The Far Edge of Empire by kjer_99

Bryce • Fantasy • posted on Jan 02, 2005

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Description

Talga is the most isolated frontier post of the Kargian Empire. Beyond it lies the Great Dry, an inhospital wasteland that is home to fierce bands of wild tribes--the D'gri, the Hans'sfati, the Jurgashi--just to name a few. There is no evidence of the Empire for another 541 gee and the next fort, Gildat, is considered an extremely distant settlement by the Kargian Court. No volunteers for Talga. It consists of small garrison of mounted troops who are housed in two walled towers with three stables around it. It was established a little over a hundred years ago and itwas not until about thirty years ago, that a small villge of a half-dozen buildings--mostly taverns and brothels--was established around the fort's towers. In the century of Talga's existence, the wild tribes have overrun the post on five occasions, slaughtering the entire garrison each time, which was one reason why it took so long for ordinary citizens to settle there. Talga is as much a military prison as it is a fort. Kargian soldiers regard Talga as a death sentence. Only the most dispicable officers and warriors are condemned to the place. Any who are sent there never return to the heart of the Empire. Only death releases these incorrigibles from their duty. The only military who go to Talga and come back are the couriers. In other parts of the Empire, the messengers race down the roads at full gallop, stopping every 15 gee to change horses. After three stops, the message pouch is turned over to a fresh rider and horse and the messenger stays at a government waystation for twelve hours before picking up a pouch for the return journey. However, between Talga and Gildat there are no waystations--only a rare spring where they can stop for water. By the time horse and rider reach Talga, it is all they can do to just keep moving. Here we see a weary messenger nearing the end of his long ride. Terrains: by me. Sky and terrain materials: Jonathan Allen's Seriously Real Materials, Vols. 8 and 10; except for the higher hills, which are a Net freebie. Charger: DAZ Millinium Horse Package. Rider: The Knight's body and equipment is a DAZ freebie for Millinium Club members. His head is Mike 3 and uses the Russell morph and textures by Anja M