Tallowmore

The most southerly town on the continent of Abbatchtka, Tallowmore acts as a southern harbour for ocean going vessels that are escaping the dangers of the open seas.

"Its a small, temperate town. A happy place for visitors to see the sights of a working harbour and smell the salt air of adventure."

—Lady Prue Esten, A gentlewoman's adventure in Abbatchtkan society.

History

Tallowmore is a more restrained town than Daggerhaunt to the west, or the industrial complexity of Yellowshade in the mountains. The local leadership is made up of a conglomerate of local guilds who remain loyal to the empire that historically ceded power and wealth to them. Despite the obvious advantage in working together, these guilds often vie for overall power in the town. With the general politic being of the Mereton system, Tallowmore's Mereton is elected for a five year term in office which is often tied up in a bureaucratic mess before they have even taken their oaths. The current Mereton is the member of a tiny guild of jewelry makers called Veritasan, and their leader was elected as a stop gap, palatable option given the animosity between the larger guilds. This infighting often benefits the empire by diverting attention away from the personal failures of Abbatchtkan leadership.

Guilds of Tallowmore

• The Ancient Abbatchtkan Society of Explorers and Adventurers
• Tallowmore Seafarers and Sky Trust
• The Empirical Counting Houses of Abbatchtka

The Ancient Abbatchtkan Society of Explorers and Adventurers

Usually referred to as "The Society" or as ASEA, the Abbatchtkan Society of Explorers and Adventurers are a well regarded (in most part) group of people on the Abbatchtkan continent. Acting as a guild of adventurous mercenaries, the society allows the prospective mercenary more than just simple contract work the ability to work with others allows larger tasks to be undertaken. In return of a small share of the profit, the Society provides healing potions, equipment, maps, items, and expertise in languages, history and magick.

"Yes, its not for everyone, but we can achieve far more together. See that Dwarf there? Daglen? He was a freelancer like you. Together with Daffyd they took down an Ice banshee last week, and took plenty of coin for it too."

—Tony "the Lark", Bard of the Society

The organisation provides for its loyal members, with a pension scheme and discounted rates at their alchemical shops for paid up members.

Membership is not complex: a small task is given to the prospective recruit and observed by a full member. The decorum of the task is judged and the observer makes a decision on the applicant's success when it is completed. This endeavour can take time: The Society suggests that one applicant's task soon snowballed into an adventure that spanned three continents, eighteen separate ruins, three dragons, one beholder before the artefact that was recovered -as per contract - was deemed to be a fake. The applicant passed their assessment. Usually the examination (as much as it is) is a simple affair, with a suitable mark/task completed and a brief discussion on the creed of the Society. After all, the Society has nothing to hide.

Known Members:

• Anthony de la Revee; Bard of the Venerable Society
• Daglen & Daffyd; a pair of mismatched adventurers
• Hannit; A member prior to the events of the Braves of Bahamut
• Gidget Soll; Purveyor of goods to the Society, wearer of the gold crest of Leo
• Wix; an aarokokran fighter from a far away place.
• Edgar Moedig; a descendent from the Normore settlement
• Luciole; Gnome sorceress from Esten.

The Society is a mismatch of personalities and styles. Many of the group will be on assignment - colloquially known as Elsewhere - and new and old members share a guildhouse called Bunkhouse. This is an old Abbatchtkan army barracks which was bought and repurposed by the rising of the guilds. It is a foreboding building with six stories that tower over most of the central district of Tallowmore. It is easily identified by the series of flags and tapestries that adorn the walls and hand either side of a main, portcullised and draw bridged entrance to the building. The flags often indicate current missions that the group has deployed to; a golden lion has been flown for the last fifteen years.

Any adventurers guild needs expertise in all environments. The society is no different, and Allies of the Society are welcomed warmly to the Bunkhouse and treated as fellow members on presentation of a Leo, or coin/writ of friendship with the guild. Often, they are former members of the Society, or useful contacts in the Empire or surrounding city states. The adventurers work on a who you know basis for contract work, and allies often find that their problems are first to be heard and sorted out.

A writ of Petition is declared valid once the reward is held in escrow by one of the Counting houses of Tallowmore, after this fact is determined (by the flag of the counting house being delivered to the Bunkhouse), the ensign is flown on behalf of the petitioner and assigns suitable members to the writ. The task is declared complete when the group strikes the colours from the wall.

Leadership of the Society is elected from the membership and is often retired from going Elsewhere. Successful adventurers of yesteryear that cannot be trusted to retire peacefully and step out of the limelight. They become trusted advisors to the youth of the group, steer the general politic, and choose the most deserving writs to be completed. Its a tough life.

The Tallowmore Seafarers and Sky Trust

The oldest guild of boat builders and skyship workers have a degree of fame and celebrity in Abbatchtka for several generations. The guildmembers are often seen working solemnly with the factories and workshops of Tallowmore, repairing the ocean going ships as required. The guild favour a bright blue dye on their general clothing, with a dark blue leather apron embossed with a guild crest - of two ships on a turquoise shield separated by clouds and seas. Qualified craftsmen carry the tools of their traades, symbolically as a pair of signet rings worn on the little fingers of each hand, along with a bright blue guild cloak for wearing out and about the city. The guild employs many carpenters and woodsmen to supply the factories in Tallowmore, often led by a single "bluecloak"; however some contracts are handed to various adventuring groups to reduce the expense of hiring the larger guilds which overcharge their political opposition. Whilst not known for their swordsmanship, bluecloaks of the trust are well equipped and armoured - they often manage well enough when challenged.

The current guild-master of the Seafarers and Sky Trust is Ser Illian Walker of the Walker Skyship Dynasty. He is a rich, intelligent man who wishes to maintain the status quo; he suggested the election of the "Jewelmaker" as Mereton of the town to return Tallowmore to a period of Political quiet. In that, at least, he has been successful.

The Trust has charitable offshoots that aim to support guild workers throughout the continent of Abbatchtka. The funds are generated from the proceeds and profits of the shipbuilding and repairs, the pensions that are provided to widowers and widows are generous. Connection between the trust and the Osuvanne "Amahi" are generally unknown. It is clear that the Tinkerers' guild who specialise in engineering would be closely associated with the Trust. It is completely feasible that some overlap exists between the two.

The ambition of the trust appears to be: 1) Uphold the values of the venerable and charitable gentlemen and women of seafarers and skyfarers. 2) Educate the future generation of masters and misses. 3) Recover the technology of the skyships of yore.

It appears that although the knowledge to build skyships is in existence, the materials to complete such a complex endeavour are not: the crystalline substance required to power the lifting engines and lightweight alloys to manufacture them are completely used, and new areas of supply are unknown. As such, the bluecloaks investigate rumours of such skycrystal - nominating a group to adventure and investigate the claims of rumored material and bring it back to the guild for study. Currently the Trust has a presence in Tor Valnari after the recent skyship crash at the hands of Corriander Heretofore's adjutant. It has become a topic of comedy to the other guilds in Tallowmore; chasing an impossible dream is likened to the Trust's unending search for dull rocks and stones.

The Empirical Counting Houses of Abbatchtka

The traders of Tallowmore have organised themselves into a guild known as the counting houses. An opulent guild house is situated in the central district of the town on Oxbow Avenue. Its magnificence is matched by its garishness; each of the guild's members have a share in the houses: junior members live in the basements, whilst full members have the right to "live in", but often have property nearby and use the guild as a clubhouse. These other properties become places where wealth is indulged to keep up with the other traders in the guild, and give areas of Tallowmore the impression of a small child decorating a house using glitter, felt and occasionally a live peacock or three.

The Counting Houses relate to the banking industry that Tallowmore has become known for. This has become tradition, and is not overly questioned by those in power, as money buys plenty of silence. The tader's bank are often fellow merchants with the most successful usually finding additional income through lending to less fortunate fellows. It follows, then, that the Counting Houses are a powerful group in the political landscape of the Empire. The Emperor is advised by many sources and petitioned by many groups that wax and wane over the course of many years; the Counting Houses seem to be ever present in attendance to the court - and the advice is seldom free.

Several of the Tallowmore merchants have found regional and continental fame:

• Mistress Rachael Croftson
• Mister Henry Fletchering
• The Emperor's Vizier, Mister Edwind Mortisman.

The fame leads to obvious interest in counting houses from organisations like the Calmorian Way and less celebrated nefarious groups.

Junior members of the counting houses are usually the most active of the groups: youthful merchants trying to find a wedge to exploit and generate wealth and membership of the exclusive upper echelon of the Counting Houses. As such, these traders are risk takers and ambitious by nature, testing rumours of vast wealth before running headlong into danger, often ill equipped for what they find waiting for them.

The Counting Houses understand that the attrition rate is selfishly good for business and rarely intervene in rescue, ransom or care of the unfortunate greedy merchant.

"We do not negotiate with kidnappers in this House."

—Councilor Morgan Gilletson, Prior to the Massacre at Maplestow

Of course, priorities can shift if family is involved.

The Tallowmore Trading Caravans

The wagons and caravans seen crisscrossing the landscapes of Abbatchtka often are emblazoned by the golden lion crest, and guarded by hired hands from The Abbatchtkan Society. It is a steady, simple and well paid job for the guards, allowing them enough money to save for the future and to see the world. The caravan guard is a visible force; yellow flags and pennants twirl in the sky from wagons and lances as the caravan rolls from town to town. To bandits, it is a warning of doom; to the law abiding traveler it is a boon of safety. It is not uncommon to see lone travelers join the caravan for collective safety under the banner of the golden lion.

Layout

Tallowmore's center is an organically amalgamated reutilisation of buildings - the guilds have repurposed to create new factories and homes for their indentured workers. Arable lane runs to the north of the cen tral district, turning east into Publican Lane. Across the central lake (ruefully called The Pond by locals), Arable lane continues into Axbow Avenue, with an south-westerly junction with Harbour lane and Croft Street.

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Factions & Personages

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