Lord Rikard Bentley

ok... peasants didn't have horses argument is completely invalid... peasants in the middle ages didn't have to worry about these things as well: Elves, Hobbits, Magic, Dwarves, Often times, Pagan Religions, Undead, Explosive Genital Shaped Creatures, Giant Spiders, and the list goes on... and on... We're in a bloody Fairy Land, with absolutely no correlation to the Medieval Times except we live in the same style of housing, and use the same style of tools, so who the heck knows, in this 'version' of the Medieval times, horses could be abundant as heck and be cheap as heck.That argument makes absolutely NO SENSE in this context, so no point in even bringing it up. Period. Secondly, What IF... GM's and... YES!!!.... Players!! BOTH got to manage horses *mind-blown* Say there was an application one needed to fill out, similar to a VA and an MA called a HA, where people could apply to be Herders. They would then be able to get 2 Horses, 2 Donkey's and be able to hold a thriving horse business, but of course, they would be able to run out, fluctuate in price as they competed with other herders etc. The GM village on the other hand could have a set price, where they can sell their horses, thing is, since they're GM's they won't run out, won't need to compete for pricing, seeing how the $$$ isn't gonna go nowhere. So, if someone is especially lazy, or feels they don't have time to wait for a really good horse/mule/donkey from a local herder, they can go to the GM village and purchase themselves a nice lil horsie poo. There is a good compromise in all of the ideas on this thread, if they were all merged, then we would all be able to just get along, hug, and cry a little bit less :3

"And to address the fact of attacks, it would only hinder attacks. If armies found a way to get across the marshes, there would be no way to stop them, except to defeat them when they are in Dwarven lands. But, if there was a strong city, un-takeable due to the walls and marsh lands around it, it would only shy people away, because if they were to attack, they would have to go through New IslaMaurta as we would call it, and to do that would take months on end, for ladders would sink, people in heavy armor would sink, and siege weapons would sink, but the defenders could stand on the walls and fire arrows down upon them. The city in it's idea would be impenetrable to anything but overwhelming numbers, and it would only take a few to defend it indefinitely, while everyone who cannot or will not fight would have more than enough time to flee by the canals and boat system we plan to implement. And it would serve ass a place of income and wealth, and we'd be easily able to supply the Dwarven lands with food, and minas in times of trouble, easily because of the Traders and Producer of goods that will reside inside. We have literally thought of anything, and if one truly thinks on it, this is the perfect location for a grand city."

*Speaks up loud and clear* "We currently 'ave an upwards of thirty people strong, and maybe more that 'ould move with us to the Dwarvern lands! Aye, we have 'erd a many people telling us that we should move into Vaerhaven or Barbek or some other Dwarvish 'old! But I say they will not accommodate us. We are a people of science, and will prefer always to only be around others of science and research. We have no use for fighting except when necessary, and none have enough houses to accommodate us! The swamp lands would be the perfect location to start up a new city of commerce, a Guild of Researchers of and Traders, who owe allegiance to the Dwarven Kingdom because we would have influence from all around. We also have need of the seas, and aye, Vaerhaven has a port, but not a grand port, focused only on commerce and the influencing and the bringing in of new ideas and technology. We humans and Elves and Dwarves have no use for the snowy domains and the deep mines, but an open airy place where we can be isolated enough to research and learn."

*Posts a flyer in the town central of many dwarven cities* "Aye, the idea that cities built on the marsh lands will sink is a common idea, and in most cases is true, but throughout our travels, our brightest young men have put together a theory that may keep out building standing for years to come, no doubt with much help from continuing work, but will be quite the stronghold indeed. To be clear however, this will not be a Stronghold, but more of a trading city, fortified to keep out Orcs from the badlands, and to keep out raiders who would steal the wealth of the Nomads and Merchants who come to trade here. We will unsure peace, civility, and good trading inside our walls, as well as stable architecture and a place to share new ideas and spread the common wealth and knowledge. To address the idea that the city would sink was a hard one to tackle, but throughout our travels, we have been able to learn about many styles of building, and different technology and for many thesis' and theories about how to keep things from sinking. The idea we have come to like the most is the theory that, if a heavy ship will not sink, what about a city, and how would that would. What if we made the city like an inverted Ship. Look at the plans below: If we were to make masts such as these all throughout the islands, thick heavy rods of stacked rocks, molded together using a sticky cement type material, as long as they went to the bedrock of the swamp ((The place where it becomes tough, not actual MC bedrock)) we would be able to then support the main bulk of the city on top of them. But the fact we were trying to kink out was that, if they cracked, then a whole section of the city would collapse upon itself. So then one of our youngest and brightest figured out that instead of applying thicker and heavier pillars, as many of the elders opted to do, we should add Arches: And if we made series of these arches, and connected them using vaults, which would be a series of them, we could then lay a lightweight, would stone combination of a foundation on top of them, literally elevating the city into the air above the swamp. But then would be the problem of protecting these arches,not only in times of war, they could not be undermined but as well as when water and waves rush in during high tide which would be able to weaken the supports and then the entire city wouldn't collapse. So then came the problem of building walls. We would need to be able to protect the city, and keep the walls from falling into the swamp. So I personally, was able to draw up schematics of one of my proudest achievements: Sea Walls. If we were to build walls down to bedrock, encompassing the entire foundation of the city, we would be able to protect the arches and vaults from damage, after flushing out the water, and then protecting them from waves, and, because of the water protecting the wall, any attempt to undermine the sea wall using siege equipment would be made irrelevant, besides the fact that to even setup siege equipment without having it sink would be an accomplishment indeed. And, with a second sea wall behind the first, making an arch, we could place impossibly tall heavy walls on top of the sea wall without worry. To also clarify, we will be independent, yet not, we are but vassals, and will be independent as much as possible, with still being subject to out agreement to the king, and to his absolute rule in times of War. I hope that these plans and clarifications will be enough to convince the Great King to give us a share of the Swamp, particularly the Southern most part, for us to build a grand Guild of Commerce, Exploration of the Sciences and Magic, and a step forward in the world. Sincerely, Self Proclaimed Lord, Rikard Bentley "

The Men and Women of Isla Maurta, Request that the land holdings, of the Great and Powerful Grand King Thorin Grandaxe, that lie within the Great Swamp, but loaned to them, to be made into a Vassal State, for the glory and betterment of the Great Dwarven Kingdom. There are a many reasons, that the people of Isla Maurta, a small nomadic group of traders and works men, feel as though they, and the Dwarves would benefit from the transferring of land holdings to them. From the wreckage and carnage of the War, has emerged a suffering people, one who can hardly provide for themselves, as they fight to keep food in their mouths. The overall transportation throughout the nations has been greatly hindered by the fighting, making it hard for the traveling group to traverse in the way that they used to, looking for odd jobs. Long have they looked for a place to settle, three generations past since their village was destroyed by orcs but, because of the number of them, no town will take them for fear that the food will run thin, and the tensions run high. This group of nomads, has searched for suitable land to create an organization to help the world that is so down, so beaten. So we send a bid to you, to ask for the Southern Edge of the Great Marsh, to create a City that will better the economy of our nation, and in turn the world. We will be an organization of traders and farmers so that we might sell cheaper goods to the entirety of the world. But to do this, we need land, and land is what you have plenty of. We would like to aquire the southern most part of the Great Swamp so that we can build a Port City to transport goods all around the world more easily. In return, our great numbers will become your vassals, under me, and we will provide you with twenty seven bushels of bread every elven week so that you may feed your troops more easily, and when at war, our men will be your men, to use as you will. Consider this my Great King, and grant us this boon, and we will be yours! For the glory of the Urguan Empire, and the safety of the realm. Sincerely, Self Proclaimed Lord, Rikard Bentley