Fort Fyra

In the early days before the founding of the village of Salt View, Xaynon's band roamed the Ivory Triangle region, raiding caravans and struggling to survive. After a raid, Xaynon's band fled into the desert in several directions to confuse pursuers. After such raids, Xaynon had established a number of rallying points where his forces could regroup and distribute their booty. Fort Fyra began as such a rallying point. Over time, Xaynon's band erected crude fortifications in the rock cleft, so that they could battle pursuers if necessary. In those days, however, this site was not distinguished from a dozen others with similar characteristics. That changed when Xaynon's raiders decided to settle into village life. At that time, they located the salt mine where the village of Salt View was constructed. This fortification was the closest to that site. Xaynon decided to upgrade the fortress, so that soldiers who sought to follow Salt View raiders back to the village would instead be directed to this fortress. He assigned the dwarf Fyra, one of his trusted lieutenants, guardianship of the fortress, and posted 300 warriors, all ex-slaves, to defend it. Fyra discovered that a fortress in the desert was a magnet for travelers. Customs of the region require that any caravan be given water and salt, unless he is a blood enemy. To avoid the ire of the caravans (which already sought the people of Salt View for their raiding), Fyra abided by the custom. When the traders asked the purpose of this fortress, he announced that the fortress was Fort Fyra, first outpost of his “merchant house”, House Fyra. The visitors seemed to understand immediately. They praised the baffled dwarf's foresight in being the first trader to commit himself to controlling the salt trade. Fyra quickly learned that salts, as well as being used to season foods and preserve meats, is also used to produce textile dyes, soap, glass, and pottery in addition to preserving leather hides. Xaynon thought Fyra's explanation of the fortress' purpose was inspired. Not only did the story of salt trade make an excellent cover for the fortress, it was a terrific premise for the village of Salt View to establish a false front of legitimacy in order to work its way out from under the trade ban. He assigned a portion of the raiding goods to pay those who worked to mine the salt.

The fortress's occupants are all ex-slaves. They are divided into three major groups: traders, soldiers, and salt-workers. Traders represent the “public face” of the house to caravans and to the people of Salt View. While ultimate leadership of House Fyra rests in Fyra himself, day-today operations are managed by a “master trader” who is selected by a democratic vote. A majority vote confirms an individual to the post as master trader; their term lasts two years. The master trader appoints a cadre of assistants and officers who comprise the “traders” of the house. The exact number of traders in House Fyra varies from master trader to master trader, but generally hovers around 30. Master traders select their assistants for a variety of reasons, including talent, skill, or mere political favoritism. Major decisions are resolved by a vote of the traders in an effort to keep those who supported the master trader in his camp. Their constantly shifting votes place the House in constant turmoil, as political alliances shift and the direction of the House changes. Fyra had been working to keep the house on a consistent course, but his eroding relationship with Xaynon has weakened his popularity, and there is talk of ousting him by election-something that until now had never been considered. Some have proposed that another be assigned Fyra's role, while others think the position should be abolished and all decisions made by the master trader and his staff. Only the lack of a strong challenger and cohesion among the ranks keep Fyra in place. The soldiers who occupy Fort Fyra are independent of the house, but provide protection to house activities as part of their “cover”. While 300 warriors are assigned to the fort, in practice no more than 75 are ever there at any one time. Others are guarding salt-workers, escorting nearby caravans, or simply “on leave” at Salt View. It would be impractical for the fortress to support such a huge contingent of soldiers at all times; in time of trouble, however, all 300 are posted to the fortress, and the traders and salt-workers are sent to Salt View. Soldiers receive votes like any other “member” of the house, and there are always a number of senior military officers among the ranks of the traders. The salt-workers are both the most and least powerful group in House Fyra. More than 200 people are involved in the gathering and refining of salt. This makes them a powerful voting block. However, they are rarely available to participate in the political battles. They labor in the refinery, turning the huge millstone to grind the salt. They work in the mine, excavating tunnels through solid salt. As a result, there are rarely more than 40 salt-gatherers in the fortress at any one time. Fyra is the sole coordinator for the artisans of Salt View at the fort. With Ragstol's advice places orders for certain quantities of various items from the craftsmen.