Free Township of Dalencroft - Geography of Tarien

Introduction

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 Janick'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 up the Emirates of the Dharja'shan, kept the meat fresh tasting for up to a month at a time. Jantick had tried, some years a go, to raise the brontosauruses himself, but the amount of free range that the beasts needed, and the fact that some giant roc kept feasting on his heard, 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.

With one hand, he vaulted over the bar, ducked a random punch, and watched the Flind shatter one of his brand new stools over the Soulmeliti fop's back.

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'shan 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 Guild, 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.

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 travelling between he two nations camped whereever they found it convenient in the tall, golden grasses of the Darien Plain. 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 allasoaurous. Thus, Dalencroft, of the "Last Made Fire Place" (as it translates from Soulmeliti), was born.

Dalencroft remained nothing more than a fire, shrine to Tyloma, and large grave, for almost a hundred years. During the construction of the Trans-Rhuethengage Highway, beginning in 243 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 change 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 Orcish 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 Calvary 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.

Geography

Dalencroft sits in the midst of great waves of grass. The sun gets unbearably hot in the summer, but the nights cool off quickly, and a warm cloak becomes essential. Rain falls rarely, in any season, and the town is generally dry and dusty. Once winter hits, temperatures fall, but remain above freezing. The wind, howling off the waters from the Gulf of Kharl to the north, swirl in-between mountain ranges to dump large amounts of heavy, wet, snow. The soil, replenished by recent fires, produces grains and other grasses with ease.

They layout of the town is simple. The Trans-Rhuethengage highway runs between the buildings in town, as the only street in town. The town consists of the Inn of the Rusty Sword, three private stables a blacksmith, a tanner, a general store, a weaponsmith, the barracks of the Eldorian Legion. Outside of town, in both a directions, a few villas face the highway, their fields and herds spreading to the north and south.

Society

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, grand parents, 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 Orcish raiding parties, or a wandering dinosaur from the soother Darien Plains.

With the exception of the hated Orcs, 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 town's people speak Eldoria, Galencian, and Soulmeliti fluently.

Religion

The town boasts no temples, but shrines to Tyloma, Kharl, Anderi, Arimathica, Doria, and Fahrom dot the edge of the Highway. One of the local farmers usual performs planting and harvesting ceremonies in Doria's name, and another practice's Arimathica's healing gifts.

Politics

The Township has no political structure so to speak. If something needs addressing, heads of households and representatives from the Legionnaires meet at the Inn. After they thoroughly discuss the question, a resolution is brought forth, and hammered out by consensus.

Economics

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 travelling 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 Gela and New Solarin.

International Relations

The City-state of Yaty	This Citystate has no relations with the Township.
The Confederated States of Zennonaize	During the great war, the Zennonaize Calvary helped free the Township, but no other relationship exists.
The Duchy of Sternbalia	This Duchy has no relations with the Township.
The Elanthai Council	The Elanthai Council has no relations, but recently the Shal'Madogin family has used the town as a stopover in the blacksteel trade.
The Emirates of the Dharja'shan	The Emirates have no relations with the Township.
The Empire of Eldoria	The Eldorian Legionnaires protect the town, and have a full garrison there. Their main interests are in defending the Highway, but they have, over the past centuries, developed a congenial relationship with the town's residents.
The Flietch-ta Empire	The few travelers going to or from Flietch-ta generally stop at the town, before or after their trip though the Orc-Hills.
The Grand Duchy of His Lord, Mennith	The Grand Duchy lies further south along the Trade route, but its people are two intolerant to get along well in Dalencroft. The two nations generally ignore each other.
The Kari-zaro Villages	These Villages have no relations with the Township.
The Kingdom of Galencia	As a neighbor, Galencia is interested in the Township, but its dealings are purely economical. In crises, the Kingdom sends whatever aid is necessary.
The Lost Continent	People on this Continent have no relations with the Township.
The Nerrid Alliance	The Township has enough of interest that Nerrid traders are common, and at least one agent from the N.S.S. is usually present. The locals find Nerrids entertaining.
The Nomadic Wemics of Narmouth	The Nomads know nothing of the Township and the town knows nothing of them.
The Orc-Hill Tribes	The Orc-Hill tribes occasionally raid the Township, but with the exception of the Great War, never in large numbers. The Legionnaires have little trouble defeating them. The razing of the town, by Krunk's horde however, and the subsequent occupation that followed, has increased the prejudice against Orcs in Dalencroft, and most are killed on sight.
The Principality of Grennig	Grennig traders often pass through the town, but no real relationship exists between the two.
The Soulmeliti Forests	With the Soulmeliti Forests so close, their culture has influenced the town. Most people speak their language, and like their people. Half-Soulmeliti find it a refreshing place, and often settle here. There are always Soulmeliti traders of some sort in town.
The Tribes of the Tzenchni'korack	The Tribes have no relationship with the Township.
The Underground Kingdom of the Children of Kharl	Khadra like Dalencroft. The people are nice and down to earth. The ale is spectacular. It has buildings, inside, in the savage plains. Trade is common, usually between outside parties meeting in Dalencroft. A handful of Khadra can usually be found here.