Month: April 2019

Places/history:

The Palace

The seat of power of Kaiser Matias, from where the Empire is ruled. The Great cathedral is built alongside and into the north wall of the palace, a symbol of the inseparable union of the two. Fronted by a beautiful garden ( complete with a maze for noble frolicsand the sunset incognito rendevous of course) overlooks the entire city. Wonderful view. Exceptionally well protected, as if you even needed to ask.

The Shipyard

Up until a few years ago was something of a slum, but with a territorial and cultural war brewing for years now, the farsighted Kaiser has been pouring money into the shipyard and is currently crafting the tip of the spear of his army, the flagship of his fledgingly armada.

The oilstains

The live in quarters of the engineers working within the shipyard. Dingy.

Kustenwand

The only thing between the capital and the waves, sometimes ambitious deepones venture too far inland or stray rivertrolls, drowners or waterhags emerge from the esturary. Claw marks decorate the outer wall. Property is cheap here, unsurprisingly.

Rauberwand

An important wall as it defends again northern barabarians and minotaur raids, more often than not trails of smoke would greet the townsfolk of a morning who looked in that direction. Another raid on the outsiders, who couldnt afford to live within the wills.

The littleberg

After the first halfing and gnomish immigrants arrived they were quickly ghettoised by the human and half elf nobles. Their own communities formed, and their own slang, law enforcement and customs sprouted – they were not afforded the protection on the city walls however, such that they were often the victims raiders and wandering creatures.

Goblinbarrel

So called as prisoners were taken here during he goblin wars and placed into barrels for locals to vent their frustration by beating, rocking or stabbing the barrels. A number of stories still circulate of political prisoners or simply fetisihists climbing into barrels to be suspended above the angry mob . The custom has long died out, but is still technically law.

The Great Colossus of Namthar

A towering construct that looms over the city, this sacred pilgrammage site attracts visitors from all over the empire. The Colossus came first, and the city grew in its shadow the tourguides tell you. Seems unlikely given the logicistics of building a statue taller than the walls. The upkeep employs hundreds of craftsmen and miners however.

The observatorium

A scholarly house under the personal employ of the Kaiser – a superstitious man, he has a number of astrological experts under his patronage who study the stars and moons for hints at what the future fortunes of the empire may be. It also provided advance warning of impending attacks from Kossos or other raiders when the court scrying failed.

The slapclay

Some of the stone that build the great colossus was brought from this quarry but for the last few generations, the earth has become soggy and marshy, and instead it is now used as a clay pit, the chalky grey extract of which maintains the ever cracking statue.

Klerusschlaff

Originally a monastrery, it now houses most of the local clerics of namthar , but also the masons and workers who maintain the great colossus. Does a nice trade in trinkets during pilgrammages. Excellent bagels ( the water allegedly) and but the sausage in a bun are the wurst.

Arcanhaus

An old converted lumbar mill, the building has gone through a number of iterations: lumbar during the clearing of the marshes and building of the city, driving a mechanical bellows to a great military forge during the goblin wars, and later grinding imported wheat and finally producing magical components in their rawest form for the tradespeople. A supplier of pigments and dyes, simple but stylish magewear and a bespoke item sourcing and enchanting, for those that can afford it. It also specialises in grinding crystals that are too tough to grind to a powder by mortar and pestle , as well as weaving precious metals and dimaterium.

Ten-silver

The Kaiser Krustenwulf once boasted to visiting diplomats that almost anything worth buying could be found in his markets for only a handful of silver. As if to humour their leader that winter solstice the shops and markets began to boast of the 10 silver deals on almost any produce they could peddle. The name stuck, although what with inflation the way it is, ten-silver is mainly old family shops now and a rather substantial blackmarket trade.

The Smokes

Spent most of the time under attack form outside, from within, or just engaging in a little light arson. The poorest of the poor, crinimals , maniacs, people who just want to fight, barbarians half orcs.

Low town

Lower class part of town, the working class live here – mainly humans. Watch yer wallet, but dont let them see you watching it cause thats pretty judgemental and part of the problem. The hardware store has a good supply of bootstraps which they specifically dont sell to these people, on a point of principle.

Goldstadt

The noble quarter. Avocados.

“Dear Taahir,

Thank you for the correspondence, we had no such technology when last I dwelled on the surface. Truly we live in strange times. Your messages are well received, and I am glad to hear your tea brewing is progressing. My condolences to Throkk over whatever he discovered in that mansion, he carries the weight of a stolen childhood on his shoulders and has more blood on those hands than will ever wash off – but I would hear how my good friend Throkk is faring now? Is he in good health? Fighting well?

It sounds like you’re better off without Karn to be honest. Hard to trust a man like that. Finally, I detest swamps and I share your hatred of such places. I am sorry you find yourself in such a location. I would be careful placing a such a large, heavy structure as a tower onto soft earth , it is likely to sink within hours – I’m sure they have thought of this, they are some of the smartest campaigners I have ever met, but all the same, please warn everyone accordingly.

I had arrived in Porta Verde to meet you as you suggested but learned you had come and gone in the time it took me to travel from the elves forest ship-city. I see you have left your mark on this place, the poor excuses for stoneworkers here were already laying the foundations for a statue above Shang’s Gate. It cast a dark shadow on my heart to learn it was to be of Celeste and of the death that lay within the rift. It is now being walled off for eternity, I hope, though none would speak of what lay beneath, or of what their purpose was. I of course gave instruction to those who would listen and helped select the choicest marble for the good ladys memory.

It was the next day that accursed moon appeared. The place was in panic, many have fallen ill with some plague in the weeks prior and there were days of rioting and looting as the shoguns officers struggled to maintain control. Once it didn’t immediately fall on us, and people realised they still needed to eat, drink and fuck, then things shifted towards some normality- although horses are impossible to control, many escaped and fish beach themselves on the shores in their thousands.

I had given up hope of hearing from you, and had made preparations to travel Southwards , perhaps to Bulgan or Twin points to escape the madness, until I overheard a conversation over the pint of ale ( a fairly decent one too, “Carbarian Rage” – the brewmaster is decent fellow and got me as pissed as a mattress when I told him we had travelled together for a while. Told me to swing back in a season or two for a new recipe hes waiting on “Red Setter”.)

Turns out some sailors had made port this morning in an imperial galleon, bound for Namburg. A young prince was aboard and was racing for the capital, turns out they had met none other than the infamous Sub Optima. It took little convincing to allow me to join them – though in jest they tell me they had a dwarf passenger on the southbound journey. The Seadogs have a dark sense of humour it seems.

It might be the quarries of the capital are where I find some solace and can work these old hands until they are worn smooth and I might forget the horrors I escaped from.

Until we meet again,

Alawyn.

Tell all the truth but tell it slant —
Success in Circuit lies
Too bright for our infirm Delight
The Truth’s superb surprise
As Lightning to the Children eased
With explanation kind
The Truth must dazzle gradually
Or every man be blind —

Sparks lit the darkness as Valentia rammed her sword into the ancient stone walls to deface a symbol of Namthar. Her wings brushed the roof of the corridor sending stray icicles crashing to the ground. Gritgoz felt sure that she was doing this deliberately to force him to dodge the falling shards of ice. She also seemed to be taking a petty pleasure in keeping to an awkward pace just above his comfortable walking speed, forcing the goblin to pant out his questions and then race forward to hear the answers. 

“Weaknesses? None in particular that I know of. When the other two bound Kossus they used the harpoons that still pin him to the dirt. Have you seen them? There might be something in them which hurts your Gods. 

When the two fought Moros never left his moon. I don’t know if he was afraid of his brother or his followers. I don’t recall anything unusual about the weapons of their voidtouched armies… But toward the end of those wars Namthar was hurt badly.” 

“Sneak onto the Moons? Not that I know of. But the warmachines and the armies came down and then went back up. If you wanted to sneak in then perhaps you could cling to one of the behemoths. Assuming you could get close enough and live. 

Your heroes tried the direct approach, flying straight up carried by their Gemstone dragon allies. Have you ever seen one of those die? If was like watching hope itself fall from the sky… 

But only the first few died battering against that shield. Those dragons who were later in the assault came back with all kinds of theories and observations. For a time it seemed that every mage in Vaul was trying to find a way through that protection. Maybe one of them found a way? The Gemstones who survived certainly spent enough time whining about it for the following centuries. Even if your churches burned all those writings, the dragons will remember.” 

“Namthar… His moon still hangs in the sky? Certainly he still doles out his favour to those fools who beg hard enough. But after the Harvest ended I never saw him incarnate. Your best bet might be an Archbishop. If he kills your friends maybe you can ask the one below before he crushes your skull.” 

“As for Kossus, I can’t speak to his mind. But in my experience, a long period of captivity is made bearable by hate and thoughts of revenge. Speaking of which, can you hear them above? Wailing and puling for Namthar to save them? 

Let us go forth and share the truth little goblin. Let us tell them that you have killed their bishops and slain their warriors. They deserve to know that their Gods have returned to scour them from the face of the earth.” 

With a massive beat of her wings Valentia surged out of the temple doorway and into the night sky to preach the truth.