Rivers of Anyaral

The trading families of the Empire have been a powerful presence since the Devanu towers were first torn down.

The traders would travel across the Empire, their beasts laden down with goods, while they carried valuable letters and information. It was a dangerous life, but the traders charged handsomely for the service. Over time the trade families of Lanakar grew to dominate, building a powerful network carrying goods by land and water across the Empire. During his reign, the seventh Emperor, Egoran, grew nervous of how influential the Lords of Lanak were becoming.

During that time, small communities lived on and around the rivers, plying their trade but marginalised and exploited by the powerful trade families. In order to curb the growth of Lanakar the Emperor granted an imperial decree to those riverfolk communities that they should have exclusive rights for trade along the waterways. The Great Lanak was furious, but could not risk an outright rebellion and was forced to accept the decree.

The Charter of the Waterways was signed by the Emperor and senior members of the riverfolk communities, who were the first of the Riverlords. From that point forwards the riverfolk became a clan in their own right, albeit made up of many small families and with no permanent base of power.

The members of the fragmented clan have maintained their lifestyle, with the various amilies looking after their stretches of river, or taking their boats along the great rivers that cross the continent.

The Lords of Lanak have long memories and since Egoran’s time the competition between the land trade caravans and the riverfolk has been intense, even descending to petty skirmishes when their paths inevitably cross.

The modern riverfolk families spend their lives travelling the waterways, their varied boats laden with goods that often prove a tempting target. The families have always been welcoming of travellers and outcasts, giving them a home and an opportunity to travel the empire in exchange for working hard, helping protect them against any dangers, or simply paying their way. Most travellers stay with the riverfolk for a short while, but many grow to love the way of life and are welcomed into the diverse families.

When the Dhogu invaded Tonueil, many of the displaced Engu found a home along the waterways and are seen as a valuable asset to the crews. Dhogu have always been employed on the rivers, but these days they are treated with more distrust. Theriverfolkcaptainsareusuallyhappytogive any willing crew a chance, but have little patience for those that can’t learn to bury their differences.

Whereas the trading families that travel the roads can elect to go around areas of trouble, there are large rivers that have become more hazardous since the Delgon invasion, but that can’t be avoided. The emboldened Dhogu raiders have made many of the rivers along the northernmost empire almost impassable, but some brave captains are still willing to take their chances to try and make sure the isolated clans do not fall under the influence of the Delgon emissaries, making sure to charge a healthy price for the service.

The wide river through the Eastern stretches of the Naralon forests has long been an important thoroughfare, carrying goods from the South of the Empire straight up to Galim. The old understanding with the forests seemed to cover the travellers, so long as they stayed on the river that wends its sluggish way beneath the immense trees. In recent months the route has become treacherous, with several boats lost and more stories of attacks by beasts that would have previously just watched the boats drift by.