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Notes on Boldhome under the Lunar Occupation (1602-1625)

Posted on May 23, 2023

When the city fell in 1602, the Red Emperor first appointed Euglyptus the Fat, an imperial noble, as governor. A good Yelmite and Red Goddess initiate from Raibanth, I doubt Euglyptus had any interest or familiarity with Orlanthi customs, and tried to govern Boldhome through military occupation. He was skilled at playing the tribes off against each other, but could care less about allowing the tribes and local Orlanthi even an advisory role. The citizen’s assembly was suspended, the city ring gone (no Prince after all), and to the extent the city was administered at all, it was through dictat and decree

In reality, the citizens largely took care of their own affairs, and during Starbrow’s Rebellion, the citizens formed a militia and overwhelmed the Lunar garrison and let the Sartarite army into Boldhome.

During the brief liberation of Boldhome in 1613, there was no Prince, so the Citizen’s Assembly likely “ruled” the city.

In 1613, Fazzur was given command and worked hard to co opt the tribes. He found a hapless member of the Sartar dynasty in the Holy Country, presented him as Prince and gave the tribes enough that armed rebellion seemed a stretch too far, even for the Orlanth priests. During that period, the Prince appointed a City Ring (probably all vetted and suggested by the Lunars) who did most of the work of governing the city, appointing judges and scribes, etc. Even the Citizens Assembly was mustered once a season for ceremonial purposes (although it is largely stripped of its militia function). Fazzur lets Boldhome largely govern its own affairs, making sure whatever happens does not harm Lunar rule over Dragon Pass. This works well, but it means Boldhome does not become “Lunarized”, retains a strong Orlanthi character, and no doubt this was seen as a failure by Tatius the Bright and the Provincial Overseer.

In 1621, with the fall of Whitewall, the Red Emperor dismissed Fazzur and appointed Tatius the Bright as Governor. Tatius was a Yelm-Red Goddess initiate, and Eugylptus’ cousin. Orlanth is /was defeated after all and there was no reason to mollycoddle the Orlanthi. The Citizen’s Assembly was suspended again. The Lunars appoint all members of the City Ring, who work with the City Administrator/Provost. Temertain was allowed some ceremonial functions, but was largely ignored. This was a very hard time for Boldhome, and there was a famine in 1622.

1623, the Lunar invasion of the Holy Country was in shambles. The Lunar Army was sent to besiege Nochet. There was open rebellion among the Sartarite tribes (the Culbrea were in open rebellion, and several other tribes were functionally autonomous again), however Boldhome was well garrisoned, and the roads remained under Lunar control. Trade was disrupted. Concessions needed to be made to the Orlanthi of Boldhome. Perhaps they were allowed to nominate members of the City Ring subject to the Provost’s approval.

1624, Orlanth was back in the sky, but now with 11 stars. This signaled the disastrous defeat of the Lunar Army in Esrolia, and only a fraction of the army returned to Dragon Pass. Orlanthi rebels and warlords openly moved in Dragon Pass, with the Lunar Army focused on Boldhome and the nearly complete Reaching Moon Temple. More defeats – a Sartarite adventure led a Praxian army and conquered New Pavis and the River of Cradle. And at the end of the year, Humakti fanatics led by Sarostip Coldeye killed Temertain in the Royal Palace.

In 1625, I expect Tatius had no time or patience for affairs in Boldhome. He’s at the New Reaching Moon Temple fighting off the Hendriki and the White Bull. He left Lergius Cassius in charge of Boldhome with a garrison. Meanwhile the Lunar provost tries to administer the city with the resources he has. There is of course a huge Lunar treasury in Boldhome, but Tatius doesn’t let anyone use it.

When the Dragonrise threw Sartar into disorder, King Pharandros of Tarsh, was the first to react. The Lunar King sent Fazzur Wideread and his army to seize control of Alda-Chur. Sympathizers threw open the gates, and many joined his army. After some quick alliance‑making, the army moved towards Boldhome.

Kallyr Starbrow also acted quickly. The Provincial Army kept a small garrison in Boldhome under the command of Lergius Cassius, but after the Dragonrise, riots broke out in the city. A week after the Dragonrise, Sartarite sympathizers let Kallyr enter Boldhome with her loyal followers. They made their way to the Royal Palace and slew the Lunar garrison there. Her followers quickly dispersed to their various tribes to raise their own support for her. Most were moderately successful, and so an outnumbered ragtag army marched north to meet the Tarshites.

In Movement Week of Earth Season, the two armies clashed at Dangerford, and Starbrow took the day through sheer inspiration of her warriors. General Fazzur withdrew.

Some notes:

A week after the Dragonrise is Humakt’s Seasonal Holy Day. Kallyr was accompanied by some 200 Humakti led by Sarostip Cold-Eye, as well as by 400 warriors from the Kheldon Tribe. That’s not a lot, but the garrison of Lergius Cassius was a skeleton, with only 300 Beryl Phalanx soldiers and 200 Whipstock Cavalry. And the rebels were quickly joined by another 1000 people from Boldhome itself.

Worse yet is that the Orlanthi had the advantage of surprise and interior lines. The Humakti and core of Kallyr’s army went in over Quivin Mountain and were let in through the Left Arm. The Gate Guard was attacked from the rear, Then the main gate was opened, letting the Kheldon in. At that point, Lergius retreated to the Royal Palace, seeking a final stand. His soldiers fought bravely and to the death.

At the time there were probably about 1500 or so Seven Mothers worshipers in Boldhome. Some 250 non-military cultists were killed during the fall of the city. Another 350 soon fled. But once the orgy of violence was sated, there were still 900 or so Seven Mothers cultists in Boldhome. The Humakti demanded that the Code of War be followed, the Orlanth priests agreed, and so they were spared.

Kallyr spent a few days in Boldhome, mopping up and gathering recruits and then marched on Jonstown. Three weeks later, she fought the Battle of Dangerford that made her Prince.

What is very clear is that Boldhome 1621-1625 was a very tense place. And the Sartarites there have gotten used to looking to the Citizens Assembly as the source of authority more than even the Prince.

Argrath (like many priests and magicians) smokes hazia because it facilitates Discorporation (without needing to spend Rune Points), enabling him to interact with the Spirit World.

Boldhome is at some 1500 meters in elevation. Because of the Desert Wind, it gets warm and dry summers, but it gets cold snowy winters.

Jeff Richard

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1602 ST, 1613 ST, 1621 ST, 1622 ST, 1624 ST, 1625 ST, Battle of Dangerford 1625 ST, Boldhome (large city), Euglyptus, Fazzur, Kallyr, Lergius Cassius, Sarostip Cold-Eye, Tatius, Temertain (prince)

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