#also the town had an old cathedral (of course) with surrounding graveyard

[muzdiir]

last year for guy fawks day i went to ottery st mary for the tar barrels. in which barrels of varying sizes are coated in tar, set on fire, then rolled & carried through town.

the streets are all stereotypically "small town britain" narrow, and the crowds are "yearly big festival" thick. there is fire and alcohol everywhere, and a heavy current of people all following after the burning barrels. said barrels occasionally roll towards the crowd. when it's time for the strength tests and men and women alike are lifting and carrying the lit barrels down the streets, some falter and ram towards the onlookers, causing a surge of people trying avoid being trampled. the shops all along the lanes are constantly within inches of catching fire themselves.

it is insane but also terribly good fun & i think i will miss that.

[travellingwithali]

During our stay in Edinburgh we hired a car for two days to explore outside of the city.

Day 1 – Pittenweem, St. Andrew’s and Perth

We walked over to the Hertz Rental office and picked up a car after a very long wait!  It seems in this office if they see you are foreign or speak with an accent they go over every minute detail at least four times, I found it insulting and time-wasting and it did not give a very good impression of Scotland being tourist friendly.

So we got off to a bit of a late start but finally got on our way.  Our first step was going to be Anstruther, just over an hour’s drive from Edinburgh.  By the time lunchtime came though we were passing through Pittenweem.  It’s a tiny fishing village in Fife on the East coast of Scotland.  We found a cosy restaurant for lunch right on the harbour.

Crossing over the Queen’s Ferry Bridge

Leven Beach

Pittenweem Harbour

The Promenade, Pittenweem

A memorial dedicated to the men and women who made their living from the sea and also to those who lost it at sea

Getting colder as the day wore on!

John Dory Bistro – where we had a delicious fish lunch

We ended up driving through Anstruther and went onto St. Andrew’s, the home of the famous golf course.  It really was only a short stop here as the weather was becoming worse.

The ruins of St. Andrew’s Cathedral

Back in the car and then it was off to our sister city Perth!  Just to see if there were any similarities really.  It sits on the River Tay and is a big university town.  We saw many students that day walking around with gowns and mortar boards, obviously having just graduated.  The architecture was impressive but could do with a good wash down with a power hose.

On our way we passed through Dundee and saw the RSS Discovery

River Tay Bridge

Looking towards the Court House

River Tay

The River Tay

End of Day One

Day Two – Loch Lomond and The Trossachs

After another hearty breakfast at the Apex we set off again this time in the other direction.  The weather was not looking good but dressed appropriately we hoped for the best!

Our first stop was Doune Castle, now famous again for being Winterfell in Game of Thrones.  Being a big fan I really wanted to take a look.  It was also used for the castles in Outlander and Monty Python and the Holy Grail. On the way we passed by these 30 metre high steel horses on our way to Doune Castle.  They just appeared seemingly out of nowhere so I took the best photo I could in a moving car!

The Kelpies

  Queen of Winterfell

The magnificent Doune Castle

Back in the car it was off to Callander, a small town near the River Leith and on the edge of The Trossachs National Park.

  Callander

Eas Gobhain – Gaelic for The Smith’s Cascade

Had to have a coffee here, being a big Peaky fan!

After a quick look on Google maps I saw there was a waterfall with an old bridge nearby. It was just a five minute drive away.  When we got there I realised we would have to do a bit of a hike!  But determined to see it we trudged on. It was called Bracklinn Falls and was actually a series of waterfalls with a wooden bridge crossing them.

  Sunrays peeping through the clouds

Overlooking The Trossachs

Bracklinn Falls

On the Bracklinn Bridge

Bracklinn Bridge

Lunchtime

Lake Menteith was our next stop and we found a beautiful spot for lunch right on the shores of the lake.

  Fishing on the Lake of Monteith

Monteith Parish Church

  From Lake Menteith we drove onto Loch Lomond with a quick stop at Balloch Castle.  This castle dates back to 1238 and was the home for hundreds of years to the Earls of Lennox.  Now it is on the Buildings at Risk Register and the grounds officially  became a national park in 1980.

Balloch Castle

Beautiful views over Loch Lomond

Sadly derelict and boarded up!

  Loch Lomond

Maid of the Loch

Climbing out of the Loch!

After many attempts by my dear hubby at taking my photo, I settled for the above photo which looks as if I’m climbing out of the Loch fully clothed.

Stirling Castle

Much to my disappointment by the time we arrived at Stirling Castle it was closing.  But the surrounding areas including the graveyard was full of interesting graves, monuments and statues.

Stirling Castle

The Royal Chapel

John Knox – Leader of the Scottish Reformation – 1513 – 1572

Robert the Bruce

  The Star Pyramid commemorates all who were martyred while seeking religious freedom.

Mars Wark- a wall left from the original house built by John Erskine Earl of Mar , 1570. He was a regent for James I of Scotland

The Holy Rood

Views from the battlements

Views of the Trussochs

  Margaret and Agnes Wilson’s monument – Scottish Martyrs

Margaret Wilson 1667 – 11 May 1685, along with her 15 year old sister Agnes were both drowned to death for refusing to swear an oath declaring James VII of Scotland and II of England head of the Church.  They were tied to stakes in the sand to await the incoming tide to flow over them.  They were certainly cruel times back then!

We certainly enjoyed our week in Scotland.  It wasn’t long enough to get everywhere but I think we did our best!

Lochs, Lakes,Waterfalls and Castles of Scotland During our stay in Edinburgh we hired a car for two days to explore outside of the city.

[shadowsofsilvermoon-blog]

Masquerade

It felt strange coming back to Stormwind again, but posing as a human never seemed to feel natural.  It was the ears, Echo was convinced of that; it seemed to changed his balance and while it wasn't overly inhibiting it also made him feel too mindful of his movements.

He dismounted at the gate as two of the guards came over.  The first took the steeds bridle as Echo opened the saddle bag to dig out documentation.  "Coming from where sir?" the guard asked.

"Classified.  Garrett Mallory, SI:7.  I'm expected at the Barracks." he replied in equally foreign feeling Common.  It's been years since he'd used the language but the pressure of performance made up for the difference.

After a few moments the guard handed the papers back.  "Very good then.  For the Alliance."

Echo nodded, declining to cite the call back, as he grabbed his bags off the horse and began to tote them across the Valley of Heroes.  He nodded to guards in turn as they gave muted salutes or nods.  Passing through the portcullis, the Trade District was bustling with end of day activity, the Auction House to the western side seeing the largest amount of traffic as the business day had just ended.  The infiltrator passed through the alley and wall to the canal, skirting the edge of the Cathedral District as he made for the harbor.  The overlook was quiet, and he headed north toward the end.  Below the pier transitioned into the shipyard as he came to the end of the stone walkway.

Echo carefully checked behind him, then casually surveyed the drop.  It was about fifteen feet down to the hill and the tree line.  He gave one more check, before dropping the satchel and hopping down after it.  It was an uncomfortable landing, the grade of the hill far from ideal; however he didn't twist the ankle and that was the important part.  He scanned the port, now under cover of the leaves.  The submarine was at the northern pier as Phantom had told him.  He dug into the bag and retrieved a set of magnification goggles, tinkering with the settings adjustments before looking down at his quarry.

The submarine looked fairly large, the periscope section about a third of the length back from the vessel's bow.  The ship and surrounding dock was quiet now, though a token force of security was still there among the long shadows of the evening's torches.  It took him a few moments to scan the sides of the hull, but eventually it lay bare near the keel.  "HMS Lordaeron." he muttered under his breath.  He shoved the goggles back off his head and powered them down as he stuffed them back into the rucksack before looking back to the wall behind him and slinging the tote over his shoulder.

The construction of Stormwind was great, but the stone was arranged with large gaps in between both the horizontal and vertical seams such that it was possible for a reasonably skilled climber to free scale the wall by wedging their fingers, hands, toes or whatever else into the mortar seams.  It took him a few minutes, but he peeked over the top to check it was clear before hoisting himself back up onto the battlement.

Echo moved along the parapet until it opened into the Cemetery gardens.  He paused at the gazebo to give a moment of silence for all the losses that both sides had incurred during the counter attack at the Broken Shore, as it was plain to see the graveyard was full of fresh gravestones; the bodies potentially lost but the names and epitaphs there in memoriam now to give those they had left behind solace.  The cemetery’s park lead past the Cathedral district and into the canals.  Echo moved through the city easily, the layout coming back to him and the unnaturalness of his movements losing their initial discomfort.

The Barracks were a short trip through Old Town and Echo entered inside with a flash of his credentials to the doorman.  He wove through the halls to the back rooms, where the old dispatch and intel offices had been as well as all of the observers and handlers - SI:7 office agents that handled logistics of the organization’s missions and even some of the general Alliance military operations.

Damien Quinn, “Garrett Mallory’s” old handler, was at his desk despite the hour when Echo arrived.  “You’re working late and you look like shit.” Echo remarked, standing in the doorway.

The old Kul’Tiran spy shook his head with a smirk standing up and beckoning him in.  His raspy voice carried through the room back to Echo, “Garrett Mallory.... you gold-plated fart.  Finally got tired of sticking your head in the sand then?  Can’t say it did much for your complexion.” he replied, offering his compatriot a firm handshake and clap on shoulder.

“Kind of.  My contract with that League affiliate company came due.  And I can only spend so long in a sandbox before I want to see grass again, you can understand.” he grumbled back, playing the part.

“Point taken.” Quinn replied.  “So what brings you back?”

“This is going to get complicated and a little crazy, so bear with me.  After Uldum, the company decided to head up Kalimdor to port at Teldrassil and take care of some business there - I’m unsure of the particulars about that of course.  However, on route our ship convoy was attacked by a band of Naga skirmishers.  I suspected remnants from the Darkshore days, but we found a few things on them including what I guessed was a communication missive.  There’s an expert in Nazja at Darnassus I got to consult with when we docked.  Our hunch turned out to be correct, and while some of the details were fuzzy, I have a reasonable picture of what they’re planning.  It seems this raiding party was dispatched from Azsuna to assess the strength of the Alliance’s forces not yet committed to the Broken Isles.  Most importantly, the missive suggested that they were to report back within the next week to aid the Legion forces on the western coast to push in and decimate the Kal’dorei siege forces holding the western front of our joint operation in Suramar City.  Best news I could get was that with the state of things now, we’ve been able to contain the demons to Faronaar.  But changing the status quo would be bad for us.  So I want to take a small team and use the next available submarine we can muster to counter attack the Naga before they can reach the Isles.” he explained, laying out his plan for the handler.

Quinn’s face sunk a bit at the information.  “If nothing else, the scouting report wouldn’t hurt; even if you don’t end up engaging the Naga.  I’ll get into it, but it should be possible.  The Lordaeron came in this evening, but she’s due to depart on a supply run to Valiance Keep.  I can requisition her for the following week when she re-docks here to fuel.” he thought aloud.

Echo stroked this made up stubble pensively.  “That could work.  Can you get my manuals and schematics for that ship class?  I’d like to make the team myself and therefore I need them to know how to operate it.” he stated.

Quinn crossed the office to a set of filing cabinets and ruffled through them til he found the folder he was looking for.  “A basic layout and end-user design graphics of the gnome’s AFS-538 submarine.  Looks like it’s a minimum crew of 4, though optimally I’d take a few more if I were you.  No use being careless.” the older man reminded him, scanning the documentation before handing it over.

Echo reached out and accepted the papers before heading for the door.  “I’ve got prep work to do then.  Just let me know that the requisition went through yea?” he said in departing.

“Will do.  Good luck old dog.” Quinn chuckled.

“I can still learn a new trick or two.” Echo said before closing the door and heading out, putting the documents into his tote and leaving the Barracks.  Mission had been achieved for now and it was time to let Phantom know that they had a window. @wolvesof-winter @phlareshadowdancer @wolf-queen

[cabbages-and-kings-by-miss-d]

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Chapter 1: The Romans

By Paul Slade

<<<Introduction  –  Contents   –  Next Chapter>>>

Cross Bones

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Sources & Footnotes

Murder Ballads

Stagger Lee

Frankie & Johnny

Knoxville Girl

Hattie Carroll

Tom Dooley

Pearl Bryan

Pretty Polly

Poor Ellen Smith

Murder of the Lawson Family

Demon in a Bottle

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U2D Bonus

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Whitefield's soul trap

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Black Swan Blues

Texas Easter Fires

Kit Williams' Masquerade

Superheroes

in Court

NYC Murals

Insect Horror Comics

Andy Capp

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Southwark got its first brothels when the invading Roman army arrived in 43AD. The Iron Age settlement once sited there had long since been abandoned, leaving nothing but a patch of swampy ground on the south bank of the Thames.

General Aulus Plautius marched his troops straight here from their landing point on the Kent coast, a distance of about 63 miles, meeting little or no resistance along the way. Forced to halt by the river, they camped opposite what is now Cheapside, where a network of tracks branched out towards every corner of the island. It was there, on the river's north bank, that Britain's defenders had chosen to make their stand. Plautius ordered his engineers to build a platoon bridge at the relatively narrow, shallow spot where Southwark Bridge now stands and this was quickly done. The Romans made short work of the British fighters waiting at Cheapside, replaced their original pontoon bridge with a permanent wooden structure and set about expanding their Southwark camp into something more like a small town.

"At the bridgehead, they established their commissariat and stores, because Southwark - and not London - would have been their resistance base if the campaign had gone wrong," Ephraim Burford writes in his 1976 book The Bishop's Brothels. "At least a cohort must have been stationed there and at that period a cohort comprised between 600 and 1,000 men, to which must be added the supporting establishment and the camp followers. There would have been at least 2,000 people in that settlement at any one time." Those camp followers included a good number of Roman prostitutes, who set up shop in the new timber and thatch buildings provided just off the military highway. Any army camp of that size would have produced ample demand for the girls' services and this grew further once the Romans had established landing docks nearby to disembark new soldiers and unload supplies. (1)

Southwark took slave girls from all over the Roman Empire to keep its brothels staffed

Within seven years of arrival, the Romans had already pushed their British frontier all the way to a diagonal line between the Humber and Severn estuaries - now marked by the old Fosse Way. It was also around this time that Roman merchants first built a town on the Thames' north bank, surrounding it with defensive earthworks and christening the place Londinium. Tacitus, the Roman historian, tells us that the Londinium of 61AD was already "much frequented by merchants and trading vessels".

By 75AD, Southwark had grown into a large suburb, snaking out a string of taverns along the access roads to its south. Throughout the Roman occupation, these were the busiest roads in the country, lined all the way to the coast with grog shops and inns, each one with a resident whore on 24-hour duty. As its population grew, Southwark shipped in slave girls from all over the Empire to keep its brothels staffed. Evidence of busy landing docks and slave markets from this period has been found all along the Thames' north bank opposite Southwark at sites such as Queenhithe, the Tower and Billingsgate. (2)

A steady supply of new girls was essential to replace the many prostitutes who Southwark simply worked to death. "Once sold, these slaves had no rights whatsoever," Burford says. "Each one would spend the rest of her life on her back, day and night, submitting to every sexual vagary forced upon her by exigent men, until she died. If she were not lucky enough to be bought by some admirer for his personal pleasures, she would die of exhaustion or disease by the age of 30."

Disease was a problem for the Roman army too, if only because it didn't want its men too clap-ridden to fight. In an age where condoms and penicillin were still centuries away, however, there was nothing much their commanders could do to combat venereal disease but order every soldier to give his genitals a good scrub every now and again. The only other precaution available was to ensure that any girl who was obviously diseased be banned from further whoring and that responsibility fell to a band of civic officials called the aediles.

Every Roman city had a team of these men, who were charged with keeping a register of all the town's licensed prostitutes. They financed this operation by collecting a licence fee and taxes from every girl registered and from every licensed brothel-keeper too. Once she'd got a licence, the girl could choose a name to work under, tell the aedile what type of clients she planned to serve and then hang up a shingle outside displaying her prices. The licence gave her a measure of protection under Roman law, but in return she had to succumb to the aedile's regular health inspections and agree never to dress in a way which concealed her profession. Although local pimps and procurers were free to become Roman citizens, that privilege was not extended to the girls themselves. (3)

Southwark's busy brothels soon produced a satellite trade of rough-arse taverns, sleazy gambling joints and every other form of low-life entertainment. These, in turn, pulled petty thieves, gangsters, killers and conmen to the area, partly for the opportunities it offered them and partly because they felt safer there than in respectable Londinium itself. Runaway slaves and other fugitives flocked to Southwark too. "The very nature of the surrounding land - marshy, dank and uninhabited - made it a natural hiding place and refuge," Burford writes. "It was regarded as part of the pomerium of London. This was a swathe of 'no man's land' outside the walls of Roman cities, which was deliberately left clear so that approaching enemies could quickly be spotted and dealt with."

In placing their brothels outside the city wall, with a river segregating them from more respectable neighbourhoods, the Romans were following a familiar pattern from home. Rome's own red light district, the Trastavere, was sited just across the Tiber from the city itself and named to reflect precisely that fact: Trastavere translates as "on the other side of the Tiber".

There were other amusements on offer in Southwark too - perhaps including an arena for the Roman games. Archaeologists have found evidence of a female gladiator's funeral feast in what's now Great Dover Street and the grave goods buried with this woman suggest she was a worshipper of Isis. Another team of archaeologists found a Roman jug inscribed "London, at the Temple of Isis" in the Thames river bed near what's now Southwark Cathedral, which Burford believes was used in the regular "days of drinking" her worship required. Isis cults persisted in England until 350AD and these two finds suggest she was widely worshipped in Roman Southwark. (4)

And so, it seems, was her son Horus, who the Romans called Harpocrates. A small silver statue of this Egypto-Roman god, often depicted with a penis twice the height of his body, was fished out of the Thames near the Southwark end of London Bridge in 1825. Brothels throughout the Roman Empire displayed his picture as a means of spurring on the clients. Just as Isis worship encouraged regular bouts of heavy drinking, Harpocrates' followers were expected to indulge in the wildest displays of sexual licence. All the relics I've mentioned here date from the first or second centuries AD, long before Christianity gained any foothold in Britain. The pantheistic Romans had many gods to choose from and Southwark's selection of Isis and Harpocrates tells us the locals have always put drinking and sex very high on their own list of priorities. (5)

By 150AD, the Romans' army base had moved to a new home in London's northwest suburbs, leaving Southwark's brothels to serve a civilian clientele instead. Burford describes their new customers as "freedmen, petty traders, travellers, lower officials, even slaves - and, of course, criminal elements using whorehouses for nefarious purposes."

Rome's soldiers had dominated Southwark for little more than a century, but even in that short time, they laid down the pattern of everything we'd see in the borough for the next two millennia: licensed brothels, frantic commerce, boozy travellers, disease, low-life entertainment and a dual status as both London's sanctuary and its dumping ground. All these elements will surface again and again as we proceed through Southwark's history, and all their seeds were planted by Roman hands.

<<<Introduction  –  Contents   –  Next Chapter>>>

All contents © Paul Slade 2013 unless otherwise stated. All rights reserved.

[gilstrad-sanbox]

Beyond the rolling plains and meadows of the Vast, to the west, lies the province of Ordhovh – the biggest, the richest and the most populated province in all the known lands of Gilstrad. With the great Cathedral of Dea, the seat of religion of all the land, housed in the blessed city of Highhost, it is not a surprise that most of the humans have gathered within the walls of the city as it is where they have remained strongest and safest. From it, villages and towns have radiated and reveled in the influence that they have believed to have consecrated the lands of the province itself and with the need to retain such hold, the church, in turn, have designated parishes that have worked with the cities that have been established around Highhost to ensure that everyone is safe under Dea’s blessing.

HIGHHOST

Further forth to the west, the green meadows of the Vast leads up to the cliffs that overlook the great Elurian Sea. And in one of the mesas that stood imposingly over both land and sea is the great walled city of Highhost. It is the biggest of all priories as it is where the Cathedral stands – and with both the officials of the church and the massive population of the followers living in the city, Highhost is also the most fortified.  It has seven walls that protect the city from the fiendish threats that lurked all around and it also divides the priory into sectors that made it even more effectively and orderly to govern.

The outermost wall is the highest and sturdiest, made of several layers of bricks, that are not just imbued with prayers, enchantments and powdered silver,  but also able to fit its own walkways and rooms that serve as command halls for the inquisitors so they can defend the city effectively. The Merchant’s Ring and the Town Conclave, though having lower walls are still strong enough to keep the humans safe as well. The township’s wall is noticeably old as it was originally the outermost wall before Highhost expanded. The people hold it in reverence too as it was considered as a relic by everyone from being an old structure – though that could just be an encouragement by the church or the desperate people to keep the fervor of the faith. The inner clusters are for the nobles and governing institutions; the armory, the hospice, the libraries, magistrate halls, and manors of powerful families. Finally, innermost areas, and the highest in all the city, is the Cathedral complex – an imposing structure of light and hope that is surrounded by the offices of the church, monasteries, reliquaries, and convents.

While the city itself holds a rather blurred division – rich merchant’s or lord’s having their manors in the Merchant’s Ring, high ranking inquisitors living within the embrace of the Town Conclave, poor pilgrims and unearning scholars lingering closer within the walls of the church walls – there is an irony within the Cathedral itself as they observe a distinction when it comes to the areas where one could pray. The Sanctium Nobilis is a series of chapels within the structure meant for the titled and high ranking officials of the church. The Midkirche is the hall meant for the priests and members of the clergy while the Commons of the Pious are a series of cloisters and courtyards for the use of the general public.

And as the Cathedral grounds are a maze in itself with all the halls and courtyards and shrines that are within its high walls, it also served as protection from yet another area that are closed to the public – even to those who could offer hefty donations to ensure their share of holy protection. In fact, no one even knows that it exists. Only the highest members of the church are able to set foot in the ornate garden that while it looked like just another well-tended courtyard, it is home to one thing that sets it apart from everything else: the Cairlum.

Highhost, as it is under the protection of the heart of the church itself is still a city of holiness and order. People are hired to tend to the gardens, to clean the streets, and to maintain the sanctity of the cemetery – called klaad – and the shrines all over. Curfews are religiously observed and not even forcefully since it is the fear of the townspeople itself that had made them compliant. Beggars are not allowed on the streets and they knew that it is also for their own safety so all of them seek shelter from the alms halls that are built for them. For those who really wanted something to live on, the Cathedral also sponsors regular caravans that travel along cities and parishes all over Gilstrad for trade and to give the poor an opportunity to find work.

Avila is the only parish that is under Highhost’s wing. And while it is knowns as such, it could still be considered as a city due to its size and effective government activity. After all, it is the only parish that connects Highhost to the parishes of Ortensia and all the way down to Sentinel Hill. They are usually plagued by geists from the moorlands where the poor bury their dead, but the Cathars have always been vigilant in their work.

SENTINEL HILL

Way south of Highhost is an island that solemnly stood through the storms that came from the now dreadful waters of the Elurian Sea. And even if Sentinel Hill is the farthest and hardest to reach priory within Ordhovh’s territory, it is the second most formidable because of one thing alone: the Cathars.

Ever since the angels started to rid the realm of all the evils that plagued it, Sentinel Hill had been the center of arms of the whole campaign. It is the first silver mine that had been uncovered and it is where the angels have fashioned most of the anvils that had been used to imbue the mortal weapons with the power of the light. It is where they trained humans not just to fight, but learn the lore that would effectively defeat those who came from the shadows. While Dea had settled onto Highhost mainly because it is where the Cairlum stood, Sentinel Hill has always been the main source of Gilstrad’s offense. In fact, it is more of a massive citadel than a city.

All of the squires that have taken their vows to be the hand of the light are sent to the island. Even lunesmiths learn their craft in there along with exorcists, magistrates, and even some of the priests. Highhost of course is more than able to teach lore and the ways of priesthood, but Sentinel Hill boasts a chance of pilgrimage. As for Cathars, it is a priory that is all theirs to command – bigger training grounds, barracks, and armories for their growing number. Most of their more ordinary inhabitants are merchants that trade their wares like silk, spices, produce, and leather for silver talismans and weapons, families of sworn Cathars, and people who chose to work in the island instead of drowning in the ever growing populace of humans in Highhost.

Sentinel Hill rules over two parishes, Talguard and Olveron.

Talguard shares the island with Sentinel Hill and while they are mostly agricultural with their wide wheat fields and their two monasteries that does all the milling, they are still teeming with Cathars – both from those who seek to recover away from fortress to those who had retired from their active vows.

Olveron is the parish detached from Sentinel Hill as it is on the mainland just south of Avila. It is too far from Highhost to put it under their command but with the geographical barrier that is has with Sentinel Hill, it is sort of considered as a parish that is ruled by both. It mainly serves as a place for respite for the squires that travel from Highhost or from ordained Cathars that come from Sentinel Hill who are prepared to face the world. While it seemed feasible to sail from Sentinel Hill to Ortensia, no one dares to do so after Dea’s disappearance. They say that the ghost tides that swirl within the bay have grown even more restless. And even though griffins have been of great help in ferrying people from the island to the mainland, it seems like after Dea’s disappearance, they have grown rarer and the few that have been kept in the roost refused to fly and would only guard the walls and the nearby graveyards.

With Sentinel Hill’s rather military nature, the priory is not ruled by bishops or high magistrates. Instead, the Hill Excaelionmaintains the order.

ORTENSIA

To the east, just by the tip of Ordhovh bay, is the priory of Ortensia – the Magnificent Priory of Ortensia. To live within the walls of Highhost is indeed a lofty shield, but for some of the rich, titled, and noble of blood, luxury is a bird that is caged within the churchs’ ever seeing eyes. Originally a collection fief from the old lords from times before, Ortensia is pretty much a settled state after the lands converged and moved closer to the waterlands. And with its ports dominating the bay they prospered even more during the era of Dea’s presence. Their marble plazas glimmered with the sun and the moon; water winded through canals that run throughout and all over the city between grand manors and even grander palaces. Revelry was everywhere at any time: masques, balls, feasts, banquets, even things that are kept indoors that might make the church blush… or frown. Then again, they are the magnificent priory of Ortensia. And it is a beauty that they have shared throughout their parishes.

The parish of Vinos lies west of the priory and while it doesn’t share the opulence that Ortensia has, it is still riddled with old villas and manors that stand over wide vineyards that cover the whole land. Needless to say, wine takes up most of the priory’s economy. Vionsian wine is unmatched with its quality and taste and with it being a staple drink from poor to rich alike, coin is practically overflowing. But the parish is not as grand or as populated like the other well-earning territories of the realm. Ortensia still remains as the center of commerce and Vinos is most of the time considered as a collection of fief-land of the nobles; rich men’s farmsteads to say the least. And all the more reason to fear it at night as the empty stone palaces of their lords stand in eerie silence as they hide into their houses in hurried paces. And just how people speak in whispers about vampires that lurk with the masses of Ortensia, who prey upon the intoxicated ladies and gentlemen alike, some say that some manors that have long been left behind have demonic secrets deep within its old dungeons – as if the howls in the nearby forest weren’t harrowing enough.

Veruna is east of priory but along the edge of Minstrel Lake. Commonly known as the lesser Ortensia for the reason that it is also a city half submerged in water but with less opulence. Merchants who have struck gold usually have their palaces in there and some even rent out the rooms for rich travelers who came from the southern regions since the commerce of the parish relies on its trade ties with the province of Bardelven. It is the first parish of Ordhovh that one reaches after coming in within the safety of the Silver Pass – name aptly given to the valley since all of the silver ore that come from Virgil chose to travel there instead of the valley in the north that is just too close to the vampire infested lands of the Chasm.

To the south is Viggo, the parish that connects to the province of Reislach. Originally a shipyard, the activity slowly dwindled after Dea disappeared a year ago. And while the old craftsmen have harbored anger at the church for reassigning their support for ship making to the now safer ports of Gleamring, most have decided to either move up to the port city or offer their craftwork in their own workshops and send the parts up north so they can just put it together. But as time passed, trade changed even further and soon enough Viggo started to earn a reputation that could only be talked under hushed breath. With the unsure seas and the stricter administration in Gleamring, merchants who’s either willing to gamble their products to having cheaper to no taxes, or peddle their wares that is normally forbidden in Ordhovh whether it be too luxurious to downright heretical, Viggo slowly became a den for smugglers that used the dangerous mists and terrain for their own advantage – and it’s not so bad to charge extra for the occupational hazard. Money has never been a problem for the people of Ortensia.

In fact, it’s how they manage to live through the nights. Celebrations happens indoors anyway and their generous donations along with their timely payments of tithing will always protect them from harm as the priests and bishops would never ever leave them out of their virtuous prayers.

GLEAMRING

Above the grand priory of Highhost is the province’s main trade route to the rest of the known lands of Gilstrad: the port city of Gleamring. With its clear beaches and old white stones of the forts and strongholds that yellowed and grayed with time, it was apt name for the now flourishing priory.  Before, Ortensia and Gleamring were the main ports of Highhost but after the events of Dea’s disappearance the seas of Gilstrad seemed to have grown restless, and the waves that crashed against the shore brought forth more of the ominous ghost tides crawled into the lands. And with Ortensia’s narrower and more enclosed bay, the thick mists lingered longer and kept some of the ships at bay. And thus, the officials of the church decreed that all ships from Gahvol and from the lands beyond, to come to Gleamring instead. And one of the old castles, known to be Lady Pelgior’s, was used and reconstructed to make the Falsight – Gilstrad’s tallest and biggest lighthouse and Gleamring’s center of command. Of course with the decree came a stricter and sterner administration of the ports: all crates and sacks are inspected and accounted for before they are sold or transported to Highhost and the neighboring priories of Orhovh – the obvious edge that Ortensia has since what they lacked in basic port trade, they made up for what pirates and merchants call as actual profitable business.

It is said that it is the worst job that a Cathar could have is to be in Gleamring as they were trained to fight evil, not open crates and massage sacks. And since there is little supernatural activity in the highly guarded port that made it proud enough to not sleep like the grand port of Gran Heig, the most action that they get is roughing up the drunken sailors in the main port quarter. Then again, it is rumored that those who work at the ports are the ones who barely made the cut – good enough to uphold the law, not good enough to kill a vampire. And the rumor is only bolstered since one of Gleamring’s parishes is constantly under threat.

Aeilhem: it lies north of Gleamring and south of Piaress. There is no Aeilhem that existed in the old maps of Ordhovh and Gilstrad itself since Piaress was Gleamring’s official parish to begin with – before Dea disappeared, that is. But after her presence, or lack thereof, soon became noticeable, the church has decreed to move all the citizens of Piaress to the small the just then growing city. No one really knew why; all that was given to them are the news of a strange plague that was slowly creeping from the north. And to not hear anymore from Balwar and its parishes was enough for them to comply – in fact, it was enough for them to not stay in Aeilhem either. Most chose to move way down to Highhost itself or settle into the then strengthening priory of Gleamring. Most say that Aeilhem is the last known parish of Ordhovh that is still liveable. And while citizen’s dread it, the bored Cathars of Gleamring reveled in it; a chance to prove their worth by guarding the front lines since anywhere up north beyond the parish’s borders is either filled with ghosts from the then abandoned klaads of the empty parishes or vampires waiting for the lost to find their way into the deserted towns that have then became their very own feeding cages.

South of the port city is the parish of Thalmion. It is a rocky region of the great plains of Ordhovh as it leads up to the cliffs where Highhost sits. And while the rugged craggy terrain and the ebbing hills prove to be a challenge to traverse onto, it is still very much alive and populated as it is the only parish that connects the bustling port to Highhost itself – which has then become a problem after the incident that led up to the archangel’s disappearance. Thalmion was far enough that travelling caravans were in danger of being attacked by supernatural beings. And to ensure that the trade routes remain intact, the church has commissioned Cathar’s to establish a small safeguard for the caravans. The Cliffside Outpost is a walled encampment along the edge of the land. And even if it wasn’t as fortified with stone and brick, the wooden fence towers over the outpost with embedded spikes of silver ensured the effective protection from any fiendish threat.

DELIOS

With the revelries in Ortensia, the noisy ports of Gleamring, the clashing swords of Sentinel Hill, and the general buzzing crowds of Highhost, Delios is a complete change of view – or sound. Reputedly named as the Priory of the Monks, the whole priory of Delios and the parishes under it are blanketed in quiet solemnity: vast farmlands, brick houses with thatched roofs, old monastery complexes that had stood the test of time and a good populace of priests and monks who also pitch in their fair share of land work. The townspeople that live within its jurisdiction were the people that have chosen to be employed by the church to till their lands or the people who migrated from Gleamring to establish more effective trade ties within the whole province. Some chose to make a living to take advantage of those who choose to make pilgrimage.

For years it has been a place of visit and learning to those who seek to spread the word and teachings of Dea. It is believed that a relic lies deep within the Crimeus Abbey, the oldest and biggest of the abbey’s in the priory and its parishes, that keeps the evil at bay. Some say that it’s a skull of a demon that has been thrust into the ground with an angelic sword and was then irremovable ever since, some say they are bones of an actual angel – one of the first who have fallen during Dea’s campaign. And so it came to no surprise that it has been receiving a steady number of visitors – priests and townsfolk alike – despite the dangers of the geist-ridden and werewolf-ridden plainlands.

Saintheiled is one of Delios two parishes. It lies in the north of the priory and it is the northernmost parish of Ordhovh. And while being near to Storvoss is something to fear, the handful of priests and villagers that chose to stay still clung onto hope that their own relic spares them from the evil as well. Legend has it that Heiladskirche, the parish’s abbey, is where Saint Heilad’s body was interred. Heilad of the Blessed Pious is one of the few men that the church of Dea had considered as reverently holy. The story most associated to him was the battle of Silver Pass where Azrhagor the Corpsegatherer led his own horde of undead and demons towards Highhost. Heilad, a Paladin then, faced him into combat and by his faith and undying vigilance; he apparently ascended into angelhood in the middle of the battle and thus effectively defeated the vile evil-monger and eventually led to his imprisonment into the Cairlum. Newly ordained Cathars usually take pilgrimage in Heiladskirche as Saint Heilad is their de facto patron. And with its proximity to Skyseat the parish is very much willing to welcome them since it has brought forth an active enough presence of Cathars to once more replenish the walls that protected the fortress-abbey. Suffice to say, some have dubbed it as the lesser Sentinel Hill.

Cantresso is the parish northeast of Delios. While it cannot boast a relic, a true one or a rumored one, Cantresso boasts humanity’s acceptance of the faith. It is said that it is in Cantresso where the first vespers for Dea were written. Within the cloisters of the its abbeys, the hymns of the first monks were heard and written before they were passed onto every generation until it became the vespers that the priests have being uttering today.

While ghost tides have been ever more prevalent, it is believed that Delios’ tranquility from the solemnity of its buildings and klaads have only welcomed light geists into the mists. Still, even thru those reassurances, darker rumors still creep along the seemingly innocent plains; that those consumed by the more harrowing kind specters that are beyond saving are being kept within the old thick walls of these secluded abbeys to keep the people out of danger.

[justforustravel-blog]

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20 The World's Most Important Ancient Area

200,000 annual human, Homo sapiens is defined as since we have constantly developed ourselves. In the case of an advancement of humanity constantly. Africa’s a lot of humanity in the process of distribution from the handle, went to different places and life was founded. Everyone has their own lives adapted to the environment, our culture, our clothes, our behaviour and our environment was shaped by structures completely. What we’re trying to do in this list of different people in the past to be able to show the different communities as the habitats they create.

Machu Picchu, Peru

This is an ancient Incan city in Peru’s is located in the city of Cusco. In an extension of the Andes, established a height of 2360 meters is an ancient settlement. World’s one of the seven wonders and is one of rare historical value preserved until the present day. Here inkal an administrator has built in the year 1450. They didn’t notice this place when they come to exploit the surrounding settlements of Spanish explorers and managed to stay the way it is here. The exact cause of the Spanish people seen here because it is completely natural more than 2000 meters high is set in an area of the city, but in the dish, so it is easily visible when looking from outside. National Geographic about this place and how it was built, how a very good documentary about how you moved to the top of 2368 meters of water for agriculture, and I suggest you follow it seriously.

the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

the Pyramids of Giza consists of 3 pyramids are gigantic. These are; the pyramid of khufu the pyramid of khafre and pyramid of menkaure. 4 the pyramids 4500 years ago. it was built by a Pharaoh from dynasty. Khufu, the Great Pyramid, is thought to be approximately 145 metres, alone, lost much of up to 10 meters until the present day. According to a Belgian scientist, the Pyramids and the constellation of Orion was built according to the projection of the earth, and also one other amazing thing by leaving the corners of the pyramids were built neatly and the accounts share a very low error almost faultless. There are a lot of rumors about their intended use, among them, the central Astronomical Observatory of religious faith, and it is thought as the place for the life after the death of the Pharaoh.

the ancient city of Petra, Jordan

Jordan’s de located nebati this magnificent ancient city’s capital. 2500 years ago it was a place of active life, but about 1900 years ago, with the invasion of the Romans not to be used has become. In general in the city, the temple, the ancient theatre, the Roman house and the works. Is included on the World Cultural Heritage list, also with a sister city of Machu Picchu.

Stonehenge, England

London’s is located at a distance of 130 km. Many were found in burial grounds in and around structures and excavation. The building history of about 5000 years. With the purpose of the faith and general service center, the cemetery, the Astronomical and astrological Observatory, as well as with the structure there is a very strange fact. Construction, June 21 Sunrise on the summer solstice, and according to were constructed. Near Ireland’s a similar structure were constructed according to the 21 December winter solstice.

gobekli Tepe, Turkey

Sanliurfa’s very important in this cult dates back to about 10-12 thousand years ago the places. In general, there are shapes and high rocks carved in stone. Also includes small structures in the style of the house. Wanderings plays an important part in the history of mankind is of the greatest importance by scientists from hard get on in life is the focus. Nowadays, the most discussed recently, but do not find much support in the last situation the hard life of humanity, the agricultural revolution or the beliefs, rituals passed because of. Gobekli Tepe here’s important here is understood. Here is also the oldest manmade place.

Rome, Italy

Rome, the capital’s structure, during the Roman Empire were made. It was built nearly 2000 years ago. The goal of construction serve as Amphitheater, gladiatorial games to be made here, animal fights, as a field of various religious and national events. According to the latest research, the Gladiator fights of the series and movies that are old and in bad condition as shown in good soldiers not fighting is an activity of prisoners.

the Acropolis of Athens, Greece

the Acropolis was built by Pericles 2500 years ago. Earned a victory from the attacks of the Persians on this huge structure was built as a result of an intense study of ancient grekli. The meaning of the word as in the Greek of the Acropolis’means the structure is too high. In the city centre and approximately 152 meters above sea level, was built on a high cliff. The structure of the main functions of the task of building temples and monuments to see. 1456 the Ottoman Empire’conquered it, the building began to serve as a mosque.

  Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Angkor Wat 12. a temple built in the XVII century, the first Hindu temple is constructed according to beliefs. 200 years later began to serve as a Buddhist temple to be rebuilt. As a very large building when it was built it was bigger than the Cathedral and the church differently. The king who built the Temple, II. Suryavarman’dir. There are also many buildings and temples in the vicinity. By the time the temple was abandoned around after to bring it back to the structure and nature of the forest has started. Until 1858’is known by the western world until very, but this area was introduced by a French scientist to the outside world for its magnificent ancient. And now on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

  terracotta army, China

The terracotta army is composed of 8000 soldiers. And the purpose of China’s China war period and the layout provides’s first ruler, Qin Shi Huang’s alone in the grave I will leave. Sculptures generally consist of soldiers and horses. In 210 BC, is made, the construction lasted about 30 years when King was alive. Has worked for the human statues than 700,000. This ancient area of China’s Shaanxi province of XI’an Lishan is located in the town of the kentidenk. Graveyard D%9fin height of 76 meters.

  Teotihuacan, Mexico

the city has a strange mystery about it that much because there is no archaeological evidence can be obtained. Like someone has already built this in the past and directly separated. We can get information from any document, text, inscription, unfortunately. Scientists ‘ estimates, according to a previous build civilization of the Aztecs he has, but why there is a hint of being abandoned. According to the Aztecs, in the city of the gods they believed in their holy place, and the Aztecs already here the one who named it or again the meaning of the name means the place of God.

Pompeii, Italy

Pompeii, Italy’s Camtasia semi-autonomous region, which is close to the city of Naples with a population of about 25 thousand located in the city of Pompeii an ancient Roman city. The ruins of the city of Mount Vesuvius erupted nearly 2000 years ago, lava from the mountain he didn’t leave one stone on another, and the ashes that fell in the aftermath of remaining activity to present things as they are has come. Ash rained down on top of the city more than 20 feet. Even some people said that it would share the same fate as the destroyed cities and nations by religious books. Residues in the most prominent and noticeable as it is with the things that give people the image of a sculpture mold. If this is the situation, you have to tell the city the 1700’s The first archaeologist to unearth the ruins and had to find some work has begun. Alone remains, while I have noticed that there are gaps, and on the inside of them, complete with a cast and realized for the remains of thought it would be more sheltered.

  Easter Island, Chile

Easter Island is an island located off the coast of Chile. It is a really long way of saying that is open, Chile’3700 km away from the island and the unique, isolated life. According to the last census, the population of 6000 people on the island. It’s not a name that is already very efficient, the reason we can call human beings. In medieval times, there were palm trees on this island are very large, of course, the exploiters of the beautiful world the trees, the man cut off, destroyed, on the ecosystem of the island and the axe hit. Now the island is windy, with a tropical climate generally is arid. 638 on what makes this island special are two massive stone statues. In fact, it is estimated at 1,000 sculptures, but currently 638 one reached the present day. I can’t find much about the history of the statue, it is estimated that between the years 1000 to 1600 they were made. To vary The size of the statue, a little one for 20 meters until you reach the size of 50 tons of stone blocks, there are various statues.

  Great Wall of China

built about 2500 years ago, this large wall was built by 20 dynasties separate in their own neighborhood. Wall accommodates a lot of knowledge about the cultural elements of the region. Because construction techniques and materials of each region differ, but generally, brick, Adobe and is built with several different materials and construction techniques. The Mongol and Turkish tribes from the north, this is generally the purpose of building the Great Wall protection and to provide against the attacks of the country’s internal security. If all the arms of the wall length of the wall is 6000 kilometers, approximately 21000 miles, length extensions are added.

  Palmira, Syria

the ancient city of Damascus, Palmira’s a approximately 215 miles. Built on an oasis in the desert and over the years has been a stopping point for caravans. Thus, the city of Palmira, which is an intense trade developed. 25,000 belonging to Babylon and the tablet found by the archaeologists, according to the history of the cityi 1900 B.C. until the goes.The city from time to time, different civilizations are ruled. Among them, the Romans, the Sassanids, the Byzantines and the Persians and the Ottomans. There are many indications that extensive cultural activities took place in the city in time. Has been designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 1980. Today, confronted with the danger of being destroyed because of the wars.

  the Taj Mahal, India

India’s This unique monument in the Turkish-Islamic Art has a very important place in between. The ruler of the Mughal empire by Shah Jahan 14th. his wife, who died while giving birth to their children, is a structure that was built on behalf of. Architect Sinan in the making’s very important Istanbul the masters and students calligraphy artists’s dan Shah Jahan’s invitation to India’s a came. While it is still being constructed Emerald, Diamond,Ruby, pearl and Diamond gemstones, this unique structure has been used in various such as. The construction began in 1632 and lasted for 20 years. And according to rumor, the masters who did the construction work, such a beautiful thing so they might never be able to do by Shah Jahan his arms were cut. This masterpiece accommodates a serious danger to the surrounding construction.

  the ancient city of Ephesus, Turkey

not only for Turkey but for the whole world is a very important place, and the ancient city of Ephesus. We can tell by looking at the figures it also receives an annual visit. The first rule of the ancient Greeks in the aftermath of the last city in the hands of the Romans throughout the ages has been the center of trade and art. Of the city of Menderes river port and the port is not used until until. To trade over time fell, and the former had an active day. Near the house of the Virgin Mary is recognized as one of the important pilgrimage centers. Popes in the past and was also known to have visited.

Hadrian’s wall, England

another long wall of Britain’s den. The construction of the wall belonging to the Romans, and Emperor Hadrian, who work’dir. The wall of Britain east-west direction and splits. The reason for the raids and invasions of tribes from the Scottish construction will be protected. In fact, Hadrian’s wall, the Great Wall 3 a part of Hadrian‘s wall have survived the most sheltered wall. Britain’s This wall there are the following tourist walkways. In the years ad 122 the wall have been made. Military service served as the next border crossing.

Bagan, Myanmar

the city, Myanmar’s is located in the Mandalay region.1000 years ago, here had been a resident of the kingdom of pagan by the name of a great Kingdom. From the 13th to the 9th century. 10,000 of the century’s that I found a Buddhist temple and monastery was built. Today only around 2200 building remained standing. The real life after Christ in the city 2. goes back to centuries. It has a beauty that is equivalent to Angkor Wat to Bagan. Ananda temple the most famous Temple.

Persepolis, Iran

Iran, Shiraz’s also about 2500 years ago based on the city’s history. The city 1 The King of Persia. Darius made. There are many beautiful buildings in the city, among them the tombs of the Kings, temples, palaces, there are. As religion had an important place in Zoroastrianism. B.C. 3. Alexander the Great in the century, when we fought with the Persian Empire, the city was burned,destroyed, and destroyed all the books. And the city took a huge blow. The walls of the city but still you can easily see the important mythological figures and monuments in the period. This beautiful place definitely need to go next.

  Longmen caves,China

This is the famous caves of China’s connected to the region located in Luoyang City Henan. A lot of the living space carved into the caves in the region, giant Buddha statues, there are inscriptions. The earliest life of approximately 1500 years ago in the caves stretches. There was a city here that requires anything near the big rivers to provide the water necessary to work in last. The size ranged from very small with a size of about 17 meters of the statue. With holes carved in rocks and used as the home yapilmisla. Has been designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2000.