1038 - Spring/Summer

Phase III

Diplomat Joey the Sorcadin

2/3 Relationships 1 Skill Check 1 Diplomatic Mission

Warden Ajax the Bear-barian

1/1 Relationships 1 Skill Check 1 Military Check

Explorer Quintus Bartholomew Marion

1/1 Relationships 1 Skill Check 1 Exploration Expedition

The Settlement

Another year passes and the endless tide of settlers will not abate. They come alone, in families, or as part of groups formed out of desperate necessity to survive the falling of the ash. These second wave settlers have something more to offer though, with word of the North's relative safety a new breed makes their landing, bureacrats, theologians, merchants, craftsmen - strong men with strong wills, enough to bolster the settlements, or possibly bend them to their will.
Rumors swirl along the docks and in the drinking halls of the North - the High Dukes of Van Myr clash over the diminishing resources, the Fisher King continues to order that all those who arrive in Van Myr must be fed but this burden has landed strongly on the Dukes and their loyal men, men needed for the wars in the Hierlands, where the Sigil and Van Myr continue to clash over desperately needed farmland. Attempting to bolster their claim to representing the Father's will the Sigil publishes a ilst of suspected Veritas heretics, and states that they have succesfuly countered the powers of the artifacts under their control. Despite this whispers of armistice are constant, but never seem to manifest - it appears the great nations cannot come to an agreement on the remaining green land of the Known World. Whispers and reports of red-eyed devils in the smoke filled ashlands continue to be nothing more than stories, though more and more sailors swear to the authenticity of certain far flung tales. More concretely the Saggarans continue to haunt the oceans, attacking and pillaging the tiny villages that cling to the wild lands outside the major powers.
Ships at sea are still vanishing, especially heavily laden merchant ships around the outskirts of the Penitent Bay. Chunks of dead fish and the occasional severed monstrous limb scatter about the wreckage, lending strength to the rumors that the monsters of the deep are still waiting beneath the waves. Tailsmongers and fishwives ply the docks of the settlements peddling their wards and charms to keep ships safe or speed your loved ones across the oceans, driving the locals towards mysticism and to scorn centralized order. Captain Tork sees nothing that can be done, if the beasts live beneath the water what can you do but hope for the Fathers to be merciful on you.
Despite the occasional danger trade flourishes, all eyes look to this years harvest which promises to bring untold riches from the homelands at the end of the year. Meanwhile local trade between the settlements begins to take off, several of the larger ocean-going vessels take routes from the Carryleans to the other settlements but a new breed of smaller vessels, cheap to make but meant to sail along the coasts laden with goods are becoming common - apparently produced by the Carryleans. A fleet of twenty of the ships sail in to bay, quick to meet with Shrike who seems to be facilitating their trade and routing. Julia Herelia Marion notes to Quintus Bartholomew Marion two days later that the man met with Solomon Galway , and the two are coordinating the lands they claimed along the docks.
In an effort to stop the runaway acquisitions of Solomon Galway and his mysterious source of funding, Julia Herelia Marion attempts a moratorium on land holdings being purchased or claimed in and around the harbor and city center but the leaders of the settlement have far too much power for her to pass it, but she does manage to at least secure the harbor itself for the town by surrendering to the demands of Leandra Kelles to return the Guardian Enclave to the Seekers. It appears Solomon Galway and Valis Valois have some form of understanding and seem to be voting together for most economic matters.

Here the Fathers speak - just listen, they walk among us again

The Guardians abandon the Enclave and move to their own quarters, ending a historic era for the Settlement. As the Seekers reclaim their historic enclave and move to expand it, the center of the city now resembles a tangled mess of religious conflict - the Temple of the Fathers, the Native Gardens, the Great Tree of the Blessed Leaf, the Iron Clan Embassy, and the Enclave of the Seekers. Word of this wondrous affair bolsters even further the mystics and treasure hunters of the North, and messages reach you of the exaggerated stories now being told in the courts of Heute and Polis . Domestically it is less harmonious, the many factions are all too often at each other's throats - while Leandra Kelles is a calming influence on the Seekers she appears to be losing influence, Lars Skellrich has become an even stronger voice amongst them and his strict views on the faithful put him constantly in the public spotlight. Tayala Benzare proves timid in the face of this danger and retreats further into the natural wonderland her team of would-be druids and apothecaries have created, but Saficus Anuluii proves an unlikely source of calm, even going as far to hosting spiritual ceremonies branching together the several faiths.
The first riots are not religious, but occur in the workhouses rimming the city center - a hot blooded murder and a harsh sentence imposed by Captain Arenna Handt lay spark to the flame among the refugees. Three city blocks are engulfed in chaos and the militia commanded by Tatius Silica side almost unilaterally with the Van Myr provocateurs. Word spreads throughout the Penitent Bay that Hampsterdam is a city for the Van Myr, and that refugees should know their place. Captain Arenna Handt is furious with Julia Herelia Marion and her machinations that she claims have enabled this, while Julia Herelia Marion in turn blames Captain Arenna Handt for lacking the deft touch for such a delicate situation.
Captain Tork goes missing as does his ship, he leaves a drunkely scribbled note on the door of Joey the Sorcadin - 'Gone Fishing.' In his absence the docks grow rowdier, the lack of government owned ships makes Hampsterdam a wild place, profitable for the many daring visitors but with a reputation to match. In the chaos the three pillars of land, labor, and ships determine the real power of trade, and of these three only the land remains firmly in the hands of the leaders of Hampsterdam, mostly by way of Solomon Galway .
Visitors from separate tribes of the Irons Clans arrive, bringing strange wares and even stranger stories. Some of them, especially the brutish ones decked in shining beads and tattooed heavily, pay respect to the Guardians, calling them the "Stormbreakers" and the "Chosen of Garaugh". They bring numerous gifts, and promise a grand reception in the Halls of Garaugh, where the Chosen are meant to 'sit and Wake the Hallows.' Shortly thereafter the number of visitors sharply decreases, and the guards of the Embassy lead by Gok Haruk take on a more stressful tone. Within a few weeks an additional 50 orcs arrive, unlike the others they are clearly a military formation. While they are tight-lipped, they let slip rumors on other fronts, that another Clan of orcs has made contact with steel-forging humans far to the Southwest, and that Nanukat is busy campaigning to be elected Grand Speaker of his tribe.

The fires forge steel and soul

Joey the Sorcadin and Omen Felle become a diplomatic force within the Iron Federation, and with the increasing demands of the Orcs and the growing settlements need for Iron their diplomatic clout swells with it, slowly one by one the settlements that ring the Penitent Bay begin to make concessions and join the Federation. However, news reaches you that Ravenwood has struck iron, and in great abundance, around the Looming Mount. They believe that they will be producing by the end of the year. This news ripples through the North and puts a temporary freeze on the rapid expansion of the Federation, with the rising competition provoking rampant speculation by the merchants and traders of the region.
As with civilization so comes banditry, an inevitable consequence of an influx of desperate men and women. The inland settlements and those most distant form the Bay appear most at risk - their are few deaths for now, desperate men mostly looking for food or some quick gold, but the lawless state of Hampsterdam seems to give these men succor. Praetor Aelia Nacii decides that chasing these men would be pointless with the few men she has and their inability to be mobilized for the entire year, instead she deploys them within the city, irking Julia Herelia Marion and Captain Arenna Handt but it pays off with a seizure of a large group of bandits and smugglers operating out of a dock flophouse, they rescue a man named Dane who claims he came here overland with Bors Haimen , Freya Sjelkal , and Eckard of Louse - survivors of the Saggaran attack on Sigrun. He says they were waylaid by a well-organized group of professionals, not mere ruffians. He is desperate to rescue his friends. Taimon Miele gives you a tip that a man named Jotal Erugbrast works with these men, but they aren't his men, if you know what he means.

This land is no home to us - it eats at us like a cancer, erasing our humanity

More esoteric whispers of danger continue, the strange deaths with missing organs and mutilated bodies occur with regularity, one or two a month, and some speak of strange forms along the rim of the Sagouri Swamp and up to the Bay's southern settlements, strange hissing noises and whines, odd sounds at night. The band of settlements along the Western Plains lead by Hippolita send word that a large band of some kind of creatures attacked an outlying farm, only the children were left spared. The children described them as horned demons, as tall as a house. Some of the hunters went out to investigate, but were not seen again.
Many hands take to the overhaul of the growing entertainment complex of Quintus Bartholomew Marion - with his strong connections to Tayala Benzare and Venevia Sil Galachus his establishment becomes the first true luxury destination of the North, and those who wish to make themselves known ensure they are seen there at least once a week. A deal not done in the shadows is done here. This rise of culture brings bards and entertainers from all around the North, hoping to escape the farming or menial life. Most prominent among them is Renfred the Lark , a famed bard from Van Myr hoping to escape his troubles.
Unsettling rumors of the The Lords of Meggido are told and retold around Hampsterdam, what is truth and what fiction is difficult to tell. What does seem true is that the city attracts a lot of Van Myr loyalists keen to stay out at sea as well as those loners afraid of the militarization in Ravenwood and the reputation of Hampsterdam. Many unique tradecrafts emerge from the city, coming to Hampsterdam via local trade routes and raising the spirits of the rising middle class. The only Meggidan you are currently aware of, Fjolk the Fury , has been silently putting the squeeze on the people in the Sagouri swamp though you do hear rumors that his men raided TortleTown , leaving the poor creatures either dead or fled.
The Expedition to the Broken Statue of the King completes their excavation, the statue must have once been massive and is incredibly well crafted. They bring the statue back, and it is quickly setup in the town center, a wondrous testament to your domination of the new world. The archivist in charge of the expedition did what he could to discover what was left on the statue and he decoded the mostly destroyed epitath of 'Marius, First Creator, Founder of the Order, Wonderbringer'. Far beneath the statue they uncovered a sword, somehow having survived the devastation of the ages, it is gifted to the guardians. You come to know it as Binder, the Soulcatcher .
Praetor Aelia Nacii notices the determination that Ajax the Bear-barian exhibits while training the militia and seems to approve - your example inspires her to greater effort and you brainstorm what can be done given your lack of gold and experienced troops. She bemoans the passive infighting between Julia Herelia Marion and Captain Arenna Handt that is restricting who can be recruited, but has identified a group of former soldiers who might be inspired by your presence. You meet with them and convince them to join, their leader Saben Woustel begrudgingly agrees to take a command position and see what can be done to expand your defensive capabilities.
In the outlying settlements work has begun on the light watchtowers at critical junctions to keep the peace, but work progresses slowly and it may take years to reasonably cover just the settlements surrounding Hampsterdam. Traders, farmers, missionaries, and explorers cross the open lands often forming rough dirt roads by their passage. Some of the most frequent traffic comes from the Blessed Leaf, whose teachings spread along with their wondrous powers.
A former spy, Nefeli , presents herself to the leaders of Hampsterdam and hopes to be made use of. She tells you of her past and says that she can be of great help giving your current troubles. All she asks is the chance to improve the settlement and for a fair share of the returns expected for the following years while she continues to help. A diplomatic mission from Jericho arrives as well bringing with it Radko Clavik who presents himself directly to the guardians as the official ambassador from Jericho on behalf of Graciela Il Voce The Dawning Queen . He is swift to introduce the issue of the missing Ancient Ivory Rod and his Queen's insistence that it be returned - he seems to assume/know it is in your possession. He assures that once it is returned their is much that we can do for one another.

You people know how to make yourselves at home, eh?

L'essyal Nor'vai the Aelfinn Trade arrives seeking Ajax the Bear-barian . She carries a letter from Cas'iyopel but also knows you were seeking information about "Xor." She says that she once befriended a Taurus named Ming the Mad who wanders around The Academy Ruins who said the name several times, and said something about 'his shadow lingers.' She asks about your time with Waul'Van Ictis Ra'viene and warns you that their is something dark to this development, not of our tradition.
A letter arrives for Quintus Bartholomew Marion from his father, Duke Flavius Marion , delivered at the hands of a Windrider of the High Dukes Court.

Letters

From Duke Flavius Marion to Quintus Bartholomew Marion :
"Quintus,
You will recruit a dozen professional men capable of following orders no matter their affiliation, ideology, or personal loyalties. Attend to your sister, she has a head for business that you have always lacked.
Duke Flavius Marion, etc"
Enclosed are two letters or mark worth 1,000 gold each
From Cas'iyopel to Ajax the Bear-barian
"Friend Ajax,
I hope this message finds you, I fear you lost in body and spirit. If my fears are without meaning than you are reading this and we are far from you. The elders have decided we must abandon our lands and accept the Peace of Krayte , if we can settle within the Peace itself we will otherwise we have blooded clanmates north of the Rim. L'mielya sends her best, and I miss you as well. I hope sincerely to look upon your face once more.
Yours,
Cas'iyopel "

Steward's Report

Captain Arenna Handt gives you a report on the situation of Hampsterdam
Hampsterdam and the surrounding settlements of the Penitent Bay have become a focal point of the North, drawing settlers from the Homelands and the beginnings of a fledgling trade network that may define the new world for centuries to come.
Hampsterdam is much weaker than its neighbors militarily
Hampsterdam is more culturally developed than its neighbors
Hampsterdam is more economically developed than its neighbors
Hampsterdam is much less centralized than its neighbors
Hampsterdam has average relations with its neighbors
Hampsterdam is significantly less stable than its neighbors
She notes that Hampsterdam is known for its Iron Federation, Relations with Natives, its Wondrous Gardens, and as a dangerous but rewarding hub for exploration and adventure. No members of the Leadership are particularly well known outside of the local area, and the leadership has little popularity with the settlements nearby.
Regular trade and positive actions between leaders in the past have lead to a warming of relations with Ravenwood, though border disputes and economic friction threaten to drag this down
She believes that given current trends Hampsterdam will continue to be strong economically though the actual city may see little of this benefit, and that the entertainment and mystic aspects of the city will continue to draw more entrepeuneril spirits.