We continued through the Dog Hills, until on the fourth day, the Red Moon became noticeably larger and higher in the sky. Everyone considered this an ill omen, and Kaylin was especially anxious, but we continued.
We began travelling through farmland dotted with orchards. It looked a lot more familiar than Balazar. We picked up a road, and continued down the river valley. Nobody challenged us. Eventually the river connected with a much bigger, dark, sluggish river. It was the largest river we'd ever seen. There were standing stones on both sides, and a settlement on the far side. On our side was a small fortified camp.
Jorator [1] rode up to talk to the soldiers. It was Holay Ford across the Black Eel River, and they wanted a toll: 1 lunar per man and 2 lunars per beast (70L in total). The soldiers said it was one of the few fords until Tarshford, and they would perform a ritual to keep us from being swallowed by the Black Eel.
On the other side was Holay Fort, about as large as Jonstown. We didn't pay to enter, but continued on through heavily farmed lands. There were lots of earth goddess shrines around, and shrines to Barntar.
A number of other people were on the road to Fyllich Kwan. Jorator made some small trades for food, fodder, and supplies.
Fyllich Kwan was a big city, surrounded by tall stone walls. Its towers were hung with elaborate faces of men and animals which looked like giant Heortling ceremonial masks. One of the travellers said that Fyllich Kwan was known as the City of a Thousand Masks. They depicted Heortlings, Hyalorings, Dara Happans, Praxians, animals, and monsters. There was a toll to enter: 2 coppers per person and 4 coppers per beast. The guards were a mix of cavalry and fyrdmen.
They asked our origin, and if we were of the Empire. They were shocked to learn we were Sartarite. Jorator said we were friends of their man in Balazar, and showed them the passes from Halcyon[2] and Temertain. They got angry at this, and had someone who could read appear. He too seemed annoyed, and said, "Have them pay the toll and give them back their pass. These barbarians are protected."
We saw a number of people tied in lines like slaves being led into the city. An armed detachment arrived to take them off.
The city was nearly as large as Boldhome, about 7500 people. We were told that violation of any of the queen's laws would mean we would be taken as prisoners, and probably given to the fields or the Corn Dance. There were are Queen Tharkella's laws (similar to the laws of the Colymar), Queen Phirgia's laws (similars to the laws of Sartar), Alakoring's laws (similar to Heort's laws) and Vingkot's laws.
There were people with dogs in the city, but they seemed to act like cottars. There were also plenty of alynxes. Most of the people were worshippers of Ernalda and Barntar. 5% were obvious Lunars. There were a fair amount of Vingans. The masks were all old, dating from the Dragon Empire. Fyllich Kwan was an important city back then, and became part of Saird as part of losing a wager.
Slaves were going for a high price in the market. Apparently there had been a huge slave rebellion last year, which ravaged the Heartlands until Jar-Eel showed their leader the glories of the Lunar Way. Jar-Eel was a living goddess, the Fourth Inspiration of Moonson. There would be a Corn Dance in her honor next week on Honoring Day, with 196 participants of which 98 would be sacrificed. There was a special moot-ground where people could watch.
Kaylin[3] headed to the temple district to find an Ernalda temple. It was the largest one. There were also temples to the Red Woman, the Seven Mothers, Issaries, Lhankor Mhy, Beren and Redalda, Hon-Eel, Hwarin Dalthippa, and a number of Lunar gods. There were shines to Barntar, the Lightbringers, Vingkot, and Alakoring. There was no temple to Orlanth. There was one to the Red Emperor.
The most popular Ernalda was Earthmother; her daughter and protector was the Red Woman. (The Red Woman temple had shrines to Vinga, Balurga [who they identified with Hon-Eel], Hwarin Dalthippa, and Jar-Eel.) Kaylin spoke with the priestesses.
Orlanth was known, but only as a figure in myth - he had no temples or shrines. Ernalda was known to have many husbands.
There was once a priestess of Chalana Arroy called the Butterfly Priestess, who resolved all disputes until the Lunars killed her, about 300 years ago.
In the rites, Hon-Eel presented her twin children Dakasinota and Dakahoneel to Ernalda, to be recgnized as one of the Four Bounties.
Dorasa[4] spied on the Corn Dance. Hon-Eel once journied to the other side and took an elf lover, Sinota, who had been murdered by Alanthorverthel. Her twin children, maize beings, are her son Dakasinota and Dakahoneel, present in the seeds that grow into maize. The Corn Dance was the rites which decided who would die in honor of Sinota and who would live in honor of Hon-Eel. It was an afternoon of gladiator fights dedicated to Jar-Eel. Dorasa was horrified and fascinated.
[1] Jorator Maniskisson is a Heortling trader from the Colymar tribe.
[2] Halcyon Var Enkorth is the Lunar administrator for Balazar.
[3] Kaylin Maniskisdottir is a priestess of Kev from the Colymar
tribe.
[4] Dorasa Orlgardssdottir is a Yinkin devotee from the Colymar
tribe and the cousin of Jorator and Kaylin.
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