Gunpowder (9 page)

Trogar
- the largest settlement on the Karahams.
If there existed any formal state organization, this city would
undoubtedly be its capital, due to the size and being located
almost in the middle the entire archipelago. An unwritten home-port
for most pirates, smugglers and adventurers sailing the East Sea
and the Inner Ocean. Widely regarded as a safe, neutral port for
each seafaring vessel.

Free City of Daelwynn
–
a town-state
situated in the middle of Herbion. Although it was founded by
merchants from Haaven as a settlement on the trade route leading
north, it has never been part of the Trade Guild Federation,
however many citizens of Daelwynn are still its members. As a
meeting point between the territories of the Principality of
Woodland, Daegan Independent Republic and the Northern Kaesary, and
also being a natural foothold for the mainland interests of the
Trade Guild, with Daelwynn was connected by a customs union, the
city became a natural arena for the neighbourly struggle for
influences. Formally Daelwynn had always been independent, although
over the centuries the doges that ruled the city, elected for life
by the City Council, often represented the interests of one of the
neighbours.

It wasn't until Benedictus Petri-Verfalden had been elected
doge about twenty years before the events described herein, that
Daelwynn was led to extraordinary prosperity. His army reform,
establishment of special forces and visionary diplomatic actions
made Daelwynn one of the most important players on the political
arena of the continent, and the increasing wealth of the city and
its citizens allowed to carry out more and more daring plans of the
ambitious doge.

Trade Guild Federation
- an ancient
organization founded by the merchants of the First Empire. During
the Great War, Haaven was the only southern city that defended
itself against the invaders, which, however, resulted in the
independence of the city. Merchants from Haaven spread their
influence over the entire northern coast of the Azure Gulf founding
numerous factories and settlements, which over the next centuries,
expanded as cities united under the coat of arms of the Trade
Guild. Marine expeditions resulted in setting up trading outposts
on the far Northern Peninsula and sunny Spindle Islands. The
growing importance of Daelwynn during several years before the
events described in this book, encouraged the Spindle Islands'
settlements, which founded their own organization called the
Eastern Company. Following their example Smiteverden announced its
secession and founded the Artificers' Guild.

Haaven
- the capital of the Trade Guild and
the largest port in the world. Once that could put the largest and
most modern fleet, is still a sea power, but without so
overwhelming advantage over its rivals.

Port Sud
- the second largest city of the
Trade Guild located on the furthest inside point of the Gulf of
Azure.

Artificers' Guild
- an
organization
created as a result of Smiteverden's detachment from the
Trade Guild Federation and its alliance with the tribes living in
the fjords and tundra of the Northern Peninsula. The name refers to
the production of all kinds of leather garments and utensils and
the wider metalworking. In the course of the events described in
this book, this organization has only existed for less than two
years. The refusal to accede to the Eastern Company led to the war
and blockade the port customs in Smiteverden.

Smiteverden
- a port city on the northern
peninsula formed as a trade outpost of the Trade Guild Federation
to allow the exchange with the barbaric tribes living in the fjords
of the Northern Peninsula. Repeatedly invaded by the Karahamian
pirates and Ipionese ships belonging both to Mandarinate's Navy, as
well as to private, but surprisingly well-organized, adventurers.
Over time, sturdy walls were built around the city, and the harbour
was defended by two brick forts initially equipped with catapults,
then trebuchets, and finally with mortars and cannons. Municipal
policy of adding new weapons, rather than replacing the old ones,
made the fortalices' artillery extremely diverse and
numerous.

Northern Kaesary
- the country,
whose traditions
fade into the mists of history. Founded by the legendary ruler of
the First Men - Alkasender The Heavendescended. In the days of the
so-called First Empire it arose from a small settlement on the
northern shore of the Outer Ocean and spilled across the continent
of Herbion. Northern Kaesary was established after the secession of
the six oldest imperial provinces from the falling Empire of the
Two Cultures also known as the Middle State, which itself did not
survive the war that followed. A side effect was also the rise of a
small trading settlement - Daelwynn - to the status of a free
city.

Ulhn
- the capital of the Northern
Kaesary, and the River Province, located in the delta of the Trail
on the islands and islets formed by the river and both its
banks.

Rixburg
- a city of culture, the
capital of the Land Province, in which the richest estates in the
empire are situated. The fertile lands and thick forests in the
south and the abundance of coal and iron in the north make it the
richest province of the Kaesary.

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About the Author

G.H. Guzik
- Born in Opole, Poland, in 1979, a
bilingual writer, writing in Polish and English. His first science
fiction story was written at the age of ten, but changing dreams
into reality and pursuing the writer's path took him more than a
quarter of the century. In the meantime, he gathered helpful
experience.

He was educated at Elizabeth College of Guernsey and Warsaw
School of Economics, He worked in Poland, Finland, Ireland and on
Guernsey. He has been a driver, a bartender, a security guard and
an interpreter to finally abandon a flourishing career in finance
and devote himself to writing. The passion for fantasy, steampunk
and science-fiction was instilled in him during countless hours of
RPG sessions held for many years with his friends, in which he most
frequently assumed the role of the game-master.

Thanks to his versatile knowledge, experience and imagination
his stories take a breathtaking pace and unexpected twists while
putting the fundamental values in question. Written with a rich
language and thought through in every detail, they also allow to
explore the meanders of the psyche of the complex characters. For
lovers of fantasy they are a must-read, but they are sure to charm
even a reader, who has never before opted for this particular
genre.

Privately, he is an avid gamer and a great lover of
literature. If time permits he loves to watch soccer, basketball
and American football, especially looking on the Minnesota
Timberwolves and the Green Bay Packers.

IN PREPARATION:

TALES OF THE ION CONTINENTS:

•
Ballroom

•
Roadhouse

•
Mountain Pass

•
Shipwrecked

•
Night Cap

•
Headlong

•
Deep
Woods

• Against All Odds
  

WILHELM MOLL CHRONICLES:

•
Singer's Machine

•
(Extra)Ordinary Circumstances

OTHER:

•
AOXD

•
First Blood