The City of
Written by:
Matthew Campbell, Chad Chadwick,
Grace Hagood and Charity Hawkins
copyright 1998
History
In 103 of the Evandarrian
calendar, Taniko Yoko Takashi Bokenjen was chosen to lead an expedition of dark
elves from Draelonde to explore the southern regions of Avalon. Taniko, a
fine politician, and her consort, Yukio Toda Gabe Bokenjen, a renowned warrior,
organized the expedition and set off for adventure and glory. Representatives
from Morsuldur, Ruinvorn, and Tsumatzi reportedly were also part of the group,
but the expedition fragmented near the general area known as the Sutherlands.
In 105, the expedition, now
consisting solely of members of Clan Bokenjen, reached the area which is now
the vale of Tyrangel. The party bravely endured a hard winter, which continued
into an even harder year. Skirmishes with local barbarian tribes above
ground and goblin populations below began to sap their strength and many of the
younger Vornae suggested looking further south for better prospects.
Finally, in the early months
of 107, the expedition meets a group calling themselves Corsairs. The
Corsairs look remarkably similar to Vornae, yet they are able to breathe
underwater. While Yukio negotiated territorial rights with the Raven Tribe
of barbarians, Taniko traded spell verbals, including Wither Limb and Waste,
to the Corsairs for their guidance to acceptable caverns. Yukio, a staunch
opponent of the use of necromancy, returned finally and his fury at Taniko echoed
through the vale. However, her subterfuge enabled the expedition to move
into suitable caverns, and for this many party members looked favorably upon
her. The group entered the complex of caverns and on
The following seven years
saw a great deal of city planning, as well as a number of births and light
migration from Draelonde. The Magistrate’s Office came into power as a
neutral force helping to keep balance and law within the city as various houses
vied for power. There were 15 Houses in total who initially demanded
acknowledgment, and competition for rank immediately became fierce. In
those early days there was considerable political maneuvering and even, on at
least a few occasions, armed conflict. House
Donsai, one of the least powerful Houses, was crushed utterly by joint effort
between House Katsu and House Toda before it could properly establish a
foothold. It was wholly sublimated into
the two houses, its resources plundered, and it is now spoken of only as an
object lesson in matters political and the considerable weight failure can
carry.
In 193, Taniko decided to
gamble and attack House Eukie-ni-Kurai as part of a plan to gain control of the
Magistrate’s Office, a force neither could truly claim. Taniko had been
growing steadily more bitter as she realized that she had become largely a
figurehead and that her consort held the real power. In the resulting
battle, House Takashi was left bereft of almost all its power as House Eukie-ni-Kurai
and its allies, House Susumi and House Toda, moved swiftly to overtake
it. In the final battle, Yukio was assumed slain and Taniko entered the
Healer’s Guild in seclusion, abdicating rule of House Takashi to her
daughter.
House Takashi’s loss of honor and members rendered
it so weak that it soon fell into disfavor and impotence and it would be many
years before it would regain much of its former power. It is a testament
to their tenacity that they now hold position as fourth house. At the same time, House Blodwin began rising
to dominance through its strong hold on the
Fifty years passed before
Taniko made another attempt at gaining power. Working from within the
Healer’s Guild, she wrested control by murdering the Guild master and controlling key members of its
council by means alchemical, political and magical. By the time the rest of
the council members began to suspect, she had filled a number of the positions
with loyal supporters.
After years of holding the First
House in name, but desiring true uncontested power, Kiku Blodwin married Tenji
Yamato Eukie-ni-Kurai in 254 thereby cementing both power and position in an
absolute fashion by merging the two houses. House Eukie-ni-Kurai, then the
Fifth House, fielded great military might, but House Blodwin still controlled
the
House Eukie-ni-Kurai continued to hold it’s position as first
house largely through military strength and the weight of Blodwin’s inherited
political might. While this did not sit well with many of the other houses none
of them could bring themselves to challenge the might of the house often called
simply Everhate. To challenge and fail
would bring swift and overwhelming reprisals not only from Eukie-ni-Kurai
itself but also from those seeking advantage or to curry favor with a higher
house and the lessons of Donsai and Takashi lingered. Be certain of your blow or do not strike.
The next 200 years were a
time of peace and prosperity in which the city began to thrive. The Kinoko
Hatake provided plenty of food for the city, and fruit and some meat were
regularly acquired from the surface and the underground lake, Mizzu Kurai, also
called the Grimmermere, yielded a variety of fish. The Uchi Shinda, The
Majutsu and The Chi Shinzo established themselves as centers for training and
gained increasing numbers of applicants. The Kai Gaku became a hub for all
other studies, including history, political science, and alchemy. Further,
formal Tea Houses were formed in each of the Houses as centers of specialty
fighting styles, entertainment, trade, and political machinations.
In 450, Taniko Yoko Takashi
died after lengthy bout with a wasting disease, leaving the Healer’s Guild in
more neutral hands. Later that year the
Suramu cavern wall collapsed and a horde of undead flooded the city. The
Magistrate’s Office called every citizen to take up arms and fight against the
abominations and their leader, a huge revenant called Skullseer of the Puma
Tribe. Access to Skullseer’s Necropolis is limited from the caverns and Kirishai
is able to hold out against the siege. After 37 years of fighting, Skullseer
appeared to be defeated. In later years, we have realized that he was
merely rebuilding his army, and many Vornae interested in learning necromancy
had traveled to study with him after the end of the siege.
In 523, the Corsairs
returned to the city through the underground lake. Taniko’s original
treachery of giving them necromantic spells has given them greatly increased
power and they assault the city. Since neither group can effectively mount
a sizable attack against the other the fight drags into a stalemate lasting
twenty years. Eventually the Corsairs retreat swiftly indicating, perhaps,
that their strength is greatly needed elsewhere. Since then only occasional small raiding
parties have emerged from the lake to harass the city.
After these two wars the
people were dissatisfied with the state of the city and tensions were high. In
565, an Honor Conflict began to reach a head over the issue of slavery, partly
due to conflict with goblin and gnoll tribes to the north. Some of the
goblins were being used as house slaves and many of the various House elders disagreed
with the practice. Tenji, a Traditionalist, headed that side against the
slavers, who included Kiku. The conflict
reached a head and turned bloody. After a long and costly war, Tenji tried to
face down Kiku and was killed in 587. The pro-slavery faction won and Kiku
encouraged the City Council to change the city’s name back to Kirishai. Thus was much of her previously lost honor
restored to her.
In 593, Sorn Eukie-ni-Kurai,
Kiku and Tenji’s youngest son, returned from the surface world and killed Kiku
in vengeance for his father’s death. Kiku resurrected in Hollym and waited
to see what her son would do with the House. Sorn, with the help of Phyrra
Tenshi, seized control of the House. Together, they re-opened the issue of
slavery and convinced the City Council to abolish slavery in all of the Houses.
For a year and a half, Sorn
and Phyrra held a tenuous grasp over the House through Phyrra’s astute
politicking and Sorn’s strong military background. Kiku waited until her
son and his consort traveled to
In recent developments, the
first three Houses, Eukie-ni-Kurai (Everhate), Tenshi, and Katsu, have clearly
established their reputations on the surface world. As in Kirishai, the
members of these Houses focus on what they do best - fight, politic, and trade,
respectively.
Government
Kirishai has always
maintained that it holds fealty to Draelonde, even when Draelonde claimed it
did not know of the existence of this ever-growing city. These days,
however, it has become clear that Kirishai is a force to be reckoned with on
it’s own. In all matters political Kirishai is ruled by council. The
Houses each retain one seat on the council with the Magistrates taking the
final seat. Kirishai’s own Voice of Law, the head of the Magistrates,
presides over the council, but all voices are given equal weight in
meetings.
The city council makes judgments over trade
issues, matters of war, food production and distribution, and city policies and
laws. However, each House retains autonomy in matters which only affect
the House, and each House is run through its own governmental
structure. Some Houses have a hereditary matron mother while others are
run through House council.
Each House is responsible for maintaining its
own guard and for making a portion of the guard accessible for mandatory duty
for the Magistrates. The higher members of the Magistrates forsake their
Houses altogether, since a Magistrate must never be able to be swayed by
familial loyalties.
Population
The
population of the city hovers at a staggering 8,000 dark elves, making Kirishai
almost as large as Draelonde itself. Kirishai claims thirteen Houses,
varying in size, and has established its own order of Houses due to the
geographic distance from Draelonde. The Houses range from approximately 1,000
and 1,500 for the first three and the rest range from 600 to 25. A House
must have at least 25 members to claim itself as a House and must be
acknowledged by the city council. The remaining Houses are ranked as
follows: 1) Everhate 2) Tenshi 3) Katsu 4) Takashi 5) Toda 6) Aika-Niwa 7) Gabe
8) Susumi 9) Yoko 10) Yamato 11) Kaida 12) Jusan, 13) Hyuma. It should be
noted that House Hyuma is considered a fallen House and no one will openly
declare Hyuma as their primary House, although some still claim Hyuma as their
secondary House.
Geography
The Uchi Shinda:
The Healer’s Guild and
The Sei Igi:
The Office of the
Magistrates occupies a central location in Kirishai in order to best serve the
city’s needs. Here, the Voice of Law resides in the top chambers
overlooking the Suramu. Living quarters and council chambers are also
provided for those who have chosen a permanent life with the Magistrates, and
barracks are afforded to members of the Houses who are serving their mandatory
duties. A prison is also located here though justice is swift in Kirishai
and “visitors” will not remain unpunished long.
The Majutsu:
The Mage’s Guild and College
have become so well-known that many citizens choose to send their children
there rather than the Academy Arcanum in Draelonde. New spells are
continually in development and those who wish to experiment with new formal magic
are encouraged to discuss it with their sensei.
The Chi Shinzo:
The
The Kai Gaku:
The
The Suramu:
While the higher-ranking Houses
are situated on a cliff which overlooks much of the city, the unfortunate
lesser Houses are located in a less choice location. Closer to Skullseer’s
Bone Rift, the jochu and the dregs of society congregate, and honorable dark
elves do not often enter these areas. Parts of the Suramu closer to the
Sei Igi are clean and very habitable, but one must always be careful away from
the safety of the higher Houses.
The Mizzu Kurai (also known as the Grimmermere):
The lake is an ominous
place; no one goes there alone, at any time. The fishermen and women that
work there do not do so by simple choice. They are from the lowest Houses
and the jochu. These unfortunates have no other options open to
them. They are unsuitable for any better type of work, uneducated in any
other trade, and undesirable to all but the most desperate Houses. The
lake is a source of food, a primary resource for protein in the caverns, yet
most citizens would rather starve than work the treacherous waters of the
Grimmermere.
The most popular type of
fish is the pikea, which is served marinated and eaten raw. The pikea are
carnivorous, much like the surface fish called piranha. The pikea are
vicious creatures as well as being poisonous. Their meat can kill a person
if it not prepared properly. Chefs who learn how to handle the fish are
highly prized for it is a great honor to be able to prepare the fish
properly. When consumed, the diner’s lips tingle from the remnants of
poison. House Eukie-ni-Kurai, House Tenshi, and House Katsu hold the honor
of employing the only master chefs currently able to prepare the expensive dish
reliably.
Fishing for artifacts or
other items of interest without any magical aid is one of the most terrifying
tests of strength among the youth of the city. Although a horde of
treasure lies quietly at the bottom of the lake, not even the bravest will dive
for it; the creatures that nest in that watery grave are the stuff of
nightmares. One type of animal, a species of albino crocodile grows up to
30 feet long. Their white bodies cut through the water swiftly to snatch
unsuspecting fishermen in their strong jaws.
Even those that are not
frightened by the horrible creatures in the lake are usually alarmed by the
ghost lights. Every now and again, a faint glow flickers far out in the
dark waters. No one has ever discovered the cause, since the light only
occurs in the forbidden zone, that which is beyond the safe waters. Some
say that it is the spirits of those who await proper burial. Some say the
spirits are those dishonored through treachery. And some believe that the
lights come from benevolent ancestors warning their loved ones to say far from
the lake.
The Kinoko Hatake:
The mushroom field is a
source of life and death for the citizens of Kirishai. The mushrooms
produce the protein and nutrients needed to survive, and yet the fields exact a
price for their services. A number of varieties of dangerous mushrooms
grow in the fields and inexperienced dark elves often find themselves suffering
the mushrooms’ ill effects. For example, in isolated regions, far from
prying eyes, Berserk mushrooms wait to be harvested by intrepid
alchemists.
Gaping Maw mushrooms are
said to have a bite of their own. Developed during Jared’s rein, the
Gaping Maws look so much like ordinary mushrooms that most dark elves have a
difficult time distinguishing between the two. The deadly plants have been
used as assassins’ tools for ages. When fully grown, they only measure
about 12” in diameter, but they are sentient (although not intelligent) and
will attack anyone or anything that touches them. They bite the tendons of
the lower leg and the venom they secrete paralyzes the prey. The Maws
continue to bite until blood flows freely from numerous wounds, and the hapless
victim bleeds to death, nourishing the mushrooms with his blood.
A larger variety of Maws,
rarer and more dangerous, can reach 3’ in diameter. These Giant Maws are
grown primarily for the city’s defense and can be seen lining the road into
Kirishai, but occasionally members of rival houses have disappeared, and rumors
abound regarding their untimely and silent deaths. Ironically, those who
endanger the welfare of a House ultimately ensure the city’s survival by
feeding the mushrooms; a great insult in death becomes an honor.
Each House must supply
servants to cultivate the fields. As a service to the city as a whole, no
House is exempt from this duty, and the burden alternates daily. The
servants must wear plate boots, since the Maws can eat through anything of
lesser quality, including cloth and even heavy leather. The venom of the
plants is so acidic that even if the person is not bitten, a juice of a crushed
Maw will destroy the soles of boots. Again, as there is death within life
and life within death, the Maws’ venom has healing properties as
well. Alchemists distill the venom to make a powerful analgesic, and a
mild form of the paralytic juice can be used in surgery. The Kai Gaku
currently oversees all production of the venom, since bad batches can kill the
recipient.
The Wolven
The wolven were originally
created to protect the elves, and as such still have a deep attachment to
them. Wolven are a canine race. Wolven have the ability to walk like
humanoids, have opposable thumbs, wolven have retained many of the
characteristics of their canine ancestors, including fur and markings, and
small but noticeable fangs. They also have slightly keener hearing and smell
than most other humanoids.
Darkstriders are the
descendants of the wolven created by the dark elves. They have dark elf
blood, and were created to hunt the pantherghast. As a result, they can
actually see the outline of the pantherghast well enough to attack
it. They have dark brown fur with black markings. As they grow older,
the black marking begin to turn white.
In Kirishai, Darkstrider
wolven act as the honor guard for the highest-ranking Houses. They also
act as an honor guard for the Magistrates. The wolven are the only ones
allowed to carry arms into council meetings and will protect the Voice of Law
and council members at all costs. Their duty to the dark elves is held in
high esteem and any who would take their service for granted are soon
forcefully reminded by other dark elves of the wolven’s honor.
(Wolven information:
copyright 1995, Buddy Landreth and James Coppedge)