Mercin
Location: Habe/Azadmere
Holder: Jermain of Ardwyn
Population: 340 (Approximately)
The village is situated on the river Idain north from Habe. It is one of the largest human settlements in the dwarven kingdom. Foreigners are seldom seen here as most do not travel beyond Habe. There is a ford to cross the river within this village. The fields to the north-east of the village belong to it.
History
In the year 812 BT clan Ardwyn was granted the permission to build a wooden palisade around the settlement, which was then only a few years old and consisted of just a few buildings. A need for a fortification was seen during the Atani wars. During that time Habe was also just a village with wooden wall. But whereas the Kophars had to remove their wooden palisade in Habe when they built their stone fortification in the year 142 TR, Mercin's palisade remained. As most humans in Azadmere, the inhabitants of Mercin are farmers with a small number of craftsmen among them.
When the Kophars finally gained dominance over the other humans in the valley in the year 300 TR, this had not been uncontested. Many clans had striven for it, among them the clan of Ardwyn which was among the favorite. This clan took it's residence in Mercin after a particularly gruesome battle with garguns which left Habe in ruins. This lead the traditional-minded Khuzdul to accept the claim of the Kophars who held out in this oldest settlement.
The Ardwyns finally accepted the rights of the Kophars who were backed by the Khuzdul. But since then they have used legal and semi-legal means to gain dominance of the humans in Azadmere. The last serious attempt was made in the year 633 TR, when the late Milloff of Ardwyn, then Lord, tried to poison Baron Cyndir at a banquet. This assassination attempt failed because a servant of his uncovered the plot. Lord Milloff was hanged and only a petition of the remaining lords could persuade the baron to grant the land around Mercin to the lord's son. How this young man gained the support of the other lords is unknown. In the course of time, however, Laslir of Ardwyn showed to be a competent governor of his land without the ambitions of his father and filled the coffers of the Baron - and his own.
Government
Presently Mercin is the seat of the ambitious Jermain of Ardwyn, a grandchild of Laslir. He is scheming against the baron, aiming to take control of the barony. He has confidential information that the Khuzdul king would not oppose a change of power, if it at least appeared legal and went without unnecessary violence. The actions of Lord Ardwyn are covert and difficult to discern by the general populace. At times people will complain about stiff obligations, but the Lord is a popular leader and knows how to channel resentment in the baron's direction. The baron does not know about this but he is also not particularly interested in the opinion of the people as long as he receives his dues. This has been the case up to now; since Laslir's times the Kophars are satisfied with the government of the estate and do not expect troubles from clan Ardwyn.
Economics
The surrounding land is of average quality (with respect to the Azadmerian standard). Minor fishing is allowed and restricted to the section of river which belongs to the estate. Nonetheless, there are a few fishermen in the village leaving for the lake during fishing season. An additional source of revenue is honey from the local beekeepers, which are the best in Azadmere. Fruits of the forest are also gathered. The lord of the manor is often seen in the woods where he contemplates new ways of making profit of the land. It is generally held that the revenue this estate produces is due to the concentrated use of the forest but others were not able to duplicate this with the same effect.
Taxes
All building and property are enfiefed from the Baron of Habe which has conveyed it exclusively to the Lord of Ardwyn. He in turn lends it to other people for various periods of time, generally around seven years. The rents are acceptable and seldom change. Taxes are one percentage point above the kingdom average and the appropriate part is transfered to Habe. The only exception is the hawking fee of 12% which stays with the Lord of Ardwyn. Additionally a fee is taken for usage of the ford. It is approximately 1/4 of the usual fee in Hârn to use bridges. This semi-official toll is tolerated, because nobody of importance cares (or pays). In "special" situation this fee is waived. The guard at the ford may be bribed but has to deliver a certain amount of toll each month.
Local Map Notes
Size: 4 Quality: *** Prices: Average
The shop is run by Joel Staganth. Because the quality of clay is not particularly good, the quality of the wares is also just average. However, the techniques of decoration are similar to the ones in Habe. If Joel receives some of the clay from Habe, his earthen wares rival those of his brother in Habe. But generally Joel doesn't not bother about getting it.
2 The Staff and Cup (Clan Hamyn)
Size: 6 Quality: **** Prices: high
The inn has 6 single bedrooms. Passing dwarfs seldom stop here, but humans tend to stay at this inn more often then in any other of the inns along the route northbound from Habe.
This manor was founded in the year 812~TR and is as old as the palisade that surrounds the village. At that time the lord decided to enlarge his residence as became his position.
Size: 5 Quality: ***** Prices: average
The clan only produces for the local need or single pieces as ordered. For mercantyler wares one has to go to Habe (or Azadmere).
The right to display goods and sell them costs 3f per day for a mercantyler and 6f per day for other traders. Only mercantylers are allowed to buy substantial amounts. The market is open during daytime and when someone has to sell something. Fees are paid at [7].
Size: 6 Quality: *** Prices: average
Mills in Azadmere are not run by the millers guild. The mills are run by a tenant of the lord, in this case Gaes has bought the franchise. He is the first born son of one of the free farmers in Mercin.
7 Mercantyler (Clans Tynath/Berbakh)
Size: 3 Quality: *** Prices: average
This shop serves as a outlet for the odds and ends the Chandler clan Berbakh sells and as a store for the Mercantyler clan Tynath. Usurer notes are also traded. The two owners are married. They also manage the market [5].
Cylgar Marman is the richest (and free) farmer of the village. The lord has taxed him rather high in the correct assumption that the richest peasant in town lamenting about high taxes is not going to be taken seriously. Cylgar knows the financial situation of the lord almost as well as Jermain himself. He his not just a good observer and apt manager; a cousin of his works for Lord Ardwyn as a substitute chamberlain.
9 House of Holon (Clan Shiron)
Holon of Shiron settled here. For a seafarer this is quite unusual, but he seems to have the money to support his living and the goodwill of the rulers. He is a respected, free man and has not only traveled on the freshwater lakes of Hârn.
Size: 5 Quality: *** Prices: average
Clan Foraen owns exclusive timbercraft rights not only in this estate. The local timberwright Armenes knows a bit about the cave of his lord although he never stepped across the threshold of it. He considers the regular watches that meet there unusual for a mere cave but deems it unwise to talk about it.
Manor
The ground floor houses three men-at-arms in one wing. The meeting- or council hall is located in the center. The second wing contains a storage room.
One wing contains the sleeping quarter of three soldiers while the other consists in the kitchen which also serves as sleeping room for a cook. The central area is occupied by the sergeants' quarters, from which a small section is separated by a curtain in which the servant of the house sleeps. A small bank is occupied by a guard who makes sure that no-one enters the private chambers of the lord.
These are the private rooms of the lord. Previously he and his wife used the outer room and his son the one that contains the stairs. But his wife has been dead since four years now and his son is out "acquiring fame" as a knight somewhere far from Azadmere. All rooms are therefore exclusively used by the lord himself.