Gilbain is by far the smallest of the Duchies of Silverthorne. Though it has stood allied with the kingdom nearly as long as Dorchak, it was only recently settled land. Gilbain sits where the tribesmen of the forest once met for festivals. The springs in this northern hardwood forest run sweet and clear, making it an ideal location. However the dangers here are enormous and only the heartiest of trappers, traders, and woodcutters brave the forests around Gilbain in hopes of earning their way.
The rich pelts and beautiful timber make forestry a lucrative business for those few who can survive its hardships. The forests of Gilbain are also rich with danger. Not the poisons of the swamps of Mordin, or the twisting winding paths of the Vaun, but dangers with tooth and claw which will rend a man limb from limb.
Within the murky depths of Gilbain the forest wraiths sometimes seen near Dorchak prowl in greater numbers. Clans of Scalpers prowl in the undergrowth waiting to prove their manhood by killing a warrior. Beastmen and Slaar move through the woods in great numbers, stripping a clearing bare of all life before moving on. Most fearsome of all perhaps are the Hubrini, great shaggy beasts nearly three times the size of bears. Their mouths are filled with fangs, and sharp horns jut from their jaws to pierce the flesh of any they forget to trample.
When I was traveling to Gilbain a full fifty mounted archers rode with us to insure the safety of the trader I traveled with. His overhead must have been exorbitant, but he claimed that the rare pelts of the shadow lion and the green fur of the forest antelope make the trip worthwhile.
Gilbain sits on a small bluff overlooking the headwaters of the river. Her walls consist of several layers of earth-packed wooden pallisades. The entire city is surrounded by an outer wall of approximately three men’s height, and a drymoat lined with ceramic, glass, and metal shards. While much of the wood is reinforced with iron strapping, there is little stone to be had for construction. Guard towers have been reinforced with brick, but for the most part the town relies upon the skill of its soldiers to repel attacking bands of raiders.
Baron Feldwell who runs the Garrison in Duke Harrison’s absence keeps his troops in fighting fit with daily exercises. Guardsmen who serve here are well paid and well trained, though relatively few in number. With the war upon the eastern front occupying many of Harrsion’s troops, and the rest keeping watch over the borders of the Ari’i forest, few remain to guard the capital of Harrison’s lands.
Escape tunnels and mantraps riddle the bluff to further deter approaching enemies, and Harrison budgets a significant portion of his town’s revenues to the works of alchemists who provide and extensive array of healing services and defensive potions for the use of the city guard.
Gilbain is also known for the sanctuary of the escalapians that has been set up inside its walls to care for the poor and ill of the wilderness areas. Many barbarians, foresters, and wanderer’s have found their lives in debt to the wonderfully skilled hands of the escalapian healers who are sworn to never take a life.
While Gilbain is a relatively poor Duchy, with few inhabitants compared to Dorchak or Silverthorne, she has a rustic beauty all her own. Her homes are often fashioned of beautifully treated logs, carefully laid and chinked to keep out the bitter winter cold. Roofing of wooden shingles is replaced regularly and the keep is adorned with a copper roof that shines in the morning light and is polished regularly. The bottom two floors of the central keep have been constructed of granite imported at great expense up the river from Dorchak. The only other solid stone building in the city is the barracks which was constructed to hold up to two thousand troops, though it is largely empty during wartime.
Many of the buildings, especially those of taverns and inns stand three to five stories in height, and seem to be constructed very sparingly as far as nails. Joints are formed with interlocking leaves of wood and round pegs. The steep and flaring eves at each story assist in keeping snow from settling on the roof tiles during the winter.
Politics
The houses maintain only a handful of representatives each in Gilbain, feeling perhaps that it is too far away from the center of the kingdom to develop anything of importance. Jakoric especially seems to be lacking in its usual numbers here, though rumor has it that Harrison harbors a particular dislike for the members of Jakoric, and thus makes life hard on that house’s representatives within his duchy.
House Toevass
House Toevass, represented on the ducal council by Harviud Montelly maintains a small school in Gilbain. Harvuid serves as the school’s master, and has roughly half a dozen instructors and tutors working under him. They teach basic math, reading, and history to those people who are interested in learning. Their fees vary, from coinage for traders and nobles, to grain, or terms of service from the less well-to-do citizens of the region.
DeVris
DeVris is relatively well off in Gilbain, maintaining a full regiment (one hundred twenty eight) caveliers in the duchy as well as the normal representatives of Law in the towns. Gilbain is served by Olwen Far who sits the duke’s council and handles the business of DeVris. He is a gruff, relatively ill mannered man according to most who meet him. His justice is harsh, but always equal between offenders, and rumor has it that he beheads those who try to bribe him personally.
Mandalor
A short balding man by the name of Yarrin Keepmaster represents the key interests of House Mandolar within Gilbain. He arranges caravan scheduling and sees to the mustering of the guardsmen necessary to insure the safety of the caravans. Master Yarrin rarely, if ever, leaves the security of Gilbain behind himself, however. Instead he remains in his townhouse with food and imported wine, stuffing himself and reaping the benefits of duty as the Kings tax collector in the Duchy of Gilbain. Yarrin is currently on his third wife, being married to two women who suffered unfortunate accidents after leaving him with a son and two daughters.
Jakoric
As mentioned earlier, Jakoric lacks in its usual prosperity in Gilbain, finding diffiuclty in working around the secret police which Harrison has set up to maintain the security of his duchy. There is often a conflict of interest between Jakoric and the secret police, and more often than not the Jakoric members find the most expedient recourse is to leave the town of Gilbain behind. A young lady by the name of Anna Pyth’Martin has stuck out the difficulties in Gilbain as the current representative of the house to the duke’s court. Her charm has won her past many of the difficulties which felled her predecessors on the road to power. She is reportedly witty and beautiful, and according to rumor coldly calculating when it comes to getting what she wants.
The Guilds
The guilds in Gilbain, aside from the mages tend to get a good deal of respect. Both the healers guild and the alchemists here are in strong positions and the messengers guild is constantly recruiting new blood as runners. The works of smiths are in high demand whenever steel is readily available from trade. Currently it is the woman Gertrude Horncatcher that has the council vote for the guilds. She represents the healers guild and is well respected by warriors and scholars alike. Her reputation for walking across the field of battle unarmed to tender mercy to the wounded has long been held as a true example of the strength and courage of the escalapians.
The Baron
Beyond the affairs of houses and Guilds, the day to day management of the city rests primarily in the hands of Baron Feldwell. As Harrison is usually at the front, personally overseeing the distribution of his troops, Feldwell who has eight children stays at home and manages the duchy. He is a canny enough fellow, well capable of handling the council. His recourse to brute force and pulling rank is rare, having over time come to know most of the long term representatives quite well.