The Chronicle

of the month of Lorinfall in the year 151

News has been received that King Kieran's army has encamped for the winter along the River Tyrill in the Duchy of Orbihan. The relentless pursuit of the Regency army appears to have lost momentum when troops received rumours that part of the retreating Royal Treasury had become bogged down while crossing the tidal estuary. The Host of Eresan proved to be much diverted by this piece of fortune, and King Kieran opted to call a halt rather than push forward into the Salvoynian heartlands. A line of wooden fortifications is being erected along the valley, and no doubt the offensive will continue next Springtide.

Back in Linrodeth Alderman William Trueman has launched a scathing attack on Cllr Lambourne, describing Lambourne's views on the defence of the city as "irresponsible". Others within the Witanmoot chamber have waded in and many of the speeches were clearly aimed at positioning for the Lambourne hearing. Surprisingly Alderman Trueman's later chairmanship of the Hearing was scrupulously fair and balanced. The decision he faced between condemning Lambourne for his views, and permitting him the right to express them fully, weighed heavily on him. Pendentite Antonious, acting for the Defence, explained that in order to be guilty of misconduct Cllr Lambourne would have had to be acting against the interests of the Witanmoot or in an inappropriate manner. "I contest that challenging the executive is an entirely right and proper activity of a councillor," he declared to much applause. However Sheriff Bowden is clearly not going to let this one go. He explained that his accusation of Misconduct was not aimed at the precise remarks Cllr Lambourne made, but rather at Cllr Lambourne failure to act in the best interest of the city, last month's comments only being one example of this. "Cllr Lambourne has made no secret of his sympathies for Kieran. I believe he has put these sympathies ahead of the interests of the city." After a long and closely argued Hearing, Alderman Trueman reserved his judgement in order to consult with other senior members of the Witanmoot before making a decision.

There are rumours of severe problems within the Lambourne faction with several key members close to resignation. It seems that the Lambourne Hearing has been their last straw, and the faction is splintering in acrimonious recriminations. One Witanmoot insider told the Chronicle "That faction has always been a loose consortium held together by the desire for power. Lambourne is pro Kieran, Davy is pro Selina and Saunders is pro Edward. I'm surprised it didn't fall apart months ago."

Alderman Jim Bottler's motion calling for the return of exiles has received widespread support. with Marcus Lambourne in particular voicing his appreciation of "Bottler's courage" and Alan Monterey describing the exiles as "an embarrassing blot". The motion was passed by a large majority with only the Cutario and Trueman groups objecting. Following the motion, however, Lady Andrews refused to act without first receiving permission from Princess Selina; and this permission has not yet been received. With this and Cllr Lambourne's attacks on Linrodeth's military policy, a dangerous split appears to be opening up between the Citadel and the Witanmoot.

Alderman Monterey took advantage of a lull in the Witanmoot infighting to ask the Chair of Shipping what preparations he has made to ensure that booty brought back by privateers has indeed been obtained from Her Highness' enemies. Alderman Osbert pointed out that Letters of Marque were issued by the Princess' office, and could be withdrawn equally efficiently should the law courts of uphold prosecutions against shipowners who abused the terms of those Letters. He expressed confidence that any problems could be dealt with within the existing legal structure pointing out that, while it was possible to appoint a special Commission of Enquiry (with powers to enter, search and confiscate business records and premises), such a Commission would be highly bureaucratic and deeply intrusive on the guilds.

Amazingly a city budget has finally been presented for approval. A grumpy Alan Monterey has been inspecting it in detail, and William Trueman took time in the Witanmoot to praise his dedication and to suggest that the choice for the post Treasury should be simple next year. Monterey has also made nominations for the Envoys to Cascorach (Blessop) and Eresan (Bergeren), although the roles are purely ceremonial given the complete lack of funding and late season of the year.

A history of the Kingdom of Athion

The Kingdom of Athion was founded by King Calric Caralingas through the systematic conquest of the three smaller kingdoms of Sarth, Aden and Tarkh. Nowadays although most people now think of themselves as Athions many of the traditions of these ancient kingdoms still remain. The eastern kingdom of Arden is separated from the rest of Athion by a high Sheer escarpment which offers few paths to the top. The land itself is mountainous, and the society is based around Clans which have lived in the same valley for generations. The Clans are ruled through a concept of Honour in which the power and status depends on the honour and prestige which it had earned. Thus those who governed well, fought hard and performed great deeds earned Honour for themselves and their family. Honour is a powerful currency and it would be unthinkable for an Arden lord to damage his Clan's Honour by breaking a pledged oath.

The southern country of Sarth was ruled from the great port of Salvoyn, which is still the largest city in Athion. Sarth is a rich, fertile and colourful land where the skills of the musician and storyteller are highly prized. It has been ruled for many years by the a matriarchal, with trade monopolies run by families rather than guilds. Tarkh was the northern nation, with its capital at the seasonal port of Nyskilde. The snows which isolate Linrodeth for three or four months of the year last for four, five or even six months here. The people are a dour, practical and traditionally patriarchal folk, and although they also place a high value on Bards, physical prowess is equally important to them and hence warriors are the highest caste in this society. Separating the three Kingdoms is a large expanse of fens, forests and downlands. Having been on the receiving end of invasions by both Tarkh and Sarth, its strongly independent people gave allegiance to neither and by preference traded with the, then small, independent town of Linrodeth.

The amalgamation of the three kingdoms was achieved by Calric, who was in origin a warrior prince of Tarkh. By the age of thirty he had united the tribes and leading them in campaign of unprecedented efficiency he conquered the Arden Heights, Calric earned himself great K'arn by reinstating the defeated Clan chiefs and with the support of Arden he turned his attention to the fertile and prosperous plains of Sarth. However the professional knights and highly disciplined army of Sarth fought his numerically superior forces to a standstill within sight of Salvoyn. Calric was forced to besiege the area, but the tactic could never be entirely successful because of his inability to completely blockade the port. During this period of protracted stalemate, Calric established a new capital at Linrodeth and began construction of the Citadel.

After four years Salvoyn underwent an internal coup which overthrew the old royal line of the Taratorhts and established the Lavyndryn as the ruling family. Their matriarch offered terms for surrender in which trade concessions were retained by the matriarchs, and which also required her eldest daughter to become Calric's queen, after all Salvoyn had assimilated barbaric conquest's in the past. Calric accepted and thus the Carlingas dynasty and the kingdom of Athion was founded. Cadric and Eredain ruled for many years, bringing a much needed stability, and laying the foundations of modern Athion. Guthrum, their only heir, ruled thereafter and his long rule is looked back upon by many as a golden age of justice and prosperity.

As his parents had laid the foundations of a kingdom Guthrum built the identity of the nation, combining as he did the fierce honour of the northern tribes with the sophistication of the Southern families. Eliser, his daughter, carried on the process he had started and although her reign was short, and despite her error in naming Edwin as her heir she is also well remembered. Edwin was crowned in the fifty-fifth year of the kingdom at the age of thirty, and it is with him that the nations problems start. Edwin was an easily dominated and fickle man and It was no surprise when he died that a dispute arose between his heirs Edith and Tristran as to which had been named as his successor. The battles of the succession quickly brought the Kingdom to civil was and within a few years the strong kingdom which had been built up by the Caralingas, had disintegrated into a collection of small baronial holdings.

A generation later, news from the dales of the northeast spoke of Prince Edmund, Judith's youngest son. Like so many of his siblings and cousins, he claimed the crown, and had put together a small army to back him. His early battles ended in defeat, and he was soon reduced to living in the saddle, raiding where he could. The young prince survived, learnt, and began to be successful. The Battle of Dorts Vale established his first domain, at which time he married Emma, an old childhood friend who claimed direct descent from the Taratorhts. Over the following years he relentlessly expanded until Tarkh, and the coastlands of Linrodeth and Sarth were reconquered. Linrodeth, a border city of both Tarn and Sarth, which had been Calric's base throughout the long campaign was chosen as the capital of the new nation, and the existing castle was expanded and rebuilt over the next five years to become the citadel which dominates the city today. Opposition remained in the east and southeast, in the form of a brother and a cousin. But here Edmund's long campaign ground to a halt, defeated at last by the punishing terrain and by the stubborn refusal of the Arden to recognise his kingship. The breakthrough came in the unlikely form of the Sweating Plague, which broke out again in the Arden during the long summers of 113-115. Along with large numbers of the population, it also killed the last remaining members of Edmund's family. In all honour, the Arden Lords could not now refute Edmund's claim to overlordship, and in 116 they renewed their oath of fealty to the Carlingas dynasty. However the kingdom had suffered many years of neglect, war and plague, and the task of rebuilding it is still continuing.

Over the next five years Edmund subdued the rebel barons and placed them under the rulership of Dukes loyal to him. At the Battle of Northmoor in 117 he finally defeat the last challenge to his rulership, and returned to his capital Linrodeth, to begin the task of rebuilding the three kingdoms of Athion.

Witanmoot Definitions

For the purposes of the motions carried by the court of common council the following definitions shall apply:

Guildmembers

Guildmembers are those inhabitants recognised by a guild charter as being members of a guild.

Guild Charter

A Guild Charter is a document recognised by the monarch as such.

Citizen

A citizen is a householder, or a person recognised by a householder as being members of that household. Direct employees of the Witanmoot are also classed as citizens. Citizens (or the householder of their household) must pay the poll tax of that household’s ward.

Ward

A ward is an area of the city of Linrodeth recognised as such by the court of common council.

Householder

Any inhabitant owning property in a ward of the city of Linrodeth. If a citizen owns property in more than one ward, that citizen is considered to run a separate household in each ward in which that citizen owns property, and as such is liable to pay the poll tax for each such household.

Elector

An elector for a ward is a citizen who owns property in that ward.

Alderman

An alderman for a ward is a guildmember who resides in that ward and is elected to that post as per the Witanmoot procedures for Aldermen and Councillors. Aldermen are members of the Aldermanic Court and of the Court of Common Council.

Councillor

A councillor for a ward is a guildmember who resides in that ward and is elected to that post as per the Witanmoot procedures for Aldermen and Councillors. Councillors are members of the Court of Common Council.

Inhabitant

An inhabitant of the city of Linrodeth is anybody capable of saying (or writing), in Athionic, the phrase “I am an inhabitant of the City of Linrodeth”, and whose residence is within one mile radius of the Mootstone.

Lord of the City

The Lord of the City is elected by the Aldermanic Court by the standard procedure for the election of the lord of the city. The Lord of the City is also the Lord Chief Magistrate and the Duke of the Ishta Valley. The Lord of the City is a member of the Aldermanic Court and of the Court of Common Council.

Sheriff

The two sheriffs are elected by the Aldermanic Court by the standard procedure for the election of the sheriffs. The two sheriffs are members of the Aldermanic Court and the Court of Common Council.

The Royal Court

Any court designated as such by the Monarch.

The Court of the Lord Chief Magistrate

Any court designated as such by the Lord Chief Magistrate.

The Sheriff's Court

Any court designated as such by either Sheriff.

The Magistrate’s Court

Any court designated as such by any Alderman.

The Aldermanic Court

Any meeting designated as such by any 13 (all of whom must be present) members of the Aldermanic Court.

The Court of Common Council

Any meeting designated as such by any 140 (all of whom must be present) members of the Court of Common Council.

Wardmoot

Any meeting designated as such by both the alderman and a majority of councillors for that ward.

Elections

Election of Councillors and Alderman

Every Midwinter the electors of a ward may cast a vote to elect one person to the Wardmoot of that ward. The guildmember receiving the highest number of votes is elected as Alderman of that ward for a period of one year. The remaining people for whom votes have been cast are ranked in order of the number of votes cast for them, with the person receiving the highest total being placed at the top of the list. The top twelve guildmembers on this list are elected as councillors for a period of one year. In the event that less than twelve guildmembers are present on the list, all the guildmembers on the list are elected as councillors and the Alderman must co-opt sufficient guildmembers owning property in that ward to act as councillors to make up a total of twelve councillors.

Election of Envoys

In the month of Skelern, the Clerk of the Court of Common Council shall accept nominations for envoys to the following cities: Salvoyn, Eresan, Nyskilde, and Cascorach. The nominations must be for members of the Court of Common Council, and if the nomination is for a member of the Aldermanic Court, the nominated member may insist that the clerk reject the nomination. During the first meeting of the Aldermanic Court held in the month of Galemir, the Aldermanic Court shall elect the envoy for each of the above mentioned cities from amongst the nominated members for that city. In the event of a tie the Lord of the City has a casting vote. In the event of one person being elected to two or more envoyships, that person must choose one of the envoyships. The other envoyship(s) are then awarded to the candidate with the next highest total of votes.

Election of Committee Chairs

In the month of Skelern, the Clerk of the Court of Aldermanic Court shall accept nominations for chairmen of the following committees of the Witanmoot: Treasury, Trade, Law & Order, Shipping, Welfare & Education, and Lands & Agriculture from members of the Aldermanic Court. The nominations must be for members of the Court of Aldermanic Court. During the first meeting of the Aldermanic Court held in the month of Galemir, the Aldermanic Court shall elect the chairman for each of the above mentioned committees from amongst the nominated members for that committee. In the event of a tie the Lord of the City has a casting vote. In the event of one person being elected to two or more chairmanships, that person must choose one of the chairmanships. The other chairmanship(s) are then awarded to the candidate with the next highest total of votes.

Election of the Sheriffs

In the month of Menderal, the Clerk of the Aldermanic Court shall accept accept nominations for the post of Sheriff from members of the Aldermanic Court. The nominations must be for members of the Court of Aldermanic Court. During the Midsummer festival, each member of the Aldermanic Court shall have two votes in the Election of the Sheriffs. The two votes must be for different candidates (but one or both votes may be abstentions). The Lord of the City shall not normally vote, but has a casting vote with which to resolve any ties.

Election of the Lord of the City

During the Springtide Festival, each member of the Aldermanic Court has one vote in the Election of the Lord of the City. Each vote must be cast for either the existing Lord of the City, for one of the two sheriffs or not cast at all. The person with the highest number of votes shall be the Lord of the City. In the event of a tie, the existing Lord of the City has the casting vote.

Linrodeth City Governance

In Linrodeth the common citizens (householders) of each ward elect an Alderman and 12 Councillors to represent their city ward at the Court of Common Council. Their representatives must also be guildmembers as well as citizens. The Alderman in turn elect three officers who have a great deal of power: the two sheriffs and the Lord Chief Magistrate (normally known simply as the Lord of the City).

The Lord Chief Magistrate

The Lord is elected annually at the Springtide Festival by the Alderman from among the two Sheriffs and the current Lord. The Lord is the first citizen and overlord of the city corporation and the land that it holds. During his years in office he lives at the Witanmoot and is host to the hundreds of official envoys and foreigners that visit. None of the expenses of this office are meant to be borne by the citizens and indeed the Lord is expected to subsidise the city’s annual tax payment to the King. The King holds the Lord entirely responsible for the payment of this tax. As the title implies, the Lord is also Chief Magistrate of the city, presiding as judge in the most important court cases, He is answerable to the King for the peaceful and lawful running of his capital city as long as the taxes are paid in full and on time.

The Sheriffs

The two city Sheriffs are elected annually by the Alderman, from among the Aldermen and Sheriffs, on Midsummer Day. There is always one Sheriff in attendance at every session of the criminal courts, and they are responsible for ensuring that the directions of the judges are carried out. They are jointly responsible for the correct and efficient conduct of the city’s Standing Watches, and in less peaceful rimes they are responsible for raising and ordering the full Marching Watch (the turn-out of every able-bodied citizen). They are responsible for liaising with the Knight Marshall at the Citadel, and with his captains who run the prisons at the city gates.

The Court of Aldermen

The Court of Aldermen meets once a month and is presided over by the Lord, It forms an inner council which advises the Lord. It also appoints the Chairmen of the various committees, which are responsible for administering their respective areas and for submitting policy recommendations to the Court of Common Council.

The Alderman vote a Chairman into power, but the Chairman chooses the rest of his committee from among the common councillors. A Chairman is removed either at the discretion of the Lord, or by the Court if he fails to solve a political problem for three months running. Emissaries (and their spouses) reside in the city they are assigned to.

The Aldermen

There are twenty-one Aldermen, elected by their Ward voters at Midwinter. They are the Justice of the Peace for their Ward, and are answerable to the Sheriffs for the running of the Local Watch within their ward. Since guildmembers tend to concentrate within a particular area of the city, the Alderman is usually a senior officer of the most important local guild.

The Court of Common Council

This is the main policy-making body of Linrodeth. It is made up of the 252 Common Councillors, the 21 Aldermen, 2 Sheriffs and the Lord, and meets twice a month in the Witanmoot. The Court receives recommendations from the Committees and Envoys on the conduct of the city’s business. There are no official party affiliations, each councillor is meant to vote “in light of reason and conscience”. However groupings and alliances are noticeable.

Common Councillors

Elected annually by the citizens at Midwinter, they have to be citizens (householders) themselves, and must also be full guildmembers. Voting is recorded in confidence by a Hahnite priest. At sunset the person with the most votes becomes Alderman and the next twelve become the Common Councillors.

Linrodeth Sheriffs

139 Kennet Maxil, Paston Courtney

140 Kennet Maxil, Samantha Cox

141 Alan Griffiths, Samantha Cox

142 Alan Griffiths, Beatrice Perignon

143 Beatrice Perignon, Matthew Dixon

144 Beatrice Perignon, Matthew Dixon

145 Matthew Dixon, Alan Griffiths

146 Alison Shefford, Ann Tasker

147 Aralan Derwent, Ann Tasker,
Alison Shefford (appointed third Sheriff as from Arvinoth)

148 Alison Shefford

149 Alison Shefford, Jenny Davy

150 Jenny Davy, Miranda Andrews

151 Nicholas Bowden, Jenny Davy

152 Jenny Davy, Nicholas Bowden

153 Jenny Davy, Nicholas Bowden

154 Mary Hastings, Olivia Warin

155 Nicholas Bowden, Olivia Warin

156 Nicholas Bowden, Olivia Warin

157 Mary Hastings, Nicholas Bowden

No Lordship or Sheriff elections held in 144 due to the Great Fire, Incumbents remained in post.

No Lordship or Sheriff elections held in 148 due to the Invasion, Alison Shefford remained in post.

Religions

Aldor, the Hunter and Far-Wanderer

Aldor is the God of the forests and of the wilderness. He is a remote, wandering God, usually depicted as a grey-cloaked archer. In legend it was he that first taught men the skills of bowmanship. Unsurprisingly for such a solitary deity, there is no organised priesthood or religion although he has a following amongst archers and foresters. He is also supposed to be the protector of travellers, and merchants on the road can often be seen wearing his emblem (a twig of oak leaves) to bring good luck. Tradition has that this God sometimes appears in human form asking to share the evening meal of travellers, so solitary strangers should never be turned away.

Daleth, the Earth Goddess

This is the largest and most popular of all the different religions, being particularly strong amongst the peasants and yeomen farmers. Its priests are either Wellkeepers or Earthspeakers, and work as partners based at a Wellhouse. The Wellkeeper oversees the House and its lands, and attends to the needs of the guests and the inhabitants (usually children or the old). The Earthspeaker travels the surrounding lands acting as a teacher, advisor and preacher. The philosophy of this cult is simple: The Goddess is, and we are the Goddess. The Earth is. Nothing else is needed. Circling a finger over the heart is the sign of the Goddess, and the priests teach the cycle of life and death and rebirth. For them the greatest crime is destroying the land beyond its ability to regenerate, and death is a lesser penalty than living landless. Although neither priest wears any kind of weapon, they are protected by earthspirits. These unseen creatures destroy anyone that murders a priest or desecrates a Wellhouse. They can also be summoned by the large scale destruction of land. This effects anyone from woodcutters who replant as they go, to a general who ensures that his army forages more widely for food. No-one can remember the last time a retreating army pursued a ‘burnt earth’ policy. Occasionally people disbelieve, during the civil war there were several mercenary bands who decided that Wellhouses were easy prey, but the discovery of the corpses reminded everyone that earthspirits are not an ancient and harmless myth. Green and Brown are the colours associated with this cult.

Esprayenna, the Sea Goddess

Esprayenna is the Goddess of the Ocean, beautiful and terrible, both generous and destructive. Her priests, all seafarers, hold that life is a privilege that must be earned. They measure respect by a person’s ability to survive the Goddess, maintaining that only ability, and not luck, affects the outcome; “The Goddess delivers those that deserve”. All priests regularly pit their skill against the tides and the weather, and refuse any retirement. Those that survive to old age are often semi crippled but are recognised as the most expert Master Mariners anywhere. It is not unknown for these mariners to crew a ship together and sail off to make a last gesture, such as riding the winter storms or seeking the Land of the Sun across the western ocean. Deep blue and silver the colours of this order.

Torus, the God of Healing

Not surprisingly, this religion believes in the sanctity of Life. They are organised in a loose hierarchy of respect and experience based around the scattered hospital temples. Each Infirmarium trains new members with as much theory and practice as they can offer, it is then the responsibility of these new Physickians to travel around the land giving help wherever it is required. This duty tends to find Physickians working closely with the Earthspeaker of a region, the Torian Priests however regard all life as sacred, and will fight death rather than treat it as part of a natural cycle. Many priests spend their entire lives as wandering Physickians, but others will return to an Infirmarium when they are older. Here they teach Novices, heal patients and contemplate the benevolence of Torus. These Curofanii often specialise their expertise, becoming herbalists, hypnotists, bone-setters or even one of the very rare chirugeons. Unadorned white is the sacred colour of this religion.

Hahn, the Gold of Law and Justice

This is a God much used by all forms of government. During the civil war it did much to try to maintain the law of the land. The religion has a complex form and initiates sometimes use the idea of a trinity: Hahn, the Father-who-rules (a mature figure, crowned and seated and seated on a cubic throne), Lahm, the Lady-of-Justice (a woman, not blind-folded, balancing a pair of scales), Shin, the Son-that-Judges (a youth, unshielded, holding a gold sword).

All three are normally depicted in red robes, red and gold are holy colours for this order. Initiates, who must be literate, are trained in numeracy and begin a lifelong study of the law. Mandatiens are sent out as clerks and treasurers to the ruling lords around the kingdom. They attend the provincial courts with the Lord, gaining experience of the practical application of the law, keeping the court records. It is interesting to note that they also act as the eyes and ears for the King’s Justice, it being difficult to conceal a corrupt ruling from these ubiquitous clerks. Pendentites are attached to a temple in a city, and work at preparing and presenting cases for judgement at the various secular courts. Their duties sometimes include acting as judges in an internal court. Plenipotentiaries are individuals attached to an Eorl’s court as his legal advisor. They are also entitled to attend the Lord’s council in Linrodeth. The Archimandrite is the absolute leader of this order. In addition to attending the Lord’s council, he is often found to be one of the King’s advisors.

Opal, the Star Queen

This order claims that all stars, including the sun, are daughters of the Star-Queen and that her messengers fly from star to star carrying her blessings. One day, aeons hence, her blessings will be free and the world will find peace and happiness. They are, of course, completely mad.

Resh

The Holy Son Resh is described as the beloved child of Daleth and Torus and is an incarnation of that aspect of Hahn that is the Son-that-Judges. Worship of Resh has many adherents in the Daleth, Torus and Hahn religions but with many orthodox priests denouncing worship of Resh as Heresy he is a brave god to follow.

Azial

Azial is seen by most as a demon. As such worshippers of Azial are reviled as demon-worshippers.

The Dragonborn

The Dragonborn are a particularly obscure religious sect of warriors reputed to live high in the Kalkas Mountains. Once every generation or so they appear at a major battle, often causing mass desertion of the opposition. They have never been known to be defeated, and after a battle they disappear as mysteriously as they come. They are known to all share the distinction of having been born on Dragonfeast. A child destined to become one of the Dragonborn vanishes on his first birthday and a small shield (depicting the four elements) is left in their place.

Religions in Kerun

Religions in the City States, such as Kerun, include many gods that are different to those in Athion. Even those that are similar have many unfamiliar differences. For example while there is a god of healing, the priests that follow it are a lot more mercenary than those of Torus, so that your access to their services (both spiritual and practical) are often determined by your ability to pay.

Amongst the gods unique to the City States are: Miros, Baccelos, Hermos, Poseiros and Hippone.

Military Units

There are several military units that have, over time, been mentioned in the newspapers of Athion. Among them are:

2^nd Cavalry Regiment

One of the few cavalry regiments of the Kingdom of Athion, this regiment typically accompanies the King on his progresses around the kingdom.

5^th Infantry Regiment

Initially stationed at the Citadel, this regiment was reassigned to Salvoyn and tool part in the campaigns against the Gelt.

7^th Infantry Regiment

Replaced the 5^th Infantry Regiment and seen as more uncouth than that regiment.

Knights Hospitallers

There are those who will obstruct the Temple of Torus in its Divine Duty. To protect those in service of the Temple there is a martial arm, the Knights Hospitaller. The Knights Hospitaller are stationed at the Infirmarium they serve.

While the units of the Knights Hospitaller are typically smaller than the King’s Regiments and often smaller than many mercenary bands, they are typically by far the healthiest and fittest of the troops on a battle ground. They are also as well trained as any army and their love for Torus for Torus to drive them further than any mercenary army will go for love of gold.

Knights Illuminati

Order of Knights who defend the Temple of Brynette. The traditional livery of the Knights Illuminati is black.

Knights Templar

Order of knights who defend the Temple of Hahn. The traditional livery of the Knights Templar is red.

Queens Infantry

An infantry regiment whose patron is the Queen.

The City Guilds

The chartered and liveried guilds of Linrodeth are:

The Worshipful Company of Mercers

The Worshipful Company of Grossers

The Worshipful Company of Cornmongers

The Worshipful Company of Dairiers

The Worshipful Company of Fishmongers

The Worshipful Company of Meatmongers

The Worshipful Company of Poulterers

The Worshipful Company of Fruiterers

The Worshipful Company of Bakes & Pastriers

The Worshipful Company of Drapers & Tailors

The Worshipful Company of Clothworkers & Weavers

The Worshipful Company of Dyers

The Worshipful Company of Skinners & Leathersellers

The Worshipful Company of Saddlers & Harnessers

The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths

The Worshipful Company of Armourers

The Worshipful Company of Bowyers

The Worshipful Company of Fletchers

The Worshipful Company of Masons

The Worshipful Company of Carpenters

The Worshipful Company of Coopers

The Worshipful Company of Woodturners

The Worshipful Company of Vintners

The Worshipful Company of Brewers & Hostellers

The Worshipful Company of Apothecaries

The Worshipful Company of Broiderers & Tapissers

The Worshipful Company of Glaziers

The Worshipful Company of Painters

The Worshipful Company of Plasterers

The Worshipful Company of Scriveners

The Worshipful Company of Chandlers

The Worshipful Company of Watermen's

The Worshipful Company of Shipwrights

The Worshipful Company of Thatchers

The Worshipful Company of Thatchers was granted a guild charter during Heliora 138.

The Shipwrights are the only guild based north of the river. They have always worked just outside the City because of the fire hazard of their wood stands.

Mercers are travelling traders who sell ‘by the balance’, i.e., smaller scale goods. Grossers are travelling traders selling ‘by the beam’ or wholesale.

Weights and Measures are maintained by particular guilds: lengths by the Clothworkers; weight by the Armourers; volume by the Coopers and alloy quality by the Goldsmiths.

Floating Market Factions

The Toddman

The Toddman is arguably the most feared crimelord in the city. Until recently he was the Boss of the entire Athion sector of the market. The Toddman is rumoured to have connections throughout the Linrodeth, even into the Council. His greatest asset is that his true identity is unknown, and all instructions are passed on via his lieutenants. The Athionic sections of the market are the roughest since its inhabitants are the lowest scum of the whole city. Should they make an effort though, an Athion marketer is indistinguishable from an ordinary citizen.

Skillet

Skillet, once a lieutenant of the Toddman, controls two Athionic sections of the market. These are believed to be have just begun to yield profits after the unexpected coup during the autumn of 142. Skillet has a reputation as a particularly ruthless Boss, although this may be because of the relative newness of his power.

The Cursos

The Cursos are humans from the Conglomerate of the City States. The word ‘Cursos’ roughly translates as ‘survive by running away’’. The Cursos were originally led by the Bordeci but during 138, the Babel and Solistel launched an attack on the Cursos causing a major fire within the market and splitting the Cursos between a faction under the control of the Solistel and an independent group of Cursos.

The Noord

The isolated valleys of the Western Isles are inhabited by a pale and stocky race of mariners known as the Noord. These people have a high regard for independence, and have been known to cause trouble by their disregard for the King’s Laws when they visit the mainland. A large group of Noord used to live in the market, but a large majority of these sailed away upstream in a makeshift longboat during 139, leaving behind a small group of Noord civilians behind. A new boatload of warrior Noord arrived in the market during the summer of 142.

The Solistel

This group of Solistel are very representative of their race, originally from the High Plateau. They work hard to preserve and increase the honour of their tribe, despite their surroundings. Since no-one quite knows what action or comment will be interpreted as an insult to their honour, dealing with the Solistel has always been regarded as a chancy business. The foremost family among the Solistel in the market is the Medunel. The Matriarch, Andenar Medunel, has never granted an audience to anyone outside the tribe. It is known that the Solistel and the Babel have has some form of alliance since the fire in 138.

The Kinjuru

Those Kezriakor exiled by the Empire of the Inner Sea are known as Kinjuru, and they are occasionally find their way as far north as Linrodeth. Lord Sato Shikoku is the ruler of this far flung group of exiles, and his people are highly valued as being scriveners under a sacred oath not to reveal their customer’s business.

The Babel

Although there are many Babel within the floating market to be found under the protection of Lord Sato, there is also a sizeable independent Babel sector under the leadership of the Dingol family who own the ‘Merry Whore’’.