Chapter 14
“Founding Ponthurst”
In the coming weeks Dekari toured the seven towns, took a census and made speeches at each. Each town Dekari went to he hired men for a worker corps. After touring all seven, he had 14,000 workers, employed by the city. Dekari allowed the men to work in their home districts for the most part. He put the worker corps to work cutting down trees and building log cabins, enlarging the residential areas of each of the districts inward. In the middle of the seven hills sat the lush Albinus valley, the Atilus river flowing through the land of Director Spurius of Penbridge. District director Spurius had used the valley as farmland and as a result Pen-bridge was the strongest agricultural area in Ponthurst.
Upon the third week 5,000 Del’goth infantry came to Ponthurst to garrison the city. The Del’goth infantry wielded longswords and a spear, wore studded leather armor and wooden shields bound with iron. Dekari split the 5000 infantrymen into 7 parts, one for each district. Around 720 men per district. With 14,000 workers, Dekari clearcut the forests between the districts, and began building several large residential areas. As the three weeks had passed thousands of people fleeing Kulan came to Ponthurst. Many came with all they owned buying cabins or longhouses in the city. Dekari charged a very reasonable amount for the cabins, the proceeds going towards the 14,000 workers salaries.
After the third week a Mountain Dwarf emissary from Haraxis came to Ponthurst. For the cost of 5,000 gold, Dekari hired a dwarves corps of 10,000 Mt. Dwarves to come to the city and work, constructing homes, temples, granaries and a city wall.
Dekari set up a labor guild in each of the seven districts. The Guild was responsible for custom building shops and homes, selling cabins and longhouses, as well as directing labor. Several lumber yards were constructed in the western districts of Aberstead, Pontdale, and Stockborough. The three with the most forest access, put their production into Lumber. Carrickbury on the east side of the river and Dunbridge on the west side of the river, allocated their labor to the silver mines of Blackhorn mountain. Penbridge put their labor into agriculture and cattle herding, while Bordertowns workforce delt almost entirely with trade of southern goods to the rest of Del’goth.
As time passed and Dekari’s governorship entered the fourth week more and more people came to Ponthurst to live. The merchants from northern Kulan that came to the city went back telling stories of the strength of industry in Ponthurst. For those coming from the south, Ponthurst was a new beginning.
With the rise in population Marcus sent 2000 additional infantry to Ponthurst, garrisoning the city. The rise in population brought men looking for work. They were told to go to the labor guilds and join the lumber, mining, agriculture or trading industries. The combined population of the 7 districts, forming Ponthurst reached 100,000 citizens.
Five weeks into Dekari’s kingship of Ponthurst, Korur of clan Buhrodar, from Haraxis arrived with 10,000 Dwarven workers. Dekari met Aiken, Dredskif, Kane, Draven, and Korur in the town hall of Bordertown.
“Thank you all for remaining patient while I saw to matters of the city,” Dekari said.
“Going to assign us roles in the city?” Aiken asked.
“Aiken, if you are interested I could make you chairmen of the league of seven hills as well as Director of Bordertown,” Dekari said.
“What would the position entail?” Aiken asked.
“You would hold meetings with the 6 other directors of the league and would fix their problems, or bring the problems to my attention, if they should have any, and a director yourself you would rule over border town,” Dekari said.
“Ok, I accept,” Aiken said.
“Dredskif, as you were captain of the militia in Greendale you would be so again for Ponthurst. You would be responsible for raising and training the cities militia,” Dekari said.
“Ok, I’m up for it. Would you fund the construction of a large training grounds outside of this district?” Dredskif asked.
“Yes, I could fund it, go to the labor guild and hire some workers as well as a foreman for the job, just come to me when you have an idea of how much its going to cost,” Dekari said.
“Draven,” Dekari said. “I would like to appoint you to the position of Judge. You would hear cases and pass judgment upon criminals.”
“I’ll accept the position,” Draven said.
“Kane, I would like to appoint you as captain of the city guard, go about hiring city guards and you would be responsible for everything related,” Dekari said.
“I accept as well,” Kane said.
A knock at the door disturbed the meeting of friends.
“Enter,” Dekari said loudly.
A merchant opened the door and walked into the room.
“Hello, I’m Greg, a humble merchant from Kular.”
“Hello Greg, what can I help you with?” Dekari asked.
“One week ago Kular was marched upon by the invaders,” Greg said. “The capital city has fallen. Many of the residents were killed while the enemy sacked the city. Fort Westwall and Fort Northguard are both being put to siege. I knew of you when you were governor of Greendale, heard about you anyway, from another merchant. I would suggest asking your Grandfather for more forces incase the invader comes north. The two fortresses are all that remains of Kulan and their army is restless, it doesn’t stay in one place long.”
“Thank you Greg, I’ll take this news into consideration,” Dekari said.
Greg bowed, turned and left.
“I’ll get ahold of Marcus,” Dekari said. “There are some things I’d like to discuss with him. Korur, I would like you to build a city-wall encompassing the entire area of the 7 hills. There are some stone quarries near Blackhorn mountain. I’ll allocate some of the cities labor to the wall project, to help speed the project along.”
“Meeting adjourned,” Dekari said.
Dekari walked from the town hall and blew his whistle. Dekari patiently waited and after a while an orb of intense light appeared, then expanded into a portal. Marcus stepped out of the portal and walked to Dekari, who sat on the town hall steps.
“Hello Marcus,” Dekari said.
“Hello,” Marcus said.
“A merchant came to me today and said that Kular has fallen to the enemy and they are pushing north, both fortresses in northern Kulan being put to siege,” Dekari said.
“You fear them coming to your doorstep?” Marcus asked.
“Yes,” Dekari said. “Could you move your southern army into the area, Ponthurst is the first line of defense. If we could defend my city against invasion from the south, It would help to keep them out of Del’Goth all together.”
“I’ll go to eagle, where the southern army is currently stationed. They should arrive in a few weeks,” Marcus said.
“Thank you grandfather,” Dekari said.
“Your city is coming along nicely,” Marcus said. “The southern army of 35,000 infantry and 2000 avengers should be enough to defend the city. I suggest a draft, train your local population as an army reserve, let them live their lives as civilians, but if the city is ever attacked they would act as its additional garrison.”
“Ok. Will do,” Dekari said.
“I would also go about constructing houses at a faster rate,” Marcus said “Thousands upon thousands of plainsmen are relocating to the Bronze republic as well as here.”
“Alright,’ Dekari said.
“I’ll check on you and your brother from time to time to see how things are going,” Marcus said, then spoke a word of magic and opened a portal. “Good Luck,” Marcus said then entered the portal.
Dekari descended the steps leading down from the Town Hall, and began walking the Border-town district looking for Dredskif. Being the only Minotaur in town, he wasn’t hard to find. Dekari found him at the hawkeye tavern drinking with Aiken, Draven and Kane. The four men sat at a table eating lunch and drinking ale.
“Dredskif,” Dekari said.
“Yea?” he replied.
“I would like you to form an army reserve and a regular army,” Dekari said. “I’m drafting every man between the ages of 16 to 40. Of every hundred men there will be one Centurian, as commander of each of the 100 man units. You will take upon yourself the title of General. As General, Dredskif, you will have complete power over the military. Men employed by the labor guild will be trained and recruited into the Reserve army, those men not affiliated with the labor guild will be added to the regular army. There are 7000 infantry at present, I would like that number doubled for the army.”
“Understood. General Dredskif Bolthorpe,” Dredskif said. “Has a ring to it.”
“I would like you to go to each of the 7 districts in the city and hold town meetings,“ Dekari said. “Mandatory for all civilians to attend, and raise an army from among them.”
Dredskif nodded and gulped down the rest of his pint of ale.
“Can you put aside funds for armor and weapons for the new recruits of the army and the army reserve?” Dredskif asked.
“Yes, Order what you’ll need, the Haraxis Mt. Dwarves already told me that they can make whatever weapons and armor we will need,” Dekari said.
The Sixth week into Dekari’s reign as King of Ponthurst, a caravan from Kular and other southern cities and towns arrived. 50,000 men, women, children and elderly came to Ponthurst. Of the 50,000 All the men joined either the labor guild or the military.
Dekari started a program, where a man could get a loan for a house. If he worked on his home himself with help from the guild, then worked as a carpenter after that without pay for the construction of 10 homes the load would be erased and his home would be paid through labor.
During the seventh and eighth weeks an additional 20,000 from the south arrived.
With the large influx of population Dredskif’s army rose from 7000 to 15,000, The Army reserve had 20,000 in training. The Treasury slowly but surely being depleted, Ponthurst grew stronger by the day.
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King Jupiter of Redrock, King Kanlihn of the Westfyrd Blood Elves, Warlord Noto Bloodrunner and King Firmin Ryynim of Gobtel met in the palace of Kular in a large room that used to be the city council chambers.
“Westwall fortress and Northguard fortress are all that stands between us and complete conquest of Kulan,” Jupiter said. “Once those two fortresses fall Kulan will be ours.”
“By Ours you mean this one nation will be split into 8 parts for each of the kings who participated in the campaign?” King Firmin of the Gobtel Minotaur said.
“The spoils of war arent as sweet when they are split 8 ways,” Noto said. “I hold no loyalty to King Fisik of Gorwyn, King Tamar of Korosodo, King Dorto of Gobtel or King Azathas of the lizard men. If there was a way id like to only have a 4 way split.”
“Maybie there is a way,” King Kanlihn said.
“If we met with the 4 kings that hold the south, and planed an ambush in the meeting we could kill the 4 kings and Kulan would belong to just the 4 of us,” Jupiter said.
“I am on good terms with the blood elves from Gorwyn. King Fisik ala’Malas Sheretharal has been friend to me for a long time,” King Kanlihn said. “If the 5 of us assembled our armies we could win a decisive battle against Tamar, Dorto and Azathas.”
“A Five way split sounds better than an 8 way split. I want a good part of the northern territory as well as part of the Coral Isle,” Noto said.
“I’ll send a message for the 4 kings in the south to come north for a meeting,” Jupiter said. “When their armies stay in the south and they come north to this city we will assasinate the three of them, then consolidate our forces into one army, and crush them and take the south. The lands of Kulan will be split into 5 parts with each of us ruling over territories here.”
“There might be a better way,” King Kanlihn said. “If we persuaded Tamar, Dorto and Azathas to attack the bronze republic we could wait until their armies were weakened before we struck.”
“I’ll send a letter, all 4 of us will sign it,” King Jupiter said. “We will request in the letter that King Fisik and his blood elf army comes north, and we can persuade him to go along with our plan. Also in the letter we will ask the Korosodo minotaur, the Lizardmen and the warlord from Gobtel to attack the republic.”
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Dekari, Aiken, Draven, Kane and Dredskif sat around a wooden table on the porch of the Hawkeye eating lunch and drinking ale, save Dekari who drank coffee. From where they sat they could see dwarves and plainsmen working on a section of the wall. The workers with picks and shovels were digging out the foundation for the city wall. Wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow they moved dirt. Teams of horses were pulling large slabs of rock from a stone yard in the district, as every sections foundation finished the slabs were put in place. Teams of horses were also coming into the district from the quarries, bringing slabs of stone to the yard, where they were chiseled into shape. Bordertown was the district where trade was the heaviest, there were dozens of craftsmen who made everything from tools, art, furniture, weapons, armor, to be sold from their shops.
The labor guild had constructed 2 large factories where blacksmiths made swords, spears, axes, maces, flails, armor and specialty metal items such as horseshoes, nails and arrow-heads. The large market was open and traveling merchants were hawking their wares.
Farmers came from the Penbridge district with wagons of potatoes, corn, strawberries and other crops. The farmers sold their crops to the newly formed agricultural commission and from there the commission sold the crops in each of the seven districts.
Dekari had instituted control of the labor guilds by the directors in the league. Aiken was responsible, as director of the Bordertown district, of working with the labor guild to get the needs of the district and the city met.
Dekari watched a few dozen workers, who were building a temple to Victor. Each of the 7 districts labor guilds were building temples to the different gods. Bordertown building a temple to Victor, god of War, Carrickbury building a temple to Draxis, god of Blacksmithing, Penbridge to Palaxis, god of Harvest, Aberstead’s temple to Claudia, god of beauty, Dunbridge’s temple to Haraxis, god of mining, Pontdale’s temple to Feldan, god of the Hunt, and Stockborough’s two temples to Lavinia, god of purity and Paial,
God of Justice, Oaths, Hospitality.
“Dekari,” Dredskif said.
“Yes?” Dekari replied
“Can I use some of the treasury to fund an Archer-Infantry academy north of this district, in the Albinus Valley?” Dredskif asked. “I would like to upgrade the army-reserve to Archer-Infantry. The unit would be for defense of the city while the regular army infantry would be for offensives.”
“Archer Infantry would be the equivalent of regular infantry with bows?” Dekari asked.
“I was thinking studded-leather armor, with short bows and shortswords,” Dredskif said.
“Very well, I’ll cover the cost,” Dekari said.
“How are things going as Judge Draven?’ Dekari asked.
“Well, though we need to write out a code of laws,” Draven said. “Without a clearly defined system of law, being a judge is mostly punishment as I see fit. There was a murder the other day, I had the man hung, most of the town came around and watched him hang.”
“Aiken, can you meet with the other 6 directors? I would like the 7 of you to draw up a code of laws for the city, as well as what the appropriate punishments should be,” Dekari said.
“Yes, The League meets tonight, I’ll draw it up with them then,” Aiken said.
“I would like your court to work with Kane and the city guards. The city-guards need to know what is illegal in order for them to make arrests accordingly,” Dekari said.
“The day Dredskif went to all seven of the districts to raise the army and the army reserve I went with,” Kane said. “I hired 140 city guards, 20 per district to keep the peace.”
“At present the court is open every weeknight, with the amount of arrests by the city-guards I need to hire at least two more judges to handle the accused,” Draven said.
“Another role of the District Directors could be to act as Judge in their home districts,” Dekari said. “Aiken, when you go to the meeting of the League tonight, tell the directors that henceforth they are to act as Judges.”
Aiken nodded his understanding.
“I would like to see a paladin and monk presence in Ponthurst,” Dekari said. “Aiken when you go to the meeting, instruct the director of Stock-borough to have the temple to Paial be the largest building in the whole city. Id like it to be a massive project and I want the temple to be able to house over 500 Paladins and monks. I’ll send a messenger to Rockport and ask that they bring down Paladins and Monks to train men for both stations.”
“I’ll relay the message,” Aiken said.
“I would like to start an elite heavy infantry core, called the Ironguard, “Dekari said. “They will use round bronze shields, steel breastplates, iron leggings, iron arm guards, with horse-hair helms. And they’ll use crossbows, wield a longsword, a shortsword and a footmans mace. Their training will be vigorous and extensive. Dredskif, you will, as general, command the Ironguard.”
Dredskif nodded, and stabbed some spiced potatoes on his fork, still eating.
“We should build a series of factories, where any weapons or armor that the army needs can be manufactured,” Aiken said.
“Very well, will save on buying them,” Dekari said.
“I’ll see to the construction of the factories and the training of new blacksmiths to forge weapons and armor, as well as a Fletcher to make arrows,” Aiken said. “I’m going to the labor guild in Penbridge, to see to the construction and establishment of a college. At the college skilled craftsmen will teach their trades to young men, to strengthen industry and skilled labor in the city.”
A Serving girl came out of the Hawkeye and strode over to the table where they sat.
“Another round?” she asked.
“Yes, 4 more pints,” Draven said.
She nodded, turned, and walked back into the tavern. A moment later she returned and set the pints of ale on the table. Draven paid her a few silver pieces and she went back into the tavern.
The Reunion
“Aiken? Dekari?” a female voice said.
Dekari and Aiken turned to see Lucila, their mother standing on the steps to the Hawkeye.
“Mom?” Aiken said shocked.
“Good to see the two of you,” Lucila said
“We came across an orb of farseeing, ‘The Dragons Eye’”, Dekari said. It showed us you living Bear.”
“After Bruce was murdered I feared for my own life and went to my original home, a village in bear clan’s lands,” Lucila said. “The two of you look to be doing well for yourselves.”
“I’m King of this city, Ponthurst,” Dekari said, “It was seven hill towns but I consolidated it all into one city. Aiken is director of this district of Ponthurst.”
“While with my family in bear I heard of the two of you and what you’ve been doing here in southern Del’goth,” Lucila said. “I missed the two of you, what all have the two of you been up to since spring?”
“I was governor of Greendale for a time,” Dekari said, “Aiken and I saw to the administration of our hometown before it got overrun with the army that invaded Kulan.”
“You’ve come along way from the quiet farm boy I knew last spring,” Lucila said.
“Thank you,” Dekari said. “You look well. Do you think you’ll be staying here in Ponthurst?”
“I’m not sure yet,” Lucila responded.
“We are building a massive temple to Paial,” Aiken said. “If you stayed here you could be the high cleric of Paial.”
“Its good to see my two boys are doing well, I think I will stay,” Lucila said.
“The three of us could run this city, not just me,” Dekari said. “Aiken is Director of Bordertown as well as Chairmen of the League of Directors. As high cleric the laws of Paial could be instituted as laws of the city. I go by two titles, Governor of the territory as well as King of Ponthurst.”
“How did the two of you go from such humble beginnings to where you are now?” Lucila asked.
“Marcus helped us a good deal,” Aiken said. “Without the help we would never be where we are today.”
“Marcus backed my governorship of this territory and I had his backing in joining the seven hill towns into one city,” Dekari said. “We turned Greendale into a military supply outpost and while governor of Greendale I met with Emperor Titus Paprius Damaticus. Kulan fell but we walked away from the nation with its treasury. We’ve been funding this cities advancements with the 150,000 gold from Kulan.”
“How large is the population of Ponthurst?” Lucila asked.
“The last census puts the city at 210,000,” Dekari said.
“Astounding,” Lucila said.
“If you want to oversee the construction of the colossal temple to Paial you are more than welcome to,” Dekari said.
“I would like that,” Lucila said.
“I have a cabin that I’ve been using for the treasury, you are more than welcome to dip into that as much as you’d like for adequate construction of the Temple,” Dekari said.
“Thank you,” Lucila said.
“Are you hungry?” Aiken asked.
“Starving,“ Lucila said. “It was a long trip down here from where I was staying with my brothers and sisters in bear, haven’t eaten much besides iron rations.”
Aiken stood, walked into the tavern and after a moment came out with the serving girl.
“Order whatever you’d like,” Aiken said.
“Whats the special?” Lucila asked the serving girl.
“Beef Stew, with spiced potatoes” the serving girl said.
“I’ll go with that and a glass of water,” Lucila said.
The serving girl nodded and went back inside the tavern. Several minutes later she came back outside with a steaming plate of food and set it in front of Lucila.
“Thank you,” Lucila said.
Dekari handed the serving girl 2 silver pieces, she nodded and went back into the tavern.
“I’m sorry, where are my manners,” Dekari said. “This minotaur is Dredskif, General of the Ponthurst army, The Crimson Elf is Kane, Captain of the Ponthurst City Guard, And the fellow with the long goatee, and shaved head except for the topknot is Draven, Acting Judge of Border-town. The Five of us have been working together since the day after dad died.”
“Nice you meet you all,” Lucila said.
“It’s a pleasure to meet Dekari and Aikens mother,” Draven said.
“The ‘Dragons Eye’ is in my cabin,” Dekari said to his mother. ”I’d like to give it to you to use in the temple to Paial.”
“Thanks,” Lucila Ironfist said.
“Aiken,” Lucila said. “I’d like to continue your studies in religion and magic.”
“I’d be up for that, I brought my spell book with me,” Aiken said. “Though the spells contained in it are fairly simple and few in number it has been useful. Being a novice I often have trouble getting the spells to work, therefore haven’t bothered with it much.”
“Are you up for continuing your studies tomorrow?” Lucila asked.
“Yes, we can continue tomorrow,” Aiken said.
“Are you taking new students?” Draven asked.
“Yes,” Lucila replied.
“Would you take me on as an apprentice?” Draven asked.
“Sure,” Lucila said. “The three of us can meet daily. I’ll teach the two of you Magic, Herbalism and Alchemy.”
“Thank you,” Draven said.
While they sat at the table eating a large man, with an escort of military officers climbed the steps to the Hawkeye.
“Governor Dekari?” the man said
“Yes?” Dekari replied
“I am General Servius Herrenius Nerva. My Southern Del’goth Army of 35,000 infantry and 2000 Avengers have arrived in Ponthurst. Emperor Marcus Ironfist has instructed me to bring my army to this city for the defense of southern Del’goth and said that I am to be under your command.”
“Make camp south of Bordertown, and send out scouts to warn if the western army starts coming north,” Dekari said.
“Yes, sir,” General Servius said.
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