Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States -- Week 52
Compiling week 52 (the final week) of the project, comprised of an additional 5 posts (also truncated by the Holidays), this week's subject being four suggested starting locations one in each of the four City-State.
Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #356
December 26th, 2023
Number: 356
Name: Deep Dive of Four Places of Interest: Starting Points – Part 1
Location: Across the four City-States
Population (approx.): Varies
Brief: As the concept of organized adventuring begins to spread across Aenwyld, we see the emergence in this era of supporting groups such as the Expeditionsgilde and the Adventurers’ Guild. But what causes young worthies to leave their current way of life for high risk vs. reward ratio of questing? Usually, it is due to some event rising out of the confluence of geography, history and society in their home settlements. Some sample starting places exist on the fringes of civilization as described herein:
City-State of Carasta – Thicket is a logging and hunting settlement in the deep woods on the border between ordinary forest and the stranger and magical Feystone Woods.
City-State of Ceannar – Seaview is a settlement on the sparsely populated southeast coast weathering the great storms of the Sea of Hethichol.
City-State of Noldrune – Highland is a settlement in the foothills of the northern Tuton Maug where farmlands of the north coast give way to sparse scrub and conifers, home to herders, hunters and wild things.
City-State of Taodeas – Rockport is a settlement along the cliffs of the southeast Lanu Maug where the natural and Kid-made entrances to the underdark tempt with potential of great wealth tempered with a chance of a quick death.
Geography:
City-State of Carasta – Thicket can be found well west of the City-State of Carasta, on the eastern border of the Elven-claimed Feystone Woods, and south of Feystone Approach (#24). Threats might drift out of the Ashen Expanse (#25) or perhaps even from the Sleeping Woods (#62).
City-State of Ceannar – Seaview can be found along the southern coast of Cean County a distance from the main east-west highway. Threats might come from the Everfrozen Lake (#48) or creatures rumored to live on the sea floor to the south of the Haunted Spires (#11)
City-State of Noldrune – Highland can be found in the northern hills of the Tuton Maug on the border of County Minneh. Threats might include the ancient, summoned entities of the Floodlands (#41) and bandits of Smugglers Way (#5) and Outcrop (#111) further east.
City-State of Taodeas – Rockport can be found in the hills of the Lanu Maug, northwest of Blackstone Fortress (#15) and a bit south of west from Crossroads (#54), on the western edge of Gotasi Tribal lands. Threats might include creatures of the Gap (#19) and the unknown enemies in the Diabas Cathedral (#125).
Next Article: Over the course of this week, we’ll present four different locations (outlined above) with adventure-worthy settings and an NPC of note.
Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #357
December 27th, 2023
Number: 357
Name: Deep Dive of Four Places of Interest: Starting Points – Part 2
Location: Rockport, City-State of Taodeas
Population (approx.): 555 (Rockport and the Undercity)
Brief: Rockport is one of many mining settlements in the two ranges of Taodeas, the Lanu Maug to the west and Tuton Maug to the east. Those run by the Dwarves of the Cantons are usually entirely underground. Surface mines, like those run from Rockport, are controlled by the Tribes. Rockport is a lesser settlement, her mines not terribly profitable, so the locals, both surface and underground dwellers, look for other means to make a living. A thriving undercity has been built about a mile into the hills, centered around an old mining pit converted into an arena.
Tazzt Beltith, 153, male Drow (Night aspected Elf) is an underground fight organizer. He is tall and wiry. His gravel-gray skin is smooth except for a scar on his right cheek. Tazzt has pale yellow hair that he chops short and red eyes that know how to intimidate. He wears black trousers and comfortable tops in various colors. His favorite weapon is a scimitar, but he is very quick with daggers.
Tazzt runs an underground fight ring in the undercity arena twice weekly and once on Saturday. His fights are always well attended. Lots of betting occurs, and he gets a percentage off the top. The opponents he stocks are creatures that his minions capture from the local underdark. Local men and women are also encouraged to try their luck. The current house champion is a martial arts fighter who has defeated ten opponents. The current monster champion is a nasty, enormous hobgoblin that fights with a whip.
Tazzt is married to the fight card lady, Nirith, 130, female Drow. They live in a lovely house near the entrance to the fight ring. Tazzt pays a Human, Webster, male 24, to get supplies from Rockport for them. The people in Rockport genuinely shun Tazzt and Nirith, so they have had to resort to this. Despite that plenty of people from Rockport attend the fight club.
Threads: Rockport and the Undercity are a crossroads in the depths, all manner of Kin passing through. Many opportunities exist for young adventurers including but not limited to:
Taking contracts to capture monsters or retrieve escapees for the arena
Fighting in the arena itself
Assisting in other (potentially frowned upon) activities of the Undercity such as debt-collection, smuggling and thieving
Scouting missions to explore near the Diabas Cathedral to the northwest
Escorting mining expeditions to the Gap to the southwest
Protecting the mining operations for the owners of the surface mining company
Serving as an intermediary as required between the Guilds (Mining, Adventurers’) and Shadow Guilds (Thieves’ and Gambling)
Surface or underground guard duty (to protect versus raiding Gray Skull Orcs)
Geography: Rockport can be found at the west end of a box canyon on a trail from the main highway through Taodeas. It is about 35 miles west northwest of Blackstone Fortress (#15) the capital of the City-State. The main entrance to the mines is surrounded by the local mining company warehouse, offices, store and dormitories for the miners. The nearby hillsides feature secondary entrances both known and secret. Just downslope is an Inn, two taverns, a general store, a less than reputable healer, the stables and assorted boarding houses and residences.
Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #358
December 28th, 2023
Number: 358
Name: Deep Dive of Four Places of Interest: Starting Points – Part 3
Location: Highland, City-State of Noldrune
Population (approx.): 478 (Highland and surrounds)
Brief: The region of the four City-States is a cultural crossroads mixing the Houses of Noldrune of the north, the Cean Peoples from the east and the Tribes of Taodeas of the south shaking off the thin veneer of the Ta’arnan Empire applied during the invasion millennia ago. When the Cean exodus reached the shores, many stayed on the east coast and slowly migrated westward. One group of Dragonborn found their way to the northern Tuton Maug in search of Dragons rumored to live in the highest hills. It is unknown whether they found what they sought, but the Kin spread across the hills forming small lairs (communities). One such lair sits on a hillside next to the small town of Highland. The Dragonborn were a quiet part of Highland until an incident led to a Knight of the Night taking a dominating behind the scenes role in maintaining law and order on the quiet streets.
Nacek Kogwen, 35, female Dragonborn, is an anti-paladin who serves the Cean Diety Aru (God of Night and Darkness). She is tall and heavyset. Her scales are the color of fire, but her breath weapon is electricity. Her eyes are dark like coal and set high above her snout. She is attractive, but her aura radiates vileness. Nacek wears clothes tailored to her size, so her dress is always on point. She carries a broadsword named Seethe, a gift from her mentor, Kricel Yorroth, 76, male Dragonborn.
Nacek spent her first ten years as a thief in the alleys of Highland. Her family was large, and not everyone got to eat every day. Shortly after her tenth birthday, her sister, Ink, was killed by a local gang for not providing protection money. Nacek vowed revenge and took out the entire gang with elaborate traps and plain old killing. Kricel watched her complete this horrible task and took her as an apprentice. From that day forward, Nacek has committed many atrocious acts in the name of maintaining peace in Highland.
Nacek lives in a small mansion with Kricel, part of the local Dragonkin lair, near Highland. Their staff consists of many slaves. An altar to Aru is in the basement, and some observant townspeople bring sacrifices of small animals and money. Nacek has three children: Oltith, 15, Arok, 10, and Olmunk, 5, by three different males. Her best friend is Prosten Bazire, 28, male Dragonborn, who runs the mansion for Kricel and Nacek.
Threads: Highland sits in rugged terrain outside of the effective southern border of County Minneh. Being outside of regularly patrolled lands brings opportunities for young adventurers including but not limited to:
Escorting merchants headed west to Foothills Market
Joining an adventure into the tunnels below the Floodlands
Exploring beyond Highland into the unmapped Tuton Maug following rumor of lesser Drakes and other flying monsters
For those of the applicable association, learning why the Shadow Guilds have been unable to gain a foothold in Highland for a quarter of a century.
Traveling with or as an envoy of the Church of Poul to see if the followers of Aru are willing to discuss the similarities or differences between their churches.
Geography: Highland sits on a hilltop on the northern border of the Tuton Maug. The town is about 120 miles south of the main coastal highway, roughly halfway between Foothills Market (#76) to the west and the Floodlands (#41) to the east. Highland is a dense cluster of buildings surrounding a large central hall, enclosed by a stone and wood palisade. The main gate faces north, a trail departing northeastward into the farmlands. The Dragonkin Lair is a similar but smaller enclosed cluster of buildings about Nacek’s mansion a short walk to the south connected by a path from Highland’s postern gate.
Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #359
December 29th, 2023
Number: 359
Name: Deep Dive of Four Places of Interest: Starting Points – Part 3
Location: Seaview, City-State of Ceannar
Population (approx.): 1211 (Seaview and the Storm Coast)
Brief: The Parishes of the Taq’Alay’Sut cover the bulk of Cean County, with the remainder split between three other Shires, one to the east and two to the south. In the south, one Shire hews close to the main highway between Overlook and East’arbor, while the other, Storm Coast Shire, hugs the coast. The two are divided by a border line drawn from the northeast corner of Hamar Inlet, just south of Everfrozen Lake, ending at Hook Point on the Sea of Hethichol. The Shire, named for the typical weather of the deep seas, features a string of fishing and trading settlements along the shore Seaview being the capital, populated with fierce, grizzled individuals who yell challenges to the wind and waters, daring the Hethichol to do its worst.
Idra Starbeam, 258, male Sea Elf, is a monster hunter of the finest pedigree. He is slightly taller than a three-shelf bookcase and has green hair with silver streaks. His lavender eyes are quite piercing once he sets his mind on his quarry. Idra wears beautiful armor made of seashells that have received a magical hardening. His favorite weapon is a giant harpoon that sits on the front of his boat, The Sea Hunter. For close-up fighting, he wields a long sword in his right hand and a short sword in his left.
Idra loves to hunt and has traveled the seas, oceans, and even giant lakes to hunt and capture monsters that cause problems for people. He started as a boy when his uncle took him fishing, and the boat they were in was keeled over because of a giant sea monster. He almost died, and his uncle didn't make it. Idra vowed that he would hunt down the creature and make him pay. Several years later, he did just that and has been at it ever since.
Idra lives on a houseboat with his wife, Presara (Pre), 250, Sea Elf tied to a pier in Seaview. They have many children and grandchildren. Their great-grandson, Lukas, 100, lives nearby and helps Idra with his hunts. Presara operates the boats when they hunt and spends the rest of her time with the family. Seaview has been their home for a long time, and they have many friends there.
Threads: Seaview sits on the windswept coasts on the southern border of the Storm Coast Shire and Ceannar itself. The ever-present dangers of both land and sea bring opportunities for young adventurers including but not limited to:
Word reaches Idra that something has risen from below the ice of the Everfrozen Lake. He gathers a group of adventurers to accompany him to the north.
A wealthy merchant arrives in Seaview seeking explorers to search for a missing vessel along the Haunted Spires.
A band of buccaneers has landed on Whaleback Isle, threatening the passing sea traffic. The Sheriff is gathering warriors to sail south and deal with the miscreants.
Merchant vessels and some of the larger fishing trawlers hire guards.
The Sheriff hires as needed to supplement land-based coast patrols especially about Hamar Inlet and the unclaimed coast between the inlet and the Haunted Spires.
Geography: Seaview is tucked into a relatively calm cove on the south shore of Ceannar. The town is about 30 miles due south of the main road to East’arbor. The strange waters of the Everfrozen Lake (#48) are to the northwest and the dangerous coasts of the Haunted Spires (#11) to the southwest which force sea traffic into the Sea of Hethichol (first sailing straight south around Whaleback Isle and then west until the safer forested coast of Airontir Taun (#49) comes into view). Seaview’s buildings are perched on the stone of the cliffs, leaning over the docks. The waters are covered with clusters of houseboats and fishing vessels moored nearby. The largest structures are the Hall of Uma (Lord of the Seas) and the Sailors’ Guildhall (whose leader serves as either Sheriff, Town Mayor or both depending on the year and charisma).
Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #360
December 30th, 2023
Number: 360
Name: Deep Dive of Four Places of Interest: Starting Points – Part 4
Location: Thicket, City-State of Carasta
Population (approx.): 365 (Thicket)
Brief: The protection offered by the City-State of Carasta extends about a day or two travel inland from Staplefish Bay, further along the border with Noldrune and Taodeas but corresponding less as one follows the coastal highway into the north toward Amthor. Carasta’s influence extends somewhat further but peters out beyond the middle of the Narrows. Independent settlements, most freed by the collapse of the Ta’arnan Empire, are scattered across the landscape finding different ways to maintain their viability in potentially unfavorable regions. For example, the Elves of Feystone Woods are generally not supportive of villages on their borders, except, in the case of Thicket, where the most prominent inhabitants are Firbolg, their closely allied Kin.
Adzona Ravensense, 313, female Firbolg is an herbalist and alchemist who lives in the Thicket near Feystone Woods. She is quite tall, well over 8 feet, and has long golden-brown hair that she wears loosely around her shoulders. Her eyes are a deep blue and very kind. Adzona wears long dresses made of linen and dyed with plant substances. She wears a tool belt with many tools for tending a garden and mixing potions.
Adzona has spent her entire life near the City-State of Carasta, away from Tenmala. As a child, she learned how to tend a garden. She learned alchemy in her early adult years and journeyed around the Narrows, hunting for unique herbs and plants. When she was 100, she settled down and had a family. Now, she is known as the "giant old lady in the woods." She has taught several generations of Firbolg her craft, but no one seems to equal her ability.
Adzona lives with her husband, Sarkas, 330, male Firbolg. The two of them live in a large hollowed-out tree. Sarkas built a workshop that is attached to the tree. Anyone interested in her wares comes to see her. One of her great-grandchildren, Bryna Greenrest, 101, is her current apprentice and lives in a small tree nearby. Adzona loves to write letters and exchange recipes. She currently is a pen pal with Coco Zeldred, 45, female Human in Carasta.
Threads: Thicket sits on the border of dense and strange Fae woods. The ever-present dangers of the wilderness bring opportunities for young adventurers including but not limited to:
Locals or visitors seek an escort east back towards the relative safety of the coast.
Dark Fae or young Night Elves are harassing outlying residents or local hunters.
The winds whisper that something is wandering north from the Ashen Expanse that must be found and dealt with.
A messenger brings word that the Sleeping Woods are sinking! Adzona seeks an escort to see if she can help her Kin.
Sarkas has fallen ill and Adzona fears his Doom is upon him. She asks for volunteers to hike to the Gold Mountains to find a particular rare herb.
A sharp-eyed Elven Scout reports seeing a distant object fall from the skies to land in the woods to the east. Volunteers are sought to investigate.
Geography: Thicket can be found in the dense forests to the southeast of Feystone Approach (#24), west northwest of the Sleeping Woods (#62) and directly north of the Ashen Expanse (#25). To the untrained eye the differences between the Feywood and the neighboring forest are imperceptible. Fortunately, Thicket was founded by those who could see the difference and is set well away from the Elven realm. It consists of mix of tree houses, trees in houses and ordinary log and stone cabins. Most buildings are residences with small shops on the ground floor. One large longhouse serves as an Inn as well as a village hall/meeting space. A narrow trail leads east.
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