IM 1008

[Sire Halfblack]

Events in Deci ~ Martius IM 1008

The city starts to draw up battle lines, becoming as physically a divided place as it had been in the minds of many for the last year. Primarily those who support King Blackjack against those who support Governor Drake and King Majius. It would appear that those more influential powers and factions in the city either actively oppose King Blackjack or at the very least have ignored his calls for alliance and remained somewhat neutral.

The entirety of the remaining Hundred’s guilds seem to move from their traditional birth place of Cheapside into the now booming Mercantile Quarter, which of late, at least amongst the Decites, seems to have acquired the unusual moniker of The Invisible Quarter. Business seems to be doing relatively well in the Mercantile Quarter despite the problems being suffered in other parts of the city and is now the most populous part of the city, some would say taking on the old mantle of the “city’s birth cradle” that had for centuries been the prerogative of Cheapside.

The Hundred who suffered at the hands of Blackjack’s attempts to exterminate them, they being the gangs of Cheapside, come up with a simple revenge and make good on the threat they issued at the Final Dawn: They refuse to step into Cheapside, refusing to construct anything for Blackjack and effectively allowing his edifices and buildings to collapse through lack of maintenance and upkeep. Although whether they would have been able to enter Cheapside or not is another matter, for Blackjack sealed the entire quarter, turning it into a single fortress, no way in and no way out, a virtual city within a city and not a place any would really wish to bring an army against.

Governor Drake stamps his authority on the remarkably receptive people of the Mercantile Quarter who acknowledge his Governorship of the city just as they acknowledge King Majius’ sovereignty. He publicly calls out and mocks Blackjack as a coward and dares him to turn up in the main drag of the somewhat neutral Forgetown for a one on one bout to decide their “differences”. It is widely expected, of course, that Blackjack will not answer such a call out. Whilst the people see no problem with the tactics that Blackjack used to beat Drake, them being “good honest Deci tactics”, they respect Governor Drake’s authority. It seems they have had good experiences with a Drave governor in the past and this has coloured their perception of Drake most favourably.

The city is visited by Earl Natal, accompanied by three of Primus’ most prolific Champions. It is known that they visited with Earl Duff but beyond that their business is secret, no doubt of concern for the very fabric of Primus or at the least matters of great import to the Empire.

The void left by the disappearance of the Poison Quarter begins to be felt in all manner of things. Although, with little surprise, at least the Merchant Halfblack manages to profit from the disappearance as those gamblers who would usually game in the Poison Quarter start to gather and gamble in the Cart and Hammer in Forgetown. Forgetown somewhat busy this month with a contingent of Keys Spears turning up to be fitted for and kitted out in the best armour that The Forge himself can produce in readiness for their upcoming battle with the Tribes of the Torn Isle.

The disappearance of the Mocker King seems to have left the Kallah at a loose end and possibly somewhat vulnerable, suffering from being hunted down by Blackjack, who seems to have decided they too, as servants of another King, should face extermination.

[Sire Halfblack]

Events in Deci ~ Juon IM 1008

The Kingdom of Cheapside continues to draw malcontents, separatists and criminals from across the Empire to the standard of King Blackjack. A mightly host growing silently waiting to be raised as a force to take a stand against the Empire. Some of those forces left Fortress Cheapside to raid the rest of the city for supplies of food , weapons and armour and in their foray into The Slurries, where lie most of the city’s stores, they were unopposed. The guiding beacon that Cheapside has become to those who oppose the Empire seems to be shining across the entire realm.

The divisions within the city continue to grow between the supporters of the Two Kings with even the Kallah seeming to divide into two castes in the absence of the Mocker King. Two castes for two Kings, the Kallah of The Invisible and the Kallah of Cheapside, another sign that all out war within the city draws ever closer.

It would appear that Master Halfblack has dipped his fingers into one pie too many with an unexpected visit by the Countess Claugh. A personal visit from so busy and powerful a figure, widely believed to have been in Sellaville, would hardly seem to bode well for the Merchant who demonstrated an uncommon nervousness at her appearance in his chambers.

Recent newcomer to Deci, Moregil, found his attempts to carve out a little haven in the North Quarter contested somewhat by The Sleek Thugs. Having been appointed as Quarter Thug of the North Quarter by Governor Drake he very quickly discovered the reality of Deci’s hierarchy, with his small band of men and the Sleek Thugs coming close to trading blows. Perhaps somewhat naively he expected the Thugs to acknowledge his position without any real force to back up his assertion. It is rumoured that Baron Throttle, to whom the Sleek answer, took exception to an insult Moregil offered his brother the King, Earl Majius and that Moregil’s requests to Baron Throttle to order The Sleek Thugs to obey him will fall on deaf ears.

True to his Ivory Word from the previous month, Governor Drake waited in Forgetown for King Blackjack to turn up and settle their differences one-on-one. True to his nature King Blackjack failed to show, choosing to spend his days marking his territory, strolling the walls of Fortress Cheapside and deriding Governor Drake, King Majius and The Empress.

To add to the city’s problems an old Dragon by the name of Braugen, himself once a King of Deci, returned to the city. Having been supernaturally empowered by the obeisance of North Warden Kintarma, who bowed down before him, he came seeking vengeance on King Majius, who along with other mercenaries had robbed from his hoard. The Dragon had recently woken from a sleep of some centuries following some imprisonment or defeat by one of Deci’s Princes.

[Sire Halfblack]

Events in Deci ~ Jurrle IM 1008

With Midsunner past the city of Deci appeared to be enjoying a veritable rejuvenation. News of the Senate’s intention to rescind the punishment levied against the city had reached its denizens. Those miners that had never accepted the Senate’s decision but had been effectively barred from trade with the city started to return. With the return of the miners those that had fled it for other reasons, over the also years started to return. And of course with the miners came their precious produce, the ore, which once more flowed onto the city’s markets and poured into the Slurries, flowing into the city’s foundries and heavy industries that lay in that city quarter.

And with fortune, shining on the city it also enjoyed further good news with the seemingly limitless stream of charcoal now arriving from the King’s Heap, thus solving the problem of the city’s need for fuel and freeing it from the reliance on wood imported from as far a field as the Baronies for its energy. With the Ore and charcoal, veritable victuals and wine of the city, now in abundance the industry roared once more as the hum of the foundries became a cacophony of hammer and smelter.

All witnessed by the city’s Finance Minister who for so long had watched it slumber. The Forge was away from the city, as was Earl Majius, for both Jander and the Earl had business elsewhere but the Finance Minister expected their soon return and knew that the news would please them, it certainly pleased him as he worked.

True not all was perfect, those territories ceded to Eartholme had decided, at least for the time being, that they were of Eartholme but that was a minor concern for the Lords of Deci would no doubt re-establish their dominion over these places. But this was just a small problem in the greater picture.

Moregil, in the Northern Quarter, continued his work to help the people there and instill in them a sense of Imperial Law and mocked by the Sleek Thugs who once more he sought to command as if they were his own. Still seemingly oblivious to the fact that in Deci power is taken and earnt, never given. He was warned however by one of the more civic of the Kallah schisms, the Kallah of the Invisible, that his little haven was perhaps now in danger should Blackjack turn his attentions northwards in the city.

However, as ever in Deci, peace and order was never to last and before the month was out news of war within the city was heard. King Blackjack of Cheapside had attacked the Slurries, the southern quarter of the city, the quarter which had just been restored to life with the arrival of ore and charcoal.

Sire Berry having made it clear that he would brook no violence in Stab Street had set his Stepsons and gangs to patrol his little turf and it remained inviolate, with not even King Blackjack bold enough to seek to corner the Goblins and Rats in their own territory on the edge of Cheapside.

Blackjack’s men, not having met with resistance the previous month, were obviously emboldened and flooded into the streets of the Slurries, no longer held back by the malice of the Poison Quarter they swept in. Little stopping them until they ran into those who stood guard at the Foundries and Smelters: Jander’s Blades, lead by Bull, and the golem Khopesh who wandered the streets dispensing law.

Jander’s Blades fought to defend their people, homes, workplaces and lives but in the end, despite their stand they were overwhelmed by the numbers, and the fought till all that was left was Bull, a mighty smith and loyal reeve of The Forge. Who’s strength and toughness was so great that in the end he had to be roped down from afar.

The golem Khopesh fought with the stoicism that can only come from being a Golem, untiring, unstopping and uncaring of his own state. Herding off the attackers, and giving those who wished to escape the massacre a chance to flee.

Still, the once King of Deci, Braugen, a Dragon, woken from a sleep of centuries was to find his pleasure at returning to the city and his intent reclaiming his position as one of the city’s Kings cut short at the wrong end of a Lance of The Black Knight. In true Deci style the slaying resembled something not unlike an assassination as the Dragon was occupied with what it perceived to be an insignificant creature in the form of the Golem, Khopesh, who’s bravery acted as such a distraction that the Dragon did not even notice the Knight’s charge from behind…

As the month ended the city was left divided, now with two of its five quarters in the hands of King Blackjack. The ire of King Majius at the slaughter of his subjects had to be tempered by his Vizier, and for once even the serpent tongued Vizier seemed to decide that silence was, for the greater part, wise. Although his unusual quietness on the matter has left many in Deci wondering what exactly the duplicitous Vizier thinks of the attack.

Governor Drake, who was visiting the rural lands of Deci for the first time, with his usual calm made it clear that Blackjack’s time was now at an end.

On hearing the news The Forge entered a great rage, swearing that the Orc would feel the kiss of the Final Act of Kindness, the mighty blade he wields, in response to the deaths of his men and followers. Blackjack has added to the list of his enemies an old mercenary, a Legend, a past ruler of the city and a man with a great many favours to call in from far and wide and in doing so angered a god. Few fires burn hotter than The Forge and the anger of a Primal Deity in their own bailiwick is not to be taken lightly.

In the Court of King Majius all but one voice has cried out up in anger at this new outrage and it seems that the alliances forged by Majius, Drake and Sunstar over the years are about to be called upon and such forces are not to be underestimated. It would seem that war has come to Deci and the rule of King Blackjack of Cheapside is about to be disputed, violently…

[Sire Halfblack]

Events in Deci ~ Septus IM 1008

NOTE: The events of this month are known infamously as the Battle of The Grate Black Orc. The details of which are too varied and detailed to cover here as a Synopsis. Those wishing to know more are encouraged to speak to any of the many who were present in the city during this event.

[Sire Halfblack]

Events in Deci ~ Noveas IM 1008

This month seemed to be one where the city turned its attentions to the rural lands of its territories.

Those lands, once Deci’s, then tithed to Eartholme and once more returned to Deci were visited by King Majius kin. The Lord Sleek, Baron Throttle, in his inimitable style reminded the inhabitants of the currently less than loyal village of Fryer’s Held, who their masters were and the city was once more returned to the Deci fold. The somewhat lethal demonstration of his psychic powers enough to silence any Malcontent.

Count Majius, the Baron of Scathe, had been sent by the King to speak with Farmer Coley and with his usual diplomacy and honeyed words persuaded the farmer to once more align with the city and send it its due tribute along with get his people to reassert their loyalty to Deci.

In Forgetown The Local Preacher, Master Tirack of Shaehan, was to perform the wedding ceremony for Mayor Gideon Borealis, a ceremony that seemed to have drawn a great many couples from across the territories on hearing the news of one willing to perform such. The Market Town was swamped, something like 2,000 couples came seeking to be wed for various reasons and in the end Tirack had to perform a mass ceremony for the gathered couples. Master Halfblack’s plans to provide a certain amount of dowry for the couples resulted in some hasty recalculations as he realised quite how many couples there were.

Those with business in Forgetown were seen to have done a roaring trade this month. The market town was busier than it has ever been before, busier than even Merchant Halfblack had expected, leaving at one point the strange sight of him weeping at having brought 10 bundles for sale when they were fetching prices triple that he had bought buy them at, weeping for his lost opportunity for profit and the grulls that he had failed to catch…

In The Slurries attempts by The Forge to retrieve his dead were met with great hostility. The people seeing only a man who had turned against their King and brought Imperial troops into the city, unwilling to see the need they simply saw betrayal and wisely Jander decided not to test their anger and left empty handed.

In Cheapside Governor Drake, guided by Sire ‘Berry of Stabstreet and accompanied by King Majius, The Princess Flay and Moregil, toured the old city, the vast majority of which now lay under flood waters that had nowhere to recede. It was a less than pleasant experience with bloated water logged bodies everywhere and seeing the rapidly decaying nature of Blackjack’s once Kingdom. A Kingdom that had been held together by personality and fear now divided and falling without that personality and without that fear to unite it.

The city was, visited by one not seen for some time, Master Berek, and with him he brought two visitors, Charmin’ Billy and another ancient King of the city, said to be one of Billy’s Ancestors, one of the first Kings of Deci. A visit said to have angered King Majius, who still held a price on Billy’s head for the deaths of four Lords of Deci Nobility. It was also noted, if only privately amongst some, that the Earl was not happy with yet another King of Deci in his city.

On a somewhat lighter matter the city was visited by The Fool in Yellow, Harley of Scarlene who entertained the masses.

[Sire Halfblack]

Final Dawn IM 1008

Much as with the previous month the rulers of Deci were involved in stamping their authority, in its various forms on the city and the people before the turning of the Dawn that Primus might view the city under heel. The last of those towns and villages in the Deci territories that had taken advantage of the tithes to pay tribute to neither Deci nor Eartholme were brought under heel and returned to Deci

The town of Rockmud played host to Governor Drake who made it clear that they were to acknowledge the city as to its masters. His forthright nature and a promise that there would be no blowing up of heads, coupled with his affirmation that it was the will of The Forge that they return saw this a somewhat simple task.

In the trading village of Fother the less than happy to be out in the cold wilds the Vizier, Master Halfblack, was likewise able to persuade the locals that it was Deci to which the belonged and Deci to whom they should tie.

The last of the places of note, the great Silver Mine of Geld’s Claim was visited by The Forge himself, a visit that proved more disruptive than he intended as the miners gazed upon their Walking-God, or, more accurately, prostrated themselves at his feet. He was amazed at the huge stockpiles of metal ores that formed great fortification like walls around the area. Over a year’s unsold produce, unable to send to Deci but unwilling to send to Eartholme. News of which Jander quite happily took back to the Vizier to arrange for its collection.

As with the previous Final Dawn, the Forgetown found itself being expanded upon once more, through the skills of the Drewin Art, on loan to Master Halfblack by the Baron of Drewin’s Vale.

Earl Majius concerned himself with visiting vengeance on Charmin’ Billy, the werewolf held responsible for the deaths of four of the Lords of Deci in recent years. Billy, being a survivor, and much to the annoyance of the Earl, survived by dint of evading all attempts to find him and resisting all attempts of the city to curse him. The Ancient Were-King though was not quite so lucky and met with death at the hands of Baron Throttle and thus removing any pretender to the Earl’s throne, although not before biting the Earl face clean off...

On discovering the death of the Were-King the normally laid back and generally placid Master Berek flew into a fearsome rage the likes of which had never been seen by those who had known him for decades and the wise stayed well clear of the Master Archer as he mourned the death of the Were-King.

Somewhat hurriedly and almost incidentally Jander reclaimed his position as Sire of the Warsmith’s guild without challenge and ended the year working on his third Dawn Blade, forged for the Warden of Air as payment and thanks for his pivotal role in the Battle of Cheapside.

It was later discovered that the end of the year had not entirely gone without incident as Lord Hail, the head of the powerful House Hail “was lost to the city”, euphemism for most likely assassinated, or worse, given the time of year, sacrificed. What King Majius thought of this was never said but those close to him gauged a certain degree of anger at the death of another of the Lords of Deci and another of his powerful allies.