilege of raiding a farmstead or merchant when the opportunity arises. Rarely, a squad of Companion Guard may ride from Rauxes to inspect these lands and quell such mutinous behavior, and for a short time afterward order may be restored.
The northern trade road to Delaric is little traveled now, though trade from Roland along the dirawaen road to Grelden (and downriver by barge to Orred, then on to Rauxes and also south to Jalpa and Torrich) is still a vital artery of supplies. Ores, salted fish, treated woods and ropes, and other goods flow to Rauxes. But as the coin of the capital declines, so will this trade.
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