The Shire of Darton > About Darton

About Darton

The Shire of Darton lies on the northern border of the Barony of the Southron Gaard, seperated from it by the wild Strait of Winds. Legend has it that were it not for a great fishing line holding the two islands together, they would be blown apart. Druids speak of this line as being used to draw earth power from the lakes of the Southron Gaard to maintain the relics of Darton and Ildhafn.

To the north, many acres of Crown Lands, interspersed by a few smallholdings, separate the Shire from its northern neighbour, the Barony of Idhafn. These Crown Lands are rich and fertile and contain many wild cattle, deer, and horses. The Shire is fortunate to have been given a grant related to this.

To the west, Darton is separated from the rest of its Kingdom, Lochac, by many leagues of the ocean. Similarly, to the East Darton is separated from the Kingdom of Caid by the even greater Oceania Pacifica.

Grants

The Shire of Darton has been granted the right to take two deer from the Royal Preserves each year for the general feasting and merriment of the populace by the Crown of Lochac.

Tithes

The Shire of Darton must render unto the Crown of Lochac one Royal Apple of salt on each occasion when the Crown vists the Shire.

Measures of Weight

During the Royal Visit by King Cornelius and Queen Morwynna, Dame Alys de Wilton did petition Their Majesties that Darton be awarded standard measures that merchants at the markets of Darton might have a means of determining items of equal value.

His Majesty King Cornelius did kindly decree two fine weights and measures :

• The Apple, and
• The Key

The Standard Apple

The apple His Majesty presented to Lady Alys was found to weigh 202 grammes in the French system of measurement popular in many surrounding territories.

In order to simplify conversion to said French system, the Lady Alys did petition His Majesty for the right to define the Standard Apple to be 200 grammes. His Majesty, ever mindful of the needs of commerce, did grant this boon. However:

The Royal Apple

His Majesty Cornelius did decree that for ceremonial occasion and for the purpose of tithes to the crown, the full weight of the Apple (202 grammes) be retained.

The Seneshal's Key

The Seneschal's Key was weighed by the Darton Exchequer and found to be equal to 44 grammes in the French system of measurement. However:

The Darton Key

In order to simplify conversion to said French system, His Majesty did decree the Seneschal's Key be embellished with jewels and gilt work to bring its total weight to 50 grammes.

There are thus four Darton Keys to the Standard Apple.

Measures of Length or Dimension

Clothiers and rope-makers, among others, also clamoured for a measurment for length or dimension. Hereso it was determined that the Darton Key could also be used. For mundane purposes the Darton key can be converted into the French or metric measurement system.

At present though, it apparently remains a mystery as to exactly how many Darton keys there are to the French metre. Presumably this is due to the ongoing embellishment of the key with jewels and gilt work.