Free Township of Dalencroft
Free Township of Dalencroft
A single village. A few buildings. A smattering of outlying farms. And the vastness of the Denton Plains. Developed as the only stop on the long stretch of the Trans-Rheuthengage Highway, there is little that Dalencroft has to offer a visitor other than a a warm bed, a tankard of ale, and of course, a brontosaurus burger.
Structure
The Township has no political structure so to speak. If something needs addressing, heads of households and representatives from the Imperial Legion meet at the Inn of the Rusty Sword. After they thoroughly discuss the question, a resolution is brought forth, and hammered out by consensus.
Culture
Permanent residents of Dalencroft all know each other and everything about each other. Small town gossip is a favorite pastime, especially if it involves laughing at the travelers. Most residents not only know each other, but each other’s parents, grandparents, and whole family history. New families settle in Dalencroft about once every twenty or thirty years. The locals are exceptionally loyal to each other.
Legionnaires serve for two or three years before moving on and constitute all of the few immigrants to the town. Usually, they become smitten with a local girl, and return after their tour is completed to work in the local industry. They watch over the town closely, protecting it from unwanted trouble that travels along the highway. If a brawl breaks out, the Legions break it up. If something is stolen, the Legions track down the thief. On rare occasions, they must defend the town from bold Orkish raiding parties, or a wandering dinosaur from the southern Denton Plains.
The Inn of the Rusty Sword
History
Dalencroft has an exceptionally short history, when compared to the ancient Kingdom of Galencia, and even older civilization of the Soulmeliti, in-between which it sits. Originally, parties traveling between the two nations camped wherever they found it convenient in the tall, golden grasses of the Denton Plains. One day, around 150 AC or so, a campfire went awry, and burning a swath of destruction in every direction for a hundred miles. Frightened that future fires might damage their precocious forests, Soulmeliti priests followed the trade route, building stone fire pits every ten or fifteen miles. Their project ended about halfway to Galencia, when the party fell prey to an exceptionally hungry allosaurus. Thus, Dalencroft, of the “Last Made Fire Place” (as it translates from Soulmeliti), was born.
Dalencroft remained nothing more than a firepit, shrine to Tyloma, and large grave, for almost a hundred years. During the construction of the Trans-Rheuthengage Highway, beginning in 245 AC, Eldorian Legionnaires built a small barracks and supply dump around the fire pit. Roughly in the center of that particular stretch of highway, soldiers filtered through the camp on their way to work elsewhere, and for short leaves. An enterprising young man, named Pathick Cobbleson, purchased the original barracks building in 251 AC, when the Legionnaires built a newer facility to maintain and protect the Highway. Over the next fifteen years, a stable was added, and Pathick remodeled, making the building into an Inn. His business, split between providing accommodations for traders and entertainment for soldiers, grew quickly. By 262 AC, a blacksmith, general store, and privately owned stable had opened. With a permanent population hovering just below fifty, the people of the Dalencroft declared themselves a Free Township, under the protection of the Highway Alliance (thereby assuring that the Eldorian Legions would defend the them), in 265 AC.
Dalencroft has changed little over the past two centuries. A few small family farms have cropped up, providing foodstuffs for the store, Inn, and Legions. The number of horse stables, with their private herds, has reached three, and the population has soared to about one hundred seventy. A few small businesses have opened, but none compete with the Inn of the Rusty Sword, now the size of a small villa, with one of the largest taprooms on Tarien. Brontosaurus steaks became popular as soon as the Inn introduced them as a limited special around 340 AC, and their contract with the Drakshal monks insures the Inn a supply of Tarien’s best ale .
The town has seen its share of violence, in the form of brawls and scuffles, but not until the middle of the Great War, had it seen a major conflict. In 466 AC, when the Orkis horde regrouped from its route in New Solarin to raze the town and, murdering and defiling the town’s occupants. Eldorian legions reinforced the Zennonaize Cavalry to push the Horde from what was left of the town and by the end of the war, most of the original buildings had been rebuilt. The town remains what it always has been, a stop for traders and other travelers, to this day.
Verdun Over the Denton Plains
Demography and Population
With the exception of the hated Orks, most peoples are welcomed in Dalencroft. Location and trade has made them a multi-cultural town, with traditions pulled from various heritages on Tarien. Most people exhibit a bit of Soulmeliti oneness with the Plains (as opposed to the Forest), especially among the farmers. Most townspeople speak Eldorian, Galencian, and Soulmeliti fluently.
Territories
Situated on the Denton Plain, closer to the Soulmeliti Forests than the Kingdom of Galencia, Dalencroft is truly nothing more than a township. A few outlying farms provide grain and other foodstuff for locals, beyond that, nothing really exists other than buildings, shrine to Tyloma, and Highway.
Military
Situated on the Denton Plain, closer to the Soulmeliti Forests than the Kingdom of Galencia, Dalencroft is truly nothing more than a township. A few outlying farms provide grain and other foodstuff for locals, beyond that, nothing really exists other than buildings, shrine to Tyloma, and Highway.
Religion
The town boasts no temples. Shrines to Tyloma, Kharl, Anderi, Arimathica, Chetria, and even Fahrom dot the edge of the Highway. One of the local farmers usual performs planting and harvesting ceremonies in Chetria’s name, and another practices Arimathica’s healing gifts.
Midwinter in the Denton Plains
Foreign Relations
As a trading hub, Dalencroft maintains formal relations with many other nation-states. They maintain formal treaties for trade with Geyla, New Solarin, and New Kharolin. Soulmeliti and Khadra, in particular, hold a warm spot in their hearts for the township as it represents everything a multi-cultural community should - at least in their eyes. Khadra love the low buildings that block out the sky on the seemingly endless Denton Plains and are fond of the Drakshal ales served at the inn. Most townsfolk speak a bit of Soulmeliti and maintain a passing reverence for nature and even Tyloma.
Dalencroft also maintains formal relations with Eldoria , who considers the township a key outpost of humanity. Legionnaires frequent the town on their duties guarding the last legs of the highway to New Solarin and are welcome patrons of the local taprooms. Similarly, though it has been 300 hundred year, the township has not forgotten the service of the Zennonaize during the Great War. While a rare sight nowadays, the sight of them buying their own drinks is even rarer.
Other nations have little interaction with the far flung township. The exception, of course, are the tribes of Orkish Hills . Their invasion and subsequent razing of the town has left deep scars and raids that occur, on occasion to this day, keep tensions high.
Agriculture & Industry
Dalencroft produces nothing beyond a basic food supply for the town. Despite the vast plains, no great herds of livestock roam. The dinosaurs, found on the Denton Plain, make it too dangerous. A few of the locals make hunting these great beasts a lucrative pastime, selling the meat to travelers both directly at the market and in the famous Brontosaurus steaks found at the Inn of the Rusty Sword.
Trade & Transport
Small business practices abound, and for the locals, gold never changes hand between them, except may once every five years to zero out the credit accounts everyone has with each other. Trade with outsiders and non-commissioned Legionnaires, however, occurs strictly with gold, with little care for the origin of the mint. Officers often stay for tours of five and ten years and therefore usually build account relationships with the locals. Most trade is in traveling goods, horses, saddles, foodstuffs, and other supplies. The remainder goes to Inn, where alcohol, food, and beds are always in demand. The Inn is busy, as many merchants meet their trading partners here at the "halfway" point between Geyla and New Solarin.
We squinted at the glare of the fires while still three days ride from the town. We held our noses from the stench of charred earth and flesh at two. On the last day, their drums provided a rhythm for intermittent screams. We nearly killed the horses to attack by dusk.
Maps
-
The Free Township of Dalencroft
Just Another Night
The taproom of the Rusty Sword Inn was, as usual, overly full. Soulmeliti, Humans, Khadra, Nerrid, and even a Flind sat at its large, round tables, sipping at Drakshal ale and devouring Jantick's famous brontosaurus steaks. The secret, next to actually killing one of these mammoth creatures, was in the preservation of the meat. Special salts and seasonings, shipped from the Emirates of the Dharja'shan, kept the meat fresh tasting for up to a month at a time. Jantick had tried some years ago to raise the brontosauruses himself. The amount of free range that the beasts needed, and the fact that some giant roc kept feasting on his herd, had forced him to stick with the tried and true method of keeping a few professional hunters on staff. News spread quickly when he received a new carcass, and his inn would be packed for days.
Not that it was ever empty. As the only inn in the only town between the Soulmeliti forests and Galencia, he never had to worry about customers. He told, as often as he could, his customers how smart his great great great grandfather was for buying the decrepit old building next to the Imperial Legions’ way station. He told his customers many things over the years. As an innkeeper, he had learned how to sympathize with a stranger’s tale of woe and how to celebrate with successful adventures that he disliked. Most importantly, he had learned how to keep his ears open and his mouth shut. That skill, which had made him more than a few friends, also made him a few enemies.
For the right price, he would keep any secret or reveal any piece of information. Occasionally, however, and Jantick knew as soon as the tall, shaved head Dharja crossed the bar room, that this was one of them, his knack for knowing things got him into trouble. The tall man, known only as the Kai, did enforcement work for the Brotherhood, all the way back in Karradone. Jantick knew, however, that for seven-foot giant to bother coming this far out to the sticks, he had to be a foul mood. Wisely, the middle-aged innkeeper stepped back from the bar, beyond the reach of The Kai’s long, rope-like arms. He nodded politely,and poured him a Drakshal New Year’s Ale from his own special reserve. “Been a long time, Kaimain,” he addressed the towering man by his little known given name. “How’s business?”
“Fine.” The man grinned, twin gold incisors gleaming in the candlelight. He downed the beer in two swallows, eyes blinking. “Bitter. Like the wind during a gale.” He leaned forward, his front feet on the barstool’s rung, elevating him a further six inches above Jantick. “I need to know something about a Soulmeliti silk trader named Andrea Roen'shai .”
Jantick smiled, thought about the mithril trade bar she had left with him to protect her recent whereabouts, and put his elbows on the bar. “Well, what’s it worth to you?” He wondered if he could hoodwink the Kai and get away with it. The Soulmeliti was, after all, a regular.
“Both of your legs,” The Kai answered in a flat voice.
Just then, someone from the back of the bar, in a young, arrogant voice, cried out in Soulmeliti. “By Tyloma’s breath, you’re an ugly dog. Even for a mongrel flea ridden puppy race like your own.”
Jantick swore under his breath, and reached beneath the bar for his club. He yanked it out just as The Kai vanished through the back door, and the cracking noise of fists breaking teeth echoed above the general bar hubbub. With one hand, he vaulted over the bar, ducked a random punch, and watched the Flind shatter one of his brand new stools shatter the Soulmeliti fop’s back. “Molly , honey!” he called to his eldest daughter. “Go run and get the Legions! Ask for . . .” the shatter of glass on his shoulder, followed by a random head thudding against his club, cut him off. He groaned. It was going to be another one of those nights.
Founding Date
262 AC
Type
Geopolitical, Settlement
Capital
Training Level
Professional
Veterancy Level
Trained
Demonym
Dalencrofters
Government System
Democracy, Direct
Power Structure
Autonomous area
Location
Official Languages
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Related Species
Magic in Dalencroft
With a detachment of Eldorian Legionnaires protecting the town, Dalencroft has an official policy outlawing arcane magic. The residents, however, with their proximity to the Soulmeliti Forests and sensibilities that are often more Soulmeliti than Human , don’t often hold to it. No magi were burned here, during the Mage Wars. Its not that anyone in town is a mage – and they certainly frown upon visitors practicing “black arts” – its just that they are not likely to raise a fuss if a visitor is suspected being a spellcaster. In fact, most will not go running to the Legion if a bard amplifies his voice during a performance or lights his pipe from his finger. As long as the Legion is not around to see it, it never happened.
Big Game Hunters
South of the township roam herds a giant lizards – dinosaurs. Long necked or heavily armored or armed with massive teeth, these creatures offer a unique opportunity for visiting diners. Centuries ago, the Inn of the Rusty Sword offered up its first brontosaurus steak and they remain a staple for special occasions to this day. The challenge, of course, is in getting the meat. Dinosaurs are not uncommon, but their huge size means that they range far and wide, meaning that weeks can go by without having one venture far enough north to be seen, let alone hunted. The Inn pays handsomely, however, for any brave enough to track, kill, and in what might be the hardest part with such an immense creature, retrieve the carcass.