BEAUTIFUL CITIES

It's been a long time since Drinkwell had written the first volume his "Untold Stories." All of his stories had real place and real events and sometimes even realistic character. It was time for the second volume.

Most of the places were nearby. Some stood there for centuries, some were new.

Something has changed during his writing. All could notice that.

One day a stranger knocked on his door. The stranger was lean, tall like a rood with a long black mustache that hanged past his tie. He had a warm face. Not pretty but simple, a normal type of face.

"Good day, sir," the stranger spoke.

"Good day," Drinkwell replied. "How may I help you?"

"I'm from the Hartin and Dartin Company…we have been wondering if you would write the local legends of the places that appear in your tales."

"Certainly, I was planning to do that."

"Even better…"

"Is there a time limit?"

"No."

Where is my material, he looked to his side, I must find it.

His pen was dry, the room stood still for a moment. He thought for a moment and started writing.

Once long ago, the cities in the nearby area had different names. Names long forgotten to man, but the stories survived. There isn't a man alive on this earth that hasn't heard one of these beautiful tales that were passed down from one generation to another of storytellers. They have survived to this day, no matter the odds.

I am not going to write about these tales that changed from their original form, I'm writing about the originals. The stories haven't changed that much, the names and the relationships have changed for the modern storytellers because some names were hard to pronounce.

In the area where I live there are eight cities that have interesting backstories and legends. There are too many to be recorded.

The first on this list is the city-nation of Thar with the capital that has the same name. It's one of the first nations that originated from beginning of the First Era. The city itself is located in north-east region of Pathar. The true name is lost long time ago. A legend says the city was built by King Garath for his wife Queen Altara. Queen Altara, however, wasn't a big fan of the lush forests that surrounded the city. So, the city was populated. Nothing else spectacular happened that made the city famous. The city had its fair share of famous people that came to him or were from him. Most were doctors, professors at the university, writers, poets, soldiers, etc. Some of its more prominent citizens were: Alayandro Emitra- philosopher, Alcadia Raeta- poet, Matrius Eldiar- news writer, Trebor Albiral- general of the first Calvirian cavalry, Werta Gizval- royal painter, Erchibal Yorvin- inventor, Gizdar Tirdin- architect, Rizvam Serdian- historian, Dervin Hirti- archeologist, Ferdin Jirdian- priest.

Twelve kings of the Eagle dynasty have been born in this city.

The second on this list is the Alderian capital of Erita, the most unusual of all the cities in the area. A normal city has a main gate to enter; this city has a water gate. The whole city was built on water. Some call it the city with the most attraction, while others don't want to leave. Like all the cities it has its own legends, legend of the Sea God and the River Troll.

The Sea God, some say that the god has no form while other says that his true form is that of a sea dragon. The legend goes that the sea god once loved a mortal woman. From their union a demigod was created, the protector of the city. The sea god and his son appear every two hundred years within a few minutes apart. The Sea God has his own champions, mortals that we destined for greatness. His powers are immeasurable. He's generous to those who do not offend him.

The River Troll wasn't an ordinary troll; he was a tax collector. Trolls may look dumb, they're far more intelligent. On the narrowest part of the river, a troll made a bridge and a guard house. For a hundred and fifty years, the troll collected the tax. After that, he went in retirement. The governor of the city followed in the trolls footsteps and made several places to collect the tax.

That day a man entered his workshop carrying with him a notebook. Drinkwell looked at the man. The man posture was that of a landsknecht:

"I have travelled far with my unit. On my many travels I have collected some local stories, I think it will help you with your writing."

"Every help is appreciated."

The notebook wasn't plain; the spine was engraved with a floral pattern that went to the front cover. The fort cover had an inlay wolf design. Inside of the notebook was divided into stories; each story was catalogued into a certain area. Late in the night, he read all the stories. In the morning he started writing again.

There were two more tales that are interesting to the origins of the city itself. The first one talks about a merchant and a humanoid hedgehog. Who turned into a young prince and married the king's second daughter. An interesting tale, other versions of the tale say that he was the merchant's son.

His father-in-law made the city for him as a wedding gift. Later, that same hedgehog populated the city and became the first governor.

The second tale is different but follows the same example with the build of a city- to be precise a small fort. Long ago a baron was sent by his king to stop the barbarians from the north from attacking his kingdom. The baron at once started building a fort with a garrison. The fort was later expanded to a small keep. Wood was replaced with stone. People from the neighboring villages started staying every winter in the keep, so the keep was expanded in time. The city started taking shape. The prominent citizens are: Artiria Lother- actress, Leo Breit- retired sergeant, Lutrian Giandro- mage, Ritan Eria- sculptor, Nerd Teidir- doctor.

By his calculation it was time for lunch. He could hear his stomach ache. He didn't like to work on an empty stomach, he ate enough to make him survive till supper. Drinkwell always had the habit of writing down notes while he ate. For lunch, he usually had pork stew and a loaf of bread.

The landsknecht came again, carrying under the arm yet another notebook. The notebook was older than the previous one.

"I found this in the trunk the other day," the landsknecht said.

"Let me see it," Drinkwell replied.

"It belonged to my grand-father."

The third city on this list is Dirtael. There isn't anything spectacular about the origins of the city. The city was once a fishing village and a trading post. Merchants from all over gathered here to sell their goods. The city supplies the region with fresh fish. The waters near the city are unpolluted; the fish is plentiful and flesh something you can't have in inland. Village has expanded over time, fortified walls were added. Wooden bridge was replaced with stone ones. The port was built on the left riverbank. Production of fresh fish has doubled. Most of the regions famous painters, architects, lords, counts, dukes, writers spent their summers here.

He paused for a moment there were a lot of cities to choose from. The ones with the legends were always in demand. He opened the notebook where he marked it and started reading. This part of the notebook had the lineages of many of the noble houses. The third house of the list got his attention.

3. House Yarwick- The ancestors of house Yarwick where ordinary hedge knights. Who have won favors with the local warlords; they were given lands and keeps. Their original ancestor first settled the northern parts of the land that would later be known as Thara. Some historians still debate was this even before or after the Ivarns. More and more facts say before the Ivarns came. If these facts are true, then house Yarwick is one of the oldest houses in the northern part of the continent.

The male line of house Yarwick has long been dead.

Current lord (disputed):The main line of house Yarwick has been continued by Padra, daughter of Marc and Gleara. Wed to Lord Anseis Tilleo.

The side line was continued by Barristan, son of Bonifer and Sybelle. Wed to Lady Tamzin Wolf.

If he remembered correctly the seat of House Yarwick remained the same for three hundred years. The ironwood if properly harvested can last for generations. The notebook had at least seven known houses with interesting stories and more interesting seats that were turned into cities. He continued to read.

1. House Tilleo-a proud noble house with ancestry tracing just after the Ivarns came. The main line that traced from Anseis has died out some two hundred years ago. It's continued through the side line of Edmund, Anseis' younger brother.

Current lord (sideline): Bryden Tilleo, son of Edmure and Loriane. Wed to Lady Lysa.

No mentioned heirs.

2. House Bautus- sometimes spelled as Vautus, one of the oldest noble houses. Tracing its ancestors to the time when the Ivarns came, before the Fist age-some eight thousand years ago. A proud and noble house had a prominent role in the Wars of the Shadow.

Current lord (main line): Brett Vautus, son of Cregennan (Cregannan, Cregan) and Larra. Wed to Lady Bhatt Tilleo.

Their Children:

Male: Female:

1.Gregor 1. Laurian

2.Chris 2. Amrynn + Rodrick

3. Jay 3. Ida + Ian

4.Hemoch 4. Jenny + Lann

5.Hemon 5. Amaryllis + Gareth

6. Ladius + Anna Kantora 6. Linota + Haakon

4. House Wolf- in the history books described more as a clan than a house.

The origins of the house are unknown even today.

Current lord (main line): Lord Tuanwone, son of Neolsim and Glynxisys.

His children:

1. Astar, a boy of twelve.

2. Deara, a girl of five.

5. House Cardin- a relatively new house. The ancestry of this house is traced in faraway Feard Islands, which island precisely is unknown. The ancestors of this house were at first merchants. Than fate played one of its card, and the lord's younger brother went abroad to become a mercenary in the Imperial army. After his many deeds he was awarded a small keep and thus house Cardin was born.

Current lord (side line): Lord Gus, son of Garlan and Issa. Wed to Lady Tekla.

No mentioned heirs.

6. House Coff- a noble house made after the Wars of the Shadow. They tried everything to insure that the main line continues. They were successful in the first part. The line was continued through house Tilleo.

Current lord (none): Line continued through house Tilleo.

Lady Vivienne, daughter of Sebastian and Fringilla. Wed to Lord Stephen Tilleo, father of Anseis, Francois and Edmund.

7. House Durathan – the oldest known house of the continent. Veterans of thousand battles; even this didn't help them when the Ivarns came. The last known lord was an eleven– years-old boy, son of Myrgoth and Caitlyn.

After his death, his cousin Larra, daughter of Jorah and Corrinette, wed Lord Cregan Tilleo. With their union this proud house was saved from extinction. The main line was continued through the lines of house Tilleo and house Bautus.

House Cardin, he wrote down on a separate piece of paper. The Cardin Hold as it's now know, references the city that was built around the keep.

The fourth city on this list is Qurita. In its early day the city was an outpost. Like everything in those troubled days, with the first chance they got they fortified it. There is an interesting story about the older parts of the city and the willow tree that stood in the middle. A knight said goodbye to his love, vowing to return to her. After the war, he did return but not to her. The woman in her grief transformed into a willow. The knight, after hearing the news, killed the woman he was with. Some say that the knight still walks the earth unable to find rest. The willow still stands today, until they are reunited once again. All lot of local artist made depictions about the pair. People from all over the world come to see the "Willow and the Knight". Young couples from all over come to swear their vows in front of the willow, vows they plan to keep forever. The story, of the two tragic lovers, was an inspiration for the play "The Knight's vows", written by the famous paly writer Wiltas Sharin.

The notebook itself had the names of many inns and their menus. Inns were divided by class. All lot of the inns on the side notes were from the upper class. They were described to the very detail, the number of rooms and the types of beds. One of the inns caught his eyes.

The Natrin Inn

The inn is located in the north-eastern part of Qurita.

The inn has four medium large windows on the ground floor. Ten rooms that are usable in total, three on the ground floor, five on the second floor and two on the third floor. Medium comfort and the beds are medium. The specialty of the house is smoked salmon in white wine.

To him, notebook was large source of information, information that would later prove useful. He knew that a lot of people would visit this famous inn.

He stopped for moment, recollected his thoughts and started writing.

A few historically popular figures stayed at that inn:

The first on this list is woman that would later become queen, by the right of conquest.

Ritaria, the red maiden

Ritaria, the Red Maiden was a Northian princess who lived between the 1rs and the 2nd century.

She was the daughter of a Northian King named Righar, and her younger brother, Thrond, was the successor to the throne. A Daelian King named Omund dethroned Thrond, and Ritaria, the sister of the dethroned king, organized a fleet of ships to attack Daelia and avenge her brother.

She also attacked Ieranda, Itaria and Gaedria, where she fought the Gaedrian High King Briat Bortu. It is said that Ritaria usually fought beside another princess called Staigla, who went Northian to avoid a forced marriage.

The Daelian King Omund suborned Ritaria's dethroned brother, Thrond, adopting him as a son and successor, and persuaded him to betray Ritaria. Ironically, Ritaria went to Daelia to take vengeance for her brother, and ended up having to fight against him. The battles lasted for days; all of them could win or lose. Ritaria weary of the battles changed her brother to a duel for everything. She won while her brother died three days later. After returning to Northia, she was crowned the first queen in history.

The second on this list is a man that was a founder of a dynasty.

Erdian of Caldiaria

Erdian I (42-72) was a crown-prince of Caldrian Rithar. He is known for his military campaigns that destroyed the Khidianzar Khanate, which resulted in the expansion of Caldrian Rithar into Central Aftilia. A time of peace came. A time that was too short. The enemy was marching. There was nothing else to do but to make alliances.

He also made alliances with the Taldaric Pechars and Martael peoples, and was finally killed in a battle against the Pechar khan Kurya, who had Erdian's skull turned into a drinking bowl.

He was a follower of the old gods all his life (follower of Forest Gods or Mountain Gods, or maybe both) but one of his sons, Vhaldir the Great, would be remembered as the man who brought the New Religion to Caldrian Rithar by marrying Arlienna Pothirdal, the sister of the Byrtain emperor Bastill II. His son Vhaldir and Bastill II are also known for being the founders of the Vartangian Guard of the Byrtain emperors. Their descendant's founded mighty dynasties, one of them the Perteren dynasty that would later unite all of Caldria.

About Caldrian Rithar: The country of Caldria was divided into seven smaller parts, each with its own warlord. The seventh and the largest part, was forever known in the history books as Caldrian Rithar, because the second part was named Rithar. Once long ago, they were one, later the peacefully separated.

It now remembered as a state in the Sladiren territories of Eastern Euthira that had been created by Northians in the Early Ertail Age. It would become Forterein and Rithar centuries later.

The third person is renowned queen, her origins is still disputed. Some historians say that she was a descendant of Vhaldir or his sons.

Thiara of Eritinia

The figure of Thiara of Eritinia is a celebrated one in Erithian history, she remains a less popular figure outside Eritinia than the other women of power in the ertailian history, like that of Elthiria of Aquiart or Mathildria of Tuscird (or Cenorassa). But alas, Thiara herself deserve a mention in this series, a ruler of her own right, a venerated saint and a popular figure widely adored in amongst the Erithian People and beyond.

How she came into power is one interesting story for the historians and play writers.

For most part of the Ertail erithian history, since the time of its acceptance of the Mountain Gods and coronation of King Bildiar I the Brave in 025, Eritinia had been ruled by the Pirtial dynasty.

However, in 370, the line ended when King Casidir III, decided to pass the kingship to the son of his sister Elidira, Lithar I of Hilvara. When Lithar died in 382, the Hilvarian throne was inherited by his eldest daughter, Mirtha, whom at this time, is under the regency of Eldira of Bothiria. Eldira of Bothiria died two years later, some say it was pneumonia while other say it was poison.

Now, what is interesting is that, power within the Kingdom of Eritinia was mostly held by the Szhirias of Lesser Eritinia. By this time, the Szhirias disliked the idea of continuing personal unions with Hilvara, and rejected Mirtha's fiancée, Signar as a regent for Eritinia...so they chose Mirtha's youngest sister instead, Hidgar, or better known as Thiara.

The decision was met with long negotiation with Thiara's mother, as well as a bit of civil war in greater Eritinia. The result was the arrival of Thiara to the Erithian court at the age of 10, and was crowned as the King of Eritinia somewhere in 384-385. Laws were much different that in this time. A lot of historians forget that these events happened some two thousand years ago.

Ertail Erithian Law had no rule against Female Ruler (in this case, Queen Regnant), nor that it specify the king must be male, hence the title King Thiara. It is also understood that the tile king itself emphasized that Thiara was a ruler of her own right, neither a Queen Regent nor Queen Consort.

Few countries except Eritinia, followed the same example. Many historians still debate was the Erithian law the first example of independent female ruler.

Regardless of how historians debates the title, as far as history is concerned, Thiara herself was an interesting figure. She was known for her beauty, as well as her intelligence. Being a polyglot, she could speak 5 different languages and was a patron of science, art, as well as court life. She made a Rationale litricall robe by herself and donated it to the Archpriest of Kriesar. She also led her own military campaign against the city of Hitlecz in 387 to reclaim the lost land from Hilvaria in a claim dispute. Despite all of that, historically speaking, Thiara probably held few, if not little power, as the majority of it were held by the Szhirias of Eritinia.

During her reign, the situation in Eastern Euthira was pretty volatile. By this time, the Knightly Order of the Teurton Star had been carving and setting up power bases along the Baldirian coast, launching crusades against the Baldirian pagans in order to 'bring light' to the many pagan tribes. Initially, there were already crusades done by the Livirian, but when the Knightly Order came into the region under Eritinia's request, the whole affair turned into what historians referred to as genocide. In the course of this history, the Knightly Order came in conflict with the Erithian kingdom, and the surviving pagan power of the Grand Duchy of Lithaira was struggling to fend of the crusades.

The ruler of the Grand Duchy of Lithaira, Jirgan (later known as Wahilandir II Jartel) and the Lithairan nobles understood that eventual conversion to the Mountain Gods, they at the time worshipped the River Gods, was inevitable to ensure the survival of its people amidst the zealous Mountain neighbors like that of the Knightly Order, who were keen to convert the Grand duchy into Cathiorian religion. There were few options for conversion; the one presented by the knights would put the Grand Duchy at disadvantages, while the ones presented by the grand duchy of Miscard was not better (They were followers of Storm Gods), so Jirgan chose the one presented by the Erithian nobles, marry Thiara and brought the 2 country into personal union. In 385, Jirgan married Thiara and converted into the Cathorian religion, establishing the Union of Krewdor, an important even on which Eritinia and Lithaira were brought together under a personal union.

Unlike her cousin, the Queen Consort Erit, Thiara had ten sons and at least two known daughters. Five of her sons would be kings in different lands across the sea. The rest of them ruled as one person with the eldest as high king.

Although for most of the early part the Union was met with a lot of friction, as well as the resentment amongst the Lithairan nobles due to growing Erithian influences, but in the end, almost 2 centuries later, with the Union of Kirban in 569, the two nations merged together, giving the birth to one of Euthira's most dynamic, powerful and vibrant state, the Erithian-Lithairan Commonwealth.

Perhaps, the role of Thiara in the complexity of the politics in her era may seemed little compared to her achievements, her history serves as an example that a woman could indeed rule her own country herself, and retained her royal rights even after marriage to another sovereign. In Thiara's case, this resulted in the union of Kingdom of Eritinia and Grand Duchy of Lithaira that was one of the turning points in the history of Eastern Euthira.

***

A man stood near the canal, looking at the boats that were passing by. A cold wind was blowing, signaling that a storm was gathering on the horizon. The man's clothes were multi-colored, expect his top hat. He positioned his top hat and walked slowly to the docks.

The ship he waited was nowhere in sight. His precious cargo was late. He waited, always looking on his pocket watch, the ship finally came. The ship landed. The first officer jumped on the dock.

"We have you been?" the man asked.

"You know, that there is always a problem with the border posts," the first officer answered.

"True, but, you were never this late."

"Just look at the weather, mate."

"Where is my trunk?"

"It will be delivered shortly to you."

"Finally, something good in this whole rotten day…"

Two officers delivered his trunk; the man opened it and took a notebook. He placed the notebook in his pocket.

"Do you need help with that?" they asked.

"No. But thanks for the offered help," the man replied.

He lifted the trunk, and walked away, leaving the officers to unload the rest of his stuff.

The bard was performing on the central square. People were gathering in large numbers to hear him. He had a strange smile. His clothes were in a better condition than most villagers had. His long-necked lute was more decorated than the previous bard. He prepared his voice and started singing:

You leave in the morning.

My heart still yearns.

For your tender kisses,

I love you from the day we met.

Damn what the others say,

I yearn for your tender kisses.

The richly dressed man, holding his trunk, stopped, heard the song and continued to Drinkwell. He had a lot to say.