Chapter 13

“Coming to Border-Town”

Written by Ian Shirm 11- 24- 2007

Winter 3255

            With the civilians seen to, Dekari, Aiken, Kane, Dredskif and Draven purchased supplies and left the city, heading north for Del’goth. The 5 had purchased a wagon, Dredskif hooked his Clydesdale to it, and drove, with plenty of rations and supplies in the back. The first day into their trek, now more than 10 miles away from Kular, they heard marching from up the road. As they came around a corner that saw a legion marching to Kular. To Dekari, the 10,000 men looked as if they had yet to see battle. The Centurian Assembly, no doubt raising more men for the war Dekari thought.

            After the legion passed, Aiken said, “Well. The upside of the events that transpired is we have Greendale’s treasury. The gold that Titus gave us as well as the gold he brought with him from Kular is in that huge chest in the wagon.”

            “We should give it to Marcus,” Dekari said.

            “Why would you want to do that?” Aiken asked. We should hire some workers, get a nice big castle and some land.

            “I’m sure we’ll find a use for it,” Dekari said.

            The hours passed and slowly the landscape began changing. From the flat Damaticus plain, they began coming to hilly country. With the start of winter, the 5 bundled up against the cold air and the chill breeze.

            After traveling for several days they came to a sign. The sign pointing left said ‘Fort West-wall’ The other sign pointed right, saying ‘Fort Northguard ’. They took the right which would lead them more north than west.

            Mid-afternoon the 5 companions came to the crest of a large hill. From their vantage point they could see a village down in a small valley with a lake beside it. Dozens of fishing vessels could be seen on the lake, dozens more in the towns harbor. Dekari, Aiken, Draven, and Kane started down the road to the village with Dredskif brining up the rear with the wagon.

            They slowly came into town, a sign posted read ‘Glenwater’. The party passed a leatherworking shop, a weapons and armor shop, The boars head tavern, the fisherman’s market, a small barracks and several houses.

            “Get whatever supplies you’ll need,” Dekari said.

            “Meet at the boars head in an hour?” Aiken said

            “Sounds good,” Dekari said.

            “I’ll stay with the wagon, don’t want to leave it unguarded, I don’t want the treasury of Kulan, over 150,000 gold, stolen.” Dredskif said.

            Draven and Aiken walked to the boars head tavern, Kane and Dekari going to the general store.

            Aiken and Draven walked into the Boars-head. The Tavern was quiet, Though it was large enough to seat 100, there were very few other bar patrons. At one table sat 5 Barbarian’s with heavy furs, heavy recurve bows, each armed to the teeth, with their personal weapons. At another table sat 5 Avengers. Katanas at their hips, heavy recurves over their backs, two  ivory handled shortswords sheathed next to the katana, and a war-hammer dangling from their belts. The Avengers wore steel breastplates, steel plates over their shoulders, thighs and calves with red cloaks. At the bar sat several of the taverns regulars, the alcoholics that habitually frequented the tavern.

            Aiken and Draven sat at the bar.

            “Bartender,” Draven said.

            The tall, broad shouldered, owner of the tavern, walked down the bar to Draven.

            “What will you have?” The bartender asked.

            “Whats in that pot over the fire?” Draven asked

            “Beef stew,” The bartender said.

            “I’ll have a bowl of that and a pint of ale,” Draven said

            “I’ll have the same,” Aiken said

            “Coming right up,” The bartender of barbarian descent said.

            Aiken looked around the dinning room of the Boars-Head. The tavern was constructed similarly to a log cabin, long, thin, logs  forming the four wall. The mounted head of a boar hanging over the wall behind the bar. There were thick furs laid down over the uneven floor in front of the bar. Upon the windowless walls were the heads of a moose, a grizzly bear, and a caribou.

            The bartender walked over to Aiken and Draven and handed them each a pint of ale and their beef stew.

            “Thanks,” Aiken said.

            “Havent seen you two before, just passing through?” The bartender said.

            “Yes, my brother is getting provisions for the remainder of our trip.” Aiken said.

            “Have a name stranger?” the bartender asked.

            “Aiken Ironfist,” Aiken said.

            “Ironfist? Related to Marcus, king of Del’Goth? ” the bartender asked.

            “He’s my Grandfather,” Aiken said.

            “Your ale and meal is on the house,” The bartender said.

            “Thanks, you have a name?” Aiken asked

            “Nathan,” the bartender said.

            “You know how far to the Del’goth border?” Aiken asked.

            “Few weeks travel by horse,” Nathan said.

            “Whats southern Del’goth like?” Aiken asked

            “This time of year?” Nathan said. “Cold”

            “Know the best route to there?” Aiken asked.

            “The safest and fastest would be northwest to Fort Northguard, then from there north to the Del’Goth border.” Nathan said.

            “Thanks,’ Aiken said.

            Aiken heard the door creak and Dekari walked in.

            “Ready?” Dekari asked Aiken and Draven.

            “Yes,” Aiken said, “Nice meeting you Nathan.”

            “Have a safe journey,” Nathan said.

            Dekari and Kane had purchased 50 pounds of iron rations, and some tools, incase they had wagon trouble along the way. The 5 companions, left Glenwater and kept along the road leading them northwest.

            They rode upon the main road, over hills and through valleys, when dusk left them in the woods. They rode until dark traveling deeper and deeper into the forest.

            “This spot looks suitable,” Kane said, his keen elven eyesight better than that of the other four.

            “I’ll get a fire going,” Kane said.

            Dredskif unhooked his horse from the wagon and tied it off with the other 4 horses, feeding them grain.

            While Kane collected tinder and branches to burn, Aiken looked in his spell book, uttered an incantation and the area lit up as if day, the source of the light indistinguishable. Kane, pulled flint and steel from his tinderbox and worked on starting the fire.

            The night uneventful, Dredskif, who took the last watch, waked other 4 as the sun slowly rose. Dredskif had water boiling and was cooking deer, from a doe he had killed during his turn at watch.

            The 5 sat by the fire, eating their breakfast when the sound of horse hooves could be heard. There camp, off the road a short ways, was visible to the road, as the road was visible to it.

            “Aiken, and Draven, hide in the woods and give archer support if the people coming mean trouble,” Dekari ordered.

            From the north, 15 riders rode south. The forest thick and the road narrow,the 15 rode single file. The lead rider, stopped his horse upon seeing the campsite with the three.

            “Prepare yourselves,” Dekari said, putting on his white platemail.

            The 15 riders, all at a stop waited. Dekari watched them, thieves or mercenaries Dekari figured, he waited while the largest of them dismounted and walked to them.

            Standing several yards in front of Dekari, Kane and Dredskif the man said, “Whats in the wagon?”

            “That’s no business of yours,” Dekari said, the rest of the riders coming over to their camp.

            “We live in these woods, your trespassing,” The man said. “We’ll take your horses as punishment for your trespass.”

            “Not a chance in Hell,” Dredskif said. “Why don’t you get your thieving ass off that horse and try to take them,”

            “If you men leave now, there wont be any trouble,” Kane said.

            The riders, all 15, dismounted and began drawing weapons.

            “Now you three die, when before you could have just gave us your horses,” The large, rouge said.

            As he finished his sentence an arrow flew from the woods, striking the man in his voice box, killing him. As if upon signal Dredskif drew his two handed longsword.

            Two thieves rushed Dekari, both wielding longswords. As they closed Dekari cut the head of one with Justice, bashed the other with his shield, knocking the rouge to the ground. Laying on his back, stunned Dekari crushed the mans larynx with his boot. Two more arrows flew from the woods killing another thief and wounding another.          

            Dredskif charged towards the mass of the men, as they began to spread out Dredskif slashed ones right arm clean off, then swung wide, cleaving one of the thieves clean in half. The Rouges fell back and fired several arrows at draven, most sticking harmlessly in his hide armor, one arrow carching Dredskif in his right forearm. Dropping his two-handed longsword, Dekari drew his machete from its sheath on his belt and grabbed his mace from where it sat in the wagon.

            Aiken and Draven snuck though the woods to the rear of the rabble. With their backs to the two Aiken and Draven snuck up on them and killed two before they were even seen. As a rouge went to fire an arrow at Kane, Aiken burried his shortsword, Retribution, into the mans lower back. With a rough twist and pull Aiken pulled his blade out of the man, blood spraying across Aikens side.

            Drawing melee weapons several turned to face Aiken and Draven. Each fighting three, Aiken attempted to parry an incoming slash from a saber, the blade slicing a gash in his leg. Fueled by anger, Aiken cut down the man, with lightning slashes, the man unable to parry them all.

            The thieves, used to robbing civilians not trained men ran back to their horses, 4 dieing while the attempted to get past Aiken and Draven. Once to their horses they rode away, morale shattered by the death of some of their men.

            “Everyone ok?” Dekari asked.

            “Took a gash in the leg,” Aiken said, “Nothing major though.”

            “Lets break camp,” Dekari said.

            Mid-day the 5 companions came to the main road leading to fort north guard, and took it. At random intervals of less than an hour patrols of riders passed the party, an effort by the Kulan government to protect the people of the north.

            The next two weeks the party camped much farther away from the road, and slept with no fire, cooking their days meals at dawn. The third week they reached a small town that was overlooked by Fort Northguard.  Another week brought them to the boarder of Kulan and Del’goth.

            The Companions traveled into the nation of Delgoth, The border just south of the first Del’goth town they reached, border-town. The town sat on a hill with a wooden wall, surrounded by several hundred acres of farmland. As the party entered the town it felt very foreign to the Ironfist brothers, the design of structures and the people seemed very different from where they had grown up. There were few outsiders in the town, its populus mainly consisting of Del’Goth barbarians, Tall, broad shouldered people who lived much more simply then those of Greendale. The Layout of the town itself was also new to the brothers. The houses, mostly huts with earthen walls, were not arranged in square city blocks, but seemed to have been built wherever there was room, very few roads led through the maze of houses. The people having no sense of private property or clear cut property boarder rights made the town a civilization center unlike any they had seen.

            They came down the road into an apparently deserted town, the farther in they came the more they found this not to be the case. They saw a large crowd gathered in front of a longhouse, where they listened to a speaker.

            “This is a dark day, The King of Border-Town has been killed while hunting bear. The unfortunate King Fredrick’s bow string snapped after the angry grizzly had taken two arrows. Killed by his prey he has left us without leadership. Out of the landowners a new king will be selected by our council of elders. Any who show interest in the throne the council will be convening for the next 10 days,” A town official said.

            The crowd of several thousand talked amongst themselves, most wondering what this would mean for the town.

            “After the 10 days, the new king will be responsible for representing us in the league of 7 hill towns. News has come to us of the south. Kulan is fighting a losing battle against invaders from the west. The Del’goth army might not be enough to protect us from threats from the south. As close to the border as we are, the town is going to be vulnerable. Therefore any who apply for the kingship must be a veteran of the military. Any questions?”

            “Does the new king of border-town be related to Fredrick?” one local asked.

            “No, The prerequisites of becoming the new king are military experience, land ownership, and a plan for the defense of the town.”

            “Does the new king have to be of Del’goth blood?” one man, a plainsmen, asked.

            “Yes, the future king will have to be of Del’goth blood, even though our population is fairly diverse, with being so close to Kulan and all.” The town official said.

            “Any other questions?” the official asked. After a moment of quiest he said “Town meeting over.”

            The people began to disburse, the town official talking with a large barbarian. Dekari, and his 4 companions went over to the two.

            “Hello there,” Dekari said.

            The official turned to Dekari and said. “Hello, What can I help you with?”

            “Is there an Inn you’d recommend in this town?” Dekari asked.

            “Yes, there’s a tavern down the road a ways I’d recommend, just passing through or going to be staying?” the official asked.

            “Most likely passing through,” Dekari said.

            “What’s it depend on?” the official asked.

            “If I like the town, I’ll apply for the kingship,” Dekari said.

            “Being an out-of-towner, It would be fairly difficult to obtain the position.”

            “I’m Dekari Ironfist, grandson of Marcus Ironfist. If I stayed it would be to better protect Del’goth from the southern conflict.”

            “I’m Tiberius Vettius Augur, sheriff of Border-town. Being a Del’goth prince you could probably do better than king of this small town.”

            “Can you tell me a little of the league of 7 hills?” Dekari asked.

            “There are 7 towns, all in close proximity and all on hilltops. This is the Del’goth frontier, most of her population lies north with the clans. These 7 towns were settled by barbarians of 3 nations, crimson elves, dwarves and plainsmen. Being that the seven are as racialy diverse they don’t have a large part to play with Del’goths council of kings. The league is for the mutual protection, trade and prosperity of the 7 hill towns.”

            “We came north because our hometown in kulan was taken by minotaur, blood elves, Goblins and an army from Redrock. My interest in this town, as well as the other 6, is protection of the southern border,” Dekari said.

            “With a mission statement like that you will have the people rallied behind you in no time. Do you have any experience in politics or war?” Tiberius asked.

            “I was governor of Greendale, a Kulan town and learned much of politics and war in the time I spent with that position,” Dekari said. “How large of an area does the league of 7 towns control?”

            “Together, it would be approximately the size of the southern capital of Kular, just without the population, resources or organization,” Tiberius said.

            “I would like to unite the 7 hills into forming one city, a safe place where refugees from the south could come,” Dekari said. “They would bring with them all they own and what it would mean for southern Del’goth would be enough population to form a massive southern army, another alongside Marcus’s to protect the land of my lineage.”

            “I can go before the council and tell them what you would like this very night,” Tiberius said. “I’m sure that as a Del’goth prince you could have your pick of towns.”

            “Thank you,” Dekari said. “Once you put the idea before the council, can you send me word at the inn?”

            “Yes,” Tiberius said.

            “Thanks,” Dekari said.

            That night Dekari, Aiken, Draven, Kane and Dredskif sat in ‘The Hawkeye’, a small, homely tavern. Dekari had purchased rooms for his party and were eating in the dinning room.

            “We seem to be coming along for the ride,” Kane said. “What exactly is your plan for us?”

            “I want to found a city out of these 7 towns, erect a city wall and raise an army to protect southern Del’goth,” Dekari said.

            “What will we be doing while you do all this?” Kane asked.

            “I chose this path for myself. The 4 of you are free to go your separate ways if you arnt interested in going along for the ride,” Dekari said. “Though if you stay know that I will see you three well taken care of, with positions in the military or in politics for the new city.”

            “I’ll stay, there isn’t going to be a way to make a living in Kulan for long, It is only a matter of time until it falls,“ Kane said.

            “I’m actually rather enjoying the ride,” Draven said. “Traveling with Dekari and Aiken allows us more respect and income than working as a mercenary, which is what I would most likely be doing otherwise.”

            Aiken, lost in thought remembered Greendale and remembered the family ranch. He thought of working as a mercenary for the last several years, and he had grown rather accustomed to the culture of Kulan and city living, having spent a good deal of time in Mohawk. Aiken wondered what Del’goth was like further north. He imagined it to be isolated, cold, with no large cities and only towns allied into clans. As Aiken saw the way people lived up here he felt out of place, and passed judgment on them deeming them a backwards people. Dekari, Aiken imagined, would feel at home up here. The whole time growing up Dekari had expressed an interest in anything Del’goth, and had been moved by Bruce’s stories about the north. Aiken remembered having to burn his hometown so the enemy wouldn’t gain from its capture. He thought of the families ranch, most likely Numa had been killed, the livestock eaten and the house burned to the ground. It was just hitting Aiken as he thought of his home and all he had ever known being gone. Then Aiken remembered the 150,000 gold in the wagon. It was enough for the start of a new kingdom much less the start of a new life. Being a refugee himself, unable to return home, he identified with the people who had fled the small towns around Greendale to come there for peace and protection. At 22 Aiken felt as if he had seen enough loss to last a lifetime. Use to the comforts of home Aiken felt miserable knowing that he could never return to the live he had lived before. Thinking now, with his father dead, and their land gone, Aiken looked back and realized he had had it easy. Lucila, their mother, had spent much of her time teaching Aiken of the gods, magic, alchemy and herbalism. Lucila had been Aikens tutor, while Aiken studied Dekari had slaved for their father. Growing up Aiken had used his studies to neglect his work responsibilities, which had been few. Aiken had gained respect over the last year for his brother. Dekari who had liked the simple life and loved working the ranch, had become able to lead men into battle, rule as a politician and gained an understanding of the greater good.

            “Dekari,” Tiberius said,

            Hearing Tiberius’s voice, brought Aiken out of his daydreaming, noticing that he had been ignoring the conversation of his companions at the table.

            “Yes?” Dekari asked.

            “I met with the elders and they have approved you as king of Border-town,” Tiberius said. “There will be an announcement to the people tomorrow afternoon, when you will officially take the position.”

            “Did the elders hesitate at all,” Dekari asked.

            “No, as a matter of fact they said that they saw this as great timing,” Tiberius said. “The elders viewed this as a good sign, that two Del’goth princes come through town the day after the king dies.”

            “Can you arrange for a meeting of the League for tomorrow night?” Dekari asked.

            “Yes, I can do that,” Tiberius said.

            “Thank you,” Dekari said.

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            The next morning Dekari woke from his slumber in the room he shared with Aiken, in The Hawkeye. Dekari dressed in his forest clothes, dark greens and browns, and secured his broadsword ‘Justice’ on his belt. Aiken didn’t put on armor either, he remained asleep while Dekari left the room and went down to the dinning room. Dekari spotted Draven sitting at the bar, drinking a pint of ale and eating scrambled eggs. Dekari sat beside Draven and ordered coffee, with fried eggs and bacon, the kitchens special for the morning.

            “How long have you been up? Dekari asked Draven.

            “Woke up hungry about an hour ago,” Draven said. “Dekari, I have met your father, he was large like you, seemed to me very stoic. Bruce had a commanding presence and a fearlessness about him that made all who met him respect him. I see that presence with you, though you are only 22.”

            “Thank you,” Dekari said.

            “I’ve known Aiken for a long while. I’m 46 and spent a lot of time in Greendale, while the two of you grew up,” Draven said. “I knew Aiken as a youth and as a young man. You seem to take after your father, Paial rest his soul, while Aiken does not. I knew Lucila and Aiken seems more like her than Bruce. He has her volatile temper, charisma, intelligence and her playful nature. If I had to make an educated guess, I would say that Bruce’s death would hit you harder than Aiken.”

            “I don’t know. I spent a lot more time with our dad than did Aiken, it has to hit him hard aswell,” Dekari said

            “Aiken might resent your father,” Draven said. “He trained you himself to be a Paladin and taught you to follow in his footsteps, while your mother Lucila taught Aiken, magic, religion, Alchemy and Herbalism. If he thinks that Bruce favored you then he might not care nearly as much about his death.”

            “I doubt he resents our father,” Dekari said.

            “In the same token, “Draven said.” If it had been Lucila that had died Aiken might have taken it harder than you. She spent time day in an day out teaching Aiken and attempting to have him follow in her footsteps as a cleric. Not spending as much time as Aiken with her it might have distanced the two of you.”

            Dekari, having finished his breakfast stood and stretched.

            “Enjoy your ale, I’m going to check out the town,” Dekari said.

            “Will do,” Draven said.

            “Little early for philosophical ramblings,” Dekari said.

            Draven gave a nod then went back to his pint of ale.

            While Dekari walked the streets of Border-town he noticed the town was split into quarters with different races living together in their own parts of the town. There was a Crimson Elf quarter, finer than the rest, a Mt, Dwarven quarter, a Barbarian quarter and a Plainsmen quarter. With a large marketplace in the center of the town. The Market was easily accessible from all directions, the roads by no means straight.

            Draven spent a good part of the morning and early afternoon with Aiken and Dredskif drinking at the Hawkeye while Dekari familiarized himself with the towns-folk. As mid afternoon rolled around men from the militia gathered the towns people for a town meeting.

            The towns population gathered for Tiberius’s announcement.

            Standing on a raised porch in front of the longhouse used for towns business Tiberius said “The Council has made an appointment of King,” Many of the wealthier men groaned as they had hoped for the seat of power within the town. Tiberius continued, “The House of Ironfist will be hold the royalty of Border-town as well as that of the nation of Del’Goth. The Grandson of Marcus Ironfist, Dekari Ironfist, has been chosen to represent our town to the league as well as rule here. Dekari, please come to the stage.”

            Dekari climbed the steps to stand beside Tiberius.

            “Hello. I came from my position as governor of a large territory in Kulan,“ Dekari said. “As a direct result of the invasion of Kulan I have lost my territory and my home. Kulanian cities and towns all around the empire are falling to the western hemisphere powers.” The crowd grew quiet. “The large, organized invasion by the western powers, from across the ocean wont be pacified until all eastern nations fall. I’ve come here to protect the nation of my lineage, Del’goth. My brother, Aiken and I will see to the defense of this town as well as the other 6 towns of the League. The resources I have to better this town will not be exhausted for some time. You will see large changes in the town, I did not apply for this role for lust of power, rather I applied for my interest in defense of free peoples. Del‘goth blood runs through my veins as does the blood of Draxis,” Dekari said. “Border-town will enter an age of prosperity and it will be fortified and garrisoned heavily.” Some of the crowd cheered, not all behind Dekari. “This town is at the southern most edge of Del’goth. Border-town will be the first line of defense against invasion from the south and I will make it a formidable stronghold.”

            “Dekari will take his new office today,” Tiberius said. “Trust in the Ironfist line and trust in Dekari. Town meeting over.”

            Dekari and Tiberius walked inside the town hall and the crowd dispersed.

            “I sent riders early yesterday morning to the other 6 kings of the league. They should be arriving throughout the afternoon,” Tiberius said.

            Tiberius and Dekari sat and talked for hours, the morning spent discussing Dekari’s plans for the town. Early afternoon came and the kings of the other 6 towns started arriving in Border-town. Dekari left his new office in the town hall, to stand outside of the large building.

            Dekari pulled his whistle from underneath his shirt and blew it. Several minutes later a blue orb appeared and expanded in into an oval portal. Marcus Ironfist stepped out of the portal, seeing Dekari, closed the portal and walked over to him.

            “Hello Dekari,” Marcus said.

            “Hello,” Dekari said.

            “I’m sorry for the loss of your families ranch and your hometown, Greendale,” Marcus said. “The invading army has taken most of the cities in Kulan and its only a matter of time before the rest fall.

            “I have a favor to ask,” Dekari said.

            “Which would be?” Marcus asked.

            “I would like to start a city over the entire lands of the league of 7 hills,” Dekari said. “I have the treasury from Kulan, 150,000 gold. With this I would like to have a city wall built around the 50 or so Square miles of the 7 towns, and pay for laborers to work in the city. With Kulan being invaded refugees would come north and would have a large city to call home, as well as bring traders, merchants, and skilled craftsmen to the area. From the city’s populus I would draft a massive militia to protect the city.”

            “What favor would you like from me?” Marcus asked.

            “I would like the power to dismiss the other 6 kings from leadership and have your support in my leadership.”

            “You are a prince of Del’goth,” Marcus said. “I’ll appoint you to governor of the south, with that title you will have the power to run the far south of Del’goth as you see fit.”

            “Thank you,” Dekari said. “Care to stay, and attend a meeting of the league?”

            “I can stay for a while,“ Marcus said. “There arnt any immediate pressing matters that I must attend to.”

            Once the 6 other kings of the league had arrived, Dekari and Marcus met with them. Sitting in the towns council chambers the meeting convened .

            “Hello,” Dekari said. “I have recently become King of Border-town as well as governor of Southern Del’goth. My Grandfather Marcus Ironfist joins us for this meeting to indorse my governorship. In the best interests of the people of the seven hill towns I am annexing the other six towns to form one city. Carrick-bury, Penbridge, Aberstead, Pontdale, Border-town, Stock-borough, and Dunbridge will form the city named Ponthurst. I will built a large city-wall that will surround the seven towns. The new role of the league will be as an advisory body, bringing to my attention any problems in the seven districts. Each of you will be director of your district.”

            “I will raise an small army to act as garrison for Ponthurst,“ Marcus said. “I will back Dekari with soldiers as well as supplies. He did well as governor of the Greendale district of Kulan, and he will do well as Governor and King of Ponthurst. You six kings are to follow any order given by Dekari as he will be your superior.”

            “The league will convene once a month here in Border-town, you are all dismissed.” Dekari said.

            The six kings, now six directors rode back to their respective towns.

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