From: Richard Watts
Subject: Foreigners in the Dreaming City
System: Elric!

This is an excerpt from Chaosium's upcoming Melnibone book. This excerpt is copyright 1993 by Chaosium Inc.; all rights reserved.

FOREIGNERS IN THE DREAMING CITY

Only in the last 300 years have humans been allowed within Imrryr on any basis other than slavery. The first free humans to visit the Dreaming City were a delegation from the newly independent nation of Lormyr, representing Queen Eloarde. They were permitted no further than a small section of the harbor, and the Tower of Monshanjik. These areas were considered soiled by the human's presence, and have been abandoned by most Imrryrians ever since.

Today, with concessions gained by successive delegations of ambassadors and merchants, humans may enter the harbor and trading areas of Monshanjik Tower relatively freely. Access to any other area of the city is strictly limited. Many Melniboneans find the presence of civilized humans (as opposed to their slaves) quite intolerable, while the best treatment humans can expect is patronizing amusement from their impassive, alien hosts. When speaking to humans, most Melniboneans speak slowly and use small words, as if talking to a child. Melniboneans are always surprised if a human speaks Melnibonean. Human who dare speak the High Tongue risk arrest for sacrilege, and execution. Considerable rules restrict the actions of any human in Imrryr. The five main laws are summarized in a document known as the Visitor's Code, also referred to as the Harbor Edict, first written about 25 years ago. All visitors to the Dreaming City must memorize it, and unless they can show familiarity with it, are
generally forbidden to leave their ship. Such orders come not from the Melniboneans, but from the Captain, who is usually loath to lose any passengers or crew members to an infringement of the port rules...

As well as the five principal rules of the Harbor Edict, there are a complex web of minor rules and regulations, to which new decrees are added regularly. The most recent was the banning of any inhabitant of the Isle of Purple Towns, or any person known to do business with them. The Purple Towners are actively attempting to rival Imrryr as a center of trade. This has not harmed Melnibone in any way, but the humans should be punished for their hubris. Hence they are forbidden from Melnibone and her wonders.

THE HARBOR EDICT

NOTICE WHEREBY HUMAN PETITIONERS MAY PRESENT THEMSELVES FOR CONSIDERATION OF ADMITTANCE TO IMRRYR THE BEAUTIFUL, CITY OF DREAMS, AUGUST CAPITAL OF THE BRIGHT EMPIRE AND BELOVED OF ARIOCH, LORD OF THE SEVEN DARKS, DUKE OF CHAOS, KNIGHT OF THE SWORDS, AND MOST DREAD LORD OF ENTROPY.

Compiled this day being the 9125th day of the rule of his Most Beatific Imperial Majesty, King Sadric the Eighty-Sixth, Emperor by Right of Birth, Inheritor of the Ruby Throne, Bearer of the Actorios, Master of Melnibone, Exponent of Her Secret Arts, by the hand of Vasarik Dvorn, unworthy scribe of her most blessed by the command of the Emperor and fortunate Lady T'varla Ryun, Dragon Princess, Mistress of the Dark Calling, Adept of the Order of the Whispering Phoenix, who states that it is her unfortunate but devoted task to record for the benefit of mere humans the instructions of the 427th Emperor of the Ruby Throne, as concerning the entrance of such cattle into the bounds of the Dreaming City.

RULE THE FIRST

No human may enter the gates of Imrryr with purpose of mind other than trade with emissaries of the Ruby Throne, or humbly seeking knowledge from her inhabitants, knowing full well that those of the Dragon Isle are their superiors in all areas of wisdom and enlightenment. Treacherous humans who by duplicity or with malice aforethought seek admittance to Imrryr shall be taken forthwith to the Tower of Monshanjik by Knights of the Order of the Eagle, there to be given over to the pleasures of the Master Inquisitor, artist of pain.

RULE THE SECOND

It is forbidden for any save those of the blood of the Dragon Isle, pure and unsullied with lesser ichor, to be conversant with the mysteries of the labyrinth whereby the entrance ways of Imrryr are guarded. All foreigners must, when entering the harbor of the Dreaming City, be masked when in command of a ship, so that Melnibone's pilots may guide them with skill and wisdom through the pathways of the maze, while those of no rank such as and including passengers and common sailors will take themselves below deck on pain of blinding. Those that seek to learn and navigate the secret ways through the revered sea-maze of Monshanjik shall have their eyes put out.

RULE THE THIRD

Once admittance to the harbor is gained, no human shall speak to one of Melnibonean blood unless spoken to, nor shall any human stand higher than one of the Dragon Isle, abasing themselves forthwith and prostrate upon the floor when a citizen of Imrryr passes by or enters into the room. When so honored as to share the presence of Prince or Princess of Dragons, who must not be sullied by human gaze, humans will avert their eyes, never looking directly at one who shares the blood of the Ruby Throne, else be executed, or enslaved, or given over to the meritorious Master Inquisitor and his companion vivisectartistes.

RULE THE FOURTH

That section of the harbor north of the Tower of Monshanjik up to the base of the Great Wall shall be deemed the Foreign Quarter, and is appointed to the use and practices of those aliens present in our Dreaming City. This area alone may be inhabited by the transient human visitors for a period not more than seven days and seven nights, being a week in the common reckoning, unless in position of rare privilege. Any human lingering in the harbor after the elapse of their period of entry shall be expelled forthwith, or enslaved, or given up to the tender ministrations of His Most Beatific Emperor's beloved Master Inquisitor.

RULE THE FIFTH

Access to any other area of Imrryr other than that declared officially Foreign is denied, forbidden, and foresworn by those of foreign blood, unless in extraordinary circumstances which must include authorization from the Ruby Throne, including guaranteed bonds of behavior and obeyance to Melnibonean commands of authority from the human in question, together with the recommendation and guarantee of at least one noble from the Imperial Court who knows full well that the breaking of any laws by the foreigner they sponsor shall result in their own punishment and humiliation by Royal Edict and Decree.