Tsar and Skor: A first impression

Obtained from Agememnon and Freyden travelling to Skor
 Appropriate rolls made where necessary
How was the travel?
 A river boat to Tarren’s Junction, then three days on a ship to Tsar, and then a rather quick four-day run on a clipper to Skor. The journey was unremarkable, and the crew were happy to fill you in about the reefs, the unavoidable rumors of a kraken as well as teaching Freyden a few shantys
The return trip was much the same, but with a slightly tense air. The run from Skor to Tsar was again four days, although the return trip is said to be more difficult due to the currents around the reefs. The stakeholders in Mirrax Marines are likely turning a tidy profit.
What’s Skor like?
Larger than Tsar, both in population and geography. The land this far north is far flatter and greener, the long grass and rolling hills having given way to much more greenery and trees with lower branches, and opposed to the tall pines of the Forest of Hope.
 The city is populated mostly by gnomes and halflings,  with a few dwarves and a smattering of humans and elves. Unlike Tsar and Tarren’s, there are few multi-story buildings, instead favoring cottages and large, wood-and-carved-brick buildings joined by wide roads.
 The place is accessible to the taller races, but Agememnon definitely needs to duck through doorways.
 While the streets of Tsar bustle with commerce and trade, Skor is much slower paced and more mannered. People stop to greet each other on the streets and chat.
 The mood is a little overcast, as rumors of the troubles on the west continent have reached the city by now. The gardens are pretty lovely however, and the whole town is in much better repair than anywhere else nearby. There is a lot of street theatre and art.
 If you want to admire some literally magical rose bushes and have a gnome paint a picture of you for 2 gold pieces, you’re in the right place.
There is much less of an underclass in Skor, or perhaps they are just much more visible. Laborers and builders seem to have good working and living conditions, and there is a level of charity towards to poor that you do not often see. There is certainly nothing quite like the slums of Tarren's Junction or the work-emcnapments around Tsar.
What about the Regency in Skor? How’s that going?
Much harder to say. The place seems to be going well, and there’s no dissent among the populace. There seem to be rumblings in court, but it’s hard to say whether these are legitimate problems or just the aristocracy doing what they do best.
There does seem to be a lot of money spent on keeping the town in good shape and keeping food supplies high, although it’s tough to say whether this is an extravagance, or if the town’s income can actually support it.
Rolth himself is a good looking and charismatic gnome who was voted in by other members of the aristocracy. He’s just past middle age and is known to be vain, but has no outspoken enemies. It is a poorly kept secret that his position was earned by donating his own considerable fortunes to the city’s coffers, which goes some way to explain the current level of luxury.
Does anyone know about Ildin Aerim and House Aerim?
 Illdin is something of a black sheep of the aristocracy as her family is still publically considered to be the royal line. Apparently the royal line was ousted in a popular coup, about the same time as the first righteous march (roughly 1000E). The reason for the coup seems to have been popular dissatisfaction with the then-Queen  (Arnetta Aerim) who rule was considered too strict well past the point of cruelty.
 In 1015E, (again with the support of the population) the then-ruler (A dwarf named Rov Hammerheart) was deposed by Severen Aerim in “The Short Winter”, named so for Aerim’s efficiency.
 Freydan picked up a popular bard’s tale, in which Aerim’s men were said to have marched in to Skor during a snowstorm, and the crown was on Aerim’s head before the horse’s hoof prints had been covered by the falling snow, and was declared king before the snow had melted.
Aerim’s treachery happened only 4 months later, in the spring of 1016E when the army of Orcus marched on the town.
Aerim publically surrendered to the Orcusites, allowing them free passage and joining their ranks, along with his personal guard.
 Freyden will notice that perhaps due to The Short Winter or the events that immediately followed that “an Aerim” is a slang term meaning “a very short period of time” that still sees some use today.
From Illdin herself
 Ildin’s family is something of a problem. The laws of Skor are definitely respectful to the Royal line (worship of Thyr is likely responsible for this) and there are no actual laws about breaking the royal line. The aristocracy gets around it by just never recognising her claim, and Ildin elects not to push the issue; she does not fear for her life, but the court would quickly turned hostile if she made a play for the throne while her position was so weak.
How does the leadership of Tsar work?
Tsar is led by a council of four magi. The number four is not special, it was simply because after the fall of Tsar, four powerful mages rebuilt the place, and three of them have passed their position on.
Very, very little is known about the inner workings of the council, whether they agree or what their motives are. They were instrumental (and merciless) in clearing Tsar from the lingering darkness of Orcus. Even now, the sewers and caves under Tsar occasionally have aberrations and demons bubble forth and the Magi come down on them like a hammer.
Tsar is a chaotic place, busy and crowded, perhaps a victim of it’s own prosperity.
That said, the law in Tsar is slightly lax due to the difficulty in policing such a busy place. The guard tend to focus on larger crimes (mostly corruption and murder) with a large focus on searching for Orcus cults and other such evil groups, but common theft and other small crimes usually go unnoticed.
High Lady Teyranaric is the voice of Tsar in the council. She is certainly one of the four, and is the public ‘face’ of the leadership. She is a great diplomat, but her motives and level of power go unknown. The rest of the council are withdrawn, and have little to do with the general public.
They are
# Loke of Ordheilm, a male human priest of Pharasma
# Aeryn of the Lower Dales, a male, elven wizard of some power
# Drin’ma Tural, a female aasimar sorcerer who is the newest member. She is known to have been instrumental in a magical seige, far to the north and has chosen to ‘settle’ in Tsar. Freyden was able to recover most of the tale of that siege in epic-poem form.
Stay tuned for the next installment of Aggy and Freyden: 2 Hard 2 Bard.