I see your point, Falconius. Those pesky Romans, eh? Obsessed with power and the getting of it. Always leads to a downfall!

However..

The politics of this island are such that the native Merles were conquered five centuries ago by the invading Blucrans, who claimed the island, enslaved the Merles, and now treat Merelan as if it had always been theirs. They were, and still are, the most numerous and aggressive of the five races of Ethran, and fear absolutely no one and nothing.

However, the climate has changed on a global scale, and the tents on the marsh are just a symptom of the fact that Blucrene (the Blucran state, of which Merelan is the curiously side-attached capital) is the only land where things might still grow, and people may yet live. All the other four races have become little more than climate refugees.

Faced by the human tide flowing into Blucrene the Blucrans have defended their city with a new wall - something that was never considered necessary before because of their military might. Why, after all, would a supreme and undefeated army of holy warriors like the Sayers have to hide behind a wall? to them, a wall is a cowardly device! but they are not about to be invaded by a highly trained and battle tested army. No. The wall, unfortunately, is to keep the starving refugees out of Merelan, so that the wealthy aristocratic society of that city do not have to put up with their presence, or share their good fortune with all these... 'dirty impoverished strangers'!

That the refugees might scale the cliff and get into the city that way, is possible, but unlikely, since the Blucrans are defined by a facial stripe they are born with - an azure marking that spreads across the brow like antlers, and which sinks down the nose in a very fine line. It cannot be imitated even by the best of tattoo artists, because it is luminous in the shade of a cowl or behind any wreath of loose hair, so allows them to tell at a glance any person in their midst who is not one of their own. And woe betide any non-Blucran who is caught within the city limits without an official pass!

Well... having said that, I might put more defences on Jamne Head. I don't know. Worth thinking about.

Thanks for that, and thanks for the compliment too

Ps - Glad you're enjoying the tale