Darkness Bathing
Chapter 15: Opening 3
Previous Chapter Next ChapterNow we come to the land of Gual, the lands directly south of the southern tribes. A land of basic livelihood and resources. With such a direct contact to the Northern Tribes, as the pass is connected to their lands, their lands face more attacks from the tribes than from the other provinces around them, but also has been attacked by the three other bordering provinces of Libya, Celtica, and Belgica. Gual is known for many things. Their superb olive oil, their great tradition of using polearms, and for the great period of war amongst themselves where they constantly, instead of taking prisoners, butchered entire settlements for a century.
Gual was settled by Princess Platinum and her tribe originally, but unlike in the old days of the tribes when a foal was born an earth pony or pegasi, they weren’t sent to be raised by the other tribes. They were instead kept to bolster their numbers and to not increase the strength of the other tribes. It was hard on the unicorns at first as they hadn’t as much practice with farming and their warriors consisted of just shooting magical blasts at a threat that were not very accurate. But, in time, they started to be self-sufficient and develop their own ways.
Gual mostly consisted of hillily lands. As such, the ponies built their homes at the top of them. The closer to the center of the hill, the more status one would have. Although, in time, this practice was abandoned for the nobles or rulers building castles or hill forts for themselves.
Sights have sometimes been set on the lands just for their resources, but mostly for their olive oil. As the leading maker in olives and the oil that is squeezed from it, many have sought to either make deals or take it by force. But none prevailed as the rulers would not allow their gold making resource be laid to waste or taken away to be made somewhere else. Because of this, they developed a more defensive army using the hills to their advantage which is coupled with polearms for reach and archery fire to keep their enemies at bay either by land or by air.
Gaul Providence - With Resource
Circle with a plus in it - Lilac fiefdom - Timber, Olive Oil
Arc - Violetbush fiefdom - Marble
Triangle - Rosemaple fiefdom - Olive Oil
Lightning - Lochbush fiefdom - Grain, Olive Oil
5 point star - Golddale fiefdom - Lead
6 point star - Elfedge fiefdom - Dyes, Olive Oil
4 point star - Elfacre fiefdom - Silk, Olive Oil
Cube - Brightmill fiefdom - Iron
Oval - Tiny Diamond fiefdom - Glassware, Diamonds
7 point star - Seventy Navigators fiefdom - Gold
8 point star - Fief of a Thousand Gates - Wine
Donut - Fief of the Nine Docks - Leather
Scroll - Reims fiefdom - Iron, Lead
Circle with an X in it - Troyes fief - Grain
Moon - Sens fiefdom - Olive Oil, Dyes
Frame - Auxerre fiefdom - Marble, Glassware, Olive Oil
Diamond - Dijon fiefdom - Silk, Gold
Crescent Moon - Nevers fiefdom - Iron, Lead
Cloud - Orleans fiefdom - Timber, Olive Oil
Heart - Bourges fiefdom - Wine, Olive Oil
Trapezoid - Tours fiefdom - Garin, Olive Oil
Hexagon - Charolais fiefdom - Gold, Iron, Lead
Octagon - Chalons fiefdom - Leather, Olive Oil
Knight Orders of Gual -
Knights of Perche
Numbers - 6000
Main headquarters - Elfedge
Flag - a white flag with three red arrows pointing up
Armor - Solid knight armor with bicolored stripes of white and black over the back and sides
Order of the Star of Anjouan
Numbers - 3500
Main headquarters - Auxerre
Flag - Bronze with a white seven point star
Armor - Yellow and blue lines over the front parts of the armor
Order of Black Star
Numbers - 4400
Main headquarters - Seventy Navigators
Flag - light blue with a black six-pointed star
Armor - Red spikes painted on the sides of the armor
Order of Porcupine
Numbers - 2500
Main headquarters - Reims
Flag - Teal with for white spears
Armor - Green and yellow spots wave looking paint over armor
Order of Hubert
Numbers - 1500
Main headquarters - Troyes
Flag - Yellow with a blue shield
Armor - Blue and yellow lines over the joint areas