Barsaive: Throal

The City of Throal:

The city has grown substantially, though mostly swallowing up nearby outlying communities that are too fearful to risk being slaved by Thera at a moment's notice. Walls have been constructed around Bartertown, and Bartertown has been declared a part of Throal, though the Renaming of the city is something of an impossibility, and "Throal Proper" as it is often called, remains the Crème-de-la-crème of the true Dwarven culture.

Neden led the Battle of Prajor's field approximately 4 months ago, after an ill-fated attempt to gather forces from around Barsaive. In so doing, his enemy spent time reinforcing their position, and before the armies of Throal could arrive at the edge of Triumph, Theran forces had already set into them. Stories tell that the first throalite to die was Gendle Dorgrin, a young dwarf who was a standard bearer, he was struck in the chest with a spear hurled by the armored trolls of the enemies front-line.

The Daybreak fell quickly under the direction of the Admiral of the theran fleet, Firehammer was forced off the ship by his men. Total Theran losses numbered in the hundreds, though Thera has placed the number at 480, rumor has that it was actually less, through healing and magic.

Throalic losses counted to 3,675, with nearly 120 more unaccounted for after the battle's end. Thera returned the bodies from the battlefield to Throal, to demonstrate the defeat to the people. The date is the first day of the Summer Festival of Earth, Ghamil the 30th, now known as the Night of the Pyres. A long, but hope-filled tale documenting the event was written by VL, and published under 6 psuedonyms.

Throal is in recovery, and her people are unhappy. The loss of so many military men and able-bodied young dwarves has left the very young, elderly and infirm to have run of the place (as well as those wealthy enough to avoid participation). This has given way to some traders referring to it as the "Old Hole." (a play on the smugglers term "Big Hole" as a destination for goods bound for Throal). This has, however, had a few upsides, many of the un- or under employed have been arranged to work in family businesses that are no more. A special Academy was established to train the poor and jobless - which got a laugh out of the magical-types, as it teaches no skills that a well raised dwarf wouldn't know.

In addition, soldier pay was increased, thanks to taking advantage of the Soverign Right, the House of Throal laid claim to all land whose proprietors died in the battle, and re-sold it to the wealthy with new taxation laws, netting them a much-needed boost to the royal coffers.

This has led to the construction of new ships, new armies, and a solid attempt to rebuild both the armies and the spirit of Throal.

Lucritive and open trade agreements with other city-states have expanded Throal's wealth, but not it's influence. Also, Throal has "privatized" the Royal Bank of Throal, which is now operating in most places in Barsaive, though without much trust - many common folk still feel that Throal is teetering, and cannot be trusted with significant wealth.

In a final economic-related note, Throal has opened up it's vast stores of Orichalcum, trading the priceless metal with particular partners for a price. This has greatly improved relations with Bloodwood, who held Throal's mighty stores as a mark against them since ages before the Scourge.

Merrix:
Merrix is the former head of the Throalic Library, and currently the High-Chancellor Elect (elect being "elected by Neden") of Throal. He, in the absence of Neden, maintains all the power of the King, and uses it wisely, though many find fault with his lack of Royal Blood. His distaste for the assignment does no benefit to his credibility either, giving those who oppose him more steam in their fight against him.

While Throal has improved overall, the loss at Prajor's Field, and the "Great Fleeing" of Neden, has damaged the spirit of a normally excited and spirited place.

While Merrix is leading throal in Neden's absence, he has proven himself a wise and capable leader, but a rift is forming in throal. The common folk are growing restless, knowing their true king lay elsewhere, somewhere in the Throalic mountains, and they are losing faith in the Royal house and the leadership, even while it leads them to a brighter tomorrow.

The Military commanders do not respect his command, as he is not of the royal families, and this is making the organization of Throal's armies difficult. They act on the behalf of Throal, but not under his command.

The wealthy families of great lineage are pleased with his ascention, and treat him as they would have the king - as long as he sees their point of view. They are making money and gaining power, but the common folk are against him.

The rift between the wealthy and the meek has been growing since he made a ruling over a case in which a royal son had slain a commoner during a duel with another royal house. There were many witnesses that saw him intentionally kill the man, but the laws of a duel between two royal houses clearly state that "The royal houses are responsible for any and all damage to a property during a publicly declared duel, individuals that are present are responsible for damages they cause, or for any personal harm that comes to them as a result of their presence in the appointed area."

When he ruled that the Royal could not be imprisoned for murder, or accidental murder, there was a 2 day riot which was suppressed by the guardsmen and house Ueraven of all people.

All of the difficulties have worn Merrix down, as he is not accustomed to being anything but the most esteemed and knowledgeable Barsaivian.

Rumors abound!
These are a few unrelated to the Seven specifically...

The Storm in the Mountain:
Postings around the city undermine Merrix's authority, and suggest that Neden has ceded the Throne. Calls for the Royal houses to put forth a Vote of Confidence in a new leader are being heard throughout Throal. As Merrix has presented a secret line of succession, the individuals themselves not knowing their position, he is safe from Assassination - but a weaker leader might allow the houses to have a vote, which could be as bad as the Death Rebellion of 25 years ago.

The Head of Death:
A cult of Death worshippers are discovered in Throal after the Rise of the Passion, Death. A council of the Questors is called, and in a tied vote, law allows them to establish a shrine in the Hall of the Passions. It is under construction now, and has created a rift between the questors of Throal, and the citizens.

The Spear of Five Tribes:
Many rumors abound about what Neden is up to, though most think that he searches for the Spear of Five Tribes, a legendary artifact that supposedly slew the last giant in Barsaive. Though scholars now agree that the "giants" of the Throal mountains were more than likely trolls of the dead throalic moots, the legend is steeped in the very fabric of Throal's history, and such a find could greatly inspire the people of Throal, who believe themselves to be the descended from the one, truly great dwarven tribe.

Shadows throughout Barsaive:
A salvage trader named Hurvel Knoxley has been advertising underground that he has recently come into possession of, or the knowledge of the location of, the bones of Adan, the Great Dragon of the Mist Swamps - slain as her sire was by Therans. Rumor has it that the spirit of her sire, the mighty warrior Cloudtamer, is bound into her bones. His spirit remains there, until the bones are completely reassembled. This is supposedly the key to gaining access to Yrns Morgath, where her powerful protections still thwart the greatest of the Theran spellcasters.

Sudden but Inevitable:
The Tskrang under the banner of House T'kambras have made attacks against Throalic ships of late, pirating and sinking the ships, and often putting the crews to death - but sparing the captains. This has dampened the newfound trade in throal. There have been 11 attacks in the past 5 months, though dozens of ships ply the waters. It is not unheard of, but the most recent oddity involved a ship flying T'kambras colors passing several laden merchant vessels to single-out a faster-moving Throalic trading ship from Ueraven. Witnesses say that no good-mannered throalite shed a tear over Ueraven's misfortune, but flee when they got a look at the crew of the T'kambras ship, which were ghostly, pale spirits.