Uldien Criminal Activities

Lia-Kavair

At present, Uldien is much too small to support a regular Lia-Kavair guildhouse. The thieves had a small, but determined chapter in Uldien, based in the Bear & Staff inn until 687 TR, when things got out of hand, and Baron Konin cleaned house after the burning down of the inn. Plans to revive the chapter were discussed every few years but always shot down by Halime of Falesh, the guildmaster of Tashal. These plans got a new lease on life when Kenna of Lennis turned to Halime in 718 TR with a plea for help to rid her of her violent husband. Halime sent two members of the Shadows of Kelapyn, his brother's gang of enforcers, to Uldien who ambushed innkeeper Lynward of Lennis in his beer cellar in the dead of night and drowned him in a barrel of ale. When he was found the next morning with his head still stuck in the barrel, his death was ruled as accidental – Lynward was known as a uncontrollable drunk who often indulged his alcoholism secretly at night. In exchange for this service, Halime took advantage of Kenna. He not only took more than 10 £ in silver as payment, but also forced several concessions from her through threats and blackmail. The Lia-Kavair use Uldien, at present, only as a safe haven. Should the baron's plans to improve the local market bear fruit, the thieves plan on once again expanding the Bear and Staff into a full-bodied guildhouse. In that case Kenna would probably go the same way her husband went. She realizes her plight and tries hard to find a solution that does not see her hanged for murder or knifed in the back. She considers either confiding in the baron or fully joining the Lia-Kavair once she has decided which approach entails the lesser risk. Several Tashalan guildmasters operate in Uldien through their agents, but only at certain times of the year or for certain occasions. For more information on these guildmasters and their normal operations see “City of Tashal © by Columbia Games, 2005”. Halime of Falesh, the patron of Tashal, considers offering the Uldien franchise to one of his journeymen once he is certain that the town can support a new guild chapter. The most likely candidate would be his nephew Faran of Falesh, a 22-year-old lieutenant in the enforcer gang “Shadows of Kelapyn”, known throughout the Lia-Kavair for his ruthlessness and creative punishments. He murdered his first man at the age of 11 and has racked up an impressive body-count since then. He was also responsible for the symbolic drowning of the former innkeeper Lynward of Lennis and later joked that Kenna's ale was good enough to die for. Faran visits Uldien on an irregular basis to give new instructions to Kenna of Lennis and collect hush-money from her. He greatly enjoys tormenting her with idle threats and detailed accounts of her late husband's last moments on earth. Kenna would gladly see him killed but fears retribution from Halime.

PROSTITUTION

Baron Karsin Ubael, a devout Laranian, strictly forbids the establishment of a brothel in Uldien and whores caught openly plying their trade are subjected to punishments of shaming in Ubael Square. This makes prostitution a dangerous trade throughout most of the year. Only during the fur fairs in spring and autumn, when many rough-andtumble trappers and fur-hunters come to town with money to spend, does the profit to be made outweigh the risk. Perl of Rabeta (TASHAL; E7) sends a few of her girls to the Uldien Fur Fairs who then work out of the Bear & Staff Inn. Kenna officially employs them as additional serving staff due to the increased customer demand. They have orders to be discreet in selling their bodies and knowledge of these special services has only been spread by word-of-mouth among trusted locals and woodsmen who only come to town for the fairs. Thus far, the authorities have not become aware of the situation.

SMUGGLING

Kirlin of Pasena (TASHAL; F29) and Owain of Shref (TASHAL; G13) cooperate to use Uldien as a stop-over and safe storage for smuggled contraband and stolen merchandise. Kirlin keeps in touch with robbers and highwaymen in the region to bring easily recognized loot to the Bear & Staff to be stored in the old bear-baiting pit. When the pit is filled close to capacity, Kenna sends word to Owain in Tashal to arrange a pick-up. One of Owains charcoaler agents then makes the trip to Uldien, loads his wagons with sacks full of locally produced coal, among which the contraband and loot are concealed. Secure within the dirty sacks, the “merchandise” is then transferred either to Tashal or to a caravan master in the employ of the Lia-Kavair who takes the goods out of the country.