Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #292

Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #292 

October 20th, 2023 

• Number: 292 

• Name: Deep Dive on a Site of Interest:  Harroe Peoples Palace – Part 5 

• Location: Capital of County Harroe on the slopes of the Tuton Maug Spur in northeastern Ceannar 

• Population (approx.): 1,100 

• Brief: Once Ingar Harroe was recognized as Count upon the death of his father, he was determined to do something different or at least be different than those that ruled before him. He summoned the Elders and other notables of the Harroe Peoples to the palace so that he might meet them in the light of his new position and gauge their desires with respect to his dreams. The Count found his relative, Aldemar Harroe, Lord Mayor of Surecliff (#46), had a very similar method and temperament when it came to schemes and plans for future. They corresponded privately and determined they needed a third party, separate from the intelligence services of Ceannar and not corrupted by the NSS of Noldrune, to assist in upcoming endeavours. Aldemar recommended Zinmae, Mistress of Thieves, and having met and been impressed by her, Ingar agreed. 

• Zinmae, 34, female Half-Elf, is the leader of the Thieves Guild in Surecliff. She is comely and sprite-like. Her hair is so frequently different colors that no one knows the base color. Her eyes are jade-colored and have a twinkle in them. Zinmae walks with a bit of a limp from a fall off a roof many years ago. She wears whatever clothing is appropriate for the task at hand. When dealing with Count Harroe, she dresses in her finest attire. Zinmae uses throwing stars and a short sword as weapons. 

• In her youth, Zinmae was a cat burglar known for her heists. Now, she deals in politics and lets the members of the Guild do the stealing. She hopes to further the Guild's standing by providing information and assistance to Count Harroe. She also provides some funding for his use. In exchange, the Count and his co-conspirator the Lord Mayor of Surecliff look in the other direction with respect to her smuggling operations. 

• Zinmae never married and has no interest in doing so. She considers the members of the Thieves Guild to be her family. She is not sentimental and will dock pay or physically punish those who don't meet quotas. Despite this, she is well-liked; some call her Momma Zin behind her back. 

• Geography: Now several years into their relationship, Zinmae recently bought a controlling interest in an upscale cocktail and wine bar, the Vintner’s Best, inside the outer wall of the Peoples Palace (location 4 see below). The business, now with several of her trusted agents on staff, can be used to pass information to and from the Count. Also, she has brought in a Dwarven sapper to explore the basement underneath with respect to connections to the sewers and any ancient catacombs, dungeons or passageways beneath the citadel. 

• In addition, soon after meeting Count Harroe, Zinmae scaled the walls of the palace, discovered a secret entrance on the roof of the citadel (location 5 see below) and surprised Ingar in his chambers one evening. Neither speak of the encounter but it served to foster a mutual respect.