Sun Aug 26, 2007 1:43 am
The Myrken Wood Wall, known colloquially as the Ringwall, known less affectionately as Council's Folly (typically by the Councilors themselves, and generally in a loud voice, to boot) is a testament to the natural inclination of bureaucracy towards waste.
Constructed from sturdy stone and mortar, the Ringwall runs the circumference of Myrken Wood territory, distinguishing her from the bordering planes of Amasynia and New Dauntless. This is of course almost purely a cosmetic distinction: at no more than six feet in height at any given point, the Wall is easily scaled; it also features great breaks where its structure encounters rivers and mountainous land, no attempt having been made to secure either.
Still, the thing does serve some purpose. The movement of traffic in and out of Myrken Wood has been slowed considerably since the Wall's inception, for instance, for while the structure as a whole is poorly patrolled, its two great, main gates are steadily manned. Wagons must necessarily pause there, where questions may be pressed upon their drivers; carriages and caravans and men upon horseback are likewise paused, for the Council has exempted no-one from this inspection. Even Myrken Wood citizens wishing to travel past its borders must necessarily wait, and suffer a little in the stifling heat, until their turn arrives to escape.
Records are kept of names and purposes, of course; records of produce passing into and out of this territory, and of people as well. Tome after tome these diligent guards fill, each delivered in its turn to the Council's chambers. While these lists are ordinarily mundane to the point of dullness, large numbers still have a way of standing out on the page. If over the course of a week, for instance, some thirty and more foreign agents were make Myrkentown their destination ... well, such an event would inevitably catch the attention of authorities. Certain questions would be asked, certain quiet precautions taken.
So that it's a damned shame, really, that these thirty-odd persons have entered Myrkentown from one of its neighbouring towns, an infiltration which the Wall does nothing to prevent at all.