Thoen

Location: Kingdom of Orbaal
Status: Seat of Clan Aeryn
Government: Eldmain Aeryn
Population: 297

History

Monthel is not an ancient settlement. In the winter of 600 TR the Anoa had a particularly bad time, while the resident population in the vicinity of Leriel wasn't off too bad. The prince of Leriel was eager to expand his holdings and took advantage of the situation. Many Anoa succumbed to the peaceful campaign he started and settled down. The ranks of the willing Anoa were filled with other settlers and work commenced.

The fields that were made arable turned out to be of high quality even though they are in hilly terrain. The settlement soon prospered and slowly a few farmsteads developed over time to yield food for even more people. At about 650 TR the prince infiefed Clan Aeryn with the settlement, who have held it ever since. A brother of the Lord of Gwaeryn was the first to rule here.

When the Ivinians conquered Jara and turned it into Orbaal Monthel almost took no note. Only when Leriel bowed to King Alegar there was a small commotion as the Lord Aeryn did not favor such a move, believing that the inland location would prevent any bold Ivinian action. The Jarin rebellion was fostered by clan Aeryn and the elder brother of Eldmain was killed in the action at Lorkin, a younger brother has lost an arm in the fight and now serves as bailiff to Eldmain. When the rebellion was finally subdued, the Aenghysa was supported financially. Officially this was denied but the Prince of Leriel finally took exception to it and asked for this behaviour to stop.

Late in the late fall of 719 the mill burned out and took the life of the miller and his wife during a particularly violent storm. Monthel is presently without a mill and miller. All residence are levied for extra work-days to reconstruct the mill while the lord is trying to find a new miller.

Government

Sir Eldmain is a just ruler of 45 years. He is involved in local politics and also manages his holding capably. He has several goals he hopes to achieve during his lifetime. He is also a distant nephew of the Lord of Gwaeryn, which aids his plans.

He plans to expand his territory and has received inofficial permission by the prince in Leriel. He also tried to contact the Anoa about it, not seeking to endanger relations with the people that are the stock of at least half of the fief's population. He would sub-infief any new village to his younger brother who already is considered bailiff.

He also favours the Jarinese resistance movement and wishes to support it. His liege forbade this, but will probably turn a blind eye as he always has. There was only a single move of opposition to this and that was several years ago, when the rebellion was just subdued. Open support is thus not possible but covert is. His personal suspicion is that another rebellion will fail at this time, but he still wishes to see Jara rise again and his younger brother, who bares deep hatred for the Ivinians, will influence Eldmain wherever he can.

Clan Aeryn governs a clan oriented fief, where feudal relationships are just emerging. While Sir Eldmain and his liege support feudal law, there is strong opposition. Many households listed as villein will not consider themselves so. They are free by Trehaen law but are de facto serfs. Only few would dare oppose a ruling by the lord because of their freedom - the local Trehaen being one. Conditions are peaceful however, since the lord is more interested in gaining land than forcing feudal law. Eldmain has to tread a careful path.

The land Sir Eldmain claims extends from Bear Chasm westward up the streams to Ian, upward to Hollow Oak and then eastward to Eyir's Rock. From there down the river arm once more until it joins the Anoth. The southern border is completed by a westward leg towards bear chasm.

Economics

Monthel is a standard rural village, whose populace lives of the land. Travelers along the fur road seldom stop, but if they do, they strengthen the local economy. The mines in the north also account for a bit of traffic, but the major road yields surprisingly little for Monthel.

Taxes

Taxes are the same as for Leriel. The Anoa that visit Monthel once in a while are exempt from bonding taxes. They generally don't have enough merchandise to warrant such tax anyway.

Religion

The religious climate is tolerant, although almost all inhabitants worship Peoni, including the Aeryns themselves. Conversion of the nobles to a more "chivalric" religion is difficult as Laranianism is officially prohibited and Agrik isn't really an option. Ilvirianism is not widespread, possibly a paradox considering the proximity of the Hārnic primate and the Anoan roots of the population.

Monthel

Monthel was only the second town to be founded after Can. When the grandfather of the present lord found that the site at the river a bit more uproad was to be preferred, he moved his manor after a few of his folks took up residence there. Soon an innkeeper took up business here and Monthel now was the door to the wide world.

Can

Can was the first village of the fief. It was chosen as the crossroad of the fur road and and Anoa hunting trail. This was said to bring good fortune. And so it did. When the fief grew larger and independent and a miller was required the focus turned slowly to Monthel. Late in his reign the grandfather of Eldmain moved his residence.

Enedayleld

This village was built near a now forgotten sacred Anoan grove. The grove burned down a hundred years ago. The residents today trace their roots to those Anoa that did not want to stay too close to the fur roads with all its bad influence. Enedayleld is the most reclusive of all hamlets.

Ian

The last village was built 30 years ago and is still young. The strategy of gaining more land started to develop within clan Aeryn and Ian was a test. For the Anoa as well as for the liege of the Aeryn, Both reacted neutral, so no conjectures on the future could then be gained. The inhabitants of Ian live very close to the Anoa and have many things in common with them. A thing the lord is not aware of and wouldn't be pleased to learn.

Adventures/Legends

Many adventures lie in the wait. Intelligence operations in Anoa territory, dealing with the new expansion are some obvious choices. Will the Anoa be pleased as with the last settlement? Will they turn hostile? Do they take bribes? The prince of Leriel is the Liege who may expect some "political" expense. Will the Prince finally give his approval but expect some quest from his vassal's men? Who really kidnapped Frelan's wife [40] and is she still alive?

The mill needs to be rebuilt. A miller has to be found who is willing to take the place. What if the rebuilding isn't as simple as thought? A mason may be needed, even be required. Work may be sabotaged by Anoa tribesmen who believe the settlers to be the reason for some late misfortune.

The death apparent of Jeroli. A member of the Peycys clan in Ian is badly injured and Maron as Gelfein of the clan has requested the service of the physician Wyllin of Meyse from Leriel. The physician has come and prepared the operation in Maron's house. Among other things this includes an anaesthetic potion, which the patient is to drink. This will enable the physician to operate on the unconscious patient who will endure the painful process. However, the physician forgets his potion and leaves the house late in the afternoon. The potion is on the premises.

That night, when Maron Peycys isn't home and attending the operation in Ian, his wife has a rendezvous with Jeroli at her house. Either Martha doesn't know of the potion or she is not present when the accident happens: Jeroli drinks the potion. It is a clear potion that has only a light sweet taste. It only takes a minute for Jeroli to become lifeless. Martha need to find out a way to remove the seemingly dead body. As Maron will return later that day, Martha has the ruins of her life before her eyes and she confides with her next door neighbour Gesta.

Gesta quickly thinks of a solution. Jeroli is hidden in a trunk Maron built earlier that day and has standing outside the door. The trunk is most probably not opened in the near future. In case Jeroli is dead, anybody may have hidden the body there and Martha can have alibis for most of the time. In case Jeroli will wake up by himself, he can escape at an opportune moment in the night.

However, two strangers in a drunken mood decide to take a chance and steal the box in the night. After everything has settled, Maron has returned home long ago, they get to Maron's house. They are surprised to find it so heavy. Indeed stumbling and staggering with the heavy load brings the attention of a man-at-arm making his round. Before he is close enough to apprehend the thieves, they decide to flee and drop the chest. The chest opens and out plunges Jeroli, slowly awakening. He is stunned and the only one left at the scene of the crime. When questioned he can only mumble because he is still drugged and has no clue on how he got here.

The man-at-arms didn't actually see Jeroli emerge from the trunk, so he assumes that he was part of the theft. Of course, Jeroli will not say anything. If he were to reveal the truth his (and Martha's) punishment would be much the worse. The strangers will probably not appear again and unless pursued quickly will be lost. Gesta (and Martha from behind the scene) will try and free Jeroli by some trickery. Gesta might even attest that she had a date with Jeroli that day to save Martha -- making Otho pretty mad. Maybe she can entice Otho to cover the story, even though he knows(!) Gesta has an alibi. Maron and the officials will have no clue as to why someone wold want to steal such an ordinary chest.

The physician missed his potion during the operation, but he was able to perform his job without the drink. He may or may not have told Maron Peycys of his loss. He will either want it back or may not deem it worthwhile. He could send someone else to pick it up or just wonder what happened to it.

The players can be any of the involved parties or their friends. They may be engaged to help clear up the issue or they may foster a solution that will clear Jeroli without clearing up the truth. Particularly relatives of Jeroli themselves will find that while clearing up things, they are getting more than they were looking for.

A Trehaen on leave. Late after the last hall-moot Eadyrth Hohnrodh leaves for his home in Ian. He should have arrived there just when dusk sets in, but he never did. In fact he was met by some Anoa in the woods who persuaded him to come with him. The reason they gave him was that their own Trehaen died and they are in need of one. Of course, the Trehaen will not leave his people just to wandering in woods.

The Trehaen's reasons to join the Anoa are manifold. One, by refusing to join he might have endangered his own life. Second, the Anoa are not that distant relatives of his and apparently in need. Third, they will accept his judgment and the Trehaen can be flattered (although this is his last motive). Fourth he will give the "presumptuous" lord a lesson with this. For one, the lord could be happy when the Trehaen is gone, as the keeper of traditions has always given him a hard time. But the fief would be near ungovernable, if he didn't go after the Trehaen as one of the most important persons in his trust. There is also none in his employ that would enact or endure that the Trehaen has an "accident" in the woods.

In short, Eadyrth decided to help out the Anoa for a short time, maybe select a promising man as a successor to the deceased keeper of traditions from the Anoa tribe. Even the lord would profit from a closer relationship with the Anoas in the vicinity.

The players can be hired by the lord to find the Trehaen or asked by his wife to do the same. They will, of course, be joined by the foresters if they look for him officially. Or they can be Anoa who try to prolong the stay of the Trehaen by obscuring his trace. (The Anoa know that the Trehaen will not tolerate violence on his people and that Eadyrth cannot be constrained and still function.)

Ambles & Ilogald

Late last year two minstrels past Monthel on their way to Araka-Kalai, one a Jarin, the other an Ivinian. This is the story that is told about them.

In the summer of 719, Ambles fell in love with a woman in Lorkin. He wanted to marry here, but before the marriage could be conducted, ill fortune befell the couple. The woman was falsy accused of murder by the lords of Lorkin and was to be hanged one morning. The night before, Ambles sang his lament.

        Now after morning there comes an evening,
        And after evening another day.
        And after false love there comes a true one,
        I'll have you listen now to what I say.
  
        My love she is as fine a young lass,
        As fair as any the sun shone on,
        But how to save her, I do not know it,
        For now she is accosted to be hanged.
  
        As she was walking through the streets of Lorkin,
        I'm sure she walked up right manfully.
        And much more like a rightful Afysah
        Than ment to die upon the gallow's tree.
  
        "What keeps my love, he's so long a-coming?
        Oh what detains him so long from me?
        For does he think it's a shame or scandal,
        to see me die upon the gallow's tree?"
  
        She looked around and she saw him coming
        As he walked up with the Vandawyn
        wars, symbol of reinforcements at the last moment.
        I'll let them see that they dare not hang you,
        And'll crown my love with the Huncheonweed
        for eternal love and reincarnation.
    

The Jarin in Lorkin were so aroused by the song that all marched behind Ambles to the gates of Lorkin castle to demand the release of the falsely accused. The lords were hushed by the courageous and graceful music and the swell of the rising Jarin. Fearing a another rebellion, they renounced their false doing and freed the woman. Later Ilogald, an Ivinian skald, asked Ambles the Jarin minstrel, whether he would teach him the arts, such that he could learn from a man that had awed even the cruel Geldestaars.

The truth is much more prosaic. The woman was indeed falsly acussed. But some Orbaalese who had more interest in the misdeed than for a scapegoat the Geldestaars supplied solved the crime. At the time they confronted the Geldestaar clanhead with the truth, Ambles and a few foolhardy friends made an appearance in front of the gates of Lorkin castle. Taabri wanted to make an example out of these pretentious Thralls. But one of the men involved in solving the crime was Ilogald, a famous Skald among the Ivinians and he eloquently talked Taabri out of this and promised to get Ambles out of sight. Ilogald then headed further inland for reasons unknown and took Ambles with him -- who might be of aid to him in Jarin dominated lands. When they reached Monthel, Ambles told a story more likely to meet local expectations.

Eyir's Rock.

After the first Ivinians struck Jara, some ventured inland and a brave few came as far as Leriel. One such adventurer was Eyir. His band came up near the small river arm of the Anoth near present-day Monthel. Here he was met by Anoa who challenged their passage. A battle ensued in which Eyir's band was vanquished. Eyir himself and a few comrades were caught. In a tribal ritual they were cast down a step cliff some 50 feet. Those that did not die instantly were left there to die a cruel death.

This rocky cliff is today known as Eyir's rock. The spot is marked as a place were Jarin heroes fought and prevailed against the invaders. Some say the lament of those left to rot among the rubble can still be heard there.