The Estates Immaculate: the province of Imperial immediacy, personal grounds of the Emperor. Where sit the Palaces, Chancelleries, Academies and ritual Colleges of the Empire.
A thousand separate foundations and freeholds, ten thousand ancient charters, a hundred thousand stipends, sinecures and pensions. An Emperor yet to earn the name that will be awarded by his death.
This is but one segment of the Estates. Two gates sit in the ancient walls, with their extramural settlements, barbicans, formal thresholds, and internal customs houses. At the base of the map, below 09, is the sanctum sanctorum. (Eventually.)
The walls themselves mimic military forms, but have lost all military function long ago, serving as a proclamation of imperial power and a boundary marker. Eclectic features bedeck the walls, most famously the great Pylons.
Things to remember about the Estates Immaculate:
- Most laws, however ancient, are still in effect, and most laws have an exception.
- Most things here were built for what seemed to be at the time a very good reason, and as a matter of policy.
- Everyone has a better right to be there than you, and can back it up.
- Everyone has a right to appeal directly to the Emperor's Person. Legally, the Emperor has a very big person. Such appeals still take a long time.
- Everyone steps on everyone else's toes. Chances are, you're probably on somebody else's property.
It will be supposed (both by the author, and by gate-wardens asking for letters of transit!) that those entering the Estates have a good reason to be there, and will be heading for one destination in particular.
 |
| Map made using Hexographer. |
00.00 Gate of Lawmaker IV
Those passing through this gate are taken immediately to 00.01.
01.00 Wall
The Walls of the the Estates are maintained by hereditary clans - joint masons and small-holders. Those in this stretch go by the sign of a red trowel.
The wall here is well maintained, if ill-policed. The wall is studded with ornamental prows, some bearing absolutely no resemblance to anything a self-respecting sailor would ever take to the waters in.
02.00 Wall
The Walls of the the Estates are maintained by hereditary clans - joint masons and small-holders. Those in this stretch go by the sign of a red trowel.
The wall here is well maintained, if ill-policed. The wall is studded with ornamental prows, some bearing absolutely no resemblance to anything a self-respecting sailor would ever take to the waters in.
03.00 Wall
The Walls of the the Estates are maintained by hereditary clans - joint masons and small-holders. Those in this stretch go by the sign of a coiled green plum-bob.
This stretch of wall is less well maintained. It is easier to cross, but the clan know all the accustomed crossing points and make a pleasant living extorting wall-jumpers. The wall is covered in numerous ragged green banners.
04.00 Gate of Crusader VI
Those passing through this gate are taken immediately to 04.01
05.00 Wall
The Walls of the the Estates are maintained by hereditary clans - joint masons and small-holders. Those in this stretch go by the sign of a coiled green plum-bob.
This stretch of wall is less well maintained. It is easier to cross, but the clan know all the accustomed crossing points and make a pleasant living extorting wall-jumpers. The wall is covered in numerous ragged green banners.
00.01 'Taxed portal'
All goods passing through here are subject to a fee and a light inspection, in accordance with the present scheme of taxation.
Past the customs house, numerous officials, vendors, tastemakers and well-wishers jostle for the attention of travellers - especially those heading straight for the Court. Lawmaker Northgate is a key stop for those on imperial business.
01.01 Military Road
Built to support the Estate walls and move troops rapidly along them, those on this road not possessing the titles or documents of sufficient importance may be subject to the seizure of tools and building equipment and impressment into the Corps of Muraleers.
The Estates Immaculate have not been threatened militarily for centuries.
Many of the Road encounters below would fit here.
02.01 Military Road
See 01.01.
03.01 Military Road
See 01.01.
04.01 'Untaxed portal'
Goods passing through here are subject to no formal exercise duties, but will be painstakingly inspected and a fee of indefinite size potentially levied by the Assayers of the Passage, in accordance with their ancient charter.
Fewer travellers pass by Crusader Tychogate; it is held to be somehow less respectable. Those who do are still targets for the townsfolk.
05.01 Military Road
See 01.01.
00.02 Sacred Cattle
In the pastures here are cattle descended from the herd blessed by an ancient saint. They have grown accustomed to their privileges, and do not have their horns removed or blunted.
 |
| The White Cattle of Chillingham, by Landseer |
01.02 Road
See below.
02.02 Monastery
This Monastery has produced a fine crop of theologians and professors of the faith. It maintains a fine library and a busy scriptorium, and is accommodating for visiting scholars.
03.02 Folly
On top of this hill is a big statue of a heron, incorporating a many-turrerted tower within itself. A number of eccentrics re-enact ancient battles and religious tableau about its feet.
04.02 Road
See below.
05.02 Road
See below.
00.03 Wheat
Fields of wheat are maintained in an elaborate raised set of fields under conditions of ritual purity. Those who till the soil are quite willing to turn ploughshares into swords in order to maintain these conditions.
01.03 Road
See below.
02.03 Faun Commune
Fauns dwell here, living their mild, Epicurean lives. They are remarkably hospitable, especially to visiting noblemen after a taste of the Caprine life.
03.03 Temple
The shrine here was once a heathen temple. The uncharitable (and the enemies of the incumbent priest) say that it still is.
04.03 Horsebreeders
A notable stables and several paddocks dwell here. They rear and train patient, elegant horses for the Emperor's Household.
05.03 Cemetery hills
The hills here hide the ritual sites of the Enshrouded Order of the Eighth Aspect. Behind every spur, a graveyard, a barrow, a mausoleum.
00.04 Village
This village offers to the visitor the perfect vision of life in the Estates: the benevolent gaze of the Emperor, the rich fields, the comfortable homes. It's not quite a deception, but they do play it up for the tourists.
01.04 Road
See below.
02.04 Citadel - The Custodian Knights of St Castrum
The crusader's Commandery here is less a fortress (for all that it has high walls and strong gates) and more a political outpost, to agitate within the Imperial Court for men, supplies and gold.
Beyond that, however, it is a posting for the exhausted, wounded and combat-fatigued to recover in the salubrious surroundings of the Estates.
03.04 Road
See below.
04.04 Road
See below.
05.04 Vineyard
This vineyard is mounted on the terraced slopes of a hill of alchemically enriched soil. The high terrace walls are arranged in an angular fashion, giving the impression of a lush ziggurat.
The fauns from 02.03 are a source of occasional labour here, frequently taking their payment in kind.
00.05 Ruins
Within the ruins of an ancient town, the Order of the Steel Suns practice warfare. Surely the ghastly cries that come from within are only the sounds of the melee?
01.05 Road
See below.
02.05 Road
See below.
03.05 Elf Grove
These woods are a diplomatic enclave of Woodland Elves, who keep an ambassadorial facade with a 'more Sylvan than thou' attitude.
They are perennially bothered by missionaries from the Monastery at 05.06.
04.05 Memorial
A column here is set in memory of an ancient battle. The guardians of the site would love to tell you all about it.
05.05 Tower
Atop these hills, the Swift and Resplendent Order of the Fourth Aspect maintain a tower with numerous vaults and safe-rooms.
00.06 Monastery
This Abbey is a wealthy and well-appointed foundation, known as a favoured destination for the pious aristocrat.
01.06 Road
See below.
02.06 Pleasure Grounds
This is nothing short of a remarkably pleasant parkland. Walking on the grass whilst wearing armour is strictly forbidden: the turf here has been carefully kept for five centuries. Two hundred years more and it might start looking quite good.
03.06 Lake
A narrow lake, used more for boating than any given industry. Jetties, islets and other little features of passing interest line it.
04.06 Elf Grove
These groves are more private than the Embassy, and the place any Elf of taste would actually care to visit.
05.06 Monastery
This monastery is known for the rigours of their chosen discipline, a fact reflected in the architecture of their cloisters and stark, square, carefully whitewashed cells.
00.07 Flowerbeds
Here are fields and orchards, producing flowers and blossoms of every hue to serve in the floral offerings and decorations for the rites and banquets of the Imperial Household.
01.07 Road
See below.
02.07 Reed beds
The edges of the lake are kept as reed beds to form a home for waterfowl. Hunters can be found here in season.
03.07 Lake
See 03.06.
04.07 Sculpture Gardens
Several statues sit in sculpted avenues here. A favourite meeting place for wizards, who enjoy contemplating art that has no magical origin whatsoever.
05.07 River
Beside the river is a beautiful network of marinas, holding pleasure boats that see on average one outing each year. Numerous sand paths on twining quaysides with trimmed grass verges.
00.08 Proving Grounds
A series of parade squares and meadows, maintained for the training of the Imperial Cataphracts.
01.08 Road
See below.
02.08 Questors' Stronghold
Questors of the Manifest Rite have a fortified manor house here for privately holding trials of the faithful. They do not appreciate having their deliberations interrupted.
03.08 Reed beds
See 02.08.
04.08 River
The river here is clear of boats, flowing swiftly to the lake.
05.08 Village
A charming community of former Imperial intelligencers and inquisitors, all seemingly going by obvious aliases. The whole set-up is monitored and governed by an avuncular wizard, wearing many different faces and possessing a terrifying spherical familiar.
00.09 Proving Grounds
See 00.08
01.09 Village
The inhabitants of this village are rustic philosophers, who gather in the evenings to discuss the workings of the cosmos and the joys of country life. (They rely on the generous subsidy of a Prince of the Blood for their continued good fortune; he finds them amusing.)
02.09 Dormitory of the Scribes
This is less a village than a barrack-block: modern, planned complexes of stone buildings. Scribes, clerks and lesser secretaries of the Imperial Court dwell here, trudging from their offices each evening. It is utterly deserted during the day, but has a surprisingly active nightlife.
03.09 Real Tennis Courts
A tight quad of tennis courts, kept in pleasant grounds for the benefit of the Imperial Court.
04.09 River
Beside the river is a beautiful network of marinas, holding pleasure boats that see on average one outing each year.
05.09 Villa-strewn hills
These hills contain numerous pavilions, lodges and getaways for denizens of the Court seeking privacy.
Road Encounters
- A party of pilgrims
- A travelling noble (and escort)
- A convoy of petitioners
- A troop of Imperial troops en route to an award ceremony
- An urgent emissary
- A ritual guardian demands that you face him in a joust before you may pass!
- A clan of charioteers mimicking what one chronicler's description of the distant past demand meat, strong drink and entertainment from you.
- A friendly man, eager for conversation. He is an Importer of Ideas, who looks to recruit by fair means or foul, fresh talent and novelties for the jaded palates of dwellers within the Estate.
- A party of roadworkers, repairing the ancient highways in an immensely awkward but completely permitted fashion.
- This is a party from the Ephorate of Conductors. A recently established group in the Estates Immaculate, unlike other guides, escorts or transit officials they are strictly permitted to only accept gifts or extort bribes from people when they have arrived at their destination.
As from previously on this blog:
The Estates Immaculate are meant to be the size of a county (perhaps two), rather than the equivalent of Habsburg Austria within the Holy Roman Empire.
No comments:
Post a Comment