Gorlavka

From the "Histories of Gorlavka", by Ivorn Merso, who was sentenced to the mines shortly after publication:    ...Gorlavka lies closer to the wilds than its sister city, Gorlav, but by the standards of the Midlands, it is relatively safe. The town developed organically around an ancient crossroads, much like Gorlav, with both settlements taking shape some 200 years ago. Built from sturdy, timber-framed homes, Gorlavka stands resilient against the long, snowy winters that blanket the region for much of the year. Its residents are hardy folk, accustomed to life on the edge of the wilderness but well aware of the lurking dangers that sometimes seep from the forests. Yet, the passage of time and history itself feel strangely distorted here, as is true across the inner Midlands. The reigning King Belgarion asserts that only four generations separate him from Aryn, the founder of Chernaya. The truth, obscured by political propaganda and fear, is far older and more complex; Chernaya's history stretches back at least 500 years, and Belgarion has no direct lineage to its founder, Aryn. Although it is also worth pointing out that Aryn Chernaya was not his name either, as he was of the Oblidan, and that is not an Oblidan name...