Birthright: The Contested Seat

Kael

Laelic laid before them in all its splendor as their shipped bounded for the docks. It had been just as Kael remembered it. Large manses sat just beneath the Arintear castle walls, a monstrous grey stone fortress that would strike fear in the most determined invaders. His home had been amongst those manses once. The home of his youth was now occupied by another family. There was nothing left of his life within its walls but for the ghosts of his memories.

Laelic was known for its large docks and unique architecture. Being a hub for international trade, many foreigners made Laelic their home. Over time, foreigners began to group together with their countrymen, forming new districts. 

The Wurtheni gathered in the west of the city. Their area quickly became known as the Ash District, as the Wurtheni were well known for their worship of a strange volcano god. The Sarthian immigrants took hold in the northern most end of the city. Known for their ripe and succulent fruit, their area was named the Garden District. The Rentosians made their home in the east end of the city. Arguably the largest of the three districts, the citizens of Laelic aptly named it the Sandstone District after the chosen stone of Rentosian architecture. The southern end of the city was the largest of them all, and this is where the Ethosians made their home.

It was in this southern part of the city where the Arintear castle sat atop the hill. Descending from the castle were three tiers of homes built into the hillside. Just beneath the castles walls were the manses belonging to the nobility. This tier was a district known as the Noble Ring.

Below the Noble Ring was another tier consisting of the district known as the Common Ring. This is where the city's workforce lived, along with others known to the peasantry. 

The last tier was at the base of the hill, sprawling out in all directions to fill the rest of the southern end of the city. Kael had spent a lot of time there as a child. He often played with the other noble children in the marketplace. This area was called the Gold District, for all business of production and pleasure resided within it.  

The Arintears were a proud House, and their city was a reflection of that pride. For centuries, only law-abiding citizens with enough coin to sustain themselves were allowed to live within the city walls. The beggars, unemployed, and otherwise undesirable peasants were barred from entering. Those who committed crimes within the walls were branded with hot iron and tossed through the city gates after being served their due justice. Over time, a makeshift district formed as more and more tents began popping up outside of the city walls. Though not officially recognized by the Arintears as one of Laelic's designated districts, the citizens bestowed it the name Ratway. 

Kael was surprised at how well he remembered the city. He had been away from Laelic for twenty years, yet it hadn't seemed to change. Kael certainly had. He remembered spending a lot of time in the Gold District with his other noble friends. He wondered where they were now; likely preparing to inherit their fathers' estates. Meanwhile, Kael would inherit nothing from his father but the shame of exile. 

His anger began to simmer again. His rage had been getting the better of him for some time now. He wanted so badly to avenge his father, and the rage made it easier to be brave. Kael never identified as a violent man, but justice had to be served for his father. 

As the ship began to pull into the dock, Zoric came above deck to meet him. 

"Here are your papers. They've been stamped and signed by Malik and are to be delivered to Laelic's sage who will be waiting for you on the docks. There are many who have expressed interest in the post. They're arriving from all parts of Ethios so the sage is here to receive you all," explained Zoric quickly.

Looking over the papers, Kael noticed that his family name had been changed.

"Kael Darley? Langdon sounds much better on the tongue. Why must my name change?"