MAILLE

As dawn’s light peeks above the perimeter wall, a series of bells chime a melody to herald the start of morning drills. Even in the early morning hours, Postknights are already hard at work—sorting deliveries and mapping the most effective routes to get their work done. Beyond the town walls, fields of orchards and farms line the main road leading up to Maille, which is famously known as the headquarters of the Postknight Organisation. The majority of Maille’s population is made up of Postknights and Trainees, while the local townsfolk account for less than half. As the Postknight Organisation grows bigger each year, the resulting influx of new recruits to Maille boosts the local economy and helps businesses thrive.

Before Maille became the Postknight headquarters, it was once a small Human settlement known as Whitebeard Village, built on newly seized Aegle lands during the Great War. The early villagers found fertile soil that was well-suited for planting cold-hardy grains like buckwheat and oats; fruits like apples and pears; and root vegetables like potatoes and carrots. 

But when the Postknight Headquarters was built on a nearby hill in 1590AA, the population quickly swelled, transforming the small village into a modest town, which would later be renamed Maille. The Postknight population soon outnumbered the locals, and some of the farmlands were converted into roads, buildings, and grounds to serve the growing organisation. Over time, some of the younger townsfolk saw more opportunity in trade or in providing other services to the Postknights. As a result, the farms no longer produce enough to sustain the town’s growing population, but the Postknight Organisation’s wealth allows Maille to import much of its food.

Maille sits nestled in the rolling hills of the Caspid region, where lush oak and pine forests surround neighbouring towns and crystal clear lakes. Closest to Maille are Pompon in the east and Serpina Port in the northwest. A little further away are Shello Bay and Eventide Cove. Sitting at a slightly higher elevation, Maille’s weather remains pleasantly cool throughout the seasons. 

In spring, the fields bloom with a dusting of yellow wildflowers, dew pooling on their petals from a shower of rain. This season brings a pleasant contrast of cool winds and warm sun—a weather pattern so familiar to locals that you can always spot them by the layers that visitors lack. Summer days bring in mildly warmer breezes sweeping through lush grassy fields. Autumn turns the hills into a vibrant mosaic of orange, yellow, and brown, with fallen leaves carpeting the ground. In the winter, the townsfolk often enjoy ice skating on the nearby lake. 

Postknight Headquarters

Past Maille’s town walls, a trail lined with blue and yellow Postknight banners on either side leads up to an expansive stone castle cresting a hill. The castle’s massive doors yawn wide to greet the Postknights and visiting dignitaries streaming through the main hall, where a throne sits on a raised platform at the far end. Along the main hall, doors lead to the three Divisions—Pyrodash, Etherdawn, and Neverwhisk—as well as the mail-sorting and storage rooms, offices, and the common room where Trainee orientation is held. 

The Blade of Legacy

The Blade of Legacy, a large stone effigy five meters tall, stands at the centre of a small public park just a short walk from the Postknight Headquarters. Engraved upon the statue’s blade are the names of Postknights who have made major contributions to the organisation, going above and beyond the call of duty. Those who study the names on the blade might recognise familiar ones: Cassandra, Peanut, Wally, Hazel, and others. The tip of the sword rests against a bed of crimson Blaze Blossoms, carefully maintained to resemble the shape of a shield. 

The sword symbolises a life devoted to duty, loyalty, and protection. Those who stand before it often experience a quiet sense of reverence that moves them to reflect on Deneb’s journey and unwavering devotion. As for the shield of Blaze Blossoms—it recalls Deneb’s very first delivery, before he gained fame as “The Postal Knight”. The crimson flower did not survive the long trip, but Deneb’s resolve and spirit could not be dampened by failure. The shield therefore symbolises perseverance, resilience, and the will to continue despite setbacks. 

Rather than being grand or majestic, the Blade of Legacy is a monument of quiet remembrance, a reminder that one person can touch countless lives and make a lasting difference. Visitors often leave flowers at the sword’s base, offerings of gratitude and hope that Deneb’s legacy will endure. Many leave with a calm resolve to live up to his example.  

The real sword on which the effigy is based carries a profound history. Deneb wielded it on his first delivery, carrying the Blaze Blossom from his lovestruck friend, Altair, to the mage’s beloved in Quivtol. He used the same blade to train the villagers of Whitebeard Village, which would later grow into Maille. He also used it to knight his son, Albireo Whitebeard, as the first Postknight Commander.

Deneb’s sword passed down to Albireo and, in time, became a cherished display on the wall of the office assigned to all Postknight Commanders—a legacy of honour, duty, and succession.

Carillon Clocktower

As the Carillon Clocktower strikes six in the morning, a soft but upbeat melody carries through the wind, slipping through the gaps in windows and doors. The tune, though gentle, is so ingrained in the minds of Postknights and Trainees that it immediately rouses them awake—not for its volume, but for what the tune signifies: the morning drills, duties, and classes awaiting them.

In 1626 AA, Albireo Whitebeard, the first Commander of the Postknights, sought to honour the memory of his father, Deneb Whitebeard, with a clock tower. His father had always stressed the importance of punctuality—a principle forged from a lifetime spent making time-sensitive deliveries. But Albireo wanted more than a simple clock tower; he wanted one that would be memorable for those living in or visiting Maille, while also ensuring punctuality for classes and training. So he commissioned two masters of their crafts—an engineer, Elian, and a carillonneur, Arthur—to construct a carillon clock tower. Every day, the clock would ring out a melody at the start and end of the day—six in the morning to mark the start of morning drills and six in the evening to close the day’s classes.

Town Square

Among the town square’s storefronts, makeshift stalls dot the walkways, their wares spilling outward yet arranged with care so as not to trip passing patrons. Behind the counters, uniformed Postknight vendors tend to fellow Postknights and Trainees, offering goods tailored to their needs. These stalls can be rented by enterprising Postknights on a low-cost, three-year lease and typically provide more affordable alternatives to the high-end wares of local blacksmiths and merchants. If the lease isn’t renewed, the stall is quickly claimed by another eager Postknight—these spaces are highly coveted and waiting lists are often long. 

The Courier’s Rest

Owned by a retired Postknight, the Courier’s Rest has long served as the unofficial gathering place for Postknights and Trainees alike. Commonly known as simply “The Courier”, the tavern has, over the last two centuries, evolved into the social cornerstone of Maille and a beloved mainstay of Postknight culture and history—its welcoming hearth has witnessed countless post-orientation celebrations and graduation parties, and it even has a room on the ground floor reserved for Postknight Trainee Union meetings.

Come evening, after classes have ended for the day, those who pass the tavern will hear the sound of robust laughter and lively chatter spilling onto the street. Stepping inside, patrons will be greeted by the familiar sight of walls lavishly decorated with Postknight memorabilia, with banners, flags, and paintings of legendary Postknights adorning every corner. Up against one wall, a help-wanted notice board showcases a variety of jobs around Maille—from clearing out a bat infestation to finding a part-time blacksmith’s assistant or an inn helper. 

Upstairs, the loft is reserved for clean, comfortable rooms designed for visiting dignitaries and Postknight commanders from foreign nations.

Training Yard

In the early morning light, the training yard is already alive with a cacophony of activity. Postknights and Trainees fill the space with the sharp rings of clashing metal interspersed with the shouts of directions from instructors. Around the perimeter wall, a group of Postknights are running at a steady rhythm, their boots thudding dully on the ground. Off to the side of the training yard, the iconic Whitebeard ancestral home sits proud and magnificent, while a massive yew tree in a far corner fans its branches wide, sheltering those wanting reprieve from the summer heat.

Centuries ago, under orders from King Charles Bion, General Corvin Whitebeard of the King’s Guard led a company of soldiers to secure the very land Maille sits on. Following a decisive victory, the King established a settlement here, honouring General Corvin by naming the village after him and granting him a home and a large tract of land in the newly established Whitebeard Village. Generations later, Corvin’s descendant, Deneb Whitebeard, repurposed the ancestral home into a Postknight barracks. Over the years, renovations expanded its function, transforming the building into a communal and administrative hub equipped with a common room, an armoury, storage rooms, and instructors’ offices. 

Postknight

Founded in 1555AA, the Postknight organisation has grown to become the most trusted courier service in the nation of Kurestal. The organisation’s ranks are filled with brave courier knights who battle monsters to ensure the parcels that have been entrusted to them reach their destinations safely—some even rise to become legendary heroes. 

Hollow’s Eve

With the cooling weather comes the spooky season, a time when the townspeople of Maille decorate their homes and businesses with pumpkin lanterns, cobwebs, skeletons, ghosts, and other ghastly decorations. During Hollow’s Eve, when the moon is full and bats screech their ascent, the Training Yard is transformed into a chillingly fun event space. Volunteer Postknights dressed in spooky costumes run stalls—selling sweets and street food, and running game booths. Hollow's Eve night culminates in the crowning of the Costume Contest winner, chosen by the crowd for the best overall costume.

Legend says that on the night of Hollow’s Eve, a creature known only as the Hollow emerges from the shadows to possess the living and terrorise the people of Maille. Many dismiss it as a fable told to frighten children, and those who claim to have seen the monster are quickly brushed off as paranoid or imaginative—for no two witnesses have ever described it in the same way.

The Tournament of Trials

Every year, Postknight Trainees are put to the ultimate test in the Tournament of Trials—a series of challenges designed to prove a Trainee’s combat prowess, speed, endurance, and knowledge. The Trials consist of: an obstacle course that tests awareness, navigation, and quick thinking; a duel arena featuring competitive sparring matches against fellow Trainees; and a non-combat strategy challenge, where participants solve puzzles and devise battle strategies to test their wits.