Before the Eight Kingdoms Pact, the men in what become Bolden and Collonia were considered the Sudlanders or South Men by their barbarian cousins to the North. The Lords of Sudland, originally issued their lands in grants from Northrun jarls, had a long practice of paying tribute to their one-time patrons.
After the establishment of the Eight Kingdoms Pact, the practice was continued out of convenience more than loyalty to Northrun. Beginning with Fergus II, the High Throne had assumed the burden of the cost from Collonia and Bolden and it was lost in the ledgers handed down for 200 years. The silver paid was a trifle in the eyes of the Westrun lords and, at any rate, was far less than the cost of fielding an army. And while it was a nominal sum from them, it was a substantial portion of the income that Northrun relied on. The clans split the silver and used the sum to purchase wheat and corn from the very Westruners who paid it.
Damon named the practice extortion and sought to end it, by fortifying Bolden against attack and with the planned construction of a wall which would not only hold back invaders but provide an overwatch to the sea, as well as a fortified road to Peakshadow
The construction of the Wall began under Jan II the Bricklayer and continued for the next century. Averaging about twenty-five candels in height, the wall is uniformly fifteen candels wide at its top and as many as thirty wide at its base. This allows for easy passage of carts traveling in two different directions at the same time and allows for the quick movement of men and materiel along its length. Even the High King's Highway does not guarantee that.
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