Places

Here are more detailed descriptions of places the party has visited in their travels.

Ambledun

Ambledun is medium-sized city of about 10,000 near Corlis. It is a very dirty and smelly place, mainly due to the large number of smelters, smithies, and tanners. There is a city wall that was outgrown long ago; it now separates the wealthy inner neighborhoods from the rest of the city.

Much trade passes through Ambledun due to its central location on several trade routes. The Raventree trading coster is more or less in charge, but there is a powerful thieves' guild that is constantly scheming for ways to expand its influence. The city is a hotbed of intrigue as lesser trading costers seek any advantage in their struggle to stay afloat in the corrupt setting.

The largest temple in town is the House of the Dead, a temple of Nerull. A temple of Farlanghn lies at the convergence of the three large trade ways near the center of town. A smaller shrine of Heironeous exists as well. Evidently the larger temple of Nerull has been actively seeking ways to harm the smaller shrine. Persistant rumors of a hidden temple of Olidammara may have some truth to them.

Caernigan

Caernigan is a metropolis of over 40,000 people of all races that is the center of commerce for the Westing Reach. A 40-foot wall surrounds the city, but a sprawling shantytown spreads across the lands just outside. Inside, the city is divided into two halves by the Asarwe river. A huge, 150-foot tall bronze statue stands in the harbor and is said to animate when the city is threatened.

The city is organized into more than a dozen districts, each with a separate governing offical called a Quarmen. The Quarmen make up an advisory council to the mayor of the city and hold some power over his decisions. The districts they preside over include (but are not limited to):

  The Silent District: A peaceful graveyard near the western edge of the city. The shady paths are lined with small shrines and sealed mausoleums. It is open during the daylight hours and is a popular meeting place for informal business, lovers, and those seeking relief from the bustling masses.
  The Docks District: The largest district of the city includes the sprawling shipyards, docks, and not a few shady taverns.
  The Trades District: One of the many centers of trade that dot Caernigan. Businesses tend to be located near other shops in the same trade. The Trades District is the largest collection, centered around a huge open-air marketplace called the Bazaar.
  The Gem District: Located on a low hill overlooking the southern half of the city, the Gem District is home to much of the city's upper crust. Wide, clean streets lined by old shade trees are the norm here. The many private guards in the area make it one of the safest places to walk. The Waft, an open-air market catering to spice merchants, lies on the border with the Trades District.
  The North District: Lying in the shadow of the Temples District is an area inhabited by people with plenty of money but little status. Quite a few mages have built their towers here over the years.
  The Temples District: Caernigan is home to practitioners of almost every religion, and the Temples District is where many of these churches are located. Zealots and madmen shout their sermons from street corners and beggars line the alleys.
  The Palace District: Located on the western side of the city, across the river from the Silent District, the mayor's residence lies just below the Gem District. Many governmental buildings are also located in this area.
  The River District: Many warehouses and merchant costers line the streets of the River District. The river itself is bordered by wide, shady boulevards on either side, but the smell of the brackish water in the summer heat often clears them.

Areas of interest to adventurers include The Bard's Guild, a walled complex catering to those of a heroic (and wealthy) demeanor. The Red Wizards of Faire Street is a well-guarded compound where magic items can be bought and traded. The Coliseum holds weekly gladiatorial contests, special events, and once a year, a martial-arts combat tournament that many of the city's monasteries compete in.

Also located in town are the sizeable Dwarven Ghetto, the elegant Elven Quarter, and many small halfling neighborhoods. The gnomish population is centered around Alchemists' Street. Most half-orcs and other less than savory breeds live outside the city gates.

Corlis

Corlis is a small city of about 5,000 near Rothvale and Ambledun. It was once a larger mining boom town, but has been shrinking for some time. It is not walled, and the slums surrounding it are quite spread out, but the center of town is very built up, with most buildings being 2, 3, or even 4 stories tall, creating a towering maze of tunnel-like streets below. Small squares are common where large streets meet, forming a network of marketplaces across town, each of which specializes in a different line of business.

The citizens of Corlis lack some of the ruthless drive for power that characterizes many of the citizens of other Lurland city-states. They also lack the wealth and polish of other city-states, and Corlis is seen as somewhat of a backwater town. Adventurers are common, due to the mysterious ruins in the nearby mountains. They are very welcome for the money they spend on equipment, and for the occasional treasure haul they return to town with.

The city is ruled by the Artemel family, and law and order are maintained without too much disruption.

The city is dominated by the Arm of Valor, a temple to Heironeous led by high priestess Thauna Markstar. Shrines to Farlanghn and Pelor exist as well. The only notable mage in town is Elmareen Whitestone now that Sandar Kathklan is gone.

In the past the party has stayed at Alask's Arrow, a tavern and inn run by the famous archer Alask. The Black Banner Inn is an elegant place where the bard Ferrin entertains.

Daemburg

Daemburg is a large town at the border between Lurland and the Upper Valley. Ruled by the Manthar family from their large villa on a tall hill overlooking the town. A large temple of Fharlanghn lies at the meeting of the Low, High, and Fey roads. The main inn in town for travelers is called the Stone Bridge, so named for its location next to a bridge over a small creek. One interesting character in town is Madam Zuzu, who runs a fortune-telling shop that also sells baked goods. Compared to the rest of the Lurland cities, the people here are friendly and outgoing.

Durinbek

The head of the river Asarwe is formed as an underground river (named Dugmornkurm by the dwarves) pours forth from the side of Mount Hagkiir. The huge, terraced cavern is home to thousands of dwarves and is the only city in the UnderRealm open to the merchants who trade with the wealthy dwarves. It is here that the Iron Duke rules from a glittering hall, though it is rare indeed for "Upper worlders" to gain an audience in his court. Separated into districts by the terraces that make up the city, all is well-ordered in this impregnable citadel.

Durvik's Pass

Durvik's Pass is a mining town in the Serpentcoil mountains. It lies along the only navigable path between the Silver Valley and the Upper Valley. A 3 hour walk away is a medium-sized silver mine that is only about 15 years old. The town is undergoing a large growth spurt now that the mines are being expanded after being cleared of monsters.

The mayor's name is Darren Hartmil; he runs the town in a fair manner, but the growing number of rowdy miners are often too much for his meager police force.

There is a shrine of Pelor in town tended by a novitiate named Lena. Not long ago the town was struggling with a deadly disease outbreak, and Lena is credited with helping to ease the suffering of the townspeople while brave adventurers sought the source of the epidemic.

Foothills Monastery

When the first settlements in the area were being founded, a traveller had a mystic vision on this scenic ridge overlooking the Upper Valley. The organization that grew around his teachings became the Foothills Monastery. Now, about 50 monks live in a collection of buildings, spending their time in meditation, martial training exercises, and maintenance of the monastery. The monks are hospitable to travellers in need, but prefer isolation from the world's turmoil in order to pursue their inner peace. The monastery is allied with the Shield to defend the lands from all dangers.

Oakhurst

Oakhurst is a small town near the bottom of the Upper Valley. A small community of halflings also calls this town home. One of the most interesting features of the town is its proximity to the Sunless Citadel (see below). Two roads lead to Rothvale; the Old Road has been abandoned due to bandit activity near the Sunless Citadel, now the slightly longer New Road is used.

Mayor Vurnor Leng runs the town, as much as it needs running. It is a peaceful farming hamlet, only occasionally bothered by goblins stealing livestock or produce. The local family of prominence, the Hucrele family, recently lost both children to an evil druid making his home in the Sunless Citadel. Fortunately for the town, another band of adventurers was able to put a stop to the Outcast's twisted plans.

A shrine to Pelor in the town is tended by Sellusa, a now retired former adventurer. The only known wizard in the area is 'Ol Ben, a hermit in the hills to the west.

The Sunless Citadel was once a mighty stone fortress used by some sort of dragon cult in the area. In the ancient past a cataclysm hurled the castle down into a crevice where it now sits, an ideal roosting place for bandits, monsters, or other evil.

Rothvale

Rothvale is a small Lurland city, one of the closest to the Upper Valley. It is a walled city of about 7,000 atop a hill in the shadows of the Serpentcoil mountains. The surrounding area is pock-marked with active and abandoned mines. Inside it is crowded and noisy, but also clean (for a city, that is), well-lit, and heavily patrolled by armed guards. Just outside the city walls, on a steep slope behind the city, are the Cliffs, a shantytown built into the side of the hill. Poverty and crime reign here.

Inside the city, the citizens are hard-working and determined, and unconcerned with what may happen to others as long as they get what they want. It sometimes seems that almost everyone is busy with private schemes for self-enrichment and advancement. It is the center of the booming mercenary business in Lurland; Rothvale is the place to go if you are looking for a bodyguard, a group of mercenaries, hired muscle, or (rumor has it) other, darker needs.

The city is ruled by the Council of Six, a group whose members are elected by the Nobles from the ranks of the Nobles of the city. The Nobles are a set number of Lords (49 of them) and the heads of the two temples in town. The title of Noble may be bought or won by great service to the city. The Bladesemmer family seems to be the major political power in town, controlling most of the Council's seats. During a plot to steal control of a silver mine, the party helped successfully defend Lord Burdoth from charges of espionage. This has won them friends in the unallied Nobles of the city, but enemies among the Bladesemmers and their allies.

The only mages in town are the Browncloaks, a small cabal that works closely with the city guard. Spellcasting by non-Browncloaks is illegal inside the city walls. There does not seem to be any organized thieves' guild - there once was, but it was squashed years ago, and it has not been replaced. The largest guild in town is the Warrior's Guild, a large organization of mercenaries, bodyguards, and bounty hunters.

There are two temples in town: The Champion's Altar (temple of Hextor), and The High House of the Cudgel (temple of St. Cuthbert, high priestess Cylyria Hawklyn). There is also a large shrine of Kord that is popular.

The party has stayed at the Flying Bed in the past - a quiet and well-tended inn named for a long-ago wizard's prank. They have also visited the Two Coins dancehall, a sprawling, high class social club.

Shieldkeep

Near the top of the Upper Valley, the surrounding mountains dips closer to the pleasant green hills. One of these granite ridges has an ancient stone keep carved into the side - Shieldkeep, home to Lord Orvas and the Shield. This spartan military base is rumored to have been molded from the mountain by a powerful mage employing a legendary ring and posesses a natural beauty that blends into the majestic surroundings. The commander of the keep, Commander Hardeth, is a strict but fair ruler and keeps things in a constant state of readiness. Shrines to Pelor, Heironeous, and Ehlonna provide basic services.

Thorsten's Climb

This small village in the Upper Valley is close to the Velvet Woods, a forest that covers the Serpentcoil foothills. Not much here is of interest other than the meeting place for the Circle of Ellehandru, a group of druids who watch over the surrounding lands.