The Walled Cities of the North

Ancient Albarian History 301

A rudimentary introduction, by Kelso D’atavio

~ may it prove useful to those who follow ~

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The Albarian Empire is as ancient as it is vast, though its borders and influence have waxed and waned much over the centuries. However, for as malleable as the Empire’s borders have proven, one of the few immutables within the sphere of the Empire’s control has been - and seemingly shall remain - the Walled Cities. Due to centuries of near-unceasing warfare - both from external aggressors and among the Plainsmen tribes themselves - these compact, dense, and immensely significant enclaves of ancient history and arcane legend had already changed hands innumerable times prior to the arrival of the Albarians. It is significant, therefore, to note that, while the flag flown over the walls of cities such as Vertas, Tiedra, and Villamont has (at least, in recent memory) rarely been that of one of the Plainsmen doyens, the oversight of the individual city-states themselves has remained - invariably - that of an unbroken line of uncharacteristically savvy princes and oligarchs who have managed to maintain a tenuous grip on their meager power where countless others - both before and after - have failed. This, more than anything, speaks to the indomitable will of the Cabarán (The People of the Plains) and may, at least in part, provide some insight as to how they were capable of crafting the most magnificent runealogical works of the ancient - and modern - world.

The walls of Tiedra are by far the most recognizable to the modern Albarian, whether noble or common. Whenever the subject chances to arise, the water-gates of the famed city are justifiably the first to spring to mind. Expertly crafted to span the frigid waters of the Anguila river - raging as it does from the perpetual snow melt of the northern mountains - the gray-white granite walls present an unforgettable image to any man fortunate enough to lay their eyes upon them in times of peace, and, conversely, present as a terrifying obstacle to overcome in times of war. These are, of course, the best studied of the walls, since they provide not only the most dramatic and well-preserved iconography of the walls, they are also the most accessible of the structures, situated as they are at the southernmost tip of the Northern Range, within easy reach of Clement and the new rail platforms constructed there.

Tiedra’s accessibility, while certainly its greatest asset, is also its greatest liability, at least among mereologists and academics. Tiedra was originally conceived as a military outpost, intended to control access to and from the northern mountains and the outposts of Villamont and Vertas that lay further up-river. As an aside, it is somewhat ironic that a people group we - and they themselves - dubbed as “Plainsmen'' managed to control the primary mountain passes for so long, and so expertly. However, and more to the point, while Tiedra’s walls are certainly marvelous, they have unfortunately been subjected to an inordinate amount of abuse and reconstruction over the centuries. Through countless wars and decades of - arguably much more destructive - economic exploitation and tourism, the walls of Tiedra currently present most of their historic visual and physical splendor, yet maintain only a fraction of their potential runealogical powers. The remaining runes (that we can see) are so worn and desecrated that they can hardly hold any essence at all, and it is a wonder the walls have not collapsed under their own, not insubstantial, weight.

And so it is that the interested mereologist must look to Villamont for any true insight as to how the ancient Cabarán mages crafted their magnificent runework. Villamont has traditionally been the center of Cabarán culture, and is currently the ducal seat of the Northern Borderlands and the familial home of Duke Jacin Borden. A fairly prosperous town in a somewhat strategic location, Villamont is, nevertheless (aside from its walls), a relatively minor outpost in a remote corner of a vast Empire. Long overshadowed by its more visually and culturally dramatic sister-city to the south, Villamont has quietly maintained its presence as a regional seat of government and as a trade center, since it serves as a point of transfer for trade goods moving from the river to the overland routes through the mountains. And yet, somehow, despite its political, commercial and militaristic import, Villamont has maintained an air of both significance and mundanity: the Empire could not exist in its present state without the city, yet no-one in their right mind would choose to visit such a drab and remote location.

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Ironically it is because of this neglect that the walls of Villamont remain in a state of relatively good repair. The city is well-guarded against potential invading armies, nestled as it is between Tiedra to the south and Vertas to west, with steep mountains to both the north and east, not to mention its own impenetrable warded walls. Though not nearly as visually imposing as the walls of Tiedra, they remain, even to this day, impervious to all known forms of magecraft and mereology. It is interesting to note, however, that while much of the runework on the walls has been preserved, we also know that much has been lost as well. And yet, the effectiveness of the wards does not seem to have lessened over the centuries. Historical records - including the Mah’d Harrahv - describe mages encountering similar, if not identical, effects when interacting with the walls as can be observed today, leading many scholars to conclude that most of the runes have been placed deep within the wall itself, where they remain protected against armies and weather alike. This, of course, leads to other questions, not the least of which is how the ancient Cabarán were able to infuse the runes with a seemingly inexhaustible supply of essence.

All other questions aside, we are left with the matter of Vertas, the oft-overlooked third walled city. While Vertas is not to be disregarded, there is admittedly little to be discovered within the city that cannot be found in the other - more conveniently accessible - walled cities of Tiedra and Villamont. As it currently stands, Vertas exists merely as an extension of the disciplines learned at Tiedra and Villamont: disciplines perfected, yet not furthered. And yet, I - as a junior and admittedly inexperienced traveler of the world - find myself wondering… what mysteries does Vertas hold that we - the mereologists of the world - have yet to discover? Many mereologists - most of whom I must assume have asked at least some of the same questions as I - have looked to Vertas for the answers posited by the mysteries posed by its sister-cities. And yet the ancient city of the Cabarán steadfastly refuses to reveal any answers. Vertas, to this day, remains a city of perfection, lacking any advancement. The art adorning its outer walls is divine, yet uninspiring. The wards protecting it are impenetrable, yet no more so than those of its sibling-cities. The architecture of - and within - the walls is perfect, yet does not advance the arts any further than that which has come before. The city presents itself as a perfection of dozens of separate disciplines, yet does nothing to propel any of the arts forward. This critique is not meant as a slander, but merely as an acknowledgement of one who is in complete awe and respect to the masters who have come before him. Vertas is frequently disregarded as an unoriginal continuation of the works of more inspired artists and mereologists, and as such is overlooked for the merits the city presents in its own rights. Is there a more simple, economic, and altruistic architectural form for public housing than that of a rectangle? Viewed in this light, should a doctoral thesis be disregarded simply because it does not present any new “ideas”? What if a particular thesis formats the ideas posited by its predecessors in their most perfect - if not entirely “original” - manner?

I, for one, am intrigued to investigate the Walled Cities further, if for no other reason than to explore the implications presented herein, which, I believe, shall eventually prove vital for our future, not only as a nation, but as a people.

- Kelso D’atavio -

Mereology tract, year 3, age: 9