Ravin

Location: Noreashire, Kingdom of Kanday
Holder: Bailiff of the Hundred, Sir Sabir Polyle
Liege: Sheriff of Norea, Tamys Bakyth
Population: Village 236; Manor 40

Geographic Details

Ravin is the site of the Ravin Hundred Moot, an important seat of government in northern Kanday. It is located five leagues north of Heroth Castle, less than a league from the Thard River. It is held by Sir Sabir Polyle, Bailiff of the Hundred, from the Sheriff of Norea. The village is very old. Rich topsoil and ample water make it highly productive.

The fief is located north of Ravinath Forest in the middle of a belt of large, successful manors. The manor house is built on the crest of a low ridge that runs east-west. The village lies below it in a saddle between the ridge and the overgrown remnants of the old Jarin motte. The fief is blessed with a high water table and a thick layer of organic material washed down the Thard River over eons.

The holding derives considerable income from the traffic along the main road from Heroth, the seat of the Earl, to his keep at Ewen. The road is unpaved, but broad and well built. Ravin acts as a distribution point for goods with four roads converging on the village. The monthly Hundred Moot draws large crowds, giving the local farmers and craftsmen plenty of opportunities to sell their wares.

The Bailiff of the Hundred holds Ravin as a double knight’s fee from the. In addition to feudal payments he owes two Heavy Horse (he and his eldest son) and three yeomen (two Medium Foot and one Short Bowman). The obligation is rendered in service as part of his duties as Bailiff. In addition to his minimum military obligation, Sir Sabir maintains his younger son and huntsman as Light horse and one Medium Foot forester and two Light Foot men-at-arms as a demonstration of his personal wealth and power. The Lord (or his son) delivers half his feudal payment to the Sheriff in Nuzyael and the balance in Azura. The Bailiff is always prompt and accurate in his payments. The manors of Nedale and Vaseld form part of the fief and are managed by subordinate bailiffs. Located to the south and southwest of Ravin, they make feudal payments to Ravin which pays a percentage to the Sheriff. The Bailiff of the Hundred adds their military forces (two Heavy Horse, one Light Horse and six Light Foot) to his own when needed. This is rendered as service most years.

History

Ravin only became the seat of the Bailiff of the Hundred 32 years ago. The previous seat, Nedale, is now a subordinate manor. In 687TR, the last male heir of Clan Rynn died and the clan’s two manors (Ravin and Vaseld) reverted to the crown. They have been retained as royal holdings under the jurisdiction of the Bailiff. The seat was relocated to Ravin, which is larger, centrally located and better suited to holding Hundred Moot, in 688TR.

A village has stood on this site for 1500 years. Jarin tribes, fleeing coastal raids by warlike Lythian tribes, settled on the floodplain. The hill north of current village is the motte from the original village site. Over a thousand years, garbage and debris built up. Homes were built on top of the ruins of previous buildings, creating the mound. With the retreat of the elder folk 1300 years ago, village life changed very little. Alliances came and went but life remained the same. Far enough west to avoid direct confrontation with the Empire of Lothrim, they were attacked many times by roving bands of gargun.

In about 300 TR, the region was threatened by the emerging Corani Empire. The tribes south of the river banded together to oppose it but were too fractious to stay together for more than a battle or two. The region fell to the brilliant young King Arosta in 373 TR. Ravin was a village of little import and fell easily to the advancing armies of the Balshan Jihad in 563TR. The inhabitants survived by hiding in the Ravinath Forest, but the village was put to the torch. The village languished under the rule of the Theocracy of Tekhos.

In the power vacuum that followed the collapse of the Theocracy, Clan Soursi (reviled as horse thieves and brigands) under the leadership of their Clanhead, the charismatic but vicious Mikha Soursi, rose up against the Theocracy and captured Ewen Keep. He ruled the region for 35 years (from 588 to 623 TR) capturing most of the villages south of the river, including Ravin. From that point on, Ravin was an important forward outpost for Clan Soursi. It fell to advancing Kandian Checkered Shield troops in the summer of 623 TR and was again razed to the ground.

Previous Overlords

After Ewen Keep fell to the advancing armies of the Order of the Checkered Shield, the region became part of the Kingdom of Kanday. Ravin Manor was promised to the first knight to plant the Checkered Shield banner on top of Ewen Keep. Both the Sir Rakand Gepander and Sir Norian Rynn reached the top at the same time, but the Reblena granted it to Norian, an important captain of the Order and favourite of the King. The motte was allowed to grow over and the villagers resettled at its base. The manor flourished for two generations and a fine manor house was built above the village. Clan Rynn grew rich and powerful. But there was constant tension with their arch-rivals, Clan Gepander (Lords of Mardy Manor two leagues north).

When a Gepander killed the heir to Clan Rynn in a brawl following a tournament, it sparked a vicious feud that claimed the lives of three generations of Clan menfolk and vassals. Raids, counter-raids, brawls and outright battles continued for eight years, despite all attempts by the Sheriff of Norea and the Earl of Heroth to stop them. The feud cost Clan Rynn all its legitimate male heirs, the last being Sir Ordidis, the nephew of the Clanhead who disappeared on a mission to end the fighting between the clans. The feud ground to a halt with the death of the patriarch, Sir Alar Rynn. Faced with continued feuding if he allowed the manor to pass to a daughter, the King stripped the Clan of their land, entrusting it to the Bailiff of the Hundred. Descendants of Clan Rynn were banished amidst rumours of a huge bribe paid by the Gepanders. Most moved to Tharda. The descendants of the female line of Clan Rynn have petitioned the King several times for the return of their lands but he has so far refused to hear their pleas.

Current Affairs

Sir Sabir Polyle was named Bailiff of the Hundred by the Sheriff of Norea upon the death of his father in 710TR. He has proved an able administrator and the removal of Clan Rynn has brought peace and stability to the region. The Bailiff is careful to keep his political views to himself and stay aloof from the clannish politics of the region. He is known for rendering his Hundred Moot decisions quickly and with an even hand. This has earned the respect and support of the local clans.

Ravin Hundred

Ravin Hundred is located on the northern edge of Kanday in Noreashire. It is bounded by Urmore Hundred (Perishire) to the Southwest, the Ravinath Forest to the South, Narath Hundred to the Southeast, the River Thard on the East and West and finally Tadlry Hundred to the North. An isolated region, it is serviced by only one road which runs north through Heroth Castle. Just across the river from Rethem to the West and Tharda to the East, it is very much a backwater region, its people are known for their independence and self-reliance.

Two powers dominate the Hundred, the Earl of Heroth who holds eighteen manors and the Rekela (Bishop) of Perinore who holds ten. The King has three manors, but they are held through the Sheriff of Norea, who just happens to be Tamys Bakyth, the Rekela of Perinore. In Ravin Hundred, the two powers exist side by side without much conflict. With major strongholds of Kanday’s traditional enemies in sight just across the River Thard, the locals have more important concerns.

The Earl of Heroth’s manors are split. The western Clans, Scunaen, Lecon, Tast and Galmoune, answer to the Constable of Ewen Keep. The eastern Clans (Pymarin and Inkather) answer directly to the Earl of Heroth.

The Laranian Fighting Order, the Order of the Checkered Shield, is the dominant presence for the Church of Larani in Ravin Hundred. Two chapter houses (or preceptories), Shomot and Wrythenal, each with ten knights and twenty men-at-arms, guard the Hundred. They are supported by subordinate manors known as granges. They provide patrol bases and generate revenue to support the large number of troops. The priests at the Abbey of Canrey see to the spiritual needs of the Hundred and also serve to monitor the well-being of the Checkered Shield.

The Hundred Moot is overseen by a former member of the Royal Guard, Sir Sabir Polyle. A staunch royalist, he keeps a close eye on all activity in the Hundred. He faithfully forwards these reports to his superior, the Sheriff. However, a second copy is always sent directly to Dyrisa at the request of the King’s Chancellor, Cerale Lamin. The Sheriff is unaware of this. Although there have been no discrepancies between the two reports, the King’s councillors wish to monitor the actions of all the King’s servants, especially one as powerful as Tamys Bakyth. The Bailiff of the Hundred, Sir Sabir, and his Clan are known and trusted at court. They would not have been granted such a key appointment otherwise.

Ravin Manor Lands

Located at the heart of the Hundred, Ravin Manor is large than average. Somewhat "L" shaped, it is divided into three by the main road to Ewen Keep which runs through the middle of the fief. The cereal fields, pasture and woodlot dominate the manor. Meadow, orchard, vegetable plots and freehold farms fit in around the edges. A small amount of waste land has been reserved for future development.

The manor is not especially well watered. A small spring and wells provide water for the people and animals, but the crops must depend on the natural rains. Fortunately, the Thard Valley is normally blessed with good weather for farming. The meadow at the foot of the hill covered by the woodlot is always damp. Runoff from the hill and seepage from other small springs keeps this area green and lush throughout all but the hottest summers. This is important because Sir Sabir keeps a large herd of horses which consume a great deal of fodder.

The hill and woodlot that Ravin shares with Emete and Vaseld manors is an old, worn down outcropping of limestone. Crumbly and unsuited for construction, it has a flat top, sloping towards the centre to create a shallow depression. This acts as a natural rain trap, collecting water from 3.8 square miles, naturally filtering it and then slowly releasing it from the aquifer though a number of springs at the foot of the hill; including Ravin Spring and the stream that forms the boundary between Vaseld and Nedale manors.

Ravin has a considerable amount of freehold land, more than most. Its craftsmen, farmers and yeoman all have significant holdings, totalling 497 free acres. While some of that is combined with unfree pasture, orchards, vegetables and meadow, the majority is organized into a patchwork of small plots along the west edge of the manor a short walk from the village. About two thirds of the remaining waste land adjoins these small plots. Sir Sabir has been selling this off, but at a dear price. The last lot to sell was 100 acres to a retired mercenary, Geran Eslorin. Although he refuses to reveal the price, it must have been dear as the Bailiff bought two new pureblood stallions, imported from Lythia, shortly afterwards.

Since the boundaries of the manor have not changed since 632TR, Ravin has no boundary disputes. The perimeter of the manor is formally surveyed each spring. When the weather begins to get warmer, the Bailiff invites his neighbours to join him. On horseback, falcons at their wrists, they ceremonially ride the perimeter of the manor. Each marker stone is noted and its location confirmed. Once everyone is satisfied, Sir Sabir and his guests retire to the manor house for a banquet and entertainment. This has become a mere formality and a popular excuse for a social outing. The ladies, in particular, take the opportunity to show off their newest dresses.

Nedale Manor

The manor has 1930 acres and is the former seat of the Bailiff of the Hundred. The manor house is older but has a large, well built hall and a comfortable solar. The eldest of the four Polyle brothers, Sir Yvin, acts as bailiff of Nedale Manor. He is an excellent example of a functional alcoholic. He always rises early, conscientiously completes his work during the day (doing a fine job managing the holding) before sitting down to his cups in the late afternoon. By dinner, he can hardly stand and usually passes out shortly after. He admits he is a drunk and was secretly relieved when the succession council picked Sir Sabir over him. Yvin’s wife, Lady Gewelen was not so forgiving and she and Lady Milwyth (Sir Sabir’s wife) hate each other with a passion. They do not talk. Besides Sir Yvin and his wife, the manor supports their son, daughter-in-law and three grandchildren. The chamberlain, Lady Derena, is a lesser member of the clan as are the sergeant-at-arms (Ortin) and two men-at-arms (Iria and Gurt).

Vaseld Manor

Vaseld is the larger of the two subordinate manors and is managed by Sir Sabir’s aunt, Lady Lerissa Polyle, and her husband Sir Dolin. Only in their mid-fifties, they manage the manor quite successfully, though they leave the military duties to their elder son Sir Malak. Their younger son, Tarmin acts as his brother’s squire and huntsmen and is equipped as Light Horse. Both men are married. Malak has two children. The sergeant-at-arms (Silis) is also a lesser member of the clan. Lady Lerissa is sister to Lady Aeney (who lives at Ravin) and visits her regularly.

Ravin Village

Ravin village is a larger than average village in Northern Kanday. It has forty-five households consisting of thirtyone unfree serfs (ten villein, nine half-villeins and twelve cottars), six free farmers, four guildsmen, three yeomen (two MF and one SB) and one Priest of Peoni. The village metalworker, a bonded master of the lord of the manor, also has a house in the village.

The village grew up in at the base of a small hill in the Thard River floodplain. The original village (settled since Jarin times) was on top of the rounded hill to the immediate north-east of the current village. After the village was razed during the Checkered Shield campaign to capture the area, the new village was rebuilt at the foot of the hill around the existing crossroads. The village square is a bustling meeting place and is always busy with traffic travelling to and from Ewen Keep. The village mill is donkey powered as the small spring that issues from the ridge does not produce enough flow to turn a wheel. The fine manor house is built on the hill and it dominates the entire village with commanding views.

The community consists of seven main clans plus the guildsmen, Priest of Peoni and a wealthy new farmer who has bought a substantial plot of land on the edge of the town. The three largest clans, Baldis, Merdon and Barien all compete for dominance of the village. Lord Sabir Polyle finds their various machinations all quite amusing and balances out appointments to ensure the competitiveness doesn’t get out of hand.

Economics and Agrarian Life

The Thard Valley has been settled for over a thousand of years, since the first Jarin people began settling this fertile river valley 1500 years ago. The floodplain is blessed with deep, fertile soil and an abundance of water. All crops grow well and the ground is easy to till. Ravin has 2730 gross acres, 683 wooded, leaving 2047 cleared acres. Of this, 984 acres support tenants and 1063 acres are demesne. Due to labour shortages, 293 acres was cleared but not farmed. It is from this bank of untilled land that Sir Sabir was able to rent 100 acres to Geran Eslorin, a retired mercenary. There are many other tenants who would love to expand their holdings, but Lord Polyle sets a high price on land that no one else has been able to meet.

The manor is in excellent shape. The Bailiff of the Hundred, Lord Polyle, holds the manor only in the name of the King and is well aware of the penalty for not keeping Royal property in good repair. Since the manor sits astride the main road, he receives many visitors and is proud to show off the manor house and village. His wife, Lady Milwyth, and the Chamberlain, Alariau, ensure the manor house is always clean and tidy. Sir Sabir and his son make regular inspection of the village and demand the cottages be well maintained and the gardens neat and well tended. The Bailiff is not afraid to hand out fines and the tenants know this and thus take great pains to keep the village in a good state.

The roads on the manor are quite good. The main road from Heroth Castle to Ewen Keep is gravelled in many spots and the Bailiff ensures the worst mud holes are filled with rocks and sand. The little bridge over the stream is built with strong timbers and can easily support a fully loaded wagon. The tracks up to the manor are in fine shape. Lord Polyle insists that all ruts be filled in weekly, so the way is kept free and clear for his many important guests. The lesser roads to Yedes and Canrey Abbey are only tracks. They can be extremely muddy after a rain storm and are intended as summer roads.

The fief supports a diverse number of crops and livestock. This is a conscious decision of the Bailiff to ensure that even if one crop or species fails, the village will have enough to live on until the next season. Hardy oats, barley, rye and hay balance more delicate vegetables, wheat and fruit, while goats, swine and horses balance oxen, cows and sheep. The Polyle Clan is known across northern Kanday for its excellent stud farm and many knights travel to Ravin to purchase a Reksyni warhorse or palfrey. The herd of five prime studs and fifty-four prized mares produces about twenty-seven foals per year. The palfreys are sold as yearlings, but the warhorses are kept until they are broken at two years old. These superb animals often fetch 1600d each. The Lord’s sons are outstanding horsemen and spend much of their time training horses. Substantial extra labour is necessary to take care of such valuable horses.

After spring births, there are roughly 62 oxen, 30 cows, 122 goats, 552 sheep, 990 swine and 59 horses (plus yearlings and foals) grazing on the fallow land. Sir Sabir keeps the sheep for their fine white wool, goats for their milk and cheese and has a large business slaughtering, smoking and salting pork to sell to Heroth Castle and Ewen Keep. The hideworker has a full time job tanning the many hides.

Justice and Taxes

Following the rapid expansion of Kanday between 589 to 627TR, the royal bureaucracy was faced with the formidable task of administering a large, geographically dispersed kingdom. To deal with the key responsibilities of justice administration and tax collection, the King divided the kingdom up into six (later seven) judicial provinces called Shires: Daen, Eryna, Norea, Peris, Selion, Toron and Urien. Each of these large areas was further sub-divided into an area known as a Hundred. A Hundred is an area composed of several manors, frequently bounded by distinct geographical features such as main roads, streams, rivers or moors. The term Hundred refers to a theoretical area of one hundred hides (a measurement of area sufficient to support one extended family), though most are far larger than that.

A Shire-reeve or Sheriff administers his area of responsibility through the Shire Moot, or Assize, that meets every three months. Both Shire and Hundred Moots are held at regular intervals so there is no need to announce the date or issue summons to appear. The Sheriff or Bailiff presides over the moot, sets the agenda and enforces whatever decisions are made. This includes acting as judge (and sometimes prosecutor) for trials, supervising executions and operating jails. As part of the bureaucracy of justice, he issues royal writs, appoints a presiding officer and sworn jury for inquests, issues warrants and commands arrests or summons within his jurisdiction. In each jurisdiction there are six to twelve jurors, usually local knights or yeomen who must attend the assizes as part of their feudal obligations. The plaintiff and defendant present their case to the jurors, supported by the testimony of sworn witnesses when possible. The moots also ensure that everyone is registered as a freeman or tenant of the lordship within which he lives. As the King’s agent within their shire, the Sheriff is answerable to the Chancellery for judicial matters and the Exchequer for financial matters. The Sheriff and his under-officers also provide the crown with intelligence on local affairs. Each Sheriff commands a keep, which is a royal stronghold.

A Bailiff of the Hundred is an under-officer employed by the Sheriff for the purpose of executing writs, processes, distraints and arrests. He bears the Sheriff’s warrant and each year is required to swear an oath binding him in an obligation with sureties for the faithful discharge of his office. The Bailiff administers his district through the Hundred Moot that meets every four weeks. This court deals summarily with minor criminal and civil cases, batteries and brawls that do not amount to felonies, maiming of beasts, cases of trespass and debt as long as the sums involved were less than £2, breaches of contract, slander and offences against the assizes of bread, ale and measures.

The Bailiff is also charged with recording all deaths for the crown and collecting heriots that ensue. Royal courts of the Shire and Hundred are considered higher than feudal courts. Feudal lords have the right to hear all cases arising in their fiefs and have absolute power over the unfree serfs in their jurisdiction. Freemen may appeal the decision of a feudal court to the Hundred Moot. The royal courts have a definite hierarchy; appeal from the Hundred Assize can be made to the Shire Assize and then to the Chancery Court. The final level of appeal is direct to the King, a rare privilege. The Bailiff of the Hundred commands a royal manor that he farms on behalf of the King.

The Hundred Moot

As the seat of the Hundred Moot, Ravin is an important and busy seat of local government. On the first day of each month, the Bailiff presides over the Hundred Moot. Sir Sabir is an experienced and knowledgeable officer and runs his Assize at a brisk pace with little wasted time. His scribe, Master Tonnet, is responsible to keep track of all the issues to come before the court and record their outcome. Plaintiffs come to him during the month to purchase a Royal Writ to have their cases heard. Tonnet also keeps track of items the Bailiff wants addressed. The week before the Moot, all of the issues presented to Sir Sabir who reviews, discusses and prioritises them to create an agenda.

The Hundred Moot mostly deals with lesser crimes involving freemen. Disputes between nobility are normally referred directly to the Shire Moot, although occasionally, to avoid the expense of hiring litigants, travelling to Quivum and months of delays, the parties will agree to submit their claims to the Bailiff. However, they always reserve the right of appeal to the Shire Moot.

The Ravin Hundred jury is composed of one representative from each of the noble clans of the Hundred (Scunaen, Lecon, Tast, Galmoune, Pymarin and Inkather), the Constable of Ewen Keep (representing the Earl of Heroth) and an appointee of the Rekela of Perinore (whose manors fall under Hundred Moot jurisdiction unless Canon Law is invoked). The night before the Moot, the Bailiff hosts the eight-person jury to a fine dinner and socializing. Most jurors bring their wives and a servant or two, filling the manor to capacity. Since the Hundred Moot is a summary court, the jury is there to advise the Bailiff on points of common law and their council in not binding.

On the day of the Moot, plaintiffs begin to arrive early in the morning. While Sir Sabir and his guests break their fast, the scribe and chamberlain, assisted by the men-atarms if necessary, organize the plaintiffs in the outer courtyard. Noble participants are ushered directly into the hall and join the Bailiff’s guests for the morning meal. The Moot begins around midday. The scribe calls out the names and reads the Royal Writ while the chamberlain summons the involved parties from the outer courtyard. Then, the plaintiff states his case; the defendant makes his defence; and the witnesses give their evidence. The Bailiff and jurors interrupt and ask questions as necessary. After the "facts" of the case are established, the Bailiff consults the jury before making his summary judgment.

Most cases result in fines payable in coin or labour. The Bailiff has a jail cell beneath the hall, but it is rarely used. The two gibbets outside the manor gates are for show and more symbolic than anything. They have not been used in recent memory. Cases serious enough to invoke the death penalty are immediately referred to the Shire Moot.

As Bailiff of Ravin Manor, Sir Sabir is also a feudal overlord (in the name of the King). On the fifteenth of every month, he holds his hallmoot. During the feudal court, he deals with issues involving his unfree serfs. This court is usually quite short and much less formal than the Hundred Moot. His serfs are well satisfied because Sir Sabir’s court is much more professional and consistent than those of less well-educated nobles.

Clan Polyle

Originally from Dunzael Hundred, Clan Polyle has served as loyal bailiffs of the Royal Clan of Kanday for many generations. They have moved from manor to manor at the King’s pleasure and have become quite wealthy and powerful in his service. The first recorded reference to a Clan member is in a list of knight-retainers sent by Eladas with his son to the Mimea Hills in 575TR.

The Clan received its first appointment as bailiffs to Viberyne Manor, Dunzael Hundred from 599 to 630TR, reputedly in recognition for the bravery of several clans’ men in the capture of Edino Keep in 598. After the capture of Quivum Keep, Sir Torold was moved to Zinkur Manor, which the Clan held from 630 until 687TR. His successor, Sir Bran, was the first Clanhead appointed Bailiff of the Hundred, assuming control of Ravin in 687TR. He was followed by Sir Gilryn and now Sir Sabir. The key to their success is nepotism. All key appointments are filled by clan members and all loyalty is to the clan first. Clan succession is based solely on merit and the eldest son has only been chosen twice in the last eight successions. Daughters, cousins and in-laws are all considered equally.

The clan has numerous members outside of Ravin Hundred. The current clanhead, Sir Sabir, has three brothers (one older and two younger) and one sister. One brother is a melana (knight) of the Order of the Checkered Shield. Another brother is a knight in the household of Sir Willem Tast, constable of Ewen Keep. Sir Sabir’s sister is the matakea (priestess) of Larani at Erone Abbey. Although still junior, she is known to the Rekela Tamys Bakyth and is working hard to earn a more influential position that can benefit her clan. Numerous cousins are employed in various minor positions in the bureaucracies of the King, Earl of Heroth and Sheriff of Norea. The goal of Clan Polyle is to earn a fief, preferably the size of Ravin. Until then they take every opportunity for advancement.

Marrying a member of the Clan

There are two ways you can marry, either the woman joins her new husband’s clan (the norm) or the man joins his new wife’s clan (the exception). Each clan sets its own rules for this procedure and exceptions can be approved by the Clanhead. There is no strict standard that can be applied across all clans, but in general, the less powerful clan marries "in-to" the more powerful clan. Also the status of the individuals being married has to be taken into account. A fourth son is less prestigious than a first born son. Rather than establish hard and fast rules, most Clanheads weigh the merits of each marriage to decide whether to allow a member to marry "out-of" the clan or to invite an outsider to marry "in-to" the clan.

For the last five generations, Clan Polyle has preferred to bring new members "in-to" the clan. Its menfolk have brought their new wives into the clan, as the womenfolk have brought their new husbands into the clan. This policy has two goals. First, it keeps the clan healthy. Anyone who has raised horses knows that too much in-breeding brings the danger of deformity and thins the blood. Secondly, since Clan Polyle does not have any land of their own, few land-holding clans are interested in marrying their daughters. So instead, the clan has created an intricate web of alliances with other small clans. They have also managed a few marriages to younger sons and daughters of more powerful clans. Not enough to create an alliance, but the beginnings. The clan has taken the long view in their slow climb to power.

Lesser Branches of the Clan

Status in Clan Polyle is traced through the father. Thus, the children of a female clan member and an outsider have less status than the children of a male clan member. There is also prestige based on proximity to the Clanhead. As a result, several branches of the clan have slowly lost status. With the loss of status and wealth, it became harder to afford to train their sons as knights as the clan’s wealth was focused on the noble branch of the clan. As they became less important, it became harder and harder to find a prestigious match for them to marry. In these cases, the Clanhead has generally allowed the women to marry based on love, a rather unique concept among noble clans. This has resulted in a number of yeomen and guildsmen marrying into the clan. They gave up their own names to give their children quasi-noble status. The clan allowed them to marry "in-to" the clan for their sword-arms and money. As a result of this policy, and despite the lack of a fief, Clan Polyle is wealthy and has many skilled men-at-arms and servants gained through marriage. It is doubtful this policy will be allowed to continue once the clan earns it own manor and wants move up in the world of the noble clans.

Key Members of the Clan

There are forty-eight adult members of the clan alive as of 720TR. Of that number, twenty-six are members of lesser branches and are not realistically considered as future Clanheads, though their support may be crucial. Of the twenty-two members of the main noble branch of the clan, three are considered serious contenders as future Clanheads: Sir Adrel, son of Sir Yvin (bailiff of Nedale Manor); Sir Relbert, son of Sir Sabir (the current Clanhead); and, Sir Malak, son of Lady Lerissa and Sir Dolir (bailiff of Vaseld Manor). Of the three, Sir Malak is the best leader.

There are a number of powerful members of the clan who live outside the three manors administered by the clan. Sir Tarin (Knight of the Order of the Checkered Shield), Sir Natar (member of the household of the Constable of Ewen Keep) and Raelea (Priestess of Larani) all have valid claims to the position of Clanhead. Their participation in any succession council or candidacy could be a serious challenge to the frontrunners.

Fortunately, Sir Sabir (the current Clanhead) is a skilled leader and shrewd politician. He is healthy and should live a good while yet. His favourite saying is "I’m not dead yet." So far, competition to replace him is muted. The clan is unified and working well together.

Sir Relbert is his father’s Steward

Large Farmhouse

This farm includes a modest looking timber-frame house, root cellar and substantial barn. The house and barn could use a coat of whitewash and ivy partially covers their walls. The farm is large but run-down. Appearances can be deceiving. The inside of the buildings are in extremely good repair. Fresh whitewash and rich furnishings mark this as the home of a wealthy freeholder. The walls of the house are reinforced with planks between the timbers and covered with wattle and daub inside and out. The roof has been finished with spaced planks and covered with a thick layer of thatch.

The farm is home to a successful former mercenary, Geran Eslorin. Born just two leagues away on the borders of the Ravinath Forest in 664TR, Geran is the son of a Forester. More interested in the exciting world around him than chasing poachers like his father, he left home at age eighteen to seek his fortune in the world. He drifted from job to job and claims to have worked as a labourer, sailor and finally as a mercenary in Trierzon. He was gone for many years. Geran returned home six years ago and negotiated the rental a large piece of land with the Lord. He now farms it in return for a substantial fee. He married a local widow, Nerelli, adopted her daughter and son (now 12 and 11) and had two boys of his own (5 and 4). He has settled into the community and now leads a very quiet life.

Farm Buildings

1. Main Hall.The main hall has a wooden floor and real glass windows behind heavy shutters. A skilfully built stone wall with modern fireplace and hearth dominates the kitchen end of the room and separates the hall from the farmer’s private chamber. The home is filled with many souvenirs of Geran’s travels. The most obvious of which is a large tapestry showing a knight killing a dragon that covers the wall to the left of the main door. Tightly woven with brilliant reds, blues and yellows, it is extremely valuable. An intricately carved chair with a comfortable cushion marks the head of the table. Several iron pots and a cauldron, plus ceramic cups and plates and pewter cutlery, are proudly displayed. A labourer and a serving girl (his wife’s niece and nephew) sleep on the floor of the hall. Off the main hall, behind a heavy cloth curtain, is the boy’s room. There are beds for each of the boys. Several sets of good quality clothes hang on pegs along the wall. The eldest boy has his own trunk where he keeps his personal belongings.

2. Wagon Shed.A shed attached to the side of the house protects the farmer’s brand new brightly painted wagon from the weather and hides it from view. The room is also used for storage. Strangely, the two sacks in the wagon contain only dirt.

3. Bedroom.A single heavy wooden door with an iron bar provides the only access to Geran’s private chamber. The two windows in the room are glazed with glass and have stout iron bars and shutters. The room contains a single bed for their daughter. Two unlocked chests contain a mix of practical working clothes and obviously expensive formal outfits. A heavy cloth curtain screens the farmer’s solid oak four-poster bed from their girl’s bed. The feather mattress, heavy wool blankets and new linen sheets are as good as those in a lord’s manor house. Partially covered by the farmer’s bed is a disguised trapdoor. Designed to look like normal joints in the wooden floor, the edges of the trapdoor are just a little wider than normal. There is some scuffing around the edges.

The farmer, Geran Eslorin

4. Root Cellar.The stone walled root cellar is located across the farmyard from the house. It is partially buried and dirt has been piled against the walls to take advantage of the insulation from the earth. The heavy wooden roof is sealed with a thick layer of pitch and has a turf roof. Except for the door, it appears as little more than a raised mound. It stays cool and dry all year round and is filled with barrels, chests, crates and sacks of farm produce. Numerous haunches of smoked meat hang from hooks in the ceiling. A crude but effective lock bars the door.

5. Barn. The large barn is home to the most valuable of Geran’s small herd of animals. An older but still sturdy palfrey (trained both for riding and hauling the wagon) has the first stall across from the farmer’s prized sow. A yoke of oxen occupy the largest stall and are the most obvious sign of the farmer’s wealth. Stacks of hay and bags of animal grain are stored in the barn. The small workshop is used for repairing farm tools and storing tack. A yoke and harnesses hang from the ceiling.

6. Escape Tunnel. An escape tunnel is located directly below the house. Reached from the trapdoor in farmer’s private chamber, the tunnel is twelve feet below the ground and slopes down. It requires a ladder to climb out. Geran is digging it himself whenever he can slip away. His family knows about it and thinks he is a little crazy, but would never tell anyone. He sometimes has his sons haul the sacks of dirt out of the tunnel and put them in the wagon.

7. Dead End. This is the remains of Geran’s first tunnel. He dug towards the barn until he hit hard rock. He tried to go around but in the end just abandoned this tunnel altogether. There are a few broken tools lying around and stacks of rocks that he hasn’t bothered to haul away.

8. Partially Completed Tunnel. The new tunnel is in softer ground. He keeps the tunnel low, with a curved roof and reinforcement in key places, to prevent it collapsing. He has dug out one wider spot where he piles the loose soil until he can bag it in sacks and haul it away.

9. Tunnel Face. Just near the end of the tunnel are a chest and sword. These are part of the hoard discussed below. Geran keeps moving it forward as he extends the tunnel. Even his family does not know what is inside the chest. It contains his hoard of silver and usurer’s notes, ring mail armour, plate helm and a backpack with two weeks preserved rations. The sword is kept out so it is ready for action. Geran is digging about a foot a week. He intends to dig out past the fence of his yard and then tunnel up to the surface. There he will stop about a foot below the surface and install bracing. This will support the soil until he needs to use it.

The Truth

Geran Eslorin is a marked man. He was a mercenary, but in Shorkyne not Trierzon. In his last job, he betrayed his employer, his captain and his men and fled with the treasure they were supposed to be guarding. He managed to evade capture and return home, but he fears someday his past will catch up with him and he will have to flee again. He keeps to himself and is very secretive about his past. No one, not even his wife, knows what he did for the thirty-two years he was away.

Geran left home in 682TR. He walked to Aleath and for the first two years he worked as a labourer on the docks. When he got a chance, he became an ordinary seaman. He spent five years sailing back and forth to Lythia, picking up some good combat skills along the way. Finally, he took a payout in Eschapel, Shorkyne. After a few months he found work in a mercenary troop.

He spent seven years learning the ropes and gaining experience as a mercenary travelling across Shorkyne. Geran made a good living, but never enough to retire on. He loved the excitement, but always dreamed of making enough to buy a farm and retire back to Kanday. Even in those days, Geran was very discrete and very few people knew much about his origins.

Once well establish and known, Geran decided to create his own mercenary troop. He enlisted the help of a down-on-his-luck alcoholic knight, Sir Veln Serat, who provided the right to bear arms. Geran raised a squadron of eight mounted medium foot plus himself as sergeant and Sir Veln as the token leader. Everyone knew Geran was actually in charge.

The squadron, known as Chestnut Troop after Sir Veln’s coat of arms, was moderately successful. But the costs of a mounted troop ate up most of the profits, literally. Finally, after three years of living hand to mouth, Geran managed to find permanent positions as bodyguards to the then fifteen year old Tenesal Suredara, son of the Count of Malpynia. They served Tenesal for ten years. Sir Veln dreamed of one day being made a member of the household, but Geran saw the way the young man used up mercenaries, sending them into combat ahead of his own men and had no such illusions.

In 709TR, Tenesal made a secret deal with Vaklir Suredara, Elgar (Governor) of Sagora to support his succession as clan head in the event of his father’s death. In return for a large bribe, the Governor promised to use his significant influence on the clan succession council to insure Tenesal’s selection. Tenesal dispatched the bribe in a fake caravan, with one of his knights disguised as the merchant in charge and Chestnut Troop as security. The bribe was in the form of silver, gold, gems and two unique items, a tapestry and a special sword. Forty-five years old, Geran saw this as his one chance to steal enough to retire in style.

Secretly, Geran enlisted three of his most loyal men. Once past Balok Castle and far from help, he approached Sir Veln and explained his plan to seize the caravan and split the money. Not surprisingly, the knight’s sense of honour was offended and in an outraged he drew his sword, calling for help. A furious battle ensued. When the skirmish was over, Sir Veln, five mercenaries and four ostlers lay dead. Geran and his three co-conspirators survived, mainly because he had arranged for them to be on sentry duty and in full armour just in case Sir Veln reacted as he did. Unfortunately, Tenesal’s knight also survived by fleeing into the swamp at the first sign of trouble.

Geran and his men grabbed the packhorses and managed to make it across the border into Trierzon. For the next two years, they tried to lose themselves in the towns and cities of Trierzon, but Tenesal’s agents were always only a step behind. The thieves divided the treasure, with Geran keeping the lion’s share (including the sword and tapestry), and went their separate ways. In Malpynia, the old Count died of "stomach cramps" and Tenesal was chosen to succeed him.

Geran headed west, never living more than six months in one location. Everywhere he stayed, the new Count’s agents eventually caught up with him. Finally, he fled to Emelrene. There he lay in wait. He hired several assassins and when the Tenesal’s agents arrived, he had them killed. Then, he hid his money and publicly faked his own death in a staged bar brawl. He slipped out of the city, recovered his loot and caught a ship to Cherafir. Back on Harn, he traded all of his silver, gold and jewellery for promissory notes and packed the tapestry and sword into a sea chest. He signed on as an ordinary seaman on a ship bound for Golotha. On arrival he bought a small pinda and singlehandedly sailed it up the Thard River. Hiding it in a slough, he bought a few packhorses and carried his loot home. Although confident he threw off his pursuers, Geran is still paranoid that they will find him again.

The Hoard

The loot stolen from the Tenesal Suredara was a huge amount; however Geran has relatively little left. He gave shares to his three confederates, spent five very expensive years on the run, hired assassins in Emelrene, bought a pinda in Golotha and packhorses in Kanday, made a substantial gift to the lord of Ravin Manor in return for his farm and finally, built his house and bought his livestock. Although he has enough silver left for a comfortable retirement, the only things of any value left from the heist are the tapestry and the sword.

Geran’s paranoia is justified. Unbeknownst to him, the sword is enchanted. It has a dragon’s head as a pommel. The eyes and ears magically relay what they see and hear to a small mirror with a talking mouth held by the Count’s agents. The sword was originally created specially to allow Tenesal to monitor Elgar Vaklir’s loyalty and actions in the council. It is also how the Count’s agents were always able to find Geran while he continued to wear it.

When Geran fled Emelrene he wrapped the sword in the tapestry, rendering it deaf and blind. It remained hidden after Geran arrived in Ravin and the Count’s agents have not been able to derive any useful clues from the sword’s view of the tunnel floor. Instead, the agents have employed a Shek P’var to use the association between the mirror and the sword to locate it. So far, he has only managed to narrow it down to Kanday.

The sword is a finely crafted broadsword. It has a +3 WQ and a scabbard made of green lizard skin. Aside from its power to observe, the sword has three other powers. First, it is magically protected against rust. Secondly, it never requires sharpening. Left in its scabbard overnight, the sword will sharpen itself and any nicks will disappear. Thirdly, the wielder is immune to mundane fire as long as he is holding the sword. The sword also has one limitation. The sword will not strike anyone wearing the crest of Count Suredara. A coat of arms, badge, medallion or even a signet ring will cause the runes on the blade to glow so hot the wielder must make a Will roll to avoid dropping the sword.

Tenesal’s Spying Sword