Horsegate

Country
 Region
 Government
 Leader
 Founder
 Population
 Language

## History

320PE: Three hundred and twenty years after the creation of the Aurian Empire, every priest of Archan had the same dream. He dreamt of himself being caught in a flood and ceasing to exist as a person, washed away and dissolved, into the flood itself. The flood flowed down the mountainous peaks of Firemain Pass and flowed to a certain spot in the middle of the plains. There the light shone on it and is changed rising into a new form, the deadly form of the Shift of Souls.

Upon waking every priest made his way to Horsegate, the location shown in the dream. There they had the ‘Disolvement’, each surrendering their independence, their former tribes and even their priesthood status becoming the Shift of Souls, the demon-hunters. Their horses changed beneath them becoming Soulsteeds. This began the transformation of the Horselords into their current way of life as parts of Seven Great Shifts.

320-25PE: After their victory under the Shift of Souls, at the command of Archan, the Shifts of Stones, Running Waters, Gales and Inferno Blades are founded at Firemain Pass.

1243-45PE: Attempted invasion by Auria, powerfully rebuffed by the united might of the Seven Great Shifts. Alkan’s borders are officially recognised by some and drawn onto maps in much the same places they stand today.
1400PE: The Fortress of Horsegate is begun in response to increased tensions and threat of invasion. It is to stand on the very spot where the Shift of Souls held the Disolvement. The trail between it and the sacred Firemain Pass is completed and named Farhoof.

1480PE: Horsegate is completed with walls 50 Strides high and 5 strides thick.

1599PE: War of Walled Treachery, The Tarrik of the Shift of Gales is killed whilst within the walls of an Imperial border city. Haji his successor calls ‘Shadowmane’(all out war by the Alkar nation) and all the Alkar gather to Horsegate to have a Council of Shifts . The call is upheld.

1600PE: The new Eqi’Tane of The Shift of Gales Haji rides to the city backed by the Seven Shifts and flying the united Desert Storm Banner. The city's vizier Tazar (the murderer of the original Tarrik) calls down a Chaos demon and battle commences. Led by Haji and the Shift of Light, the Alkar defeat the demon and break the walls of the city leveling it and leaving its people no choice, but to run homeless back into the Empire. The Aurians officially recognise Alkan as a country at this point.

1646PE : Skirmishes were fought with Errantlund over the ancestral axe blade Cavernous Might. The Shift of Stones argued it should not have been taken, the Errantlunder Knights that it was a fair trophy taken as spoils from a fair challenge. Only three Shifts ride to war including the Shift of Stones leaving Horsegate unmanned), but cannot break through Eagle’s Gate. A great battle is fought there. It is captured in a painting and tapestry by the renowned Errantlunder artist and bard Wiley Phelps.

## Geography

Horsegate is a place to rally to, a safe-zone for those unable to fight. It is a huge wall roughly oval in shape with several wide gates. Those who are unable to fight can hole up behind the huge walls and the rest of the Shifts remain free to fight. Whilst the attacking army uselessly laid siege to the impregnable walls the unfettered Shifts would mercilessly destroy their supply lines and destroy their men and resolve with flanking attacks.

It took eight years for the horselords to build and when it was planned it was done so on very straightforward lines. It is simply a wall, a very big wall with large gates to allow horsemen in and out with ease. This stronghold is rightly famed for its walls 50 strides high and 5 strides thick. Indeed it is said that Sakarah, the Tarrik of the Shift of Shadows at the time said “If you must have them, make them the best!”

## Economy

Horsegate has the closest thing to a standard economy in the entire Alkan plain. Here the Shift of Stones have permanent buildings and so tradesman can set up and literally never have to move camp. This is unheard of anywhere else in the country. Alkar in Horsegate are twice as likely to accept coin in trade compared with any other Alkar as they have guaranteed takers in the busy and heavily populated centre. Horsegate itself however mints no coinage.

## Demographics

The marvel of Horsegate really is that it was built at all. The horselords despise walls and the lack of movement they enforce. They had never built anything from stone in their centuries of existence and then they built this one massive edifice out of stone quarried from Firemain Pass and brought along the only trail that could be called a road in this massive country,the trail Farhoof.

Now the Shift of Stones care for Horsegate on a permanant basis. They man its defences and are the most stable of all the Great Shifts. Not only is it solid and lasting, but in an eerie way it has always remained elegant.

### Religion

The worship of Archan as an aspect of the Avatar of Wild is overwhelmingly prevalent in Horsegate.

## Politics and Government

Horsegate is the central meeting point for the Shifts and the home of the Shift of Stones. The Shift does have additional weight at the home point due to its status as possessor but this counts for much less than foreigners imagine. To the Alkar the Shift of Stones willingness to stay rooted is a great sacrifice rather than a recommendation for leadership. Indeed it is exceptionally rare for the Tarriks of that Shift to take a very active part in the Council of Shifts at all. The Shift of Souls is honoured highly here as in all of Alkan. They are the rulers if anyone is.

## Military

This is the only constantly militarised area of Alkan. The Shift of Stones on their Greyhill Steeds man Horsegate all year round. Should enemies approach it is they who will without much questioning charge them off. The Stoneclad Knights are formidable as their lances hit like stone and their horses are the heaviest cavalry known on Karandia their skin tougher than a a fully barded charger ridden by Errantlunder knights.

## Culture

Since its creation Horsegate has become a rallying point for all the horselords. Here is where the first shift was formed. Later after Alkan had been invaded by walled men it was natural that this be the place chosen for the only permanent bastion of the horselords.