The Port of Nochet

[MOB]

nb this is a slighted updated version of a piece that long ago I wrote for Tales of the Reaching Moon magazine. A couple of months ago I posted this as a comment in the RuneQuest Facebook group. But as Facebook is a black hole for ever finding stuff again, I'm adding it here for posterity (and so I can reference it again.)

The Holy Country is a collection of littoral cultures (per Colin McEvedy) co-existing around a vast, calm, and easily-traversed bay. Belintar's peace turned the Choralinthor Sea into a thriving eco-sphere built around the ease of moving things by water.

The political situation it describes is around 1620, after the Lunar invasion of Heortland.

The Port of Nochet

The unique geography of the Holy Country is well suited to water transport. A succession of wide, sedate rivers empty into the Mirrorsea Bay, a broad expanse of calm water which laps the shores of five of the six provinces. The Mirrorsea, also known as Choralinthor Sea, has been renowned since legendary times for its tranquility. It is broad, relatively shallow (10-30 meters), well-lit and warm, abundant with marine life. The boats that ply the Mirrorsea are generally flat-bottomed and powered by oars, for the air above the Mirrorsea is remarkably stable too, quite unsuitable for sail. Though the barge captains may bemoan the necessity and expense of oarsmen, they are also grateful that only in the Storm season, when the Orlanth winds whip down from the Stormwalk mountains and churn the waves, is the Mirrorsea Bay hazardous to boat travel. For the rest of the year they may ply it in safety.

The city of Nochet is the greatest city of the many that ring the Mirrorsea, and its port, the busiest and most prosperous. "Port" is perhaps an inaccurate term, for, though there are docks and wharves for the larger, sea-going vessels, most of the river barges and flatboats find it convenient to pull up along a broad stretch of sandy beach, formed at the wide mouth of the Lysos River.

This area teems with activity, in and around the beached watercraft. Fishermen dry and mend their nets, or haggle to reach a fair price for their catch with the mongers from the city markets. Shipwrights order their work teams about, effecting repairs or perhaps constructing a new vessel from Longsi Land pine, recently landed here by barge (since the Lunar invasion, the famous Heortland oak is in short supply). Carters and porters load their wagons with fish or trade goods for the city, or else transfer their cargoes onto the flatboats, ready to be taken for sale in a foreign market. Sailors from ports distant and near stroll through the crowds, pursued by vendors, beggars, whores, and touts. Oarsmen offer to take crewmen or travellers out to their ships anchored in the harbour. Children run in and out of the bustle, making mischief. Trios of guardsmen - Heortlander mercenaries this season, judging by their bristling beards and contemptuous looks - wander about keeping the peace. One may even occasionally espy one of the Matriarch's Axe Maidens, here on some mission, her countenance even more contemptuous than the barbarian guardsmen as she makes her way through this small world of boisterous foreigners.

Above the throng stands the stern yet benevolent gaze of the departed God-King, carved in sandstone; the gravity of his appearance made strangely comical by the marked tilt of his statue, which has slipped and shifted in the sand.

Behind the statue stands a small sea-wall; above it stretch the warehouses, some filled with the goods of a dozen lands, but most crammed with the fruits of Esrolia's bounteous climate and rich soil: golden grain, and fine (and coarse) spirits, stoppered in the famous green-ware jars that identifies Esrolian vintages across the world. Beyond this, and straggling all the way up to the first tier of Nochet City's mighty walls, sits Portside (or Poorside to some), a shanty town of foreigners, outcastes, and (lately) refugees from Heortland.

Off to one side lie the mighty biremes and triremes of Belintar's war-fleet. Many more were to be constructed on these sands by his order; since his disappearance, the Matriarch herself has taken over command of the navy, and yet more vessels are hurriedly being built to replace those that gallantly sailed off to the vain defense of Heortland.

Those deep-water and sea-going ships that are unable to beach on the sands have two options, both costly. First, they may chose land at the wharves, but there are controlled by Merchant Prince families, and only their vessels may dock there unless a very hefty fee is paid.

The Caprati family of Pasos controls a section of wharves on the city side of the river, and rule a small community of their own people, behind their docks, and bounded by walls from Portside. This enclave of western, Malkioni culture is presided over by the patriarch of the Caprati family, called the Democrat.

Further down the river, the Du Tumerine family of Seshnela have their wharves. They have been trading in Nochet longer than the Caprati, and are also Malkioni, though of a different persuasion. Their enclave is ruled a council of Du Tumerine elders, and the traditional leader is called the Don. At this time however, the leader is the Donna, young widow of the old Don.

Ships unable to berth at the Du Tumerines or the Capratis will find themselves in the hands of the Guild of Oarsmen, who will row their cargoes ashore to the beach for a fee.

While the Port of Nochet may still call itself the richest in the Holy County, that distinction is being hotly contested by Rhigos, the paramount city of Porthomeka and second only to Nochet in size and prestige. For Rhigos is undertaking a program to expand its deep-water docks, which will be able to berth the sea-going vessels of the West. What is more, Rhigos promises that this new harbour will be a "free port", where all vessels may berth regardless of commercial affiliation.

Despite the promise of the new harbour, Rhigos's future expansion into Nochet's market is blocked by political factors, though with the increasing disorder in the Holy Country, these too are being diminished. Rhigos is unlucky in that it lies on the Porthomekan side of the Malthin River; ergo, all produce from the Esrolian side must pay customs duty before it crosses over. Also, the boatmen who ply the Malthin-Whitefall and Gorphing rivers, which terminate at Rhigos, have for centuries by-passed this city, and made their way along the coast to the Port of Nochet. Their reason for doing so is simple: they can get a better price for their cargoes at Nochet, where merchants come from all over the world to trade.

Excerpt of Holy Country Map from The RuneQuest Companion.

Edited August 25, 2020 by MOB

[jajagappa]

3 hours ago, MOB said:

The political situation it describes is around 1620, after the Lunar invasion of Heortland.

The Port of Nochet

When I put together the map (https://wellofdaliath.chaosium.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/NochetWebsiteMap.pdf )

and neighborhoods of Nochet (outlined here: https://wellofdaliath.chaosium.com/home/catalogue/publishers/to-sort-categorise/nochet-city-of-queens/ ), I obviously went in some different directions from what @MOB had in his Tales article which had a specific viewpoint.  At the same time, I tried to work in and riff off of some of these details.

3 hours ago, MOB said:

"Port" is perhaps an inaccurate term, for, though there are docks and wharves for the larger, sea-going vessels, most of the river barges and flatboats find it convenient to pull up along a broad stretch of sandy beach, formed at the wide mouth of the Lysos River.

The mouth of the Lyksos turns out to be strongly dominated by Storm Hill - a great unyielding mass of rock and earth on which the Orlanth temple sits.

But, the Riverside docks are actually quite extensive and cater to the river barges and flatboats (and also serve as the docks for the Holy Country fleet (protecting them from Wolf Pirates - sort of). 

I do believe there is a broad sandy beach north of Nochet (by the ruins of the ancient city of Forenes across the river).  That's where the Lunar fleet ended up "docking" during the Siege of Nochet.

At the south end of the city there are more beaches - in the notorious Backside neighborhood.  This is where most of the bay-faring fisher folk live and work.  It stinks of drying fish amongst other things (the sewers also flow out here - and trollkin gangs work by night to gather refuse for Black Esrola).

3 hours ago, MOB said:

Trios of guardsmen - Heortlander mercenaries this season, judging by their bristling beards and contemptuous looks - wander about keeping the peace.

More likely they are ensuring that goods bought or sold by the Esrolian houses have been transferred/delivered successfully, and not stolen.  The Esrolian houses "keep" the peace, at least in their neighborhoods, and work to ensure they have rights to move goods through other neighborhoods.  Politics is complicated (and very local).

3 hours ago, MOB said:

Off to one side lie the mighty biremes and triremes of Belintar's war-fleet. Many more were to be constructed on these sands by his order; since his disappearance, the Matriarch herself has taken over command of the navy, and yet more vessels are hurriedly being built to replace those that gallantly sailed off to the vain defense of Heortland.

Most of the fleet construction occurs in one of three places around the Mirrorsea:  Seapolis in the Right Arm Isles, Sklar in Heortland, and Diros Island by Nochet - Diros Island is dedicated to the God of Boats and sits just southeast of the city proper.  No one lives on Diros Island, but hordes of laborers shuttle to and from by small boats daily.

3 hours ago, MOB said:

Those deep-water and sea-going ships that are unable to beach on the sands have two options, both costly. First, they may chose land at the wharves, but there are controlled by Merchant Prince families, and only their vessels may dock there unless a very hefty fee is paid.

There are a lot of docks in Nochet.  Much of the bay-facing city is docks.  By "Merchant Prince families", read "Enfranchised/Noble" Esrolian houses (and their immediate allies).  Dormal's family, the Delainaeo, are particularly prominent.  So are the Delaeos (where Queen Samastina comes from) with their ties to Karse and the Sartar trade route.  Queen Hendira's family, the Norinel, have more ties to west Esrolia and the Manirian road (hence their hatred of the Western Barbarians).  

4 hours ago, MOB said:

The Caprati family of Pasos controls a section of wharves on the city side of the river, and rule a small community of their own people, behind their docks, and bounded by walls from Portside. This enclave of western, Malkioni culture is presided over by the patriarch of the Caprati family, called the Democrat.

Further down the river, the Du Tumerine family of Seshnela have their wharves.

My take on the Capratis and the Du Tumerines is that they now dominate Meldektown outside the city walls.  And maintain their feud there.  They lead two divergent groups from Nolos: the first from early treaties made to help ensure the trade with Seshnela; the second more recent and the beginning of a diaspora in the face of Seshnelan conquest.  They have married into Esrolian houses, so while not prominent in the city, they exist and dominate their enclave (against the native Esvulari).  Whether they have much influence on the city docks is another question - but the Esrolian houses are great, complex entities that function somewhat like bedouin tribes, somewhat like organized crime families. Bringing in "new families" as allies, tools, henchmen, etc. is all part of their "Game of Houses".  

 

[MOB]

10 hours ago, jajagappa said:

I obviously went in some different directions from what @MOB had in his Tales article which had a specific viewpoint.  At the same time, I tried to work in and riff off of some of these details.

I wrote the above close to 30 years ago, pretty much just going on what little we knew about the region from the write-up and map in the RQ Companion. Happy to adjust accordingly!

[Nick Brooke]

22 hours ago, MOB said:

The Caprati family of Pasos controls a section of wharves on the city side of the river...

Further down the river, the Du Tumerine family of Seshnela have their wharves.

Are these two households both alike in dignity? Asking for obvious plot purposes.

[Minlister]

@jajagappa

Quote

trollkin gangs work by night to gather refuse for Black Esrola

Can you tell us more about Black Esrola? Is she Esrola as consort of Argan Argar?

And another question: on your beautiful map of Nochet, the chain is very high in the estuary of the river and seems to protect the harbour area more from ships coming down the Lyksos than coming from the sea. If I am right, what is the danger coming from upriver? Or is the chain a way to forbid entry upriver to sea vessels in order to insure that all trade will be done in Nochet?

Edited August 26, 2020 by Minlister

[jajagappa]

3 hours ago, Minlister said:

Can you tell us more about Black Esrola? Is she Esrola as consort of Argan Argar?

I've not written much about Black Esrola, but yes the implication is that she is the consort of Argan Argar (her throne/seat after all is atop the Shadow Plateau).  She is the rich, fertile black soil, enriched by the night.  (If you've seen the rich dark topsoils of the Upper Midwest or Manitoba, that's what I had in mind.)

These are the few bits I did write up that relate to her:

• The Statue of Black Esrola.  A pure black statue of Esrola stands here at this corner, honored by both men and trolls and even the trollkin who lurk in the area.
• Esrola’s Walk: On Waterday of Harmonyweek in Seaseason, Esrola arises from her temple and walks to the Fish Market.  As she passes the Marsh Beach, she receives the First Gift of the Sea from House Loma.  When she reaches the Statue of Black Esrola, she receives the Second Gift of the Sea from the Mother of Tides.  At the Temple of Golod, she receives the Third Gift of the Sea, and the Dire Warning. At the entry to the Fish Road, she meets Choralinthor and the pair descends the Coral Steps to the Deep Embrace.  
• The Temple of Black Esrola sends gangs of trollkin into the Dredges each night to gather the floating nightsoil and deliver it to the goddess for her blessing.  Farmers leaving Nochet frequently come to her temple to trade for the blessed soil and return with it to their farms.

 

 

[jajagappa]

3 hours ago, Nick Brooke said:

Are these two households both alike in dignity? Asking for obvious plot purposes.

Here's where they live on my map.  The Capratis are "closest" to Nochet, so clearly they are blessed from their proximity to the city and the South Market.  On the other hand, being closest means they are also "closest" to Foul Beach, and just on the other side of the wall (which is of course quite high) from the swine yards (and not all that far from the city tanneries). 

The du Turmerines are only nominally farther - just beyond the Temple of the Invisible God.

Here's some other bits I wrote up on them:

The Rokari of Noloswal

About a generation ago in 1603-4 ST, after having won the Three Contests, Duke Ariston of Nolos sent the du Tumerines of Arsden to Nochet to:  1) establish a trade treaty; and 2) establish a presence in Nochet.  The du Tumerines secured a treaty wife from House Delaineao (a granddaughter of Valira and niece of Dormal).  Because of their foreign ways and denial of Ernalda (reminiscent of the evil God Learners of Slontos), the du Tumerines were not allowed to take a house in the city.  As good Rokari who deemed the city too heathen, the du Tumerines did not protest this arrangement.  With the guidance of their zzaburi, they established a household south of the city in Meldektown.  But they were not allowed to build a temple to the Invisible God.

After the destruction of the Kethaelan fleet in 1616, Queen Hendira looked for more aid from the far west.  That year, Queen Hendira granted the Noloswal ex-patriates various privileges in Meldektown, including the right to build their own temple (the Temple of the Invisible God), the right to use their own laws in disputes within their own community, and the road toll privilege, in exchange for financial payments.

Concerned about Handra as a rival in trade, Queen Hendira also looked for warriors from afar.  Hendira sent a younger Norinel sister to Duke Mulliam of Nolos as a treaty wife.  In response to her overtures, Duke Mulliam of Nolos sent the Capratis of Noloswal, a troublesome family of exiles from the wars with Guilmarn, as “aid” to Queen Hendira, and they arrived late in 1619.  The Caprati family was gifted with a treaty wife as well: Elena ‘the Rose’, from House Zirandarn, a close ally of House Norinel.  Elena was not inclined towards Western views on women and continued her Esrolian ways.  As a member of House Zirandarn, Elena proved to have a strong influence in directing the Caprati family towards Queen Hendira’s and House Norinel’s interests and goals.

Although Queen Hendira had already granted some concessions to the du Tumerines, she readily extended similar concessions to the Capratis though she forced the two families to ‘share’ the temple to the Invisible God.  Unfortunately, as the Capratis proved to be old rivals of the du Tumerines and the treaty wives were from rival Nochet Houses (Delainaeo and Norinel), tensions naturally escalated since neither family recognized the authority of the other.  With Duke Mulliam being far away and focused on the war with Seshnela, the du Tumerines and the Capratis were left to fend for themselves.

Elena Rosa Caprati: Elena ‘the Rose’ Norinel is the young wife of Don Caprati of Nolos.  With the destruction of the Kethaelan fleet and concerned about the rise of Handra, Queen Hendira sent a younger Norinel sister to Mulliam as a treaty wife.  In return Duke Mulliam of Nolos sent the Capratis of Noloswal, a troublesome family of exiles from the wars with Guilmarn, as “aid” to Queen Hendira in 1619 to complete his treaty obligations following Greymane's Great Raid.  Queen Norinel in turn married her young cousin Elena into the Caprati family to complete her side of the agreement.  Elena, with strong mind and sharp tongue, is not inclined towards Western views on women and has continued her Esrolian ways.  As a Norinel with connections to Queen Hendira, Elena has had a strong influence in directing the Caprati family towards the goals of both the Queen and herself.

Temple of the Invisible God:  After their arrival in Nochet, Talar du Tumerine ordered the construction of this temple to signify the power and glory of the Invisible God.  It is the center of the Rokari community and both the du Tumerine and Caprati families are in attendance, though each has a designated side to ensure peace.  Zzabur Vancelain du Tumerine leads the congregation and strictly follows the ways of the Sharp Abiding Book.  The temple consists of an inner sanctum where the sacred texts of Rokar are kept, the congregation hall, and several antechambers and porches. The inner sanctum is crowned by a round tower, built to be the tallest structure in the city (at least the tallest in Meldektown).

Talar du Tumerine’s Hall.  About a generation ago (~1603-4), after having won the Three Contests, Duke Ariston of Nolos sent the du Tumerines of Arsden to Nochet to:  1) establish a trade treaty; and 2) establish a presence in Nochet.  They secured a treaty wife from House Delaineao (a granddaughter of Valira and niece of Dormal) who was sent to Nolos.  However, they were not allowed to take a house in the city, or to build a temple.  Being good Rokari, the du Tumerines did not mind the first as they deemed the city too heathen, and so established a household south of the city in Meldektown.  They chafed about the second restriction to build a temple and finally persuaded Queen Hendira to relent.  Talar Alabart du Tumerine was thus surprised when Talar Caprati subsequently arrived, apparently an arrangement between Queen Hendira and Duke Mulliam of Nolos.  Alabart resented the newcomers and there has since been a rivalry between the two noble houses, though it has not yet come to outright conflict. Neither Talar recognizes the authority of the other, and with the distant Duke of Nolos being far more focused on the war with Seshnela, the two Talars of Nochet are left to fend for themselves

The Tollhouse.  When the du Tumerines were granted land in Meldektown, they also received the right to collect a toll per wheel from all wagons passing the toll house that could not produce the Queen’s Seal.  The toll continues to prove lucrative and finances the growing ambitions of Talar Alabart and Zzabur Vancelain

Talar Caprati’s Hall.  With the destruction of the Kethaelan fleet, and concerned about potential rise of Handra, Queen Hendira reached an accord with Duke Mulliam of Nolos.  As his part of the agreement, Duke Mulliam sent the Caprati family (which had lost its hereditary lands to the armies of Seshnela) under Talar Mandores Caprati, along with his retainers, to attend to the interests of Nolos in Nochet.  Talar Mandores was to seek and enhance income for Duke Mulliam to help pay for the wars with Seshnela.  Talar Mandores was also ‘gifted’ with a treaty wife, Elena 'the Rose' from the Zirandarn family, an ally of Queen Hendira.  Elena is not overly inclined towards Rokari views on women and continues her Esrolian ways, often travelling to visit her relatives in Nochet proper.  Mandores’s eldest son, Arisones, as well as his first wife, resides in the neighboring hall (M32a) and bitterly resents their departure from Nolos where he hoped to lead the war against Seshnela and regain the family lands.  An illegitimate son of Mandores, Guillam, also resides here.  Guillam is ambitious and devious and has no great love for either his brother or his new ‘mother’.

The Gatehouse.  Queen Hendira had no great desire to see the Caprati family placed within Nochet.  Instead, she granted them land outside the Harst Gate giving them “access to land, access to the sea, and the right to collect a gate toll on any person without the seal of a Great House”.  The gatehouse toll has proven lucrative, far more so than the pitiful boat traffic that plies the backwater marshes, but has also brought conflict with the nearby du Tumerine family who have their own toll privilege and Tollhouse.

The Hero Wars: the Noloswal Diaspora: Harrek the Berserk and his Wolf Pirates sack Noloswal in 1623 and subsequently, by 1625, Nolos falls to the King of Seshnela.  These two events launch the great Noloswal diaspora which comes to Handra and Nochet. All told, some 3000 or more folk from Nolos, Pithdaros, and Pasos arrive in Nochet from the west creating a much larger, but less wealthy Nolos emigre community in Meldektown. By 1627, Seshnegi exiles outnumber Esvulari in Nochet.  Many of the emigres have prices on their heads back in Seshnela, and conflicts increase with the nearby Esvulari. 

[jajagappa]

3 hours ago, Minlister said:

And another question: on your beautiful map of Nochet, the chain is very high in the estuary of the river and seems to protect the harbour area more from ships coming down the Lyksos than coming from the sea. If I am right, what is the danger coming from upriver? Or is the chain a way to forbid entry upriver to sea vessels in order to insure that all trade will be done in Nochet?

Two main purposes:  

• it keeps river traffic (i.e. all the barges and small river boats) from cluttering up the larger harbor and interfering with the Esrolian fleet - they have to stop at the Back of the Chain docks (unless, of course, they pay a hefty toll to have the Chain lowered).
• it keeps sea vessels (i.e. Wolf Pirates) from sailing upriver.  As a corollary, the chain can be lowered to allow access by the Esrolian fleet and keep it safe from marauding Wolf Pirates.

For the most part, the Riverside port serves fishing vessels and others who harvest fish and shellfish from the estuary.

[Bill the barbarian]

On 8/25/2020 at 3:50 AM, MOB said:

. A couple of months ago I posted this as a comment in the RuneQuest Facebook group. But as Facebook is a black hole for ever finding stuff again, I'm adding it here for posterity (and so I can reference it again.)

 

There are a couple of reasons I do not use FB, but that is one of the major ones. I have tried to use their threads/topics/groups the  way I use BRP and that is a truly wasted effort. 

Cheers

Edited August 26, 2020 by Bill the barbarian

[Bill the barbarian]

1 hour ago, jajagappa said:

I've not written much about Black Esrola, but yes the implication is that she is the consort of Argan Argar (her throne/seat after all is atop the Shadow Plateau).  She is the rich, fertile black soil, enriched by the night.  (If you've seen the rich dark topsoils of the Upper Midwest or Manitoba, that's what I had in mind.)

 

Being raised in Manitoba, I know exactly what you mean. It has a certain feel and smell, I can not describe but I remember years after having had it pointed out to me. I could say it smells of night, perhaps!

Edited August 26, 2020 by Bill the barbarian

[MOB]

BTW, there is a key difference between the RuneQuest Companion map of the Holy Country, and the map of the same region in the Guide to Glorantha and Argan Argar Atlas:

Can you see it? New Crystal City is now shown to be on the "far" side of the Building Wall.

As we consider the AAA maps to be definitive, the earlier Holy Country map in the RQC is misleading; obviously influenced by the New Crystal City tourist guild as they know Esrolians no longer like travelling into the badlands on the "wrong" side of the Building wall. (The people of Nochet also probably still harbour resentment because Belintar in 1605 promised he'd build a wall and make the Lunars pay for it, and of course the Esrolians ended up paying for it, quite literally with their blood and souls.)

 

[jajagappa]

2 minutes ago, MOB said:

New Crystal City is now shown to be on the "far" side of the Building Wall.

Not only on the "far" side of the Building Wall, but directly north of the Shadow Plateau and its towering cliffsides.

But surely one of the wonders of New Crystal City must be that it shines brightly throughout the year, even in the face of this "shadowy" threat.

[MOB]

43 minutes ago, jajagappa said:

Not only on the "far" side of the Building Wall, but directly north of the Shadow Plateau and its towering cliffsides.

But surely one of the wonders of New Crystal City must be that it shines brightly throughout the year, even in the face of this "shadowy" threat.

Its location is no accident. From the top of the NCC's glittering spires it possible to see afar, deep deep into the Shadow Plateau's nooks and crannies. 

Edited August 26, 2020 by MOB

[Minlister]

Well, no one ever specified the color of the cristal, maybe it is black cristal... a city built from the spolia of Akez Loradak?!

And thanks for the explanation about the chain, this is all I love in Glorantha, every detail is so well thought!

Edited August 26, 2020 by Minlister

[g33k]

3 hours ago, MOB said:

Its location is no accident. From the top of the NCC's glittering spires it possible to see afar, deep deep into the Shadow Plateau's nooks and crannies. 

Ahhh.  Shades of Tolkien's seeing towers...

... maybe even implying some palantir-like scrying device?

 

Because straight visual line-of-sight sucks for seeing around the corners of crannies & Mistress-Race Grannies...

 

[jajagappa]

18 minutes ago, Minlister said:

Well, no one ever specified the color of the cristal, maybe it is black cristal... a city built from the spolia of Akez Loradak?!

I believe the site was once named "Elmalvo" - so I think it is (or should be), the opposite.  A place of multi-colored, multi-faceted crystals that provide a full contrast to the darkness of the Shadow Plateau.  Rebuilt, I think, with Belintar's help after he dug the New River.

[soltakss]

4 hours ago, MOB said:

Can you see it? New Crystal City is now shown to be on the "far" side of the Building Wall.

It looks to me as though someone saw it at the junction of two rivers and used the wrong junction. 

I might be annoyed, if I cared, but it's in the Holy Country, so just somewhere to visit.