Gaining Entry to the Hold

In order to pass through the palisade you have to carry of a bill of passage and the copper, silver or gold signet ring with which the pass has been stamped. All who travel in and out for work are given rings of copper – something which has graced them with the disdainful nickname Coppers. The residents are awarded rings of silver but may choose to upgrade them to gold rings, with or without ornamentations. If you are willing to accept the risk it is possible to acquire forgeries among the tents of Blackmoor or at the Karabbadokks. And if that does not seem tempting you can instead rent or buy a ring plus bill of passage from some shift-worker who is willing to part with it. Other than that the only, and possibly less risky, way to enter the Hold is to pay the fee. The base price is 1 shilling per leg or wheel that passes through the gate – in other words 2 shil- lings for a man on foot, 4 shillings for a man toeing a cart with two wheels, 6 shillings for a rider and his horse and 1 shilling for a one-legged war veteran (provided that he is not riding a trolley). Furthermore, anyone who has come to Thistle Hold to do business must be prepared to declare his wares and pay a tenth of their market value in tax