Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #314

Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #314 

November 11th, 2023 

• Number: 314 

• Name: Deep Dive on an Area of Interest:  The Journey to Rest – Part 6 

• Location: Along the Segnem River between the Ulu Maug and the Danthas River in the Wastelands 

• Population (approx.): none (Piety Tower) 

• Brief: Another restless night of sleep and an early rise for Garret and his companions. They gather their gear, say their farewells to Leslie and the rest at the castle, and depart westward following the Segnem River upstream. Truly within the Ulu Maug, the river winds through narrow valleys and ravines, across tumbling rapids and drops down waterfalls. Mists drift down from the hilltops and float across the waters. The sun nears its peak as small keep comes into view, sitting above the junction of the Segnem River and Piety Creek. A figure stands on an outcropping of rock across the Segnem, watching the hills to the south. Garrett recognizes the bulky well-armed and armored silhouette of his adoptive brother Corbett, hunter of beasts. 

• Corbett Honorrock, 37, male Human is a family friend of the Macadams. He has burly shoulders and a small waist. He has dark brown hair that he wears close-cropped and spiky. His amber eyes dart around, seeming to take everything in. Corbett wears leather armor and a forest-green cape. He also wears a brown bandolier with crossbow bolts that work in the small crossbow he keeps strapped to his back. Corbett also uses a longsword as his primary weapon.  

• Corbett grew up playing with the Macadams's children daily. Then, when he was ten, Corbett's parents were slain by an owlbear. The Macadams brought Corbett into the family and raised him as their son. Corbett hates monsters of all kinds and has vowed to protect his adoptive family at all costs. 

• Corbett moved out of Caer Macadam many years ago. He moved west to Piety Tower, which used to be the religious site for the Macadams Clan. The tower was damaged and became unusable when a mountain wurm tried to get at Corbett by knocking it down. Corbett has moved back into the castle until he can find someplace else to live. Corbett is an expert forager and is especially skilled at finding mushrooms. 

• Garrett signals Corbett, who crosses the Segnem at a nearby ford and joins the trio at the still shattered gate to Piety Tower. Inside Corbett’s companions, his monster squad, sit about a campfire finishing lunch. Greetings exchanged, Garrett asks, “Where it is?” (He can’t bear to call it Terrell.) Corbett replies, “We tracked Ter... err … it here. I think it tried to raise the wurm’s remains,” he points to large rib and leg bones scattered about the courtyard, “but failed. Frustrated, it headed south. Toward the hills.” Garrett thinks and replies, “Yeah, south of the river and over some hills, it had a favorite place. Where it learned or was taught darkness. But now, it is the place where we must end this. Will you join us?” Corbett smiles, “Slay a monster. Of course!” voice raised he bellows, “Let’s GO!” 

• Geography: Piety Tower (location 5 see below) sits on the north bank where Piety Creek pours into the Segnem River. Similar in style to Caer Macadam (likely the same builders centuries ago), the Tower has a single main gate, turrets to either side, fronting a small courtyard with a central shrine leading to a three-story square keep in the back. The mountain wurm, two years ago, shattered the entry staircase and the front gate and then crawled inside to flatten the shrine and damage the main keep before Corbett could kill it. He has spent the past years slowly removing the remains and debris.