Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #226

Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #226 

August 15th, 2023 

• Number: 226 

• Name:  Deep Dive on a Site of Interest: Among the Taodean Hills and Dales – Part 2 

• Location: In the Tuton Maug along the border with Noldrune 

• Population (approx.): 1 

• Brief: With the increase in “interference” by outside parties with the trade from the Dwarven Cantons to the Greatwood (#21) and points east, the Dwarves have been revisiting establishing a viable route west across the Tuton Maug to the Crossroads (#54). One of the issues, as one might expect, is that the mountains are home to a variety of creatures, humanoids and monsters who might prey upon caravans and travelers. Armed and armored caravans were effective but costly. The local Magicians Guild chantry came up with a concept relying upon the old “enemy of my enemy is my potential co-worker" maxim, the Troll Re-homing Initiative (TRI). Summoners find and encourage Trolls to make a home along the road. In exchange for a warm Dwarf-made home and other essentials, the Trolls drive off other creatures (Orcs, Gnolls, etc.). So far TRI has had a modicum of success. 

• Serafina (Sera) Regalflame, 68, Human woman is a summoning mage of some renown. She is tall and spindly, with gray hair worn short with a part in the middle. She has moss-green eyes that engage most people and hold their attention. Sera wears practical trousers and frilly blouses that are the colors of the rainbow. Sera owns several magical staves, including the one she uses on this mission, an oaken staff with runes engraved on it. 

• Sera is leading a team of Canton mages to the Homespan bridge, a TRI location. She intends to make an area near the mountain where a continuous food summoning spell will supply the troll. The troll has also requested an ongoing ale spell, but that is open to negotiation. The current resident Troll, Ayagi, 76, has caused problems for the locals, demanding these spells as his due. Sera is a skilled negotiator and wants to keep the peace. Ayagi is cagey and knows he can get what he wants from the deal. 

• Sera's husband, Sigmund, 70, Human man, is a chef who accompanies the party. Sera is happy to lead the group and is eager to return home to play with her grandchildren. Once this mission is complete, Sera and Sigmund are retiring to the countryside and the new house they had built. 

• Geography: Homespan bidge is a typical construction across one of the many streams in the vales of the Tuton Maug. The east end of the bridge features an entryway to an underground chamber under the road. Ayagi has expanded his “residence” by digging another tunnel and excavating two additional chambers, one where he sleeps and the other where he stores supplies and his “hoard.”