The city of Karststadt sat perched atop a cliff, its walls taking advantage of the ravines and crevasses of the karst to render it near impregnable. The palace itself soared like a spire over the rest of the city, its foundations upon the very highest point of the cliff edge. It was a sparkling jewel amidst the green and gray landscape that was at once both verdant and barren. The approaches to the city, were they hard contested, would have bled any attacker. If Kirchner lacked the men to contest them, or if he were merely cowering behind the walls of white limestone, I couldn’t tell. I did know that there were no less than six springs watering the city, and there were a multitude of caves through which egress might be attained by those who knew the labyrinth.

There were men on the walls. They peered cautiously down as we encamped on the far side of the stone bridge leading to the main gates. A drawbridge would have been more secure, as they could have raised it up and left naught but a ravine in the way. But the impressive arch led up to a solid gate castle arrayed to rain death upon any who would threaten the iron-clad gates. It echoed Castle Gefrah in many aspects, and I knew without needing to verify that the same hand had drawn up the plans. Steeling my spine, I suppressed my annoyance that the wall and the closed gates bore the ensign of the Raven Coast Roc carved upon their faces.

Spaced out so that we could wheel and run, my troop rode slowly onto the bridge. Slightly behind me to my right, Ritter held my banner unfurled, letting it snap in the breeze. In the same position to my left, Marcelene nervously scanned the ramparts for archers. Lenz rode behind Marcelene, and Soren behind Ritter. The rest of the troop was arrayed behind them. With our deliberate approach, the defenders appeared uncertain as to what was going on. The gate captain leaned over the battlement and called out.

“Who goes there?”

I inhaled deeply and made sure my voice carried without outright shouting.

“I am Kord Grosz von Karststadt-Salzheim, Furst of Karststadt. This is my city. I have come to arrest the traitorous Bonifaz Kirchner for his crimes. He has been stripped of his lands and titles and is to face trial for rebellion. I have no intention of harming the denizens of the municipality whose name I share, nor any of its defenders. Only those who seek to bar the execution of my duty will face my judgment.”

There was a murmur from the battlements as the guards mulled my pronouncement.

“Do you really think this is going to work?” Marcelene asked.

“It’s worth a try,” I said.

A silence fell over the city, broken only by the wind whistling through the ravines. I waited, my face as stoic as I could make it. They hadn’t struck at me, but I couldn’t help but see the gates still shut.

“How long do we give them?” Lenz asked.

“Patience,” I cautioned. “Let them respond… one way or another.”

Given the ponderousness of armies, I had no doubt word of what had transpired at Salzheim had preceded us, including that of my judgment of prisoners. It seemed like a meager thing to count on, but the more I saw of Karststadt, the less I liked the prospect of laying siege to it.

With a boom, my faith was rewarded. The mechanism creaked as the iron-clad gates swung towards me. The guards had formed up on either side of the avenue, standing like statues lining the street. I nudged Graymire into a walk and forced myself to let Marcelene watch for signs of perfidy. For this to work, I had to appear supremely confident that I was the one to whom these men owed their loyalty. Still, my muscles tensed as I passed under the gatehouse where murder-holes sat not far above my head. I pointedly ignored the defenses and continued forward.

As I crossed the threshold, the guards fell to one knee and bowed their heads. I very quietly let out a relieved breath. The army would be following us soon, and once we had the gate castle, the prospect of a protracted engagement fell as precipitously as the ravine serving in place of a moat. Still, there was a chance they wanted to trap me inside the walls and away from the army. I didn’t let that doubt overtake me as I continued walking Graymire along the street towards the palace. The structures within the wall were built as vertically as everything else I’d seen, trying to make the most of the limited land between the ravines. Even the relatively broad avenue I rode down felt cramped with the half-timbered structures jettied out above it.

Palace guards in polished plate stood across the battlements of the inner wall I hadn’t seen on the approach. The city and palace formed a great concentric castle with even more imposing walls around that innermost keep. However imposing the walls, they did little good when the guards threw open the gates and bent the knee. I did spare a glance over my shoulder to be sure the army was behind us. The sight of neat files of armored footmen in the red livery of Gefrah was less reassuring than it should have been. Still, I entered the palace courtyard and dismounted. Striding up to the now-open doors, I followed the line of waiting servants to the back of the building.

The great balcony was a circular room with half a dome holding up the palace on the city side, and a semi-circle of patterned red and white marble extending out over the cliff. No artist could have captured the striking beauty of the rugged landscape past that railing, but I couldn’t stand and admire it just yet. There was a solitary figure between me and the rail. Rotund, balding, and weak of chin, the man was utterly unimposing. As he stood only average height for a southerner, I dwarfed him. Trembling, he cast his gaze from doorway to doorway, where the palace guard blocked his egress.

“Bonifaz Kirchner?” I asked.

He fell to the floor at my feet, sobbing uncontrollably.

Postscript

Whatever happened to… by Dug FitzHelen

As this narrative took place a few decades ago, a lot has happened since the close of the tale. I did my best to track down the fates of everyone mentioned within these pages so as to provide some form of update as to where they went and what happened to them afterwards. I was more successful with some than others. I will try to keep them in the order in which they appear in the rest of the volume, and will endeavor to be brief.

Kord Grosz von Karststadt-Salzheim – Much of my uncle’s reign was consumed by wars, the clearance of the Slagveld, conquest of the Hookwood, liberation of Zesrin, defeat of House Knochenmus, and the pacification of the Raven Coast. If that were all he had engaged in, he would have ended up a pauper. He was systematic in his efforts in the Slagveld, mapping the myriad byways, building forts, roads and waterways to slice off piece after piece and bring it under control. This survey uncovered large deposits of silver, lead, and garnet which financed his construction projects. The infrastructure and increased security along with his permissive hand towards commerce led to an economic boom in the north without which his armies would have run dry well before finally securing his frontiers. His life was not wholly absorbed with administration and warfare, as he was wed to Lady Marcelene not long after taking Karststadt. She would bear him three sons – Horst, Hermann, and Peter. Each would become famous in his own way.

Lorenz Castor zu Ritterblume – Lenz remained as close as a brother to Prince Kord. Indeed, I have seen them have entire conversations where it appeared less than a third of the necessary words were spoken. He did not, however, become Kord’s right hand, nor successfully lead an army. He could never come into his own as a leader, preferring to follow. He did excel on the tournament circuit, where his skill at arms was all he needed. Because of his indecisiveness, administration of Ritterblume more often than not fell to his wife, a lovely woman from Freinmarkt. They eventually had five children together.

Gisela Castor – After Kord and Marcelene married, Gisela moved to Stirnberg and stayed at court until she met a scion of House Wachsenveld from one of the cadet branches. The most remarkable thing about the man was his superficial resemblance to Prince Kord.

Jost Castor zu Ritterblume – Despite his pessimism in Salzheim, Jost survived his injuries and fever. Though he did have persistent ill-health afterwards. On returning to Ritterblume, he passed whatever duties he could to Lorenz, trying to coax his son into rising to the challenge. With his poor health, he ended up in semi-retirement, spending most of his days playing with his grandchildren.

Bonifaz Kirchner – It may seem odd to have an entry for Kirchner here, but my uncle’s yarn ended before detailing the rebellious Markgraf’s fate. Some accounts accuse Prince Kord of decapitating him there on the grand balcony. Others claim Kirchner was pitched over the edge. Neither was true. He was given the courtesy of a full trial before his peers. The fact that he’d tried to kill or subjugate his peers didn’t do him any favors, and he was turned over to the headsman.

Othmar Schlesser – No one ever did figure out how old Othmar was. He’d outlived anyone who might know, and as the years went on, his mental faculties continued to deteriorate. It reached a point where he could not recognize people he’d known for years, even Jost. He often lost track of where he was and what he was doing. In the end, he passed in his sleep.

Johan Ritter – While I’m not sure if he formally got Roland’s permission to begin the courtship, Johan did marry Magda von Salzheim. Together they had three children. As the protege of Pfaltzgraf Salzheim, he learned to be a capable administrator, with the first major project he was tasked with overseeing being the construction of a new sewer for the city of Salzheim. While unglamorous, it vastly improved the city, and Johan deserved more credit than he’s been given. Despite his responsibilities, Johan has made a fair showing at tournaments, where he maintains friendly rivalries with Eckhart Rappe and Andrei Banik.

Gerhard – It was difficult to track down the Serjants-at-arms that rode with Prince Kord in the early days of the war. I did eventually determine that Gerhard spent his years training war horses before contracting a fever in the dead of winter. He was unable to receive proper treatment and succumbed to the ailment.

Werner – Even harder to track down than Gerhard, I almost listed Werner as slain in battle, as the number of records and recollections after that all but vanish after he lost a foot. It turned out he took up preaching and became a priest of mercy.

Magda von Salzheim – Marriage suited Magda, as she became known as a kindly and welcoming woman, only growing more so once she became a mother. Her focus moved more towards her immediate family, and she had little engagement in politics. To everyone who knows her, she seems quite content with her life.

Roland von Salzheim – Still in possession of his health, Roland remained active as Graf and Pfaltzgraf of Salzheim. When Prince Kord was on campaign and unable to devote much attention to the administration of civil affairs, Roland often served as viceroy. As a private person, he did not advertise many of his activities. I was surprised to discover that Roland held the rank of Knight Commander of the Order of Dragonslayers, and remained active in the politics of the Order. More importantly to me, he commissioned my second voyage of exploration.

Pankraz Gost – As Harbormaster and Treasurer-General of Salzheim, Pankraz spent most of his time between the harbor and the palace. Unfortunately, the continued loss of his hearing and eyesight forced Pankraz to turn over his duties to his son. He was reportedly quite cantankerous and frustrated at his condition. He underwent a radical treatment in an attempt to restore his senses. Sadly, this treatment was not only unsuccessful, but hastened his demise.

Frau Kirschbauer – I debated leaving Kirchbauer off of the list, as she died during the siege of Salzheim, but her fate was not addressed within the main body of the yarn.

Hubert Freinmarkt-Ziegeberg – The Herzog was not a young man when Kord met him, and not in the best of health. He did manage to survive another eleven years, but spent less and less time away from his estate at Ziegeberg.

Soren Gost – For the first few years, Soren continued to serve as Kord’s adjutant, but had to return to Salzheim to take over as Harbormaster and Treasurer-General. He remained a trusted confidant, and often handled financial matters for both Roland and Kord. He has sometimes been accused of burying himself in his duties because of the unhappiness of his marriage. While I cannot confirm any marital strife, I get the impression that he and his wife were a poor match for each other.

Curva – The Magistrate of Amber Town continued to prosecute banditry and attempt to impose order on the Cynocephali of the Ostgelb. His efforts would eventually drive the dogmen into the plains north of the Drowned City, where they would be forced to accept the suzerainty of the Furst of Karststadt and more importantly, obey the laws of the land. Shortly after the end of the bandits, Curva retired, regarding his work done.

Oliver Black – The Freiherr of Ostgelb never strove for more than he had. He was content with his lot, and remained in his comfortable position. Though I understand his volkssprache has improved.

Lutz Knochenmus – Initially content to wait, expecting to be ransomed, Lutz spent years in Karststadt. There, he married a noblewoman whose family lost their holdings due to Kirchner’s rebellion, and the two have a son. The remainder of House Knochenmus proved uninterested in securing Lutz’s release, or in negotiating a peace. As a consequence, Lutz and his son ended up the last survivors of the bloodline. When the younger Knochenmus refused to condemn Prince Kord, Lutz denounced his son and fled his captivity. He took to piracy under the name Helmscar the Branded, though his distinctive facial scar and neck tattoo makes it easy to identify him.

Hengist III – With the aid of his friends, including Prince Kord, Hengist regained the throne of Zesrin within a year of being deposed, though his finances were left in shambles. His reign is marked by low-intensity war along the border with Iokathra. Neither kingdom is able to make any gains on the scale of the early conflict, and it degenerated into a series of cross-border raids. Hengist has only one official child, a daughter. He is rumored to have several bastards, though he has only attempted to legitimize one, Prince Bartel. Bartel was not the child of Hengist’s parents as had been initially announced, but of Hengist and a young maid in service to the old queen. The young noblewoman died in childbirth, and was only married to Hengist posthumously – a status not always accepted.

Sture Zeelan – The business of selling arms and armor is a reliable one, as both war and tournaments are common enough. Sture remained prosperous for years, though his heart would eventually betray him, and he would collapse in his counting room.

Alexis Partanen – The Ambassador remained a friend to Prince Kord, though internal Dwarf matters kept his attention for most of his time. Were this a more fanciful volume, it might be asserted that Ambassador Partanen brought an end to the factional strife in Quendaverus. This is about as realistic as convincing dwarfs to give up their love of gold and spices. He did, however, help negotiate the end of the interregnum and the bloodletting. The truce between the Traditionalist and Pragmatist factions led to the installation of Isidoros Laukkanen as Emperor, the tightening of the borders of Quendaverus, and the formation of the Northguard. This last development was of great importance to my family. The Northguard was a force of humans to serve in place of the unreliable auxiliaries. Not only did Hermann Grosz serve as a Commander of that order, but early on, Count Heard was one of the first members. If not for the Count’s absence, my mother would not have engaged in the affair that led to my birth. I have tactfully avoided thanking the Ambassador for this, as it would be a bit awkward. He is still a patron of the ceramic arts.

Alyssa de Corval – The aged Subhierophant of Azerion retired from her post not long after the fall of Zesrin to Iokathra. Age caught up with her three years after that.

Baron Sprelnede – I can find no evidence that this man ever existed. I wonder if Prince Kord misheard or misremembered the name.

Stefak of Iokathra – The battle of Altenheim marked the zenith of Stefak’s ambition. Relations with Zanthas soured, and he was driven from Zesrin, but managed to hold the original borders of Iokathra. For the series of political reverses that followed, Stefak maintained a strong position in his own kingdom. Becoming more isolated from his neighbors, he grew borderline paranoid. Cultivating spies and inconspicuous agents, he became a master of intrigue. Stefak’s secretive nature made it hard to tell what happened with his personal life. It also created a tendency for people to see Iokathran plots in innocent happenstance. It was perhaps an even greater triumph than his early military successes, as he almost toppled the kingdom of Zesrin through subterfuge and insinuation.

Gunther Heintze – Remaining as the Majordomo of House Banik, Gunther’s life remained tied to the family’s fortunes. He helped safeguard the women and younger members of the house during the Iokathran occupation of Zesrin. Despite the common knowledge that Lothar and Andrei were with the exiled Hengist, Gunther managed to talk his way out of retaliation against the family. After retiring, he was permitted to remain in the household and guaranteed a place at their table for the remainder of his days.

Lothar Banik – After the loss of his leg, Lothar fell into a deep melancholy that lasted for several years. He was eventually coaxed out of the dark mood by a posting as the royal inspector of mines. Despite the title, the royal inspector never went into the mines proper, but was instead responsible for ensuring the correct assessment of taxation. Requiring social aptitude and the ability to suss out falsehoods more than mobility, it restored Lothar’s sense of purpose. While he started with no knowledge of natural philosophy, he learned a great deal about ores and assays while on the job. It helped that he had capable subordinates who could assist.

Andrei Banik – During his father’s depression, Andrei took over most of the duties of Baron, despite lacking the title. Due to the faithful service he and his father provided during Hengist’s exile, Andrei found himself tasked with any number of duties requiring the utmost trust. He was eventually named Marquess of the Northwest. This march was mostly mountains bordering the Ostgelb, with a narrow border with Neph. It is notable as the region I was born in, and for housing the handful of roads directly connecting Zesrin to the Volkmund, though those roads are steep and narrow.

Eckhart Rappe von Schlauburg – Belonging to a class of nobles whose holdings were insufficient to support their lifestyle, Rappe all but lived on the tournament circuit. A single win in a given year might be sufficient to offset the deficiency of his domains. His friendly rivalry with Johan Ritter allowed for the negotiation of profitable agreements between Schlauburg and Salzheim, mostly by way of Rappe’s contacts with other members of the tournament circuit.

Krahenhammer – A well-established artisan, Krahenhammer remained in Freinmarkt. A respected member of the Swordsmiths’ Guild and affiliate of the Goldsmiths, he nonetheless failed to attain his ambition of becoming a Grossburger of the city. He contracted a lung ailment common to smiths, and despite treatments, passed twelve years after Prince Kord met him.

Adelbert Sitzauer-Hackenhof – As I mentioned in a footnote, Adelbert remained Emperor until the age of one hundred and four, expiring shortly before I returned from my first voyage of exploration. The electors who’d selected him had expected the sixty year old man to not reign for long. Forty-four years later, he had outlasted most of them. He did largely manage to avoid internal strife south of the small sea during his tenure, keeping disputes within the debate halls of the Diet and off the battlefields. Only Kirchner’s rebellion and a dispute over the succession of the Markgraf Geistenwald marred his record. Adelbert the Old is already being noted in history books for his wisdom.

Otto Hackenhof von Altschaft – After the passing of Adelbert, the electors had to contend with the possibility that their choice would outlive their expectations. Ironically, Otto was elected because Prince Kord supported one of his own rivals. While not particularly exceptional, Otto’s reign has been stable. I have already admitted my bias, as he named me Graf and Imperial Navigator. Despite his duties, he has remained an avid jouster, and became a patron of tournaments to provide sufficient venues to engage in the sport.

Max Kempf – As are the hazards of the life of a sellsword, Kempf was slain in battle, struck by an arrow through an open visor.

Erwin Blattrebe von Sturmbrucke – Like von Schlauburg, Sturmbrucke worked the tournament circuit to supplement the meager income of his holdings. This became his undoing, as he was thrown from his horse in transit between contests and broke his neck.

Bartel – Being the figurehead during the Iokathran occupation of Zesrin deeply tarnished Bartel’s reputation with the nobility, despite his adolescence at the time. Accusations and suspicion of being Stefak’s puppet would plague Bartel, despite the fact he personally returned the crown to Hengist’s head when the man returned to Zesrin. The revelation that Bartel was not Hengist’s brother but his bastard by a young maid did not help. He married late, to the Dowager Queen of Neph, who was in her thirties at the time. Despite that, the couple still managed to have two children.

Gerda Hutmacher – With continued service to the Academy at Zhalskrag, Hutmacher eventually rose to the post of Hofmeister-Provost of the academy. She did not, however, attain the rank of Mistress of the Jasper Tower. Evidently her magical understanding and prowess was insufficient for the rank.

Kranz – The Statthalter of the Freinmarkt Freihaus of House Grosz suffered a stroke six years after the end of Kirchner’s rebellion. Having spent his entire life in service of the family, he was buried with honors beyond that one might expect a common servant to receive.

Stuber – Castellans of the Knights of Gefrah are already retired, it being a light duty post for members too old for service in the field. Castellan Stuber’s passing was quiet and not particularly surprising.

Carolus Straub – Despite Prince Kord’s reservations, Grandmaster Straub remained staunchly loyal for the remainder of his tenure. When his age rendered him unable to serve in the field, as was expected of Grandmasters of the Order, Straub accepted the rank of Castellan, a post he still occupies today.

Vogel – Finding out what became of Hengist’s scoundrel has proven impossible. For a time, he was in the service of Folcher Bluttenblatte, where Eugen Sulzbach met him. After that, I can find no trace of the man. I do want to find him and uncover both where he came from and where he went. I still strongly suspect he is of Byzeri origins, but cannot prove it.

Armand Kestrel – After the battle of Silver Oak, Armand Kestrel made his way home to find his estate abandoned. The tenants and retainers who survived had fled north, and slowly returned. He felt betrayed by the king he’d served, and remained resentful for decades. Despite this, he agreed to the marriage of his son to Hengist’s daughter as part of a reconciliation. It at least led to an end to his agitation.

Oswin Kestrel – Despite the efforts of Hengist to spare him during the fight at the Kestrel estate, the one-armed Oswin refused to relent, and suffered injuries which resulted in his demise several days later.

Gebhard Freinmarkt-Ziegeberg – After receiving treatment from an Ivory Wizard, Gebhard recovered from his injury. While not fond of Prince Kord personally, he was a rational man and understood the value of retaining cordial relations with House Grosz. Despite his far more brusque personality when compared with his father, Gebhard managed to maintain the alliances Hubert had cultivated.

Tabris IV – After returning to Zanthas, Tabris covered over the failure at Altenheim by playing up the fact that he was the only swordsman to have wounded the Bloodstorm in single combat. This did help him avoid domestic catastrophe. Unfortunately, Tabris IV died childless, and the throne went to his far less capable nephew, Tabris V.

Jaska Bedros – The post of Archilogos was already a light one before the reign of Isidoros Laukkanen, and after he took the throne it became a veritable sinecure. Bedros has remained indolent, and done little of anything, let alone anything of note.

Pyry Theophanis – The Dux of Oakenyoke chafed under the influence of the Lawspeakers, and upon coming of age set out to indulge his interest in seeing those places he’d only heard of. He became one of the first dwarf nobles to visit the western kingdoms since the fall of the Old Empire. His tour of Atlor, Vartenthral, and Valay drew a great deal of attention. He was determined to see the snows of the Ritterblume and the karstlands of the Slagveld. I still vividly remember his visit to Karststadt, as he was the first dwarf I saw in person.

Stojan Archelaus – Having committed his life to the legions, the Protoarchistratigos endeavored to reform the institution to correct the decay that had set in over the centuries. Before his efforts could bear fruit, he was assassinated as part of the factional strife of the interregnum.

Oskar von Ochstead – Stabbing your liege is not particularly forgivable, even when done in the heat of passion. While his own fate was sealed, the only clemency he asked for was to permit his holdings to pass to his son. Gebhard agreed to this, but also permitted Oskar to keep his own life by joining a monastic order with a vow of poverty.

Grunwald – While known to Prince Kord mostly as a Captain of Infantry in the employ of Freinmarkt-Ziegeberg, his primary vocation was as the Chief Verderer of Ziegeberg. He spent most of his time searching for poachers, though he also employed a number of former poachers in tracking down those who were more prone to violence towards public officials. He made most of his income from the management and sale of timber, a profession he much preferred to the clash of arms.

Rein Appelblum – When I heard that Rein Appelblum became a poet and artist, I expected a more upbeat tale. However, I found it difficult to locate examples of his work, or even to get people to speak of it. Eventually, I uncovered the whole story. Appelblum led an expedition into the Tomblands of West Longue in search of secrets and riches. What he brought back was an infestation of shadeworms. Shadeworms are a brain parasite of magical nature. Though the ailment was treated, the changes were permanent. He spent his life composing deranged poetry and composing books full of disturbing imagery and distressing prose. His family ended up burning the collected volumes. In the last weeks of his life, Appelblum penned one last codex on a volume which could not be burned, and had it smuggled out. For whatever reason, he sent it to Prince Kord, who had it locked away. All I was told was that it was the product of a diseased mind.

Hugo Blutenblatte – Being a patron of the arts and purveyor of the finer things gets expensive. Some people go into debt to sustain the habit. Some seek out additional income. Hugo took a slightly different tack. He plunged into the underworld of Freinmarkt, becoming a fence and art launderer. He would keep those items he most liked while trading on the remainder of the contraband. Circulating among the high nobility, his customers included a great many influential people. Despite the scandal when it came to light, he avoided severe repercussions because his customers did not want their involvement to come to light. It is rumored that he has quietly returned to the occupation, though no proof has been forthcoming.

Olavi Sippe – During the interregnum, Olavi was quite busy treating the victims of the factional strife. The strain of the work led to him needing to depart Kheimopolis to recuperate after Isidoros Laukkanen was crowned. Unfortunately, while in the country, he was attacked by a bear and suffered great injury. He lingered for a week before perishing.

Folcher Blutenblatte – With the death of his cousin, Folcher became Graf von Skraelkirk, ending his tenure as steward for the Markgraf Geistenwald. As his sister had married into that family, he still maintained his connections with Geistenwald, serving in the war of succession that split that domain. While venal, he wanted to enjoy the position he’d gained, and did not risk it in additional military ventures.

Vinzent von Diethopf – Being on good terms with the Furst of Karststadt and of personable character opens up a great many opportunities for a young nobleman of middling rank. He accompanied Prince Kord to Stirnberg whenever the Diet was in session, and secured himself a marriage to the niece of Herzog Ebenfels.

Eckler – With the Furst of Karststadt once again active in the Diet, the Statthalter of his household in Stirnberg found himself quite busy. While he prided himself on making the requirements of the post appear effortless, the strain took its toll after decades of laxness. He was forced to retire for the sake of his own health, passing the duties to a younger man.

Eugen Sulzbach – While I have no record of Prince Kord ever meeting Eugen, I did mention him and have had to rely upon his expertise several times in compiling this volume. Eugen Sulzbach is a wizard of the Obsidian Tower bearing the rank of Master, though he has long since completed his contract with the academy. An acknowledged expert in what Lady Marcelene describes as ‘esoteric thaumaturgy’, he has a depth of knowledge few could ever attain. That knowledge could have been parlayed into a substantial fortune in any of the civilized lands. Instead, he has chosen to live in the colony at Nachtval, supporting the settlement efforts in that hostile environment. Through hard work, he has become prosperous, has married, and is raising a family.

Dietz – Despite Prince Kord’s prayers to the contrary, some of the members of his troop died during the fight for the palisade. Poor Dietz was among those who fell.

Haas and Potthast – While two separate people, the same summary is suitable for both masters of the Academy. Old masters in the Academy’s employ rarely move on from their position without the onset of senility. Both men followed this well-trod path, remaining academy administrators well into their dotage.

Marcelene Alodia – As mentioned earlier, Lady Marcelene wed Prince Kord not long after the end of Kirchner’s rebellion. Of their three sons, Hermann was most like Prince Kord, and Peter most like Marcelene. This is not to say they were copies, but the similarities were unmistakable. I have nothing ill to say of my aunt. The woman is a saint who took me into her household when I could not remain in my mother’s. While her marriage meant an end to her career with the Academy due to the impossibility of being in both cities, I don’t think it was ever an issue that crossed her mind. She did help curate quite an impressive library of esoterica in Karststadt, and advised on the founding of the University of Karststadt for the instruction of secular subjects, though she is still happiest with her books and her family.

Dietrich Zweitzer von Stirnberg – While Prince Kord only ever referred to the Herzog Zweitzer by his family name, I had to figure out which Herzog Zweitzer held the title at that time. It was Dietrich during the years covered in this tale. He would fall victim to an embolism not long after. He was succeeded by his son Gunther, not to be confused with his grandson Gunther.

Wenzel von Slough – Despite the difficulties unloading at Odebucht, Wenzel’s aptitude as a tactician and with logistics led to him to be named Captain-General of one of Kord’s armies during the subjugation of the Hookwood and Nordpunkt. For his service, he was named Graf of Nordpunkt, responsible for the coastal territory and several large islands nearby.

Verner Birke – Many people, including Prince Kord, remarked on Verner Birke’s appearance being ‘like porcelain’. This was the result of an extreme treatment he subjected himself to in an effort to avoid growing old. While it did forestall the visible changes, it had horrific side effects. The worst of these was that he eventually turned to stone. By the time his family defied his wishes and sent for magical aid, it was too late. He finished petrifying in the time it took for the wizard to arrive. Though they could transmute him back into flesh, the manner of his petrification was such that it would not have restored Birke to life. His family opted to inter the statue in his tomb as it lay.

Heinrich Stattler – After Kirchner’s trial and execution, Prince Kord offered Stattler the opportunity to reclaim his post as Graf of Kellerburg under the same conditions he’d held it before, albeit with the difference that he held the post directly from the Furst of Karststadt. It was a move of great importance to reassure those who’d followed Kirchner of the Prince’s good intentions. For his own part, Heinrich wanted to ensure that his family could be provided for, as he had no other holdings beyond Kellerburg. He continued to serve Prince Kord until the fighting in the Raven Coast, when he was slain in an Ashman ambush.

Cralx Ghoststalker – The ‘Vicelord’ of the Hookwood delivered only a handful of tribes to Kord’s service, but these goblins were pivotal in tracking down and dealing with the remainder. As the war wound down, Prince Kord sought to reform goblin society to a less chaotic and combative form. Cralx took affront to this effort and led a short-lived rebellion. This rebellion was crushed in short order and the rebels put to the sword. Ironically, Cralx’s rebellion helped secure the very reforms he sought to prevent, as the remainder of the goblins were cowed into acceptance.

The Drakoi – While not an individual, a great deal happened to the Drakoi after the events of Kord’s yarn. Those who lived in Kydessa were put in chains and enslaved by the dwarfs. Most Drakoi did not live in the city, but realized they were in danger of the same fate as long as they remained in Quendaverus. The whole of the people packed up what they could move into huge caravans of house wagons and moved north to Zanthas. Though Tabris IV had been their ally, the sheer number of Drakoi strained the available food, causing a famine. It is unclear if Tabris wanted to succor the Drakoi, but he could not, as the land of Zanthas is not so fertile as to support such a massive influx. Some Drakoi remained in Zanthas, but most were forced to move on. They proceeded through the near desert of the Tulargula Gap – a flat barren land between the north end of the Rustshade and Tular Guul mountains. Beyond it, they come upon the land of Merlepuul, a savannah not too unlike the lands around Kydessa. The rulers of that land attempted to drive them out, but their armies were stronger of pride than force of arms. The Drakoi defeated them and settled down, renaming the region Kainoskhora. They permit the earlier inhabitants to continue their way of life largely unchanged, as they have neither the strength nor the motivation to enforce a change.

If you want your own copy, the whole book is available from Amazon in eBook, Paperback, and Hardcover variants.

One thing I have not mentioned in all my shilling is that each of my books has sold less than the previous. I’m pretty sure that means Amazon’s discovery algorithm isn’t leading people to my stuff. I don’t know if/how much reviews help, but if you have the time and inclination, your honest thoughts would be appreciated.