Day 49-57 – Centaurs

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Day 49-57 – Centaurs
==(Date: 11th April)==
The party spends more than a week with the caravan on its slow journey up to Far Haven. During the first week, things are extremely relaxing, people are welcome around the campfire at night, and on the occasions when party foraging trips work well there are shared meals with the merchants and their guards.
On day 56 (10th April), the convoy reaches the junction for Larkstone, and just north of that the Griffin inn/waystation. The inn is obviously full, from the number of wagons visible, but there are spaces near one of the communal water troughs, only 2 copper per fill(!) and so the convoy stops. After an hour, every one of the merchants oxen has been watered and the convoy sets out again, you are about an hour north of the Griffon when you are overtaken by a small patrol wearing Far Haven colours but heading from Northlake. The patrol is moving at haste up the road, Talaris hails the patrol, and one of the riders reins in briefly.
Talaris: “Why the haste?”
Rider: “Torgan has fallen to the Orcs, there was a coup. Most of the Giant tribes under Grih have retreated South, but some have sided with Ghoulagabba. We bear some messages for the city.”
Talaris: “Fuck! How did this happen?”
Rider: “We have no details as yet, although all the talk is of a coup.”
With that the rider spurs on his mount and heads off to catch up with his companions.
For the rest of the day, and early tomorrow, Torgan is the subject of much idle speculation but nobody has any real insight to offer.
Just past midday a group of 4 centaurs are spotted approaching the caravan from the East, Talaris calls a halt and the caravan pulls off the track to await their arrival.
As the centaurs get closer, it is noted that there are two large horses accompanying them, the horses have no bridle or tack but are laden down with various bundles and appear to be happy to follow the centaurs. Talaris walks out to greet them and after a brief exchange the centaurs enter the camp. The convoy is obviously used to this, as even though there is plenty of travel time left in the day, everyone is busy making camp. The centaurs have some brushwood loaded on one of the horses and this is given to the convoy, tonight at least you will have a decent fire.
Everyone is introduced to the centaurs, who in return offer a brief introduction, they are:
Tellef L’Urin (Female): Trader of the Badger clan, you would guess her to be late middle aged.
Con D’Rait (Male): A younger centaur.
Q’Ran L’Tarkin (Female): Warrior
Philan L’Tarkin (Male): Warrior, partner to Q’Ran
Tellef spends the next few hours off to one side with Talaris and Timbough, the negotiations obviously have a certain degree of ritual about them, along with much general discussion. Whilst not overly private (you can overhear the odd snippets of conversation), the trading party, guards and the centaurs all give the group some space – and the party deems it sensible to follow suit.
Whilst this is going on, the other centaurs assist with setting up camp, another of the bundles from their horses turns out to be a goat carcass, which is soon set up to roast for the evening meal.
Conversation is pretty open, the centaurs are obviously happy to meet strangers and quite willing to chat and provide information, although everyone backs away from subjects that appear to be sensitive. Q’Ran would appear to be the most senior of the centaurs and quite often gets consulted by the other two.
Q’Ran: “There are 8 great centaur clans, Badger which is us, Hawk, Owl, Wolf, Bear, Drake, Wolverine and Snake, plus any number of minor clans, although these tend to be more like extended families. Each clan is organised with a Chief or Khan who leads the tribe in times of peace, a Knight or Warlord who…well you get the picture, a Shaman who you would consider a priest and a Speaker who is the keeper of knowledge.”
Q’Ran: “The Speakers are the ones who elect the Ur-Khan, the current one is Drovan – a Shanah warrior priest from the Hawk tribe. Though he is out East with the Snake and Wolverine clans at the moment.”
(Q’Ran refuses to be drawn on why the two clans are out East…..)
Q’Ran: “Yes most of us follow the Wyldwood, and the clan Shaman and Speaker are nearly always Wyldwood. Obviously some of the more warlike clan members lean towards Shanah of course (meaningful look at Con D’Rait) and within most clans you will find some Universal, even the odd Perceval worshipper – but these are rare.”
Q’Ran “Only those who have completed six of the seven shrines will ever know where the White tree is situated, and those who have visited it will never reveal where it is. That is why completing only five of the shrines is regarded as ill omen, it implies that you never wanted to know where the White tree is – or that is how I understand it anyhow. I have never heard that story about Ilriana before, so don’t have any idea if there is a link, if you ever get a chance you might be better asking a Speaker or a Shaman.”
Q’Ran: “The creatures on the stone, oh that is easy…. They represent the Ariel, the Maratasen, the Lizardmen, the Giants, the Trolls and obviously us. The speakers tales will often refer to that grouping as the ‘Elder’ races, funny that Dwarves are never mentioned, but I seem to recall that the tales then tell of Elves, then Orcs and then of course Humans…arriving at Far Haven. It’s a great story, but as always with the Speakers they drop these stories in to try and keep you awake whilst they are narrating the history of the clan. I don’t know about you but listening to the clan bloodlines being detailed for generation after generation can simply send me to sleep.”
Q’Ran: “Wild? No can’t say it rings a bell.”
Con: “I’m sure I remember the Speaker telling a story about the Wild.”
Q’Ran: “Possibly…… have to ask him.”
Q’Ran: “Kind of recognise the spearhead though, its really similar to the ceremonial spears that each of the clan Knights have as their badge of office. Too fragile for any use in battle now of course.”
==Gossip Around The Campfire==
By this time the trading has obviously been concluded, Talaris gets given two small pouches plus a strange hide (from an Owlbear). In return he offloads a couple of sacks of arrowheads, four sacks of spearheads and some cavalry sabres. Both parties look satisfied with the deal, and it isn’t too long before some wine is broken out and people settle down to eating.
Tellef turns out to be less useful than Q’Ran in terms of information, she will say that the Owlbear was killed about 4 weeks back up North by a party of hunters. Con grumpily mentions that he should have been on that hunt, but his mother refused to let him accompany the group.
Philan (whispered aside): “He has been identified as a potential Speaker apprentice you see, but doesn’t want that – he wants to be a warrior like all of the youngsters”
Terfel: “Well, us Centaurs certainly aren’t the only nomads on the Eastern plains, there are a couple of small Orcish Nomad tribes, and before you ask – they aren’t hostile no matter what people say. A couple of the Orcs I know are more devout Wyldwood followers than many centaurs. But they keep themselves to themselves, and of course the Razorclaw Maratasen are out East as well. I hear they are trying to get over towards Wilston way with Snake and Wolverine clans.”
(He stops suddenly, realising he may have said too much)
Terfel: “There’s even a few small nomadic human tribes, thought to be honest – and no offence intended – most of them are a bit pathetic really. Vegetarian, refuse to kill animals, keep on talking about how we are letting nature be destroyed. Still, they don’t bother us, so we leave them wander around.”
Con: “Don’t forget Thunder Clan”
Terfel: “Indeed if they still exist though, Thunder Clan claims or claimed to be one of the original Giant tribes that was around Far Haven when the humans arrived. Problem was that somehow or other they ended up being banned from the city and its environs way way back. Since when they have been, or at least were, out on the Eastern plains. I haven’t heard of them for at least 10 or more years now, and even then people said there were only about twelve individuals left in the clan. All of the other Giant clans are West of the river.”
Terfel: “If you want to meet a Speaker, you will have to head out onto the plains to meet up with a clan, generally the Speakers stay with the clan, although there are occasions when they will travel independently, generally if they want to meet up with another Speaker, or of course when the Ur Khan discussions are taking place but that isn’t due for at least a year. Sometimes you may find a Speaker at the meeting place with a trading delegation, but getting to see them will be difficult then because they are normally tied up in meetings with Saratak.”
Q’Ran: “Saratak, well he’s a little strange shall we say, but he has always played fair with the clans and made sure that they are welcome in the city and get decent trade deals. Every clan speaker holds him in high regard, even with his eccentricities, and from that respect, the clans follow. He was around when the Wyldwood shrine in Far Haven was conquered by the Shanah, by all accounts fairly level headed in those days, not long after that took his pilgrimage to the Cracks of Doom – weird behaviour but……”
Terfel: “We always saw the Wyldwood shrine destruction as a city matter, nothing to do with the clans. Our own beliefs are tied to the lands we roam rather than a city based shrine, obviously there is the pilgrimage, but that is a matter for the priests and shamans. By all accounts Onwen and Bez Drock headed out west, so possibly the Giants or the Maratasen clans would have a better view as to where they are now – if they are still alive.”
Philan: “The conflict with the Orcs & Trolls has died down a little over the past two weeks, but we now know the reason why. Obviously their attention has been on establishing themselves in Torgan. Being honest with ourselves, it is not really a war, the clans do not have the strength to go toe to hoof with Ghoulagabba and Trollheim, what we do is simply harassment. Things might have to change soon though….”
Q’Ran: “The Wyldwood avatars are restricted to the Shamans and the holy warriors, I guess you would call them Palladins. My understanding from observing other folks is that as Centaurs we have many more of such skills amongst our people than is the norm. Of course the counter is that we have very few what you would call Arcanists, and even fewer Thieves….. not that we are well suited to being covert.”
Dinner draws to a close, and people retire for the night.
In the morning the wagon train prepares to move out, whilst the centaurs distribute the load amongst their Horses and themselves.
…….
==General Gossip==
===Riverside===
Riverside was established as the Winter residence of the Kingdoms rulers not long after the unification of the various human fiefdoms. The city has an imposing set of inner fortifications with massive main gates that were enchanted to only open to particular personages. The kings mages working in concert for nearly a year modified this enchantment so that only members of the royal family could activate this enchantment. As such, the gates are normally left open, and only closed when the royal family were in residence or in times of extremis.
When the Elven invasion sent a force up towards Riverside, the majority of the cities populace and soldiery retreated inside the inner fortifications and closed the gates. However, during the second day of the Riverside siege, the enchantment was activated and the gates opened, the city fell shortly thereafter.
Both sides in the civil war accuse each other of being the traitor, and this has driven the Solarans and Alverans even further apart. Some of the more cynical point to Adamas and Reston as acknowledged bastards as other potential candidates, whilst others simply point out that William had any number of bastard offspring who might have met the enchantment criteria.
===Trading In Far Haven===
All trading in Far Haven is controlled by the ministry of Trade, which in turn licenses Merchant Houses to operate in the city. Each Merchant House, whilst trading on their own behalf, also then controls and limits access to street licenses, enabling market vendors to operate. Unlicensed trading does occur but is risky since both the city watch and the merchant house operatives are on the lookout for such behaviour. The one exception is the Meeting Place, where anybody is allowed to set up trading stalls.
Talaris normally trades with the Cadvan Merchant House, purely because of familiarity with them and because he knows how far he can push a deal with them. He is fully expecting to only have metal ingots by the time he reaches Far Haven, but Cadvan will buy them eagerly and then distribute to their partner smithies. Trade in Far Haven is fairly cut-throat, unless you are a skilled negotiator then expect to get fleeced, and many of the street traders will have friendly city watch who will turn a blind eye to obvious fraud.
Against that caution, most of the shops, particularly in the Gold Quarter are honest, if you want to guarantee trade is above board then look for those premises that show the Perceval sigil. Whilst you may well find youself paying over the odds unless you are a skilled negotiator at least the deal will be straight and honoured. Most of the shops showing the Perceval sigil are high quality establishments and there are some skilled craftsmen in Far Haven. Unfortunately no master smiths, but maintaining and repairing quality weapons should be easily within their capabilities.
Far Haven specialises in fine cloth, animal hides and leather (both fine quality for gloves etc, but also for armour and in particular barding which is the chief trade with the centaurs).
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