Most common people living in Nlad these days think of the Empire of Saltar as a long-dead kingdom out of the history books. Few realise that the Empire that once ruled most of this continent continues to exist to this day, and actually rivals or even exceeds our kingdom in many ways. As a young mage, rather inexperienced and admittedly short of funds, I had the opportunity to travel there and view the Empire and its capital city with my own eyes only a few years ago, in 1365.
The circumstances were thus: I hired on as a combat mage for a merchant caravan which was travelling from Uckfield Valley to Atlantia. Now, Uckfield Valley still maintains close relations with the Empire. They also trade with the Elves of Aldacan. Elven goods are highly prized in the Empire, it turns out, so there is a steady stream of caravans which run between Uckfield and Saltar. Of course, they have to traverse Nlad. The goods they carry from west to east consist of items such as jewelry, crafted goods, fine clothes and crystal, all of high value. This makes these trading caravans favoured targets of highwaymen, thieves and that sort of ilk, so the merchants prefer to travel with a lot of protection.
I signed onto one of these caravans in Hork, after the combat mage who had started out with them contracted a terrible wasting disease from a lady of the night and died. Fortunately, we were not harassed on our journey and so I had little to do but enjoy the scenery and take notes.
We left Hork in the summer of 1365, and travelled eastwards down the Imperial Road. This road generally follows the coast of the Bay of Hork, traversing peaceful, pastoral regions as it does. At the southeastern end of the Bay the road turned directly east and skirted the southernmost ramparts of the Mountains of Nlad. This is a fairly wild area, but soon enough we came to the swamps which surround the delta of the Mississippi River. Staying on the Imperial Road, though, we came to no ill harm, and soon arrived at the western bank of that great river.
At this point the river is some twelve miles wide. A great bridge once spanned the river here, but it fell down centuries ago. Now, one crosses by ferry, and on the eastern shore you find yourselves in Riverland, specifically the town of End.
Riverland is a small kingdon which derives almost its entire national revenue through the collection of tolls and taxes from the traders who pass through. Crossing the river is a very expensive proposition, and I am told that the riverboat traders who sail up and down te Mississippi or out into the Gulf of Mexico are similarily assailed. Still, we paid our tolls and continued on our way east and soon entered the Empire proper.
I did not know what to expect in Saltar. I did not expect to see a country as prosperous as our own, but let me assure you that it is. The people - especially in the western provinces that I saw - are all well dressed, well mannered and courteous. The large city of Arble particularily impressed me. Its ruler - Lord Clarvis - maintains a clean but dynamic fief.
At last we came to Atlantia itself.
Upon approaching the city, one sees the largest urban area on the continent. From a distance, only the lack of smoke from industries and cooking fires indicates that something is amiss. Then, I realised that much of te city has been abandoned, and is in ruins. Closer in, we passed through empty suburbs down wide but overgrown streets. Still, the grandeur of the past is overwhelming. Nearer the centre, more people are about, and Atlantia seems more like a normal city. One point which is immediately noticed by westerners, though, is the near total lack of non-humans. Elves and dwarves are extremely rare in Atlantia. Outside most of te residences and businesses are armed guards. Most of these fighter types are of a different colouration than native Saltarians, fairer skinned, of shorter stature, clearly foreigners and quite menacing in their posture.
The native population of saltar is distinctly different in appearance from the population of its former province of Nlad. The people are tall, and rather well tanned for the most part. Masculine attributes are clearly not in fashion, here. Almost everyone wears make up, long coiffed hair, and effeminite clothing and accessories. Going by what I heard and saw on the streets of Atlantia, they are a very liberal minded lot as far as sex is concerned, as well.
Slavery is also legal in the Empire.
As we walked down the Imperial Road towards the heart of Atlantia, I was awed by the architectural wonders all around.
Eventually we approached a major square. It is hundreds of yards across, and filled with people going about their business. It is here that the Imperial Road intersects another great highway, Interstate Seveny Five. Three sides of the square are lined with great buildings, palaces, and churches, including one enormous complex still in the early stages of construction. The east side of the square, however, is dominated by a wall of deepest ebony: the famous Black Wall, which surrounds the old City of Atlantia. Through it runs a broad tunnel, protected by two mighty turreted towers constructed of the same black material.
We passed through the gate, and into the old city unmolested. Just inside, I paused to look about. The old city actually seems newer to me...perhaps because the buildings are in far superior condition to those which lie outside the Black Wall. Many of these in here are once again constructed of the same dark material as the wall.
We spent several weeks in Atlantia, while the merchants traded their goods, then purchased more tiems here to take back with them to sell. The highlight of the stay was the great festival celebrating the Autumnal Equinox. The main sqaure outside of the Black Gate was filled with tens of thousands of people, and the Emporer Gladius XXXIV himself appeared and blessed the revellers. He wore the Accutrements of Power - or rather imitations of them, as the originals vanished during the war when the province of Nolthen was lost - and he was an impressive sight in the Robe, grasping the Sceptre, and with the Sword sheathed at his side. It is said that when the original Accutrements are recovered a new Emporer will be acclaimed, a new dynasty shall begin, and the Empire shall be renewed. For now, Gladius is a powerful high priest of Hecate, I was told, and is currently building a new temple devoted to her. That was the new building that I mentioned earlier. It is a fabulously expensive undertaking, as he seeks to rival the glory of the constructs of his ancestors, and many rumbles of discontent are heard among the populace of the Empire at the heavy taxes being imposed to pay for it.
That night I ate and drank to excess, and in the morning I discovered that my pocket had been picked.
Soon after we departed Atlantia, and again enjoyed an uneventful journey back to Hork, where we arrived just before Midwinters Day