 Spring, 7th, Year 513
In order to be successful, one should know things. Information is the most important asset of any person. If you don't know something then you can't do it or react to it. And if you can't do something or react to something you'll end up dead. Possibly in a ditch, perhaps in some monster stomach somewhere. Sometimes both. Information is important to people and Ronan was no exception to this. Now, when you are new in town where would be the best place to learn things about the place you are in? The local bar is often a good choice. Depending on your profession, though, the local bar might come second to the library. Scholars and intellectuals prefer the library, since the local bar is too social for them. For Ronan, it was a mixture of both. The bar for the current events and the library for past events. Today, Ronan was interested in learning more of the city he was in.
Entering the library, Ronan nodded slightly towards the person behind the counter and slipped into one of the many aisles. To his relief, the books were not just plonked down on shelves, like they had been in a certain shop in Syliras before he had started there, but were set down according to their subject and then divided once more in sub sections. Very nice. Very easy to navigate. Ronan walked passed the books, looking at the general subjects that they conveyed. "History...history..." Ronan walked out the other end of the aisle without finding the right section and turned towards the old man behind the counter. "Excuse me, I'm looking for books on Avanthal and the Avanthalians." A friendly smile and a waving hand pointed Ronan in the direction of the correct aisle.
With his finger running over the back of the books, Ronan shifted through the many subjects in the aisle. Lots of history here. "Ah... There's one." Ronan pulled out the book from the aisle, quickly skimming the front page. It was aptly named History of Avanthal. Useful. His search continued as Ronan found some more books by different authors and on different subjects of avanthal, which was important. If all the information came from the same person then something wasn't right. With the books on his arm, Ronan found himself a spot on one of the chairs at the tables. He placed the books down on them and opened the first one.
Ronan started reading. He skim-skipped the introduction and the thanks pages, quickly going to the main subject. The book was not that thick, unlike some of the books he had seen in his past. Sitting comfortably in the warmth of the library, Ronan casually paged through the book, reading up on the history of the city. According to the book, Avanthal had been a peaceful place, boring, depending on your look on life. "Avanthal was settled for Morwen as a home, a place to stay when she wasn't going about snowing under the rest of Mizahar..." Ronan read to himself, muttering the words and sentences from the book. It helped him to remember things. "For her children to be able to live comfortably, Morwen granted them a blessing known as a Gnosis. Mhmm. It protected them from the cold, making them more comfortable in it, like their mother Morwen. Long time without contact... Only people in Mizahar? How does that happen?" Ronan continued to read, sifting through the information that was important and the information that was just writer fluff. "Ah. Kenabelle wright. Arrived in 457 AV in Avanthal with her crew... or what was left of it. First outside contact for Avanthal. Must have been quite a revelation for them." The book described a lot of conflict with the areas around Avanthal, monsters trying to eat people, the usual stuff. But nothing in the history of Avanthal depicted inner strife or troubles. Sure, some food shortages sometimes but nothing serious.
With that general image of Avanthal in his mind, Ronan read on. The book turned more specific on the history of the separate holds, which the writer wrote to be found when Avanthal was found. Different Avanthalians with the same skills banded together, forming their respective houses or holds. In order to solidify these bonds, they started to live together, building houses near each other and near their workplaces. Morwen went on to grant them the 'perfect' place for their skills and jobs and the holds were settled. "Frostfawn hold is known for its... falconry, horsemanship, animal husbandry... For its animal related skills it seems. They live in the woods of Avanthal, where they settled their hold. Alright. Interesting. Mhmm... hmm... Skyglow hold... artists that settled under the aurora in an open place so they could see the sky. They make all of the art in Avanthal and try to... get their art in the palace. Snowsong. Let me guess. Bards and singers? Yup, I'm so smart. They settled where they could hear the wind blow through the trees? Weirdoes. Never trust a bard. Oh... Unexpected. They also craft the wood crafts of Avanthal. Branching out?" Ronan started talking more to the book, something he had picked up along the way. By way of conversation it allowed Ronan to remember important things more easily.
The reading continued on, Ronan's fingers sliding over the pages as he read on. "Winterflame. Lots of cooking fires. Best cooks in town. Also make the beer. Hmm? They have a garden? How would you possibly keep a garden in these piles of snow? All of the buildings were made by the Iceglaze hold, home of the builders and the shapers. Mhmm... hmm... And they discovered Icestone. Interesting. Worth a visit, I'm sure. They produce all of the furniture and weapons as well, most of them from icestone. I wonder if they need metals? Whitevine hold... healers. Mhmm, that says it all, really. And Coolwater is by the sea. Cartographers? Interesting. Sailors, fishers. They provide most of the meat and fish ingredients for the city. Good to know." Ronan read on, passing through hold relations and hold customs rather quickly. The book went on to note that there was an unofficial eight hold called the icewatch. A combination of members of all holds that protected the city. They didn't have a hold, really, but stayed in a barracks from where they operated. Dire polar bear Kelvics, trained warriors. It all sounded a lot like the Syliran knights on fluffy horses to Ronan. Without the 'we own everything in town' attitude it seemed.
Ronan closed the book, skipping over the other events that had happened in Avanthal. Most of it were clashes with monster packs or caravans and people going missing and then being found by the brave men and women of the Icewatch. The general idea that Ronan got from Avanthal was a quiet town with little problems and little to no outside interference that allowed it to blossom as the northern city, Morwen's home and home of the Avanthalians.
From the next book, Ronan didn't pick up much interesting things. It spoke about the government system and how each hold had its own leader, who was elected by the members of that hold. That leader stayed on as long as they wanted or until someone decided to kick them out because they didn't do their job properly. A few chapters further into the book, Ronan read about holidays and how the last day of fall and the first day of spring were big parties in Avanthal to celebrate Morwen going and coming back. "The Departure and Homecoming of Morwen: Every winter Morwen leaves Avanthal to spread the cold of Winter throughout the rest of Mizahar. She hates to leave her people and her people hate to see her go. So they celebrate a lot to remember her for the winter and celebrate some more when they return. I missed the party? Damn."
The third book seemed to be more of a guide to Avanthal than really a proper book. It spoke at length about the various places in Avanthal, which ones were interesting, which ones weren't. It was very opinionated and the author didn't seem to like certain places in Avanthal. But it provided Ronan with descriptions and locations of places in the city. "The docks, of course, are owned by the Coolwater hold, together with most of the boats. Lots of fishing and sailing going on here. Probably a lot of cold water as well. And cold wind. And cold snow... Ugh..." Ronan flipped through the pages, skimming pictures and introductions to the port area and the buildings there. The book continued on, talking about the palace of Morwen, a giant ice construct, cold as...well, ice. Ronan remember a glimpse of it from several locations as he read about it being visible from almost anywhere in the city. People could visit Morwen there and speak to her or ask her favors personally. Ronan figured it would be a good idea to meet with the one in charge here. The book moved on to the temple of Everwinter. If Morwen wasn't around or she was too busy, the temple was the place to go. A building full of nothing but ice, used to meditate and pray to the goddess. Curiously, there were no statues in it, according to the book, as Morwen... "Doesn't want statues? Who wouldn't want statues? Everyone wants statues. They should put a statue of me in the temple, since there seems to be more than enough room anyway."
The last chapter of the book described the area outside the walls and the icewall gates. Ronan remembered those from when he first arrived here, only a few days ago. they had been quite impressive. According to the texts in the book, the entire wall was made of the icestone element that Iceglaze hold had discovered when they settled down. That was impressive. Ronan wondered if there was a map of some kind of this wall. He remember, with fondness, how he had once tried to map a wall of a city. Reading through the texts about the surrounding areas, Ronan's mind wandered off to different things. He started mapping out his plans, which holds to visit with his wares and everything. Planning came second after research. |
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by Ronan Dugal on April 15th, 2013, 4:42 am 
