Talan

Talan is a fortified town on the Gornmar River between the Plains of Corruption and The Shekiac Empire to the north. The town is located on one of the few safe crossings and as such has become a vital location in the rebuilding of Aul'Daran. It is one of the few towns that has retained its size in the wake of the Pale Wars with over 1200 residence calling it home. It has a large military presence with troops from Aul'Daran, Shekiac and knights from Elaquwish all having barracks either in town or just across the river. The towns ruler is Duke Dargan Wolvesclaw the former proprietor of the Waystop Inn and uncle to the king. he and his wife Towan (a cleric of the Dawnbringer) rule fairly and even allow traders to trade with the infernal knights from Shekiac. In addition to the troops mentioned above the town also boasts a large militia commanded by Awil Hammerforge, the local smith and Talgen the local leader of the Aul'Daran Rangers. The most popular tavern in town is the Wounded Boar, an establishment that has been around since founding of Talan, run currently by Livian, a large, jovial human woman in her middle age and her two daughters. at night, the Wounded Boar is loud and rough, but there are two things not allowed inside the tavern, fighting and disrespect to Livian and her daughters. Offenders in either case a removed aggressively from the premises by both other patrons and Delfor the bouncer, a half-orc of immense size.

Demographics

Talan is made up of primarily humans and halfling, half orcs, half elves, infernal blooded are not uncommon but other ancestries including elves and dwarves are rare. The town has a high number of soldiers, this is broken up further to militia, crowns guard, crusaders and mercenaries. The town is wealth for the region with many traders having warehouses and offices within.

Industry & Trade

Rather than its own industries, Talan has become a crossroad of trade from north to south. it also is the last point the Gornmar river is navigable by ocean worthy vessels, although barges continue further upstream.

Districts

Talan has 5 districts in town and one north of town across the river. The Hilltop is the oldest part of town and contains many of the temples, estates and the talan keep itself, as you enter the town from the south a lower class (although not a slum) residential area known as Southside is your first sight. Continuing in the High Road is a bussiness district that follows the main road through town to the bridge. The area between the bridge and Hilltop is known as the bridge and this is home to many tradesfolk, merchants and middleclass. The Docks are a mixed bag with some areas little more than slums and others with grand bussinesses and warehouses. Finally across the river is known as northside, it is not considered as part of Talan officially in is under the control of the Shekiacian Empire but is important as it is the check point for all north/south trade in the region.

Guilds and Factions

Both the Aul'daran Rangers and the Crowns Guard have barracks in town and maintain a strong presence here, The Nights Hand is also active in town. Several Knightly orders are also active in town althought which orders are active at any one time may change as crusades come and go. Accross the river on the Shekiac side, the Infernal Knights control the town with the local Knight Captain acting as the towns leader.

History

The towns foundation predates Aul’Daran, and many believe it was one of the first settlement in Faelderin itself. the bridge across the Gornmar River was built by the empire of the sun before their retreat but even it was built on the foundations of a much older structure.

Architecture

The town structure consist mainly of stone based tutor building even in the poorer parts of town, the exception to this is the docks area where the tutor structure give way to all timber houses, bussinesses and warehouses. Many of the richer estates and temples are constructed of local stone and the duke's castle is made with a dark hardened stone similar to the stone of the bridge making the tow structures stand out.

Type

Town

Population

1263 (65% humans, 11% halflings, 6% half orcs, 5% half elves, 4% infernal blooded, 9% other)

Owner/Ruler

Duke Dargan Wolvesclaw

Owning Organization

Kingdom of Aul’Daran