Talon March

by Valdir Tue Jul 09, 2013 6:14 pm

Hex 4, Talon March

In Pendor's history, Talon March, was a buffer county against the Jatu and Mystmountain Barbarians for the Duke of Marleons. Located between the village of Burglen and the county of Evasolde Castle, the March had to suffer the wrath of many Ravenstern armies during their wars with the kingdom in Sarleon. However, after the unification under King Mordred I Adalhard and the obliteration of the Jatu, the march flourished and took full advantage of her lakeside village and her proximity to the great opulence of the wealthy Marleons.

During the noble wars, the former Count proved to be a failure on the battlefield and a fool when it came to long-term strategy. So instead of fighting in the noble wars he allowed himself to be raided while he cowered in fear, safely tucked in his lakeside Manor. It had been the Astigi warband, still fighting under Silvermist banner, that had set up camp in the village of Logna. Morten Astigi's most feared captain, Rabastan, had convinced the fearful Count to treat them as his guests while it took Valdir's most charismatic speech to prevent them from raping the Count's young wife or any of the other villagers.

The flourishing county made Morten Astigi desire wealth above all, so he inquired Logna's steward about how to become a noble, and left to betray the Silvermists. Causing such losses to the Silvermist treasury that when he returned one year later, he bought the County of Talon March for his younger half-brother Valdir. The former Count, who had spent a few days with Captain Rabastan, decided to depart shortly after, without his young wife, and is rumoured to have drowned in the calm waters of Lake Avendor.

The Bazzano residence in Logna (village #1)
Talon March Bazzano_castle

Although the populace of Logna love Valdir for his speech that kept the warband from raiding and burning the village, they merely tolerate the presence of armed forces in the county's capitol. The steward, a wise old man, had also voiced their concerns about Captain Rabastan and his cruel tendencies, so he could not stay in the village and had to remain in the Bazzano residence whenever summoned. Valdir agreed with those terms, so he arranged Rabastan to stay in the village closest to the border with Evasolde County and Valorshield March, which conveniently stationed his troops in the most defensible location.

Since the death of the former Count was never confirmed, his young Cezian wife could never be officially widowed. Valdir pitied her situation and fell for her beauty, so he allowed her to stay in the Bazzano residence and keep the status of matriarch. Although she kept to her own rooms while Valdir entertained guests and no one besides the servants had ever seen them together, the villagers rumoured that the two had started a romance.

County statistics:

by Valdir Sun Jul 14, 2013 5:13 am

The wind blew into the study of the Bazzano residence in Logna. It was a hot summer day and the breeze made it bearable, if only slightly. Count Valdir Bazzano watched the former Countess play the harp under the delight of a cup of the finest wine from Ethos, the Astigi brand. The days in Talon March were quiet and well administrated, this left them considerable spare time to pursue other matters.

One of those matters was most fought for during the first gathering of the already divided Eastern Council. It concerned the mystmountain threat and Valdir felt obliged to help these stalwart nobles. They formed the buffer between the dangerous savages of the Mystmountains and his own prosperous county. He had acted on his words and built a reserve camp for the Clarion Call, but he felt as if he needed to do more. Spend more gold, hire more mercenaries or, perhaps, try and introduce them to eachother on a more personal level. A divided north would put the Steppe in a serious disadvantage.

The latter option seemed most appropriate and he quickly summoned his steward into the study. They would invite all the lords of the north to Logna for a summit in which he would mediate.

by Valdir Tue Jul 16, 2013 4:25 am

As Count Bazzano counted his gold and peered over the plans to built a tradepost for the Eastern Pendor Trading Company, Captain Esquire suddenly appeared in his study. His face had a look of disdain towards the large map in Valdir's study. His swordhand rested graciously on the handguard of his extraordinary sword.

"Count Bazzano, although, and I am ashamed to admit this, being as we had already come to an agreement concerning my employment. I fear the rumours of a mystmountain horde has the Brotherhood on their heels, a feeling strengthened by your recent guests and the strife among them.-"

Although Jon Xavier Esquire had wanted to continue his monologue and probably demand a higher payment as he, and so he was right to, believed he would be alone to fight a mystmountain horde. Count Valdir Bazzano raised his hand in silence.

"I had planned to delay this news until later today, but I might as well tell you before you make any demands. Your services are no longer necessary. The lords whose lands we needed to march on, have denied us entry and I have no use for the Brotherhood here while I have Captains like Rabastan, Grant D'lad and Boss Boris to deny bandits and cutthroats their right to live."

Jon Xavier Esquire knew he had overstayed his welcome when he mentioned the recent summit that had been held in the village of Logna. Count Bazzano had been so angry at its outcome that he had talked about raiding Evasolde county for the whole week after the lords had left. His first act as interim-Governor of the Steppe, had failed.

Then, without even knocking, the elderly steward of Logna appeared in the study, cletching a sealed letter in his hand, which he gave to the Count without even showing he had noticed the presence of the mercenary captain. The Count's face darkened as he broke the seal and read the letter.

"Disregard that, Captain Esquire. You will recieve payment tonight and prepare your men for the cold climate of the Mystmountains. That damned Abaddon woman has send a call to arms and you'll lead the forces from Talon March. Tell Boss Boris and Grant D'lad to prepare also. The impoverished lionness wants to attack Poinsbruk."

He smiled, obviously disagreeing with such a tactic, and pulled an empty parchment from a drawer.

"Captain Esquire, I take it I can trust you to have some sane judgment? I don't want my investment to charge into battle when there's no chance of winning."

Valdir grinned, and captain Esquire nodded in recognition.

Spoiler:

by Valdir Fri Jul 26, 2013 12:55 am

A small army of men had marched north with Valdir's coin in their pockets and his roasted beef in their belly. Only a handful returned with each Captain. The village of Logna and the entire county of Talon March was in mourning, for some of these mercenaries had found lovers in its villages and they had left them behind forever. Young girls cried their hearts out in the arms of their mothers, or in those of a potential suitor that had awaited his chance.
The Bazzano flag was only raised halfway up the flagpole and the Cezian Countess played exclusively slow melodies of tears. But Valdir's heart, familiar with the pains of war himself, went out to the other Counties of the Steppe. There, farmers had taken pitchfork and skinning knife to battle a horde, but perished just like the mercenaries. Their farms would stand empty until the widow found a replacement to harvest the fields and plow the dry ground after the upcoming harvest was doomed to fail.

The three captains gave Valdir detailed reports and he was impressed by the Lady of Evasolde County, whom he had judged too impulsive for the job of commanding the Steppe's army.
Although their actions brave and their report in full, all gathered knew that it wasn't economical for Valdir to pay such a large sum to such a small company. They would part their ways, not as friend, nor as enemies. It was just how mercenaries worked, they all knew it.

As the remaining six brothers of the sword enjoyed their last meal at Valdir's table, one of them announced leaving the brotherhood. He had seen his friends die and despite their victory, would not be able to remain a mercenary. A talisman, looted from a shaman, had helped him come to the conclusion that it would his goal to avenge his brothers and obliterate the clan that had kept the bridge for too long. He, Matays II Sangendal, swore then and there that he would destroy the clan that had brought them Wolfbode the Slayer a few decades ago. Valdir saw an opportunity he could not ignore and offered the man a position as Captain in his employ. A position that was accepted, but only if the ambitious Sangendal would be allowed to rule the lands that Wolfbode's clan inhabited. He would make sure they'd never come back.

by Valdir Sat Jul 27, 2013 6:43 am

After the mercenaries took their gold and left the county in search of new big spenders, Valdir returned to his study. The previous Count must have had a fancy for reading books, no wonder he took the devastation of Poinsbruk so hard. When he send the mercenaries north to support Lady Tysha, he had read about the Mystmountains in a book one of the Raven Spear scholars must've written. It speculated about their god, the catlike Vejovis, and Wolfbode the Slayer, who reigned the Mystmountains tribes until his demise at the hands of King Mordred. It was their admiration for the wolf that made him read his next book, about the hunting traditions of the Sarleon nobility and how it had wiped out the wolf-population in and around Mobray.
Not even a week later, the young Baron from his southern most village had come for a visit. Harlaus, the Baron of Praven, requested Valdir's aid against a pack of ravaging wolves. His men hadn't been able to hunt them down succesfully and every day the wolves took another few of his cattle. Ofcourse, the former mercenary wanted to test the Sarleon hunting traditions for their worth and told the Baron to prepare accomodations for a large hunting party.

So it was that large tents were raised around the Manor in Praven. The Bazzano banners hung proudly and Talon March's best bowmen and hunters gathered around the admission table of Baron Harlaus for the archery tourney at the end of the hunt. Count Valdir figured that he'd just as well earn some gold while taking care of the wolf threat. Friend and family of Baron Harlaus had travelled all the way from their own seats in the Marches of Laria and boasted of their training with the Clarion Call, but no one spoke of the Silvermist and their longbows. The once premier Larian Order was taboo among the smallfolk and nobles alike, especially in the regions that had suffered from their ambition the most. It was Rabastan that had fingered out a former Silvermist ranger that had come to try his luck with the wolf bounty. He was quickly surrounded and even the Count recognized him as Captain Sander, guilty of murdering a couple of farmers and burning their farms to make the Astigi Warband, and the Clarion Call, loose his tracks in the Larian woods. The day after his arrest, posters were pinned in the square showing a time and place for a public execution.

Valdir himself had taken residence in Harlaus' manor and was preparing his beloved crossbow for the hunt, when his premier guest arrived showing a A golden lion head, front facing, on black.

by Valdir Sat Jul 27, 2013 6:26 pm

At dawn, the village of Praven emptied out and the hunt began. Wolves had been baited to specific regions where other wildlife would not be found, as to avoid the complete obliteration of game that the local hunters survived on. It had been a large pack of nine ravaging wolves, but the bait attracted more dangerous animals like other wolves that had their territory close-by and bears angered by the presence of so many wolves. Needless to say that it was met with excitement and caution while the hunt lasted for the entire morning. At noon a few dozen hunters came to the manor to claim a bounty and Rabastan had been tasked to oversee these transactions, to ensure fairness through fear of punishment. Meanwhile Count Valdir, his guest, and the present minor nobility had all retreated for an extravagant meal before the execution stage was to be set.

Not everyone stayed to watch the beheading of the Silvermist Ranger, but it was made known that he was a murderer and traitor to the King. When Captain Sander's head was cut off in the afternoon, none of the nobility dared to show pity, yet it was the populace that cheered. They had suffered much more from the war than the nobility in their fortified estates and were glad it was not just conveniently forgotten when the Silvermist army was defeated.

The following day, campsites were abandoned as the smallfolk returned to their own villages and counties, disappointed that they had not managed to kill a wolf. The friends and family of Baron Harlaus were the earliest to leave, on horseback or in carriages. The feast of the day before had left most hungover and others slightly embarrased, as always with the nobility.
Count Valdir remained until his guest left with her retinue and then took the road back to his own residence in Logna. He was satisfied that he had found a distraction that motivated him enough to leave his study, but now that he had gotten the taste of nobility, he wondered if his treasury allowed a full tournament to be held in Talon March. A joust, melee and archery competition to be the first in the post-war Steppe.

by Valdir Tue Jul 30, 2013 5:10 am

It was raining heavily when the ship from Avendor threw down its anchor for the coast of Talon March. The wind soared across the long grass as a cloaked figure stepped through the mud towards the small beach. His purple eyes scanned the horizon looking for a small boat amidst the darkness of rain splattered night. Suddenly, somehwere at his right, he had discovered a burning lantarn partly covered by cloaked figures that rowed a small boat towards the shore.

The sly Count of the region had barely managed to protect half-finished tourney constructions from the upcoming storm and his dark red banners hung heavy, drenched in the rain. Tents were kept together by men dressed in tabards of evenly dark red as they endured the storm in favor of facing the wrath of their captain, the swine of Marleons. The march had large unhabited fields in the south-west close to Marleons and those were now used for the tourney's preparations. But while arena's were built and tents erected, poor folk from Marleons flocked to the dark red banner of the Count. The sacked city was difficult to live in, even now, and Talon March's tourney seemed the best opportunity to improve their living. They travelled to Logna in great numbers and begged for a piece of land to work on, or just showed up at the construction sites of the tourney and offered their help. And so it was that craftsmen, innkeepers, farmers and their entire families migrated to Talon March and started their own villages among the arena's.

The new mayors of these settlements paid their taxes in full after a hard day of work and often visited Valdir to show their plans of improving the roads and at which locations it would be best to build inns and brothels, or blacksmiths and stables. Valdir applauded their enthusiam and the contribution their sons made to his army, but whenever they were gone he grinned happily as he read the ledgers and realised that the construction for the arena's was costing him less every day.

As the small boat reached the shore and the cloaked figures stepped into the soaked ground beneath, one man clearly cursed the entire pantheon of gods before he approached the lone man what had come to meet them.

"Matarys Sangendal, I presume?"

The man grabbed the rim of his hood and pushed it back to reveal his purple eyes and blond hair to the visitors.

"We didn't dare to send a carriage through the mud, so you'll have to ride the short distance to the manor. The Count will be pleased to meet his new Baron, Farlen Bracken."

A grin showed some impressively white teeth as Farlen motioned for Matarys to show the way. Their journey was a silent one, but Valdir's household took their horses before they entered the Manor that would be Farlen's new home. While the men undid their cloaks and showed the colorful linen that nobles often wore in meetings of noble nature. In the main hall, Count Valdir greeted his new Baron of sounds reputation with welcoming arms. Farlen Bracken, now Baron, was a noble from Avendor and the Brackens were once close with one of the Duke's sergeant-at-arms, House Sangendal. It was Matarys that had suggested the Brackens to rule one of the prosperous new villages that were being constructed not hundred feet from each other. The Brackens owned various stables in Avendor and were wise investors in trade caravans, something Count Valdir could approve of.
But Farlen was not the only new Baron to Valdir's county. Already in the hall was Pylos Norrey, the new Baron of the other of two villages. Pylos was a noble from Senderfall and a bookworm not unlike Valdir himself. An honest man above all, Pylos is loved by his family and household as a fair judge and upholder of the King's laws. The Barons dined with the Count and as the rains stopped and the wind calmed down, Farlen's ship was unloaded and his personal belongings and fine steeds found their new home in the Manor and stables while Baron Pylos took his modest collection of books and his sons to their own.

by Valdir Thu Sep 12, 2013 5:43 am

Despite having killed most wolves for either sport, hides or to protect the county's sheep, there's an alarming growth in the amount of missing sheep in and around the village of Praven. Baron Harlaus organized several hunts, but the dogs were unable to find anything besides the gnawned upon remains of missing sheep.
It became a small mystery that everyone thought able to solve; for the rich nobleman that lived between the villages of Praven and Logna was said to be a temperamental man with sharp teeth and a barking laugh. The nobleman, who just happened to be Baron Arden of Logna, one of the richest and aristocratic nobles in Talon March. In his youth a crackshot with the crossbow and a jolly fellow at that, he had returned from his travels in Amala as a changed man. Long thick sideburns, a grey beard and a colorless dark outfit wasn't quite the welcoming sight whenever he rode into Logna to discuss business with the new Count, a man he disliked for his low birth and pretend charitable nature.
Suspicions didn't persuade anyone, but animals had started to go missing after Baron Arden's return from Amala. First chickens were released from their cages followed by long nights of barking dogs, until the dogs themselves disappeared and it went quiet for a month. As per coincidence, Baron Arden had been visiting relatives in the village of Shapeshte, far in the snowy slopes of Ravenstern, and had been away that precise month. A detail everyone had overlooked until he returned and suddenly farmer Willem had lost a lamb and shepherds Derrick and Petyr reported missing sheep. A coincidence no longer, the villagers of Praven, despite the discouragement of Baron Harlaus, marched to the manor of Arden Talbot.
But alas, he was staying the moonless night in Logna. To prevent the mob marching through to Logna, Baron Harlaus rode for the Bazzano residence and accused Baron Arden of creating this werewolf myth by hunting down animals for his own sick amusement.

Harlaus' veins popped up around his temple, his rage evident in his eyes and posture. He would not back down this time, not after he had failed to calm his village down after yet another of Baron Arden's cruel jokes. Across the room, in a comfortable chair sat the Count of Talon March. Count Valdir Bazzano had a worried look on his face, but something in his eyes betrayed that the sly man was thinking for a way to get both sides of the coin in just one toss.
Suddenly, dooming from behind, was the faint sound of a walking stick hitting the marble floors of the Bazzano residence. The sound came closer and with shorter intervals until in the doorway stood the man who was accused, Arden Talbot, the Baron of the opulent Logna.

"Say Say, Harlaus. Your father would've turned in his early grave if he had seen his son's clear inability to keep his plebs under control."

Harlaus turned around in an angry jump, his hands folded into fists when he replied "You should know, you put him there!"

Alden smiled a dismissive smile. He leaned against the doorpost and was lost in thought for a moment. "Your father died in a hunting accident, boy. He was my friend and one of Talon March's few true nobles." he glanced in the direction of the Count at the mention of nobility.

The room went silent and the only sound came from the rain landing violently on the terrace outside. After a few moments of stillness, the Count sighed and spoke up for the first time.

"As if the lords of the Steppe aren't troublesome enough. They siege each other's castles, burn each other's villages and steal everything that we fail to protect. Even though Talon March has to stand together and fight off the attacks of this, this Fierdsvain princess, my own Barons manage to fight and squabble about..what? A few sheep?"

His eyes flashed as he rose from his seat, something he had been forced to do a few times too many these last few weeks.

"Baron Arden does a good job keeping Logna prosperous during my short absences. Despite him being similar to my mad brother when it comes to status and relations, he's an efficient tax collector and I'll not hear of any claims involving dead SHEEP."

The Count shouted that last word. The Steppe politics had drained the newcomer to Pendor's nobility of the charisma he was loved for during his years as a mercenary captain. What was left of his singing voice was a hoarse whisper, now often used in anger. He sank back into his chair, and waved in dismissal.

"Arden, stay for a moment."

Baron Harlaus looked at both in a sudden flash of disdain, but then left with fast steps. Arden closed the door behind him and took a seat next to his Count.

"I want you to leave for Marleons tomorrow. Tell them that Talon March will fund a new sewer system..it's needed. Take the Evaline and instruct Captain Hirkin to free some space for the sheep you're buying on the market. I know you did this, Talbot. Gift Harlaus those sheep."

Arden nodded, a wide grin showing his sharp teeth. "Certainly, milord."

Spoiler:

by Valdir Sat Sep 14, 2013 4:43 am

The Pendorian knightly Orders are weakened by the Noble wars and the new restrictions of their power. Valdir needed knights that were loyal to the March, but he didn't trust the Orders that wreaked havoc on the Steppe and still do. It was the son of Baron Arden that came with a solution. Astor Talbot travelled Amala together with his father a decade ago, but had decided to remain in Santara, where Barclayan nobility ruled. Being Pendor nobility, he was fostered in a knightly house and trained and prepared for knighthood.
Fencing and conversing as if he was a native Barclayan, Astor had only started to miss his home when he got knighted by one of King Ferdinand's household knights. Knighthood opened many doors for him in great Barclay, but he saw only one, the ship back to Pendor.

Much had changed in Logna since he left as a boy. Richer than before, but with a whole set of problems much more devastating than before the recolonization of the steppe. Although a stranger to him, the new Count liked the knighted Talbot and appointed him Grandmaster of a yet to be formed Knightly Order, seeing as he was the only knight with a lineage resembling something close to the higher aristocracy. Sir Astor Talbot stayed close to his family sigil and the ancient relation between Talon March and its wolf population, and thus he named it The Order of the Wolf. Clad in Pendorian plate and cloaked with wolf furs, these knights would become Count Valdir's most elite units on the battlefield.

Order of the Wolf
Taking the example of their namesake animal, the knights of the wolf operate under the sovereign control of the alpha male, which is the lord of Talon March. This means that the Order is not bound to a single leader like a Grandmaster, but to the region itself. The second someone challenges Count Valdir and wins, the Order of the Wolf will take its commands from the new overlord instead of the defeated Valdir.
Honorary Grandmaster: Sir Astor Talbot
Current members: 20 Order knights

The first chapterhouse of the Order is in the village of Wehl (#2), where there's no baronial seat and a council of village elders handles the day to day affairs headed by the Order's Honorary Grandmaster. In the forests around the village the knights keep wolves safe from hunters and have the authority to function as the judge, jury and executioner to anyone that poses a threat to the wolf population in their forest.

by Valdir Sat Sep 14, 2013 11:31 pm

Notables of Talon March

Count Valdir Bazzano: A baseborn man who managed to befriend many mercenaries with his silver tongue and together with his half-brother rose to fame while leading a succesful warband during the Noble Wars. He bought Talon March after the wars with gold and silver robbed from the Silvermist Coalition.

House Talbot: Of the three noble houses before the noble wars, House Talbot was easily the more wealthy and powerful. Their Baronial seat is the village of Logna and without the arrival of Count Valdir, the Talbots may have made claim over the entire march. Baron Arden Talbot is therefore discontent still being a mere Baron, yet he takes pride in the newfound stability and wealth of Logna and the entire county. Baron Arden's son,Sir Astor Talbot, also enjoys a powerful position in the county, being the honorary grandmaster of the newly founded Order of the Wolf.

Order of the Wolf: The first chapterhouse of the Order is in the village of Wehl, where there's no baronial seat after the departure of the previous Count. A council of village elders handles the day to day affairs headed by the Order's Honorary Grandmaster. In the forests around the village the knights keep wolves safe from hunters and have the authority to function as the judge, jury and executioner to anyone that poses a threat to the wolf population in their forest. This Order is loyal only to the region, following the ideals of one of its oldest noble houses; House Talbot.

House Suno: This House, currently lead by the young Baron Harlaus, has always stood in the shadow of House Talbot and befell much hardship whenever their growth or charisma threatened to outweigh that of their rivals. One such an example is the tragic hunting accident of the previous Baron, who was seeking support in the pre-war Poinsbruk.

Houses Bracken and Norrey: Newcomers to Talon March, these two Baronial Houses have been founded to keep the newly formed villages of East- and West-Talon in check. Their lands are mainly inhabited by Marleons refugees and are as such seperated from the squabbling nobility of the older villages. Rumour has it that these two houses will marry their offspring to each other and create a larger more powerful Barony.

by Valdir Mon Sep 16, 2013 3:08 am

Rain fell from the sky in alarming measures when Valdir and his companions returned to the village of Logna. The strings on their crossbows ruined by days of continuous rain and their hair so greasy that it would take hours to get it back to normal. Baron Arden awaited them at the Count's residence, he grinned from underneath his greying beard and his silk garments were in strong contrast with the furs and leather of the returning Valdir.
The Count looked even worse than when he left, the bags under his eyes darkened and his expression sour and unchanging even when he greeted the Cezian Countess. He marched directly to his study, where Arden had prepared several documents for the Count to read and sign. "Any news from the captains?" he asked while he scanned the letters.

"Yes, milord. Both have returned, and young Matarys was given a message directed at you." the Baron replied. He was looking closely at Valdir and noticed how much the man had changed due to the stress of politics. It confirmed Arden's belief that politics was something reserved for the nobility, because they were born into and molded by it. No member of the smallfolk could ever outsmart true aristocracy.

"Good, tell them I'd like to speak with them and the mercenaries." Valdir said, but he seemed to change his mind when he smelled something and sniffed his armpit. "After a bath, I stink."

"Aye milord, you do. I've already told the servants to fill a bath with hot water and prepare tools for grooming."

Valdir touched his unkept beard with a dulled expression, "grooming?" he asked to no one in particular as he walked to his private chambers deep in thought.

The nex tday, a clean, washed Valdir clothed in dark red silk sat at the head of a large dinner table. To his right sat captain Matarys and to his left the Cezian Countess. Other notables included the four Barons of Talon March, the employed mercenary captains, the honorary grandmaster of the Order of the Wolf and Rabastan the swine.
The main topic that night was the defence of Talon March and the threat of the merchant princess of the Holmgang league. Matarys and Rabastan managed to clearify much on the subject of Azar's vassalization and the participating individuals of higher nobility. Boss Boris, having by far the worst table manners, was able to give some insight in Eadburga's goldmines and the county he raided under her command. It was a feast of information, as well as riped Astigi wine and well cooked food. But in light of all the new information,Valdir wasn't content with simply amassing an army to protect his claim, he was afraid that only complete militarization could secure the safety of his people and that of his title.

A few days rest did wonders as Valdir seemed more relaxed now that he was getting control of the situation. He whistled remarkable tunes and took a few breaks each day to listen to the Cezian Countess playing the harp. Perhaps he should just..settle down?

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