We must have passed this island several times, it was not till I was ordered to survey it that I discovered what rich soil and fertile grounds it had. Truly a land that Axius should have claimed far sooner. With great pride I hereby claim this, Mennald Island, in the name of the Axius Kingdom.

- Troras Mennald, Explorer, circa 285 AD

Geography of Relgard

    Relgard's defenses are rather light, as the town is newly formed however with the close proximity of Port Arennon and Mennald City as well as the relative safety and quiet of the town, there is hardly any need for concern. Never has a wall been needed to protect the town from a large attack force or siege so no defenses exist within this wall for just such a situation. The east and west areas are most vulnerable, with nothing but plains and forestlands in the way, and the north docks are virtually defenseless. The south road however, goes through Relgard Castle itself, with guards there at the gates checking any people and travelers they may find of questionable intent. Like all other towns on Mennald Island, Relgard has never been attacked by an army, naval or air force. It is the island's lack of strategic importance or any rich resources (Quartz, Metals, Gemstones) that a hostile force/nation would desire that has served as the town's best defense and what keeps any chances of an invasion to a minimal.

    The main gate, at the south end of Relgard Castle, is watched over by two guard towers. From that point, the road goes north into Relgard Castle, around the Arena, and then to another gate and dual towers before finally heading into the south part of the town of Relgard itself.  The dirt road extending south from Relgard castle moves down just under two miles, where it hits a fork to Mennald City (5 miles) and Port Arennon (4 miles). Located inbetween the fork and Port Arennon, one can find Thalevyn Manor (Once Bale Manor till Richtous Bale sold it a few years ago) on a one mile square plot along the southern center of the road. From Port Arennon, one can reach the farming community of Sergaer which lies 4 miles south of Port Arennon. Food from Sergaer and Relgard are both shipped out to Mennald City and Port Arennon to be sold in various markets for populace purchase and consumption. While Relgard's population has always been small (Mostly around 2,000 till it was chartered as a town in 718 AD, the land it occupies can support well close to around 10,000 people. At that point, a wall as well as the construction of more homes may be warrantedif the town wishes to continue expanding.

    An aerial view for any airship cruising in towards Relgard from the north shows a small village, mostly dominated by fields of wheat and farmland, among a field and a few sparse clusters of trees here and there set along the northern coast on a level grade of land with hardly any noticeable rise or fall among the landscape. The land here is lush and fertile with excellent soil kept well feed from rains of gentle storms that come in from the west and move out towards Damocles to the far east. The two towns and farming communities are spaced well enough on the rather small island with a total of sixteen square miles of forest found and the rest of it being grassy plains. No high or low points of altitude stand out here with most of the city at ten to twenty feet above sea level and any aerial visitors to the area are bound to be stopped and questioned of intent upon their landing by the Port Arennon Protectorate or the Relgard Protectorate. With no airship docking facilities on the entire island all airships usually prefer to head to Tantallon instead just around forty miles to the north. Due to the traffic of Damocles airships moving between Tantallon and Spearon most aerial monsters keep away, however if they manage to land on the island they will find a cold reception from the skittish locals who prefer their peace and quiet.

Internal Geography of Relgard

The largest area is Relgard Castle itself, containing Relgard Keep (Home of Baron Gandrews Yontither), Relgard Arena, the Relgard Temple, Arennonmist Inn, various stables, two Robed Sentinels Wizard watchoffices/homes, the small market surrounding the Arena and finally Certus Services Relgard. The Castle is surrounded by a large wall, with various guard towers along it's length and has two gates to the north, Access to this area is not restricted, but guards may search wagons and horses and people coming in at random or if the situation warrants it. However entry into Relgard Keep, Certus Services and the Robed Sentinel buildings itself is restricted.
Just north of Relgard Castle, is the residential section of Relgard itself. Most of the people live within this area as well as into the dock area with the residential area stretching around towards the Relgard Drydocks and also to the west side of the dock area. The majority of the town's population lives here, mostly either Peasant or Civilian status.
At the north edge of Relgard are the Docks themselves, mostly made up of what shops and businesses can be found in the town as well as some of the better homes but no overly wealthy people live here. To the east of the docks are four Drydocks, able to accommodate small ships and build small ships as well such as fishing boats. Any people who do live here are usually between Civilian and Middle Class status. gy advancements found in the luxurious homes of the nearby Damocles Empire. A few shops dot the area however most businesses are found in the Privateer and Dock Wards.

Relgard as a Port

Relgard is more the secondary port for Mennald Island and is hardly as well known like Port Arennon. Relgard's port can accommodate around 20-40 ships, mostly smaller or medium sized ships. Larger boats would have to set anchor a few feet out from the port. The port itself is, like the one at Port Arennon, in a decent location and within less than a day's sail of well over 5 towns however only people going directly to Relgard would dock here. Most of the business is either Ferries, Trade ships or fishing ships. Waters off the coast of the docks quickly dive deep down to around two thousand feet where it keeps at that stable depth all the way out towards the Eradina Sea and past Spearon. Weather here follows a sub-tropical pattern with heavy rains and storms in the summer months and almost a tranquil mild winter in the colder months of the year. Rarely has a massive storm ever hit that caused much damage to the docks or ships located there so that added safety (Compared to the more stormy ports of Terangoth and the colder ports of Greyhelm) to ships that sail into the city. Naval defenses are handled by the Mennald Navy with a small defense force of one cruiser, three frigates and four destroyers stationed at Port Arennon. Most of the time the ships remain in port as overall area naval defense is handled by Damocles Naval forces from the Spearon Archipelago. and the nearby cities of Tantallon and Norcon. Rarely, if ever, are the seas patrolled by the ships of the Kingdom of Mennald.

Relgard's Subterranean Geography

Due to the proximity of Relgard to such deep ocean waters the sewer network is kept very close to the ground (between 3 to 8 feet above sea level) and consists mainly of a tangled web of crawl spaces no bigger than four feet tall and three feet wide. From this network most of the sewage water drains out from Relgard and into the nearby sea. Any underground digging, such as basements, is restricted along the dock area and rarely done due to the expensive nature of it.

    Drinking water comes from several wells dug along the city as well as from the Robed Sentinels who freely donate water made from "Create Water" spells to the populace. All town wells and fountains are guarded by the Sentinels, the Protectorate and Certus Services.

Population of the Town

Relgard's population rarely falls below 2,000 except in the extreme situations such as massive winters but rarely has that ever happened so the population averages around 3,000with a steady monthly growth. The majority of the population (%80) are humans with Elves of various varieties (%10), Dwarves (%5), Gnomes (%4) and Kender & Halflings (%1) making up the town population.

Geography of the Mennald Island Region

While this area is graphically covered by the East Axius Map we will go into a better discussion of the places found within the immediate range (40 miles of Relgard). Relgard is surrounded by nothing but lush grasslands and ocean with the exception of Gryth Forest which lies on the western edge of Mennald City. Several islands, far too small to be seen on many maps, dot the coastline of the entire island randomly with several on the rocky southeast tip of Mennald Island. The nearest land from Mennald Island would be the south coast of Dawnist which lies twenty miles to the north of Port Arennon. Besides that Mennald Island is alone in the ocean with Cylion 48 miles to the west, the western coast of the mainland of the Damocles Empire 128 miles to the east and the Spearon Archipelago (Also Damocles territory) 160 miles to the south.

Places of Interest

Thalevyn Manor

This was once the home of former Tantallon Governor and famed Vampire Hunter Richtous Bale but following his divorce from his now ex-wife Narei, he sold the land to Baron Thalevyn of Port Arennon.

Mennald City

The capital of the Kingdom of Mennald, this city is a modest but growing city of 260,000 citizens of the Kingdom of Mennald underneath the rule of King Githeran Suhlmar. The Kingdom of Mennald is a prosperous one due to the rich farming of the two communities as well as a small timber trade and profits from taxation and funds sent in from Relgard. While this city is not as advanced as Tantallon or those of the Damocles Empire it is still a fair and beautiful city.

Sergaer

This farming community of two thousand grows food which is shipped to Mennald City and then Port Arennon and is the chief source of food for those in the Kingdom of Mennald.

Port Arennon

The primary port of Mennald Island boasts a population of around 10,000 people and is the main sea traffic area for ships coming and going from Tantallon and heading out to the Eradina Sea. Food from Relgard and Sergaer is shipped in and then shipped out (Half of the food of Relgard departing from it's own dock) and nearly all imports bound for Mennald City also come in from this point. The main office of the Robed Sentinels as well as Certus Services Port Arennon are located here.

Gryth Forest

This small forest, only sixteen square miles, has a few dangers such as Kobolds and Owlbears and is visited by brave hunters or warriors seeking some easy training against very minor foes. At one time a dragon claimed a cave within this forest yet it was slain in 715 AD by Sir Gregir Tailension.

Every crown's jewels are equally as important as the jewels it resides alongside despite how bigger or brighter the other jewels may gleam and shine. Relgard, like Mennald City, Waypoint, Gensania and Tantallon are all important jewels within the crown of the Axius Kingdom.

- Edgar Drake the 1st, King of Axius, circa 613 AD

((Under Construction!))

To understand where we are going one must understand where they have come from. Relgard's history is just as important as the history of any other town with the lands of Imperia.

The 3rd Century: Discovery

Well over two hundred years after the settlement of Tantallon, the King of Axius charged several to go out and seek new lands for the expansion of the Axius Kingdom. One such explorer, Troras Mennald, sailed out from Tantallon only to encounter a gale just near what is now Dawnist. As his ship beached for repairs he began to explore the small island and found it suitable for as a claim of the Axius Kingdom. However no towns or settlements were established except for a few small farms and a port to aid in shipping out the food to Tantallon. The island existed mainly as a farm till it the towns of Port Arennon and Mennald City were established in the 4th century.

The 4th Century: Establishment

The 5th Century: Growth

The 6th Century: Prosperity

The 7th Century: Peace

The 8th Century: Independence

A Timeline of Relgard's History

The AD (After Damocles) Calendar dates back to when Cortras Damocles established a new calendar a decade after the founding of the Kingdom of Dantania. The calendar is used by all the lands of the region with the exception of the Shadow Knight Empire and the Verax Empire who use their own established calendar system. 

((Under Construction!))

((Under Construction!))

((Under Construction!))

I have sworn to uphold the laws and edicts of the Baron of Relgard and that of his majesty of the Mennald Kingdom. For much of my life I've dedicated myself to the goal of keeping the peace and I'm happy with that. In Relgard, if wrong is being done or the spirit of the law is broken, the situation will be corrected by me or the Protectorate, worry not of that. Law and order - sometimes it's all that keeps this town from turning into Terangoth.

- Port Arennon Protectorate Watch Captain Seran, circa 719 AD

The true power within the city lies in the hands of the men and women who maintain the peace of Relgard. The forces of law and order within the town are the Relgard Protectorate (the police force), the Robed Sentinels (magic control), Certus Services (mercenary guard) and the appointed and administered Magisters of the Mennald Kingdom (the judges). 

The Relgard Protectorate

The Protectorate, far more often seen by most citizens and visitors, are the town's daily domestic police, and do far more than arrest offenders. They may aid passersby with heavy loads, give directions, search for lost children, provide basic medical aid and referee gambling disputes or children's fights during a typical patrol.

    A Protectorate street patrol usually consists of four members, afoot, two being officers - a sergeant and a captain or lieutenant - and all are clad in leather and chain armor of green and black and armed with pikes and daggers. Reinforcements rushing to the scene of a dispute may be on horse and may wear all manner of armor and bear all manner of arms, as required. Protectorate patrols are many; all on-duty members of the Protectorate can enter any building or area in the town without hindrance or warning, unless specifically forbidden to by the Baron and search any person, place, or container at will. Certain areas of the town are, by tradition, lightly patrolled and others are very heavily patrolled. If a patrol encounters a major disturbance, they will blow the distinctive whistles they carry on their belts to summon aid, and one member of the patrol will immediately run to the nearest guardtower or guardport to spread the word, usually summoning additional aid from the Royal Guard, Certus Services or the Robed Sentinels if necessary.

    If a patrol makes an arrest, two of its four members must accompany an accused to a Magister immediately, the other two remaining on patrol, or if necessary assisting or protecting victims or abandoned property. If a vendor is arrested, the two patrol Protectorate who remain must guard his goods and conduct business for him to the best of their abilities, although they are not responsible for lost business or losses to monies or property in the arrested person's absence. One officer will be with each half of a split patrol, never staying together while their two subordinates go elsewhere together.

The Robed Sentinels

Certus Services

The Magisters & The Courts

Laws of Relgard

The citizens of Relgard are, by and large, a peaceful law-abiding people. Within a town and area of peace, respect for property and personal safety is high, and support for a strong, objective police force even more so. Much of the laws of Relgard are scribed and within easy view at any guardhouse for all who wish to see them. Ignorance is no excuse here as people coming into the town are expected to take it upon themselves to learn the laws of the land as they would be within any other civilized part of Imperia. A summary of sentences, the "Code Legal" is provided below.

Code Legal

Crimes and their corresponding sentences, as administered by the Baron and Magisters, can be roughly summarized as set forth below. This system is known as the "Code Legal" and is only a basis for sentencing, not absolute rules. Note that both the Baron and Magisters are free to determine absolutely guilt and innocence, and set any lesser sentence they consider fitting (or none at all) if a crime is deemed justified or largely harmless and unintentional.

    A single act can result in multiple charges, under one or more of the four "Plaints". Magisterial justice may be appealed to the Baron by anyone, but such appeals must be within nine days of the initial sentencing and noncitizens of Relgard must persuade a citizen of the town. to appeal on their behalf.

    The four Plaints are the four different classes of aggrieved parties, or those who are injured by a crime. They are Crimes Against The Baron, Crimes Against The Town, Crimes Against the Primals and Crimes Against Citizens. Under each Plaint are four classes of crimes. These four types of offenses are Severe; Serious; Lesser; and Minor.

    The sentences have been set forth below in a chart to save space. After the letter that denotes a type of punishment, an amount (of time or money) usually follows. The city is empowered to seize and sell the property of a convict to realize the money needed to satisfy the payment of fines or damages, without the consent of a convict. The family, clan, guild, or business partners of a convict are never liable for the payment of a convict's fines or damages, unless they can be proven to have aided, abetted, ordered, or coerced a convict into the criminal activity in question.

    Temples, Churches and priesthoods are not permitted to pass or carry out sentences under the Third Plaint; only officers of the city may do so.

    Convicted beings may owe fines to the city and pay as they can over time, but only upon permission of the Baron or Magister, who will typically demand at least a partial payment immediately.

Sentences

1. Death (Instant)

2. Death (upon conviction)

3. Exile or Ban Against Future Entry

4. Mutilation (loss of offending extremities, branding)

5. Enforced Hard Labor

6. Imprisonment (dungeon)

7. Imprisonment (light work in the town)

8. Fine (payable to Town)

9. Damages (payable to injured party)

10. Edict Against Convicted (public pronouncement forbidding convicted to do something; e.g. continue in present business, repeat circumstances that lead to offense, etc.)

The First Plaint: Crimes Against the Baron

Severe Offenses

• Treason (including Assault Upon the Baron): A

• Impersonation of the Baron: A

• Impersonation of a Magister: B after flogging

• Forgery of an Official Document: B or C (permanent) plus D

• Assault upon a Magister: B or F (10 years) after flogging

Serious Offenses

• Theft, Vandalism, or Arson Against the Palace or any part of the Town Walls: E (as justice demands) plus H (cost of repairs plus 2,000 silver)

• Impersonation of a Protectorate: F (as justice demands) plus H (5,000 silver pieces) and flogging

• Repetition of any Lesser or Minor Offense Against This Plaint: E or F (1 month) and/or H (up to 1,000 silver pieces)

• Willful Disobedience of any Edict Uttered Against One by the Baron: H (up to 1,000 silver pieces) or C (up to 5 years)

Lesser Offenses

• Unlawful Observation or Copying of an Official Document: F (3 weeks) plus H ( 300 silver pieces)

• Assault Upon any town officer who is acting in the line of Duty: F (1 week) plus H (as justice demands, usually based on the ability to pay; flogging if unable to pay anything)

Minor Offenses

• Blasphemy Against Baron, Magister, or any Town Officer: G (4 days) plus H (120 silver pieces)

The Second Plaint: Crimes Against The Town

Severe Offenses

• Poisoning of Water (Town Wells; includes attempted blockage or attempts to control public access, or charge unapproved fees for such access): A

• Murder: B or E (10-15 years)

• Spying, Sabotage: B or C (permanent) plus H (costs of repairs plus 2,000-5,000 silver pieces) or F (20 years) plus H

Serious Offenses

• Fraud: C (permanent) and I (as justice demands) or F (up to 10 years) and I, and J

• Fencing Stolen Goods: G (up to 2 years) and H (typically double the sale price) and J

• Unlawful Dueling (Manslaughter): C (up to 5 years and I (to family, typically 1,000 silver pieces) or E (up to 3 years) and I

• Murder With Justification: C (up to 5 years) or E (up to 3 years)

• Repetition of Any Lesser or Minor Offense Against This Plaint: F (1 month) and H (up to 1,000 silver) and J

• Bribery of a City Officer or Official (attempted or apprehended): C (up to 20 years) and confiscation of all property except one weapon, one week's rations and clothes worn by offender

Lesser Offenses

• Unlawful Entry Into the Harbor (1 charge per vessel per occasion): C (1 year) and H (500 silver)

• Unlawful Entry Into the City thru magical means (1 charge per portal on occasion): H (500 silver)

• Unlawful Use of Magic without License from Robed Sentinels: H (Depending on strength of spell). On fifth violation A 

• Unlawful Dueling (apprehended; i.e. on fatality): G (1 week) and H (100 silver) and J

Minor Offenses

• Bribery: G (1 week) and/or H (amount of bribe or attempted bribe)

• Unlawful Flight Intrusion (into Town airspace, of intelligent being flying by means of an aerial mount or magic): H (300 silver pieces) and J

• Blasphemy Against Foreign Ambassadors: G (up to 1 week), H (50 silver) and J

• Vagrancy: F (overnight)

• Littering (includes Relief of Human Wastes in Public): F (overnight) and H (20 silver) and J

• Brandishing a Weapon Dangerously or Threateningly Without Due Cause (Note: being in a brawl is not "due cause" unless one is menaced with a weapon): F (overnight) and H (10 silver)

• Dangerous Operation of a Coach, Wagon, Litter or other Conveyance (including Airborne): H (5-50 silver, as justice demands)

The Third Plaint: Crimes Against The Primals

Severe Offenses

• Defiling of a Holy Place (Church Burglary, Arson or Vandalism): C (5 years) and I (as justice demands) or E (up to 5 years) or F (up to 3 years) and I

Serious Offenses

• Theft of Church Goods or Offerings (includes spoilage or consumption of same): F (up to 1 month) and I (double the estimated value of the goods) and I

• Tomb-Robbing (or Unlawful Entry or Vandalism of a Tomb): G (up to 1 week) and I (cost of repairs and replacements plus up to 500 silver, payable to whoever maintains the tomb) and J

• Repetition of any Lesser or Minor Offense Against This Plaint: G (up to 1 week) and H (up to 1,000 silver) and J

Lesser Offenses

• Assault Upon a Priest or Lay Worshiper: I (up to 500 silver; payable to church) and J

Minor Offenses

• Public Blasphemy of a Primal or Priesthood: I (up to 10 silver) and J

• Drunkenness (and Disorderly Conduct) at Worship: I (up to 5 silver) and J

The Fourth Plaint: Crimes Against Citizens

Severe Offenses

• Arson (of Ship, Structure, or Stored Property): E (up to 3 months) and I (value lost plus up to 500 silver), and/or C (up to 10 years) and I

• Rape: D and I (up to 2,000 silver) or E (up to 5 years) and I, or F (up to 10 years) and I

• Assault Resulting in Mutilation or Crippling: D and I (up to 2,000 silver) or E ( up to 3 years) and I

• Magical Assault: H (up to 1,000 silver) and I (up to 2,000 silver) and J

• Forgery (not including official Town documents): C (up to 20 years) and D and the confiscation of all property except 1 weapon, 1 week's rations, and the offenders clothing worn at the time of sentencing.

• Slavery: C (up to 10 years) and flogging if shackling, cruelty, whipping, branding or physical indignities are observed

Serious Offenses

• Robbery: E (up to 1 month) and I (value of goods lost plus up to 500 silver)

• Burglary: F (up to 3 months) and I (value of goods lost plus up to 500 silver)

• Theft or Killing of Livestock I (double the cost of lost stock)

• Repetition of any Lesser or Minor Offense Against This Plaint: F (up to 1 week) and I (double normal), or G (up to 2 weeks) and I (double normal)

• Usury: I (City recovers excess over legal rates, returns to injured party)

Lesser Offenses

• Damage to Property: I (value of goods lost plus up to 500 silver) and J

• Assault (Wounding): I (cost of medical attention plus up 500 silver) and J

• Assault on Livestock (non-fatal): I (cost of medical attention plus up to 500 silver)

• Unlawful Hindrance of Business: I (up to 500 silver) and J (this charge includes instances of blocking access to a place of business without permission of owner or a Magister; and trying to frighten, disgust or drive away customers in or front of another's shop)

Minor Offenses

• Assault (without wounding or robbery): F (overnight) and I (up to 50 silver)

Trials & Sentencing

There is no bail in Relgard, although the Baron can dismiss charges at will however this is rarely done, There are no lawyers in Relgard, although there are a few "professional witnesses" who for a fee will state a case to their client's best advantage before a Magister or Judge. Expulsion from the city is the fate of any of these who are caught swearing they saw something that did not in fact occur, or that they were not present to see. Several minor clerics earn regular incomes for themselves or their temples by casting detect lie magics from behind concealing tapestries at a sign from a Magister. The fee paid by the city is 500 silver per spell cast, and so this service is used only in the most delicate of important cases.

    The death penalty is customarily employed only to deal with dangerous and incurable lunatics, murderers, and those who commit acts of treason against the city of the Lords. Sentences of death are usually carried out on the battlements of the Palace if commoners or soldiers must die - for death in such cases is by hanging usually at highsun (noon). Nobles die by the sword, such beheadings are usually carried out in front of the Palace gates. Floggings are more often carried out in the Court, but may be carried out anywhere if an example to the citizenry of a particular neighborhood is intended.   

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