DARKTIMES: The Salmark
The people of the Salmark consider themselves far superior to the other six realms. In fairness, there is some justification for their attitude. Despite being mostly composed of a rocky shoreline, infertile scrubland and some bare hills, it was the Salmarkians who first created anything like a society some three millenia ago. Composed of a few extended families, the early inhabitants of the area somehow avoided the internecine conflict that afflicted other regions in their formative years.
The Salmarkians were fully aware of this and worked hard to not only develop themselves but keep others out. Despite the unsuitable ores on offer in their meagre mines, they created new construction materials that enabled them to build the legendary Origin Tower, which stretched more than two hundred feet into the sky. At the time, it was the highest man-made structure in the Seven Realms. Later, during the golden era of construction around six centuries ago, there were more than fifty towers in excess of five hundred feet.
Most were within the Triangle — a trio of cities built upon the realm’s central plain and in clear sight of each other. Also connected by well-made roads, these centres of invention and innovation grew wealthy with only a minimum of outside trade. Many of the older towers fell into ruin but construction techniques are ever evolving and the structures endure for centuries.
Sparked by the creative brain of Selikk the Wise, it was Salmarkians who brought the wheel, the watermill, the fire-starter and the compound bow to the Seven Realms. The latter invention initiated their development of distance weapons, including what they call the smasher: a large ballistic engine capable of simultaneously firing four huge bolts. The guard towers built across the Salmark are equipped with smashers of varying sizes.
Within the towers of the Triangle are numerous scholars and holy men and women. Individual towers are dedicated to specific disciplines such as philosophy, medicine and the law. Most within the realm practice The Pragmatic Faith, which forgoes deities in favour of self-reflection and improvement. The holy men and women who dwell in the Tower of the True are more guides and healers than instructors and rulers.
Due to the strength of the Faith, crime and unrest have traditionally been rare. However, in recent decades, the Salmark has become a victim of its own intellectual success. So many of its men and women chose to pursue academic vocations that — in only a few generations — they have lost crucial practical skills. Those who still toil in the fields and workshops bemoan high taxes that go to those in the lofty towers who rarely seem to mix with the people below. This has led to a fracturing of the society and the formation of several groups opposed to both the Faith and Salmark’s leadership.
This realm is unique because — after a peaceful revolution some three centuries earlier — those leaders are elected. The Salmarkians are very proud of their democracy, even though they only recently allowed women to take part and lowered the voting age to twenty. The leader of this democracy is an elected chancellor who presides over a small council of ministers and all crucial decisions. Forty-one have fulfilled this role over the centuries and the current incumbent is Shereen Dusalter — only the second female to do so. Ruling from the Blue Tower — highest of them all — she is a strict follower of the Faith and a committed pacifist. The tower is widely considered to be the most beautiful structure in the Salmark; it is striped with dazzling blueseam purchased from the miners of the Golden Plains.
The western area of the realm is facing the most difficult of times. The raiders of the Golden Plain have made incursions into the Salmark, leading many to fear that the defences are not sufficient to resist a serious attack. Although some trade continues along the coast with the Three Fjords, this is not enough to improve the realm’s economic misfortunes. If there wasn’t so much conflict in other regions, the Salmarkians might develop trade routes that would enable them to sell their advanced inventions. Chancellor Dusalter has offered citizenship to some of the wandering tribesmen of the Plain and some are now seen in the Triangle, fulfilling lowly roles but grateful to be free of the raiders.
However, the defence of the realm does not lie solely with her. The Salmark has for more than a millenium been protected by the Loyal Company, a force of five hundred expert archers now based within the lower floors of the Blue Tower. These men not only patrol their territory as small, mounted patrols, they also man the smashers. Though funds are short, even Dusalter would not weaken the Company, which is feared by most of their enemies. Selected from the populace at the age of eight, the archers leave their families behind and take an oath to defend the Salmark with their lives. Ask any man, woman or child within this realm and they will mention the Company’s great victories: The Defence of the Southern Passes, the Last Stand of Captain Thaedor, The Battle of the Four Towers.
And most have also now learned of a new threat. Just south of Salmark, within a lawless borderland, a new power is rising in the Darklands. The Company retains a few paid informers close to the area and have received information about the Red Order, a mysterious organisation that seems to have taken over this land of eerie forests and icy peaks. For the Salmarkians, fear of the Darklands is nothing new. During several historical episodes, malign forces infiltrated their lands, bringing strife and destruction. Above all else, the people of the Salmark fear that bestial, violent forces will eventually come to their realm and wipe out their precious creations and unique way of life.
However, when the Company hears that the Red Order is conducting competitions of elite warriors, some within the ranks are tempted. Priding themselves on their long-perfected fighting techniques and calm ruthlessness, some of the archers — including a few officers — wish to represent the Salmark. The Company is currently led by Captain Pharris, a veteran archer and inspirational leader. For the Company, and Pharris, the fighting competition offers an opportunity to gain more accurate intelligence about what exactly is going on in the Darklands.
As a famous Salmark saying goes, knowledge is power.
Times are changing.
