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====== Sorgul's Commune ======

//Information accurate as of Spring, 1109//

==== Overview ====

"The commune" is a group founded by [[Sorgul]] which is dedicated to researching
and understanding the new magic.  It's primary residents consist of [[Sorgul]],
[[Karelia]], [[Shale]], [[Arundel]], and [[Cindy]] (all are [[player
characters]]). In addition, there are about a dozen NPC's which have made their
way to the commune over the past year.  Some are clearly "layabouts" and will be
unable to contribute to the research in any meaningful way (actually,
[[Arundel]] fits into this category as well), but most are "wannabes" who are
willing to learn and will do whatever is needed to help the cause.

The group has taken up residence in a modest walled castle located far to the
north of [[Rota]] (roughly 130 miles NNE as the dragon flies).  It has a small
interior, but is adequate for the number of people it holds.  It is not in good
enough shape to withstand any form of assault, but none is expected. There are
eight private rooms in the main building, plus a library, dining room, kitchen,
and two research chambers.  In the cellar is a vault which can be locked, though
not too securely.  The portcullis is unreliable and is generally propped open at
all times.

==== History of the Castle ====

The castle was given to [[Sorgul]] by the previous owner, [[Edric]], shortly
after his death in December, 1104.  It was built nearly 100 years ago by a
zealous baron named Alrik who felt the world wasn't being handed to him on a
silver platter quite fast enough.

Alrik's land bordered a river which traditionally was considered the
southern boundary of the elves' land.  However, since the elves rarely ventured
that close to the humans, Alrik considered it a waste of space.  In 1021, he
proposed to the new king, Barret, that he be allowed to build a small keep on
the far side of the river.  Barret was not keen on the idea, but was distracted
by the birth of his first child and so Alrik was able to build the keep
without much protest.

In 1024, Barret ruled that since Alrik had been allowed to build his keep and
had occupied it for more than a year without a protest from the elves, he
should be allowed to remain there.  However, he made it abundantly clear that
there should be no more expansion by Alrik or any other baron in the region.
His order held little weight, though, since Alrik's prosperity and power had
grown greatly since his expansion.  Many young knights who felt frustrated by
the traditional borders had joined sides with him against the king's wishes.

In 1026, despite the king's warning, Alrik began construction on a castle
farther into the elven forest.  This time, the elves noticed.  They watched
the construction for two summers before they protested to Barret.  The king
was furious with Alrik, but was faced with a greater threat from Alrik's
supporters than from the elves.  That fall, Alrik held a great festival in
his new castle and invited hundreds of knights to accompany him.  What he
found waiting for him at his castle was an elven diplomat and a small army of
archers.  The diplomat outlined a verbal treaty given to the elves some seven
hundred years earlier by a human king and demanded that Alrik live up to that
promise.  Alrik refused and ordered the elves to leave "his" barony.  Few are
certain what followed next since only a handful of survivors made it back
across the river.  It is known that elven archers hidden in the trees opened
fire on the knights, but it is believed they were provoked in some way.
Alrik himself was alleged to have been captured alive, but most of the others
were thought to have been slain.  When another group returned to this site a
week later, they found only three bodies, and no survivors.

For years since, sightings of Alrik have been reported throughout [[Rota]].
Often he is reported wearing the green and browns of an elven archer and carries
a small hunting bow.  Some have said his ears are now pointed like an elf's,
while others discount this.  All who see him, though, tell of a simple warning
he utters.  "Don't mess with the elves," he pleads and then vanishes back into
the woods.  Sightings continue to this day.

Since Alrik's defeat, the castle has become an embarrassment to several kings
and barons since.  It has been occupied several times, but never for more than a
few years at a time.  Finally, in 1098, when Backbone fell to the Dark Mage's
armies and [[Edric]] was forced to flee, he sought safe haven in [[Rota]] and
was given the castle by [[Galin]], the boy king.  [[Galin]] felt that since
[[Edric]] was viewed highly among the elves, that he would be allowed to stay
unharmed. Indeed, he did, until he himself was slain by the [[Dark Mage]] late
in 1104.


==== The Way Things Are ====

It is currently March of 1109.  The [[council|Council of Wizards]] has just
convened in [[Restenford]] on [[Lendore]] Island for what may be their final
session. Many of the members were either unable or afraid to attend.  Two
members, [[Sandra Middleham]] and [[Tylden]], both from [[teleme|the
Southlands]], have agreed to join the commune and are expected to arrive any
time.

Closer to home, the barons in [[Rota]] are beginning to realize that a world
without wizards is a world without order.  The status quo has been dispelled
and in its place is likely to be war.  When the weather clears, there are at
least seven campaigns expected to begin.  King [[Galin]] is still too young to
demand the respect needed to keep the peace, plus his outer baronies are
tempting targets for the more ambitious barons.

==== Resources ====

In addition to the various powers that the [[player characters]] share, the
following is a partial list of resources available to the commune:

**Microwave link to [[Aquila]]** -- This device allows instant communication
with the sentient computer called [[Aquila]] (origin: [[Earth]], 25th century).
The link is sometimes weak and there is an issue of power consumption that
limits the duration of the calls.

**[[Edric]]'s magic mirror** -- Before the magic changed, this mirror allowed
scrying worldwide, plus instant teleportation to the spot being viewed. Now, it
is extremely difficult to operate, but still seems to have some of its original
scrying powers.

**The [[Sister Harp]]** -- A magical harp that can allegedly be used to cast
//any// spell the wielder can imagine.

**Money** -- The commune relies on a rapidly diminishing reserve of cash and
lots of goodwill from its neighbors to the south.  The latter is likely to
vanish if war starts.

**Transportation** -- A handful of riding horses are available to make the trip
to Alrik's keep to the south.  This is where most trade is conducted.  From
there, barges allow travel on the river most of the year.  Also nearby is one of
the [[portals]] linked throughout the world.  To use it, though, requires a
key gem which must be purchased from one of [[Kevin Arcana]]'s representatives.
The cost is significant (150 gold pieces) and the ride is unpleasant (it seems
to have a painful side effect).  Even so, due to the amount of people and material
that can be moved at one time, it is perhaps the most cost effective way to travel
long distances.

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