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HOW DANFELGOR WAS FOUNDED

Long before the towering walls and bustling streets of Danfelgor, there was only the river Danfel, cutting its way through the wild plains, bordered by dense forests and rocky hills. The river was swift and untamed, carrying with it the cool waters from distant mountains. It had long been known by the scattered tribes that roamed the land, but none had ever settled by its banks—until the arrival of a man named Voros.

Voros was a wanderer, once a warrior in the service of a distant chieftain, but now looking for something other than war and bloodshed. After a long campaign that took him far from his homeland, he sought a place of peace, where he could build a life not for war, but for prosperity. With only a few loyal companions, he wandered until they came upon the great river Danfel, and he saw in it the promise of life and renewal.

It was there, at a bend in the river where the banks were wide and fertile, that Voros decided to settle. His companions, skilled in the ways of building and farming, began to construct the first simple houses, and soon a small village sprang up along the banks of the river. They called it Danfelgor, the Place of the Danfel. In time, more wanderers, farmers, and traders came to join them, drawn by the promise of the river and the safety of the growing settlement.

In those early days, life in Danfelgor was hard. The wilderness around them was untamed, and the river, though bountiful, could be unpredictable, flooding in the spring and leaving dry banks in the summer. But Voros was a wise leader, and he knew that the strength of the city would lie not only in its defences, but in its unity. He gathered the people together and established the first council—a group of elders and skilled workers who would govern the city through discussion and consensus, rather than through the rule of a chieftain. This council, known as The Circle of Elders, would meet regularly in a wooden hall by the river, where decisions were made by vote, and every voice could be heard.

As Danfelgor grew, so too did its relationship with the river. The Danfel became the lifeblood of the city, providing fish, fertile lands for farming, and, most importantly, a means of trade. Voros and his council knew that for Danfelgor to thrive, they had to connect with the world beyond the forests and plains. Over the next generation, they built the first of many docks along the river’s edge, welcoming traders from upstream and downstream.

Before long, boats from distant villages, carrying furs, timber, and grains, began to arrive. Danfelgor became a market, where goods were exchanged, and a network of trade routes began to form. With the river as their primary highway, the people of Danfelgor sent their own traders out, establishing contacts with settlements far to the south and north. The city’s first major exports were river fish, timber from the nearby forests, and pottery, crafted from the rich clay of the riverbanks. In return, they imported grain, wool, and metals, forging alliances and friendships through trade.

As Danfelgor expanded, the Circle of Elders began to create more structure for governance. Voros, now an old man, passed leadership to his son, Toran, but the Circle remained central to the city's rule. Under Toran’s leadership, Danfelgor began to formalise its laws, creating the First Charter of Danfelgor, a document that laid out the rights of its citizens, the duties of the council, and the rules of trade and governance. It was the first such charter in the region, and it became a model for other cities that would later rise along the river.

Toran was also the first to fortify the city. He recognized that as Danfelgor grew in wealth and influence, it would become a target for those who would seek to take its riches by force. With the aid of skilled stonemasons, he oversaw the construction of the first stone walls, surrounding the central market and harbour, which would later expand into the Stone Walls that gave Danfelgor its name. The city’s reputation as a place of safety grew, attracting more settlers from the countryside and even distant lands.

As the city entered its next generation, its rulers continued to develop both its trade and its governance. The Circle of Elders took on representatives from different sectors of the city—merchants, farmers, builders, and artisans—all having a seat at the table. Though the council remained the heart of the city's government, a new role emerged: that of the Keeper of the River, a magistrate responsible for overseeing the city’s trade and ensuring that the docks and waterways remained clear and prosperous. The first Keeper of the River, a shrewd merchant named Eira, negotiated trade agreements with other regions and towns, securing Danfelgor’s place as a trading post along the river.

By the following generation, Danfelgor was not only a thriving trade centre but also a place of cultural.and intellectual activity With the growth of wealth from trade, the people of Danfelgor began to invest in the arts and education. Scholars from across the region came to the city to study philosophy, mathematics, and natural sciences. A great library was built near the river, housing texts brought by traders from distant lands. The philosopher Kentomirto, whose teachings would later influence generations, established his presence in the city, drawing students and followers from both within and beyond Danfelgor’s walls.

Despite its growth, the city remained tied to the river and the land. Each year, the citizens celebrated the Festival of the Danfel, a day of offerings to the river gods, music, and dancing, to thank the river for its gifts and pray for its continued blessings.

Though governed by the Circle of Elders, disputes sometimes arose among the merchant families and the growing guilds of artisans, who sought greater control over the city’s trade routes and laws. Tensions between the land-owning families and the merchant class grew as Danfelgor expanded overland, establishing trade caravans that crossed the plains and forests to reach distant cities. These caravans brought back spices, silk, and precious stones, which made the merchants of Danfelgor increasingly powerful.

To maintain balance, a new position was created: The Keeper of Peace, an individual responsible for mediating disputes between the different factions of the city and ensuring that justice was served fairly. The first Keeper of Peace, a former soldier named Loran, introduced a system of arbitration, where disputes were settled by a neutral third party, chosen by both sides.

Over generations, although much changed, Danfelgor became not only a city of trade but a symbol of cooperation, where governance was usually shared and disputes resolved as much as possible through discussion and compromise. Its influence along the river grew, and its caravans stretched farther into the world. But it was always the river Danfel that remained at its heart—the force that had first drawn Voros to its banks and continued to shape the destiny of the city for generations to come.

Danfelgor's early story is one of cooperation and vision. From a simple settlement by the river, the city grew through trade, governance, and the wisdom of its leaders. Its inclusive, council-based government allowed for the development of laws that balanced different interests, and although the governance of Danfelgor changed with the arrival of the monarchy, and later the creation of the Perfidian Empire, this aspect of Danfelgorian life remained much the same. Its geographic location on the Danfel river made Danfelgor an important hub of trade. The Festival of the Danfel and the many roles within its government—such as the Circle of Elders, the Keeper of the River, and the Keeper of Peace—show how Danfelgor's prosperity was tied to its respect for both the natural world and the diverse people who lived and worked there.

Doktor Heinrich Berghof, Perfidienforschungsgruppe, Universitaet Aarbergen - Panrod

The Siege of Danfelgor: Storms of Iron and Fire

[This episode is from the pre-Valubanian period - probably in the time of Gorak Haldunar, Gorak Baldan's great great grandfather]

The city of Danfelgor had long been a place of prosperity and ambition, where wealth and power flowed along the river Danfel as easily as the ships that carried goods from distant lands. It was an economy ruled by a network of influential guilds that shaped its economy and culture. Among these were the Guild of Merchants and the Craftsmen’s Guild. For many generations, these two powerful entities coexisted in relative harmony, their interests aligned in the pursuit of trade and the prosperity of Danfelgor.
But as the city grew wealthier and its connections to other lands expanded, cracks began to form in this alliance. The Guild of Merchants, through shrewd negotiation and control of the city’s ports and trading routes, amassed a great deal of wealth. Meanwhile, the Craftsmen’s Guild, whose members forged the iron, built the ships, and crafted the fine goods that made Danfelgor renowned, began to resent the growing inequality.

Seeds of Discontent

The Merchants had always wanted to impose tariffs on imported goods, arguing that these taxes were essential to maintaining the city’s dominance in trade. In time, even as their profits swelled, they did introduce heavy tariffs, filling their coffers while driving up prices on raw materials and manufactured goods alike. For the Craftsmen, who relied on imported metals, woods, and dyes, this meant tighter margins and rising costs for their work.
In response, other cities that once eagerly traded with Danfelgor began imposing reciprocal tariffs on goods from Danfelgor. Chief among these trading partners was Estasea, a wealthy city-state by the sea, known for its skilled artisans and naval prowess. Estasea’s retaliatory tariffs struck a heavy blow to Danfelgor’s craftsmen, who saw their profits fall as demand for their goods fell.

The Gathering Storm

Tension mounted in the taverns and guild halls of Danfelgor. At The Dragon tavern, where craftsmen gathered to drink and discuss business, the mood grew darker by the day. News spread of meetings between guild masters, and it was in such meetings that Radvin, a master blacksmith and prominent member of the Craftsmen’s Guild, often held court. His booming voice and strong convictions made him a natural leader among the discontented craftsmen.
Radvin spoke of the Merchants’ greed and the suffering of the working people. He warned that if the imbalance of wealth and power continued, serious consequences would soon be felt. His words resonated with many, and he soon found himself at the forefront of a growing movement calling for reform.
Meanwhile, the Guild of Merchants held informal meetings at The Cargo, an inn near the market square frequented by traders and politicians. Here, Vallin, the leader of the Guild of Merchants, brushed off the craftsmen’s complaints as the grumblings of those who lacked vision. Vallin and his allies were unwilling to lower tariffs, believing that doing so would weaken their hold on the city’s trade and diminish Danfelgor’s prestige.
The divide between the two guilds deepened, and clashes broke out in the streets. Members of the Craftsmen’s Guild began openly defying the tariffs, smuggling in raw materials or selling their goods through unofficial channels. This led to violent confrontations between craftsmen and the city guards, who were largely in the pocket of the Merchants.
The Merchants’ Guild, which continued to exert a firm grip over the city’s economy, had trading posts deep in the steppes where they sought to extend their influence over the tribes. However, their terms of trade were often harsh, heavily favouring the merchants while leaving some of the steppe tribes feeling cheated and resentful. Tensions simmered between Danfelgor and the tribes, and politico/economic situation grew worse when the Merchants’ Guild steeply increased tariffs on the powerful city-state of Estasea, the gateway to southern markets.

The Crisis with Estasea

As tensions within the city reached increased, news arrived that Estasea had imposed tariffs on all goods from Danfelgor. This move threatened to cripple the city’s trade and ruin the craftsmen who depended on access to foreign markets. Panic spread through the taverns and guild halls, and many feared that the conflict with Estasea might escalate into open war, as it had once before.
Radvin called for an emergency meeting of the Craftsmen’s Guild at The Dragon. He urged the guild members to stand united and demand that the city’s leaders negotiate with Estasea. But there were those among the more radical craftsmen who said that if their demands were not met, they would take matters into their own hands.
In response, Vallin and the Guild of Merchants met at The Cargo and appealed to the Gorak to use force if necessary to maintain order. They argued that Danfelgor could not bow to foreign powers or allow its merchants to be held hostage by the demands of the craftsmen.
The city was on the edge of chaos, and it seemed only a matter of time before violence erupted.

The Voice of Reason

In the midst of this crisis, a voice of reason emerged— Astrapheqs, a professor who had long taught at the library near The Herring’s Misfortune tavern. Astrapheqs had always been a figure of authority and wisdom, respected by both commoners and nobles for his deep understanding of politics, ethics, and the nature of power. He saw the brewing conflict as a symptom of deeper issues within the city.
Astrapheqs called for a public assembly in the great square, where all citizens could come and speak their minds. His message was simple: both the Merchants and the Craftsmen were necessary for the prosperity of Danfelgor, and neither could exist without the other. He urged both guilds to put aside their pride and find a compromise, lest the city fall into economic ruin.
Radvin and Vallin were reluctant to listen, but the people of Danfelgor were swayed by Astrapheqs' words. The assembly became a turning point, as both guilds were forced to acknowledge that their actions were harming the city as a whole. Under pressure from the people and the Gorak’s council, the Merchants proposed to lower the tariffs on essential raw materials, but not on finished goods, which the Craftsmen said was not enough to defuse the situation with Estasea . However, Astrapheqs' intervention had at least helped to avoid violence in the streets of Danfelgor.
The Guild of Craftsmen, represented by Radvin, strongly opposed the increased tariffs on Estasean goods, fearing that the retaliatory tariffs from Estasea would cripple their exports. The Merchants’ Guild, led by the headstrong Master Vallin, ignored these warnings, confident in Danfelgor’s military and economic might. Estasea attempted diplomacy, sending envoys to negotiate. But the merchants of Danfelgor refused to yield. Frustrated and furious, the Estasean council decided to resolve the dispute through force.

Act I: The Battle of Ancridan Plain

The armies of Estasea marched north to settle their grievances with steel. The Estasean General Paratos, a veteran commander, led his forces toward Danfelgor. Word spread quickly, and General Rastan of Danfelgor rallied the city’s defenders to meet the threat on the Ancridan Plain, a stretch of grassland to the south. Both sides fielded heavily armed infantry, with swords, spears, halberds, and crossbows. Their cavalry was equally formidable, with each army boasting units of cuirassiers.

The Forces Gather

The Danfelgorian army consisted of heavy infantry armed with halberds, forming solid phalanxes, squads of elite swordsmen, wielding great double-handed swords, called the Storm Guard, and a brigade of heavy cavalry, commanded by Aldric Falwin, a renowned baron of Danfelgor.
The Estaseans, under General Paratos, mirrored Danfelgor’s forces with their own units of elite Estasean Steelblades—infamous for their brutal efficiency with double-handed swords—alongside disciplined spearmen, crossbowmen, and heavy cavalry.
The two forces collided on the plain, with the initial clashes being brutal and chaotic. General Rastan, an old and hardened soldier, ordered the infantry to hold their lines while the heavy cavalry engaged the Estasean cuirassiers. Both sides used crossbows to soften the enemy’s front ranks, and as the cavalry charged, the ground thundered with thousands of hooves.
Aldric Falwin led a cavalry charge, meeting the Estasean Malaron Videl, an experienced cavalry commander, in a deadly clash. The horsemen fought with lances and swords, while crossbowmen fired volleys of bolts into the enemy’s ranks.
Despite early successes, the Danfelgorians faltered as Estasean Steelblades, led by Captain Eliana Voss, a tall, battle-scarred warrior, attacked the flanks with disciplined precision. The great swords cleaved through shields and helmets, and Estasean heavy cavalry circled around the flanks to attack from the rear, breaking the Danfelgorian lines.
General Rastan, seeing his forces crumbling, ordered a withdrawal back to the city walls. With heavy losses and disarray in their ranks, the Danfelgorians fell back. The very next day Estasea began preparations to lay siege to the city.

Act II: The Siege of Danfelgor

The Estasean army was encamped around Danfelgor, bringing up siege engines and cutting off the city’s supply routes, establishing a blockade along the river and roads. Estasean engineers dug trenches and erected palisades to protect their positions. Over several months, the siege tightened its grip and Danfelgor’s situation grew desperate.
Inside the city, food supplies grew low, and disease began to spread. The citizens grew restless, blaming the merchants for the city’s plight. The council was divided, with Master Velerin Dargus insisting on holding out while the Craftsmen’s Guild pressed for negotiations or even surrender.
The siege escalated as the Estaseans launched waves of attacks, using trebuchets to hurl heavy stones into the city. The Danfelgorian defenders struggled to maintain their crumbling fortifications, using boiling oil and crossbow volleys to repel attacks on the walls. In desperation, they turned to the city’s Royal Alchemists, who began experimenting with a new weapon—an alchemical concoction which may have been similar to the Byzantine weapon Greek Fire of centuries later.

Act III: An Alliance with the Tribes

After several months of the siege, emissaries from Danfelgor finally managed to safely get through the Estasean lines to seek aid from the steppe tribes. The emissaries appealed to the Eagle Claw, Sky Wolf, Thunder Hoof, and other major tribes, and after tense negotiations, the tribes agreed to help, recognizing their common interest in resisting Estasean dominance, and in return were promised booty and new trading terms. Their mounted archers employed very swift hit and run tactics, and immediately started to harry Estasean supply lines and raid the Estasean positions
The Sky Wolf shamans, invoking the Storm Father, performed rituals to call down torrential rains. Storm clouds gathered and heavy rains fell upon the Estasean camps. Floodwaters began to rise, filling trenches with water and mud, creating quagmires and hampering the movement of the siege engines. The tribesmen also seized the opportunity to launch further raids on the Estasean supply lines, carrying away huge quantities of looted supplies.
The alchemists’ invention—a volatile, semi-magical fireball—was also prepared. When the Estasean forces attempted another major assault on the walls, the defenders unleashed the weapons from the ramparts, which ignited on contact, rapidly spreading fire and causing panic among the attackers.

Act IV: Breaking the Siege

With their supply lines disrupted, their camps flooded, and their forces harried by tribal raiders, the Estaseans found themselves in a precarious position. General Paratos ordered a withdrawal from the city walls, retreating to higher ground to regroup. The rains continued, soaking the soldiers and turning the ground into a morass of mud.
The Danfelgorian defenders, emboldened by the success of their fireballs and the support from the tribes, sallied forth led by Aldric Falwin - who was still recovering from his wounds at Ancridan Plain - with his heavy cavalry crashing into the disorganised Estaseans.
Captain Eliana Voss, refusing to retreat, led her Steelblades in a last stand, covering the retreat of the Estasean army. She fought fiercely, beheading several Danfelgorians with her two-handed sword before falling to a crossbow bolt. Her bravery earned her the grudging respect of the Danfelgorians, even as the siege was broken, and the Estaseans retreated. But the victory came at a cost. The city’s defences were in ruins, and its people were weary from months of siege. The threat of renewed conflict loomed over the city.

Epilogue: A New Order

In the aftermath of the siege, Danfelgor renegotiated trade terms with both Estasea and the tribes. New laws were enacted to ensure that trade decisions required the consent of both the Merchants and Craftsmen’s Guilds. The steppe tribes gained fairer trade deals, fostering lasting peace.
Danfelgor emerged from the siege as a stronger, if chastened, city. The merchants had to learn that unchecked arrogance and ambition could bring ruin, whilst both the craftsmen and tribes now realised their own strength when  they were united against a common foe.
The Siege of Danfelgor and the conflicts it inspired became a cautionary tale, reminding all who lived by the Danfel River that wealth alone could not sustain a city—only balance and unity could ensure its survival. With the internal tensions eased, the city’s leaders turned their attention to Estasea. Astrapheqs was chosen as an envoy, travelled to Estasea and met its leaders, negotiating a treaty that abolished tariffs on both sides and restored the flow of trade between the cities.
The resolution of the crisis did not erase all of the grievances between the guilds, but it prevented open conflict and set a precedent for cooperation in the future. Over time, new regulations were put in place to ensure that the wealth generated by Danfelgor’s trade was more evenly distributed, and the power of the Merchants was balanced by the influence of the Craftsmen’s Guild.
But the scars of the crisis lingered. The taverns of Old Danfelgor witnessed a new rivalry between The Cargo and The Dragon which became legendary, with each inn becoming a symbol of the competing guilds. And in the quiet corners of The Herring’s Misfortune, Astrapheqs' students debated the lessons of the crisis, trying to understand the deeper truths behind the struggle for power in their ever-changing city.

Doktor Heinrich Berghof, Perfidienforschungsgruppe, Universitaet Aarbergen - Panrod

THE WINTER HUNT - A Tale Of Valubani

[This is a variant of the standard version of lord Pirateino's plot against Valubani. It will be seen that it varies quite considerably, although most of the basic story remains the same. The important difference is that it dispenses entirely with the revelation of the plot to Pellae by the mouse Muenli, and emphasises that Valubani himself undid the conspirators.

Doktor Heinrich Berghof]

In the grand city of Danfelgor, where the river Danfel met the kingdom’s heart, a visitor arrived who would leave an indelible mark on both the court and the hearts of its people. His name was Prince Valubani, the son and heir to the Waq of the Sara people. The Gorak of Danfelgor, Baldan, welcomed Alaric with open arms, for the alliance between their lands had long been desired by both. Yet, it was not the political bonds that made Valubani so memorable—it was the man himself.

Valubani was unlike any noble the people of Danfelgor had seen before. He was a towering figure of grace and power, with sharp features and piercing blue eyes that held the keen intelligence of a seasoned warrior. His presence was magnetic, and from the moment he arrived at court, he captivated all who met him. His horsemanship was unparalleled, his skill with a bow legendary, and his swordplay left even the most experienced knights breathless. In every tournament, every sport, Valubani outshone the nobles of the court. But what truly endeared him to the Gorak was his charm and wit, his ability to navigate the complexities of the court with ease, and his unwavering loyalty.

King Baldan’s daughter, Princess Pellae, was especially taken with the young prince. She admired his strength, but more so his heart, for despite his prowess, he was not arrogant. He treated all with respect, from the lowest servants to the highest lords. Over time, a deep friendship blossomed between the two, though whispers around the court suggested that the bond might be something more.

But not all welcomed Valubani with open arms.

In the shadows of the court, envy stirred. While many of the noblemen respected and admired Valubani for his skill and honour, a small group saw him as a threat. These were men of ambition, who feared that Valubani’s growing influence with the King and his closeness to Princess Pellae would upset their own power. Chief among these men was Lord Pirateino, a noble with long-held aspirations to secure his family’s influence through a marriage alliance with the royal line. Pirateino had long considered himself the most eligible match for Princess Pellae, and Valubani’s presence shattered those hopes.

Pirateino, along with a few other discontented lords, devised a dark plan. They could not openly challenge Valubani, for he had the favour of the King and the people, but an accident could rid them of this Sara prince once and for all. The solution they settled on was simple: during one of the royal hunts, a “tragic accident” would occur, and Prince Valubani would never return from the forest.

The plan was set for the annual Winter Hunt, a grand tradition in Danfelgor. The nobles of the court would ride out into the forests beyond the city to hunt deer and boar, a display of skill and strength that had long been a symbol of the kingdom’s unity. Valubani, as always, would ride at the head of the hunting party, alongside the Gorak and his closest lords. Pirateino and his conspirators made sure that they, too, would be in the party, carefully positioned to execute their deadly plan.

On the morning of the hunt, the forest was thick with mist, and the ground was crisp with frost. Valubani rode beside Baldan, his silver-grey stallion moving gracefully through the trees. The Gorak, in high spirits, spoke of the day’s competition—boasting that Valubani would surely bring down the largest stag.

Behind them, Pirateino and his men whispered amongst themselves, their eyes fixed on the prince. At the agreed signal, one of the conspirators would shoot an arrow that would “miss” its intended target and strike Valubani instead, a terrible, unintentional accident in the chaos of the hunt.

As they rode deeper into the forest, the group split into smaller parties, as was tradition, to cover more ground. Valubani, Pirateino, and several others took a path that led into a dense thicket. It was there, among the shadows of the towering trees, that Pirateino’s moment arrived.

The group spotted a large white deer—a rare and prized beast—and the chase began. Valubani was swift on his horse, drawing his bow to take the first shot. As the deer darted through the trees, Pirateino’s conspirator raised his own bow and let loose an arrow. But Valubani’s instincts were sharp, honed by years of battle and survival in the wilds. He heard the whistle of the arrow as it cut through the air—not aimed at the deer, but at him.

With a flash of movement, Valubani wheeled his horse around and ducked low, the arrow missing his head by inches. He immediately knew what had happened. His eyes flashed toward Pirateino, who had already drawn his sword, a thin smile on his lips.

“An unfortunate accident,” Pirateino said coldly, his voice dripping with false innocence. “Or perhaps not.”

Valubani, calm even in the face of betrayal, reached for his own blade. He knew that he was outnumbered, but he had faced worse odds before. His horse, sensing the tension, shifted restlessly beneath him.

“It seems your ambition has clouded your judgement, Pirateino,” Valubani said, his voice steady. “But I will not fall to treachery.”

Before Pirateino or his men could react, Valubani spurred his horse forward, weaving between the trees with astonishing speed. His enemies pursued, but Valubani’s mastery of the forest and his skill with a bow quickly turned the tide. With precise shots, he disabled two of the conspirators, their mounts buckling as arrows struck their legs. The remaining men hesitated, unsure of their advantage.

Pirateino, seeing his plan unravel, spurred his horse after the prince, determined to finish what he had started. Valubani, knowing he could not face them all at once, led them deeper into the forest, toward a narrow gorge where the trees thinned and the ground fell away into rocky cliffs. It was here that Valubani made his stand.

As Pirateino and his remaining men charged, Valubani loosed a final arrow, this one aimed directly at Pirateino. The shot was true, striking the lord’s shoulder and knocking him from his horse. The other men, seeing their leader fall, quickly retreated, unwilling to face the wrath of the northern prince any longer.

Pirateino, wounded and defeated, lay in the snow, his eyes filled with rage and fear. Valubani dismounted and approached, his sword drawn.

“You sought to take my life,” Valubani said, standing over the fallen noble. “But it is not your life I will take in return. No—your punishment will be far worse. You will live, and you will answer to the Gorak.”

With that, Valubani bound Pirateino’s hands and led him back to the hunting party. Baldan, upon hearing of the betrayal, was furious. Pirateino and his conspirators were tried for treason, and their lands and titles were stripped from them. Pirateino was banished, sent far from Danfelgor to live out his days in  penniless exile.

As for Valubani, his loyalty and bravery only strengthened his bond with the royal family. The Gorak, grateful for the prince’s honour, welcomed him even closer into his inner circle. In time, the friendship between Valubani and Princess Pellae blossomed into love, and the two were wed, uniting the kingdom of Danfelgor and the lands of the Sara.

But the tale of the Prince of the Chase, as Valubani came to be known for his ability to evade danger and outwit his foes, was told in hushed tones for years to come—a reminder that even in the court of Danfelgor, where power and ambition ran deep, honour and courage would always prevail.

The Watcher of the Walls

The story of an early attempt by the Merchants to gain political power

Early on in the history of Danfelgor, there stood a figure familiar to all but truly known by none: Mira of the Watch, a woman whose sharp eyes and steady hand had long kept the city safe from shadows both within and without.

Mira was not born of noble blood, nor was she descended from a long line of warriors. She was the daughter of a blacksmith, raised in the narrow streets that wound beneath the towering walls of Danfelgor’s outer defences. From a young age, she had been fascinated by the city’s watchmen—their silent vigilance, their commitment to protecting the people. While other children played in the market squares or along the riverbanks, Mira would sit by the gates, watching the guards train, learning the language of the sword and shield.

As the years passed, Mira grew into a formidable warrior in her own right. Though the watch had mainly been the domain of men, her skill was undeniable, and she earned her place through sheer determination. She had a reputation as a good archer, her arrows always finding their mark, and her judgement unclouded by fear or ambition.

But it was not only the sword that Mira carried—she was known for her insight, for understanding the ways of people as much as the ways of war. Over time, she became the trusted confidante of Captain Andros, the leader of the city’s defences, and an advisor to the Council of Elders who ruled alongside the king.

Even though Danfelgor thrived, there were undercurrents of unrest. The city had grown prosperous through trade, and with prosperity came ambition. The merchants, once humble, had begun to jockey for power. Factions within the guilds vied for influence, their dealings no longer confined to the market but extending from darkened alleys to the chambers of noble estates. The balance of power in Danfelgor was shifting, and not all were content with the change.

One such man was Levos, a merchant whose family had amassed great wealth through their control of the river trade. Levos had long coveted a seat on the Council of Elders, believing that his wealth entitled him to a say in the governance of the city. But the council was slow to embrace the idea of a merchant among their ranks, and Levos’s frustration grew. He began to meet other discontented merchants, forming a shadowy alliance with a singular goal: to seize power in Danfelgor by any means necessary.

Unbeknown to the city’s rulers, Levos and his conspirators began to plot a coup. They planned to strike during the Festival of the River, a celebration when the people of Danfelgor gathered in the streets to honour the Danfel itself. The guards would be distracted, the nobles preoccupied, and the city would be vulnerable.

Mira, ever vigilant, sensed the undercurrents of tension long before the plot was revealed. She noticed how certain merchants whispered in the corners of the taverns late at night, how coins exchanged hands under the tables. She heard rumours from her network of informants—an innkeeper here, a fisherman there—that spoke of something brewing, though no one could say exactly what.

Captain Andros, old and weary from years of service, dismissed her concerns at first. “Merchants always grumble,” he said. “It’s the way of things in a city like ours.”

But Mira was not so easily swayed. She trusted her instincts and began to dig deeper, watching Levos’s every move. It wasn’t long before she uncovered the full extent of his plan. The merchants, with their hired thugs and mercenaries, were going to strike on the night of the festival, aiming to seize control of the city’s main gates and hold the Council hostage until they were granted power.

Knowing that she could not fight this battle alone, Mira went to Captain Andros with her findings. This time, the old captain listened. The threat was real, and it required swift action. But they could not simply arrest Levos and his conspirators outright—it would cause grave conflict, and the city would tear itself apart. Instead, Mira proposed a different plan.

On the night of the Festival of the River, Danfelgor was alight with celebration. Lanterns hung from every archway, the air filled with the scent of roasted meats and spiced wine. Music echoed through the streets, and the people danced in the open squares. It was the perfect cover for the plot to unfold.

But Mira was ready.

While the merchants gathered their forces, believing the city’s guard to be distracted, Mira and a select group of trusted watchmen lay in wait. They had quietly fortified the gates and reinforced the guard posts, all without raising suspicion. As Levos and his men moved to take the gates, they found themselves surrounded.

Mira herself confronted Levos in the shadow of the great northern gate. He sneered at her, even as his men were disarmed and captured.

“You think you’ve won, watchwoman?” Levos spat. “The people will see this for what it is—a city ruled by nobles and warriors, with no place for men of commerce and wealth. They’ll rise up. I was only the beginning.”

Mira, calm as ever, met his gaze with her sharp, unwavering eyes. “The people of Danfelgor are not as easily swayed as you think, Levos. Your greed blinds you to the truth. This city has thrived not through the ambition of a few, but through the strength of all. The river runs through every street, through every life here. It’s not yours to claim.”

Levos was taken into custody, and his co-conspirators were brought before the Council of Elders to face judgement. The coup had been stopped before it could begin, and the peace of Danfelgor was restored. But the threat had been real, and the city’s rulers knew that the balance of power would continue to shift as the city grew.

In the days that followed, Mira was hailed as a hero, though she took little pleasure in the praise. Her duty was not to glory, but to the city she had sworn to protect. Captain Andros, his time nearing an end, stepped down from his post, and Mira was offered the role of Commander of the Watch.

Under Mira’s leadership, the city’s watch became more than just guards at the gates—they became the eyes and ears of Danfelgor, trusted by the people and feared by those who sought to do the city harm. And as Danfelgor continued to grow and prosper, it did so under the watchful gaze of the woman who had once sat by the gates as a curious child, dreaming of the day she would protect the city she loved.

Mira’s story is one of quiet strength and unyielding vigilance. She teaches that true power lies not in wealth or ambition, but in the dedication to protect and serve others. In a city like Danfelgor, where forces from within and without constantly threatened, it was Mira’s wisdom and courage that ensured its future, a reminder that sometimes the greatest heroes are those who stand in the shadows, watching, waiting.

The Great Library of Danfelgor

This story, and the one which follows it, are examples of fictionalised history, something very common in later Perfidian literature. These stories have a solid basis in fact, but details are often questionable. In these two stories, the involvement of Kentomirto is an anachronism - these events happened long after the time of the famous philosopher.

In the heart of the ever-expanding city of Danfelgor, where the river Danfel flowed like the lifeblood of trade and culture, an ambitious project was proposed by the city’s elite: the construction of a Great Library—a monumental structure that would house the knowledge of the ages, gathered from all corners of the world. It was to be a place where scholars and students could come to learn, where scribes would copy ancient texts, and where the people of Danfelgor could take pride in their city as a beacon of wisdom.

The idea was spearheaded by the city’s nobles, merchants, and even the royal court, who saw the library as a mark of Danfelgor’s growing power and prestige. The King himself envisioned it as a jewel of his reign, a testament to the city’s enlightenment and sophistication. Among those most excited by the proposal was Kentumirto, the great philosopher who had become famous throughout the city for his teachings on virtue, balance, and the nature of the human soul.

However, the chosen site for the library sparked immediate controversy. The land selected for the project was not some vacant plot or noble estate, but a densely populated, run-down working-class district known as Shale Hollow. Home to labourers, artisans, and dockworkers, Shale Hollow had existed for generations. It was a tight-knit community of modest but proud people who depended on the proximity to the river and the markets for their livelihoods. The decision to demolish this district to make way for the library was met with outrage from its residents.

The Philosopher’s Dilemma

At first, many assumed that Kentumirto would support the construction of the library without hesitation. After all, it was to be a centre of learning and wisdom, a place where he and others like him could teach, meditate, and spread their philosophies. The project would provide him with a grand hall, far larger than the small space he used to gather students near the marketplace.

But to the shock of the city’s elite, Kentumirto spoke out against the project.

Standing on the steps of the royal palace, where he had been invited to discuss the library, Kentumirto addressed the King and the assembled nobles. His voice, normally calm and measured, carried a surprising firmness that demanded attention.

"Knowledge," he said, "is not a tower to be built upon the suffering of the people. True wisdom must be accessible to all, not housed in a fortress of stone. Shale Hollow is a living community, a place of honest work and humble lives. To destroy it for the sake of this library is to deny the very principles of justice and virtue that the library itself is meant to serve."

The nobles were stunned. Many had assumed that Kentumirto, known for his contemplative nature, would gladly welcome the opportunity to have a grand library built in his honour. But the philosopher’s stance was clear: the project, as it was planned, was an affront to the very values of wisdom and balance that he held dear.

His words resonated deeply with the people of Shale Hollow, who began to rally around him. Workers, artisans, and merchants came together to protest the demolition of their homes. For the first time in many years, the district found itself united in purpose, determined to protect their community from being swept away in the name of progress.

The Rising Tension

The tension in Danfelgor grew as the conflict escalated. On one side were the wealthy and powerful, who saw the library as a symbol of the city’s future. On the other were the residents of Shale Hollow, led by Kentumirto’s moral opposition to the project. What had started as a debate about urban planning quickly became a question of ethics and justice, of who truly had a right to shape the future of Danfelgor.

Some nobles were furious at Kentumirto’s defiance. They accused him of hypocrisy, claiming that he stood in the way of progress out of some misguided romanticism. Others, particularly the younger nobles, were more sympathetic, recognizing the philosopher’s integrity and the importance of maintaining harmony within the city.

The King himself was caught in the middle. He admired Kentumirto and valued his counsel, but he was also under pressure from the city’s powerful merchant class, who saw the library as an opportunity to attract scholars and visitors from afar, boosting trade and commerce.

The Council of Debate

Faced with rising discontent, the King called for a public council to resolve the issue. Representatives from both sides—the nobles and the residents of Shale Hollow—would present their cases before the court. Kentumirto, though reluctant to engage in political theater, agreed to speak on behalf of the people of Shale Hollow.

On the day of the council, the grand hall of the palace was packed with spectators. The King sat on his throne, flanked by his advisors, while the nobles filled the front rows. The people of Shale Hollow gathered in the back, their faces a mixture of hope and anxiety.

The nobles’ representative, a wealthy merchant named Armisa, argued that the library would elevate Danfelgor to a new level of cultural and intellectual prominence. He spoke of how the great cities of the past had built their legacies through monumental structures that stood as symbols of their greatness.

When it was Kentumirto’s turn to speak, he rose slowly, his presence commanding the attention of all. He spoke not of grandeur or power, but of the nature of true wisdom.

"A city’s greatness," he began, "is not measured by its buildings, but by the lives of its people. The knowledge housed in a library, no matter how vast, is hollow if it is built upon injustice. Wisdom comes from understanding the value of every life, of every community, and acting in accordance with that understanding."

He paused, letting his words sink in.

"Shale Hollow is a part of Danfelgor, just as much as this palace or the marketplace. Its people contribute to the life and soul of this city. To destroy it for the sake of a monument to knowledge is to sever a part of what makes Danfelgor whole."

The room was silent as Kentumirto returned to his seat. Even those who disagreed with him could not deny the power of his words.

A Resolution

After hours of debate, the King made his decision. He would not allow the demolition of Shale Hollow, but neither would he abandon the dream of the Great Library. Instead, the King proposed a compromise: the library would be built on a different site, further from the river but still close enough to be accessible. In return, the city would invest in improving the living conditions of Shale Hollow, repairing homes and expanding the district to accommodate its growing population.

The decision was met with a mixture of relief and acceptance. The nobles, though disappointed at the delay in their grand project, could not argue against the fairness of the compromise. The people of Shale Hollow, though wary of promises from the elite, were grateful that their homes had been spared.

As for Kentumirto, he returned to his modest life, continuing to teach his students near the marketplace. Though he would never see the inside of the Great Library, his influence over its creation was undeniable. He had shown the people of Danfelgor that wisdom was not confined to books or grand structures, but lived in the hearts and actions of those who sought justice and balance.

The Insurgent Merchants

A pivotal episode in Danfelgor's history

The city of Danfelgor had long been renowned as a centre of trade and wealth, but over the years, the Merchant’s Guild had grown far beyond being simply an association of enterprising traders and had evolved a faction within itself of fabulously wealthy oligarchs. Their power stemmed not only from their trading activities but also from the copper mines they controlled in the hills beyond Danfelgor. These mines yielded vast wealth, and with every shipment of copper that arrived in the city, the Merchants' hold over Danfelgor tightened.

The Merchants’ new found wealth was flaunted with ostentatious display. Lustrous silks imported from the distant East were formed into flowing robes clasped with jewelled brooches and sashes of golden thread. They adorned themselves with rings of ivory and necklaces of polished amber. Their sedan chairs, carved from rare woods and decorated with silver inlays, became symbols of their status as they were carried through the city by uniformed bearers.

The most influential among them, like Joral Vintir, known as the “Emerald Lion” due to his extravagant displays of emerald-studded jewellery and cloaks, and Ilyse Dorness, whose sedan chair was lined with the fur of arctic foxes, became synonymous with excess. They revelled in their wealth, hosting lavish feasts and private festivals where the finest wine flowed from fountains and silver goblets piled on tables gleamed under chandeliers of crystal and gold.

This was a new Danfelgor—one where the old noble families saw their ancestral privileges being challenged by merchants who could now buy and sell entire estates, and where the Craft Guilds saw their influence, and their income, dwindling in the face of the Merchants’ oligarchy.

As the Merchants amassed ever more wealth and power, their arrogance grew. They imposed new tariffs on goods imported into Danfelgor, including common goods vital to the city’s craftspeople—iron for the smiths, wool for the weavers, and rare herbs for the apothecaries. When the Council of Elders, controlled by the Merchants, passed a resolution increasing tariffs on Estasean goods, the resulting reciprocal tariffs hit the city’s Craft Guilds hard, forcing them to raise their prices and cut wages.

The Craftsmen and the working people began to grumble, and these whispers soon grew into openly-expressed discontent. In the taverns near the docks, resentment simmered into anger. Here, dockworkers shared tales of the Merchants’ latest excesses, and members of the Craft Guilds joined in, denouncing the unfair practices that threatened their livelihoods.

The tavern at the centre of political action was The Rusty Anchor, where dockworkers and militant students gathered. Here, Kavran Rill, a young leader among the dockworkers, began to speak out more boldly. Dock workers were suffering because of reduced trade from Estasea and Kavran railed against the greed of the Merchant elite, stirring the hearts of those whose livelihoods had also been affected. Kavran was quick-witted and confrontational by nature, and soon he found allies not only among the dockworkers but also the craftsmen and artisans who had been squeezed by the Merchants' policies.

Kavran’s words spread beyond the taverns, reaching the noble houses, who had their own grievances against the Merchants. Their resentment was tinged with pride and bitterness, and the nobles saw in Kavran’s movement an opportunity to reclaim their power.

The tension between the Merchant Guild and the rest of Danfelgor reached a climax when  Ilyse Dorness, in a particularly audacious display of opulence, started to organise an "Evening of Gold." This grand event was to showcase gilded costumes, imported wines, and dishes made with spices so rare they were worth their weight in silver. It was meant to be a display of power and wealth, a reminder of who it was that held the reins of power in Danfelgor. Instead, it became a catalyst for unrest.

As news of the Festival spread through the city, discontent turned to fury. Kavran and his network of agitators began to organise in secret, preparing to confront the Merchant Guild. The nobles, keen to see the Merchants humbled, quietly funded Kavran’s movement, supplying arms and whispering words of rebellion into sympathetic ears.

On the night of the Festival, as the Merchants revelled in the splendour of their wealth, rioting broke out near the docks. Thousands of dockworkers, craftsmen, and common citizens, armed with crowbars, hammers, and other weapons, poured into the streets. They lit fires and stormed the Merchants’ mansions, tearing down statues of gilded bronze and smashing windows of coloured glass.

The Rusty Anchor became the impromptu headquarters of the revolt, its upper rooms transformed into a command centre where Kavran and his followers coordinated their efforts. As the riots spread, the crowds chanted for justice and reform, demanding an end to the tariffs and the dissolution of the Council of Elders.

The situation spiralled out of control, and soon the Gorak of Danfelgor, was forced to act. He summoned a council of his closest advisors, including his spymaster Gitcni and representatives from the Craft Guilds. The nobles, now publicly distancing themselves from the Merchants, also sent emissaries to pressure the Gorak into intervening.

The Gorak, seeing the opportunity to curb the growing influence of the Merchant Guild, declared the Council of Elders dissolved, citing their corruption and greed as a threat to the stability of the realm. He sent a royal decree stating that the new tariffs would be rescinded and that a new council, consisting of representatives from both the noble houses and the Craft Guilds, would be established to govern the city’s trade policies.

Despite the Gorak’s intervention, order was not immediately restored. The riots continued for days, and the palace guards were forced to quell the unrest by arresting the most violent agitators. Kavran Rill, knowing he had played his part, slipped away into the shadows, to fight another day.

The fall of the Merchants marked the end of an era in Danfelgor. The new council, although not without its flaws, brought a degree of balance to the city’s governance. The noble houses regained some of their former authority, while the Craft Guilds gained a new voice in the city’s affairs. The Merchant Guild was stripped of some of its privileges, and new laws were passed to prevent any single faction from dominating the city’s politics.

The riots left scars on the city’s streets and in the memories of its people, but they also paved the way for a more equitable order. Kavran Rill, the man who had sparked the revolt, became a legend among the common folk. Some said he had fled to the hills to avoid the Goraks' justice, while others claimed he had taken up the life of a wandering adventurer, seeking to fight against tyranny wherever it arose. Either way, he was never seen in Danfelgor again.

In the end, the Council of Elders was replaced by a new Civic Council, consisting of representatives from the noble houses, Craft Guilds, and private citizens. Danfelgor had been forever changed by the revolt, and though the memories of that conflict would remain, the city was stronger for it.

In the grand hall of the newly restored Guild House, portraits of the Merchant oligarchs were quietly removed, replaced by more modest depictions of council representatives and guild leaders. Outside, in the streets of Danfelgor, the people walked freely, dressed in the simple clothes of artisans, traders, and workers—each one remembering the lessons learned.

In the aftermath of the riots, the elite Merchants of Danfelgor, forced to relinquish their hold over the city’s political life, retreated to their lavish country estates. These estates, typically positioned in fertile countryside, overlooking vineyards and orchards, became their new base of operations. They took with them not only their families and servants, but also their treasures - gold and silver, ivory and rare gems, silk and porcelain, and exotic artefacts collected through years of trade.

These country houses, which they had previously used only as bucolic retreats or as symbols of their wealth, were now fortified and became their strongholds. They held secret councils in grand halls adorned with intricate tapestries and marble statues. Once unchallenged rulers of Danfelgor’s economy, the Merchants now saw themselves as victims of envy and mob rule. But rather than just giving in to resentment, they became determined to reclaim their influence.

Prominent amongst the elite Merchants was Tybaro Esthelm, a ruthless businessman with many connections across the land. Tybaro’s estate, Esthelmar, was a palace, with grounds that stretched for miles and wine cellars stocked with vintages decades old. It was here that he met other displaced leaders of the Merchants’ Guild. Among them were Dolmar Zaybani, a clever financier with interests in foreign markets, and Berath Kolrun, a charismatic magnate who had lost his younger brother in the riots—a fact he never let the others forget.

As they convened, their discussions turned to strategy. They knew the  principal source of their wealth—the copper mines—was still intact and under their control. With their influence in Danfelgor diminished, they quietly expanded their mining operations, exporting the ores through friendly ports that supported their cause. Profits from these ventures continued to pour in, funding their plans. Also, they had managed to set up arms-length control of their trading networks, often through the lesser trading houses and smaller merchants’ firms.

Tybaro, determined to exploit the political turmoil in Danfelgor, began to reach out to sympathisers in the city—disgruntled officials, underpaid guards officers, and, above all, smaller merchant houses who resented the new restrictions imposed on trade. Tybaro’s messengers circulated, making offers and promises to those who could help destabilise the current order and ensure the elite Merchants’ return.

However, the most cunning move came from Berath  Kolrun and Dolmar Zaybani, who proposed a long-term strategy - using their wealth to regain control and to change the city from within. Rather than relying on violence or old alliances, the Merchants could play a long game by secretly funding some of the noble families who had financial troubles, creating debts and therefore obligations. By binding some of the nobility to them through indebtedness, they hoped to weave a new web of power from the shadows.

Meanwhile, Danfelgor's countryside saw the rise of mercenary bands hired by the elite Merchants to protect their estates. Tybaro’s estate alone had an armed retinue larger than the city’s garrison. And although the Council of Elders had been dissolved, the Merchants began plotting to re-establish their power by coercing indebted nobles into inserting their placemen into key positions within the city’s administration.

Members of the Gorak’s court became aware of mysterious emissaries passing in and out of the city, bearing the seals of Tybaro and his allies. The Craftsmen’s Guild, which had found a new voice in the political vacuum, saw the Merchants as a continuing threat. The more radical guild members called for pre-emptive action against the country estates, advocating for confiscation of lands and even harsher measures.

Even as the Gorak worked to consolidate his authority and support the new Council with its broader representation, he could not ignore the wealth of the elite Merchants or their political ambitions, and so the stage was set for conflict.

As winter set in over the city of Danfelgor, the streets and taverns were full of talk of a coming confrontation between the exiled Merchants and the new political order. The Gorak’s court became increasingly vigilant, and so did the Craftsmen’s Guild, whose members had grown confident in their new position of political influence. Outwardly, peace prevailed, but beneath the surface, lines were being drawn and alliances formed.

The once-dominant Merchants, led by Tybaro Esthelm, had been far from idle in exile. The fortified country estates had become more than just residences - they were now strongholds, where loyalists gathered, and strategies devised. Tybaro argued that the key to regaining control of Danfelgor was not to wage war openly—such a conflict would only rally the people against them—but to sow doubt and dissent within the city. They sought to make the current leaders look incompetent and disloyal to the Gorak’s vision for Danfelgor.

However, Tybaro had also reached out to an old ally, Borlin Farinholt, a former captain of the city guard who now commanded a regiment of mercenaries in the countryside. Borlin, a soldier with a taste for money, agreed to lend his forces to Tybaro's cause, provided  payment could be agreed. And so it was arranged, with chests of silver discreetly delivered to Borlin’s camp out in the country.

Meanwhile, Dolmar Zaybani’s plan to influence key noble families began to come together. The noble houses of Arathor and Merelvir, both grappling with enormous debts due to years of lavish expenditures, found themselves in a vulnerable position. Dolmar’s envoys arrived at their estates not with demands, but with offers of debt relief and lucrative trade deals—provided that these families would lobby for certain policies within the newly formed council.

Unbeknown to the city leaders, the Merchants had started laying the groundwork for their return to power by cultivating these powerful allies within the city’s political landscape. It was a gradual process, but one that had the potential to undermine the coalition that currently ruled Danfelgor.

In the city, the tension between the Merchants’ sympathisers and their opponents was increased by targeted acts of disruption. Merchants’ agents, disguised as common traders, began spreading rumours in the taverns and marketplaces that the new council was corrupt and that the Craftsmen’s Guild was planning to use its influence to line its own pockets at the people’s expense. 

In the corners of taverns and the markets, loyalists and sympathisers of the exiled Merchants spread word that Tybaro Esthelm and his allies were planning to return and restore the city to its former prosperity.

The Craftsmen’s Guild, alarmed by the growing discontent, began to take action. Guild members patrolled the streets in organised groups, confronting traders suspected of smuggling in goods from the Merchants’ estates. They encouraged artisans and workers to boycott any business rumoured to have ties to the exiled Merchants - markets became battlegrounds of gossip and intimidation, with rival factions trying to influence control of public opinion.

The Gorak, aware of the growing tensions, called for a meeting of his closest advisors. Chief among them was  Lord Balek, a pragmatic noble who had proven himself a wise counsellor in times of crisis. Balek cautioned the Gorak against taking hasty action, urging him instead to appeal to reason and diplomacy. Balek, however, also warned that the Merchants were plotting together, and that waiting too long would give them more time to consolidate their forces.

Any opportunity for diplomacy disappeared due to a series of fires that broke out in warehouses near the docks. The fires, which gutted storage buildings holding grain and goods meant for export, appeared to be acts of sabotage. The city’s leaders were divided on how to respond, with some demanding immediate retaliation against the Merchants’ sympathisers, whilst others called for an investigation.

As unrest grew, Tybaro, against his better judgement, and under pressure from the other elite merchants, made a fatal mistake, deciding to increase the pressure by instructing Borlin’s mercenaries to approach the city gates. Borlin was only supposed to camp outside the gates as a show of strength, but officers of the city guard, influenced by old ties to Borlin himself, allowed his men to pass through the gates.

Within the city, rumours spread that Borlin’s arrival was the beginning of a coup by the exiled Merchants. Panic spread through the streets, with provocateurs starting riots in the docks and working-class neighbourhoods, causing the city leaders to divert their attention away from Borlin’s forces.

Borlin’s entry, however, was just the beginning. The following day, the noble houses of Arathor and Merelvir, both indebted to the Merchants, called for an emergency council session, demanding an end to taxes imposed by the Craftsmen’s Guild. They argued that the taxes were strangling trade and that the only solution was to restore the Merchants’ Guild to its former status.

The Craftsmen’s representatives were outraged, openly accusing the nobles of acting as puppets for the exiled Merchants. Heated debates ensued, and the council meeting descended into chaos. As tempers flared, a messenger arrived with news that Borlin, acting entirely on his own initiative, had taken control of the district around one of the main bridges leading into the city.

With the threat of a full-scale insurrection looming, the Gorak made an important decision, and dispatched loyal soldiers to retake the bridge. In a swift and brutal clash, the Gorak’s forces managed to drive Borlin’s mercenaries back, but dozens of guardsmen and mercenaries lay dead on the bridge and surrounding streets. The coup attempt had failed, and the city was left shocked by the violence.

The elite Merchants, seeing that their plans had failed, retreated to their country estates to regroup. Tybaro, Dolmar, and the others knew that any further assault on the city was impossible. They decided to consolidate their remaining wealth and power and to use the nobles in their pay to influence Danfelgor’s political landscape.

Within the city, dockworkers, students and other citizens, inspired by the victory against Borlin’s forces, organised themselves into militias to defend the city against future threats. The Craftsmen’s Guild, seeking to consolidate their influence, began supporting them with weapons and uniforms.

On their country estates, the chief Merchants watched the city with a growing sense of despondency. Their old ways of exerting control—through wealth, trade, and political connections—were being challenged by a new order that was more democratic and willing to use force to maintain its power.

Tybaro Esthelm was not ready to give up, however. The elite merchants were still vastly wealthy, and he knew that wealth conveyed power -  he believed that with the right alliances and planning, the Merchants could, in time, reclaim their position in Danfelgor. 

As he looked out over the gentle hills and vineyards of his estate, Tybaro resolved to wait for the right moment, and the Merchants retreated into their estates, biding their time and consolidating their power. One thing was certain however - the power struggle between the old order and the new was far from over. It seemed that the fate of Danfelgor would ultimately be decided not by the sword, but by cunning.

"As long as we stay here on our estates and don't venture into Danfelgor, we pay no tax. Eventually they will miss our money, and meanwhile we can mine our copper, run our trading routes through proxies, and those nobles who owe us everything will continue to work and lobby for us. It will take a generation, but we will return. One day, my son will hold power in Danfelgor."

Image Copyright © Harvey Taylor 2024. All Rights Reserved.