River Run
Sitting on the southern edge of the lake system called
Sindar’s Tears is the town known as River Run.
With a population of more than 2,000 adults, this is the fourth largest
community in Shardar and it is certainly the most lawless.
River Run was
initially little more than a stopping off point for merchants who wished to
bring goods into Camber via the lakes, but it grew rapidly and it now has a
thriving economy of its own. Many merchants and traders use River Run as a stopping off
point before they take their goods out into the communities of southern Shardar
and a bustling market has grown up in the town.
The prices in
River Run are generally slightly lower than in Camber, but it does not have such
a large choice of goods. For most people this is not a problem, but if a customer
wishes to purchase something a bit more out of the ordinary, they would be
advised to travel up to Camber and look there.
This market has brought a lot of finance into River Run but,
unfortunately, it has also brought in a lot of crime. River Run is without a doubt the most corrupt and dangerous
town in Shardar and anyone entering the bounds of the community do so at their
own risk.
The Baron of
River Run is a young man who goes by the name of Pitre Gallan.
He is tall, slim, dark haired and meticulous about his dress.
He has no time for the ‘common people’ and, as long as he
still gets his taxes from the town, he couldn’t care less what happens to
River Run. He spends most of
his time in the country houses and mansions of his rich friends and at least a
full quarter of the year in Camber. Most
of the population of River Run ignore Barren Gallan, but they would never dare
ignore Councillor Brand.
Brand is the
true leader of River Run, the head of the Council that was installed to look
after the day to day running of the town. For
the last ten years, Brand has been in charge of everything that happens in River
Run and he has grown immensely wealthy through this.
There is no proof of any kind that Brand acts in any illegal way, but
everyone knows that he does and it is rumoured that he has connections with the
Thieves Guild of the town. Brand is
also the head of the town militia and this gives him even more personal power.
He is a short,
fat man with grey hair tied back in a long queue that runs down to his waist, he
has rings on every finger and gives the appearance of being nervous and a
ditherer. Nothing could be further
from the truth but he enjoys giving this impression to strangers.
Although the full Council of six members officially have to make every
major decision together, it is Brand who leads the Council and it is his will
that is imposed on River Run.
The militia of
River Run are used as much to keep the population in line as they are to defend
the town from attackers. Taxation is high and there is an entry fee for anyone who
wishes to come into the town. The
fee varies depending on what the traveller is carrying, whether they are on foot
or on horseback, whether they are regular visitors to the town or strangers and
which guards are on duty at the gate at the time.
Corruption and bribery are a way of life in River Run and anyone trying
to buck the system will be in for a very unpleasant stay indeed.
Merchants
entering or leaving River Run with full cargoes would do well to keep a wary eye
open for bandits. Since the start
of the war in Dargoth, banditry has risen by an incredible amount and it is no
longer safe to travel the lands of Shardar.
With River Run being known for being a market town, bandits and thieves
flock to it and they prefer to take their victims when they are outside the high
wall of the town, knowing that the militia and guards have more than enough
problems to deal with inside the boundaries of the town without worrying about
what is going on outside.
The lake system,
Sindar’s Tears, has its own special kind of bandits and brigands, the
Privateers as they call themselves. These are little more than pirates who sail the waters of
Sindar’s Tears, waiting for merchant barges or ships to sail past and then
they raid and loot them. Stolen
loot will either be sold in some of the smaller villages that are dotted along
the length of the lakes or taken to Camber and sold there. When the High Lord had more of his armies in Shardar, there
were regular patrols along the lakes to prevent this sort of thing but now, with
the vast majority of fighting men being occupied in Dargoth, the bandits and
Privateers can get away with more and more daring thefts.
River Run is
surrounded on three sides by a high, stone wall and the fourth side of the town
is the docks that lead onto the lake. There
are gates on all three walls and a docks office which tries to keep check on
everything and everyone that comes into the town that way.
They do make an effort to keep track of everything but with the large
number of people coming and going every day, it is simply impossible to do.
The best tavern
in River Run would be The Mermaid, an expensive but well cared for establishment
that lies in the centre of town, very close to the council buildings.
A room for the night will cost in the region of 5 Hawks but this does
include an evening meal. It is said
that James Kleris, the manager of the Mermaid, can arrange anything that a
customer wants, but there is always a fee involved of course.
Taverns and inns
come in all standards in River Run but the one with the worst reputation is the
White Sail, down by the docks. This
water-side dive is rumoured to be one of the main bases of the Thieves Guild but
this has never been proven and strangers are warned to stay well away from this
place. Deaths are common and
muggings even more so.
From River Run,
it is possible to purchase transport to Camber, Gladsheim and Shandow and there
are many services to take the customer to where they want to go.
Again, be warned, for the bandits will often prey on travellers in
coaches or barges if they cannot find any passing merchants.
Guards are always being sought by these transport companies and they are
prepared to pay highly for the services of trained warriors or Mages.
It should be
remembered that River Run is a merchant town more than anything else and profit
is all important. The militia have
no time for the poor or the down on their luck and they will certainly not let
anything interfere with the trade that goes on all through the year.