Arliden
Arliden is a small kingdom that borders Alshar to the north. It has a population of about 10,000 people. Its capital city is called Beklevek. It sits on the banks of the River Styrm. Beklevek is surrounded by fields of wheat and barley. It also contains a number of farms. These provide the residents with food and other necessities.
Arliden is a warm country. Summers are hot and dry, while winters are cold and wet. The people of Arliden wear thick cloaks and fur coats when it gets cold. During the summer, they don light clothing made from linen or cotton.
Arliden is a peaceful country. It has never been invaded by any nation. This is because it doesn't have anything worth taking. The only valuable thing in the entire country is the River Styrm. The river provides water to the farmers who live along its banks.
Arliden was founded by the Elves. They came here before the founding of Alshar. When the Elves left, the people of Arliden remained behind. They didn't want to leave their homeland.
The locals of Arliden speak of the Fairy Ring. The Fairy Ring is a circle of mushrooms growing in the forest near Arliden. It appears every full moon. Locals say that the mushrooms glow brightly at night. They say that the mushrooms emit strange sounds, like music. Sometimes, they even float through the air.
Arliden does have some issues with crime and poverty. However, these aren't severe enough to warrant intervention from the government. In fact, most of the crimes committed in Arliden go unnoticed, as there's no police force to speak of. Instead, the citizens take care of themselves. If someone breaks into your house, you'll probably find them hanging around outside later asking for money.
The people of Arliden believe that everyone should be able to defend themselves against criminals. As such, they're allowed to carry weapons. Most people prefer swords, daggers, axes, or bows and arrows. There are no restrictions on what kind of weapon you can own. You just need to pay a tax every year to maintain your right to bear arms.
If you do get robbed, you can always hire a mercenary to help you out. Mercenaries are hired by the hour. A mercenary will come to your aid if he thinks you've got a good chance of winning. He'll charge you an hourly rate based on how much he thinks you stand to gain.
Most of the mercenaries in Arliden are former soldiers. Some were conscripted into the army during wartime. Others joined up voluntarily after being discharged from service. All of them have combat experience.
There are two main types of mercenaries: bodyguards and assassins. Bodyguards are hired to protect wealthy individuals. Assassins are hired to kill specific targets. Both types of mercenary work independently. They don't belong to any particular guilds.
Mercenaries in Arliden tend to specialize in one type of fighting style. For example, there might be a group of fighters who specialize in close-quarters combat. Or perhaps they all use bows and arrows.
A mercenary's job is to fight. That's why they're paid so well. They don't get paid extra for killing enemies. They're not interested in glory or fame. What they want is money. And lots of it.
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