Kharndam: Rumors from the Shadows 1

I’m no Akanri Lorekeeper, but I know how things operate in dark, light, and anywhere there’s a coin. I pay attention to any opportunities that weigh more than the blades leveled against them. I see with whom I can do business, on whom it’s safe to turn my back, and against whom I’d be fish bait for doing either. If you want to learn what I know, drop a palm of coin to make my time and truths yours. After all, even the Akanri don’t know everything, though I’ll bet they’d never admit otherwise.
–Akal of Parhim, drover and trader of the Five Shields League

Only those who wear their seven-pointed star truly learn the secrets of the Star-Mages, and no one can practice magic in Impral territories without joining them (willingly or not). To do other risks death…or worse. I tread carefully around all Star-Mages, as they always demand much and offer nothing of value. Truth too, a Magustar has longer hair than patience (which is to say, the shaved pates have none at all).

The Kryssars have been rogue mercantile and military powers for over four centuries. While they once were consolidated, Kryssar “pirates” (at least according to the Imperam) today are any men and ships sailing outside of a government’s or patron’s control, their masts flying only the two black triangles over two circles for their colors. Some hint that the original Kryssar rogue-sails were remnants of Kharndam’s royal fleet that survived Impral ambushes and the Laor Cove Fires. The so-called pirate’s flag hint at such, as it apes the cutlass grip-guards (bearing double-masted ships with full dark sails) long ago used by Kharndam’s navy. Despite centuries of trying, the Imperam cannot extinguish either the Kryssar standard or the independents that use it.

The Costara Marona are among those I fear and keep at more than a giant’s arms-length. A few generations back, they were one of the biggest noble clans of Summath in the eastern Imperam. The rulers stripped the family name of all titles and landed holdings, though there’s much confusion as to why (but most whisper about the Star-Mages, as always with Impral rumors). Their house mark—a blue arrow piercing three gold coins—now is a feared mark left by their enforcers and assassins. The Marona lost their lands and titles, but their wealth and ruthless trade tactics all still covertly influence or control more than half of all Impral ports. In truth, they hold more power now, with no immobile center of power to attack, than they did as landed nobles, to the chagrin of their enemies (among whom they count many ruling praenars and their houses, all Magustar leaders of the Star-Mages, and even the Imprator himself).

What scares and excites me the most is the return of the four-starred blade! It’s been seen at least five times very recently, or so my sources say. They talk of places in Lluranal, Pralkesh, and Xonorhil where openly corrupt folk of several races were slain and left heaped as carrion, a blade stamped with four stars from hilt to point. This mark conjures many rumors for us here in the Twelvelands, sure, for that was only ever the badge of the Knights Sovereign, the original army of Kharndam and the Home Guard of the Pegasus Sovereignty. Make of that as you will, what with folks talking of the Pegasus Throne having disappeared only to be restored.

Originally published at Steven E. Schend. You can comment here or there.