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Nyrond Gazetteer: County Eventide

[ Gazetteer ]

Regions: Shantadern, Nessermouth , Uskarn, Shining White, Fairwind Bay, Rent, Claw Point.

Eventide is considered the least of the regions. It's largest "city" does not have a secure place among the top 20 Nyrond cities, and most of the region is poor grazing land that supports few enough cattle or people. Only on the coast is there a substantial population, supported by fishing, smuggling, and the navy, whose duties include trying to stop the smuggling. Piracy is also present in disturbing amounts, and a major concern of the Navy. Most of this regions' mercantile activity takes place at Nessermouth, though the king placed the new regional capital at Shantadern, desiring a more centralized seat of local power.

Lynwerd appointed Estward Ventrose, a minor noble, to the seat of power as Viscount, largely on the grounds that nobody wanted the job and nobody in the right circles had anything negative to say about him. It might well have been wise to have consulted the wrong circles as well, but the king probably would not have listened to lowlifes telling him his choice was one of the most skilled rogues in the kingdom. Furthermore, this may just be drunken rumor anyway.

The Viscount, still vigorous at 65, is behaving in an "interesting" manner. To appease the crown, Ventrose has taken to awarding letters of marquee to certain independent captains, who are instructed to harry the Scarlet Brotherhood's supply line to Scant. There are stories that some of these captains are not far from outright pirates who nab just about any ship. But so far, nothing has been proved. There are definitely several pirate captains who would like a little legal cover, and a probably smaller number willing to reform, at least a little. But a number of his other policies can be described by his critics as pro-Scarlet Brotherhood.

Trading with the enemy is often attacked. But trade with the Scarlet Brotherhood is also quite desirable. Rare woods, fruit, and spices, not to mention gold and fine gems, are very profitable trades and available from few other sources than the Scarlet Brotherhood. Furthermore, Nyrond is not officially at war with the Scarlet Brotherhood. So why not engage in activity gainful to both parties? There is much to be said for the argument, particularly when some of the gold ends up in your hands.

The policy is delicate and contradictory. Scarlet Brotherhood ships are subject to seizure by privateer or navy, but they may also be welcomed into port for some very profitable trading, among other activities.

Shantadern

With a meager population of 1000, the new province capital has not exactly prospered as a result of its change to capitol of the region. The major industry was smuggling and while it can't be suppressed province wide, it can be forced to move to other locations. Income from the provincial court barely makes up the loss. A new set of docks is being built, but it is not clear who is intended to dock there.

Nessermouth

Uskarn

Uskarn is a small fishing village of perhaps 1000, that serves as a modest dock for the navy. The royal bailiff bullies it. A surly place, fearful of the navy, it is a major smuggling center. It differs from a number of other villages along the coast only in being a little larger.

Shining White

Shining White Castle is a stone castle a mile from Fairwind Bay. Its central keep of white stone is lit by Continual Flame spells. It is manned by 80 elite militia, aided by a half-elf bard, a ranger that knows the coast very well, and the half-elf mage Schuster.

Its liege is Farenne of Pholtus, fair skinned, with light auburn hair, blue eyes, and 5'6". Surprisingly for a paladin of Pholtus, she calls Pale a nest of heresy and loathes the Valorous League, running one group off her land. She is tolerant, wise, kindly, and often smiling. She lives humbly. At age 36, she is very friendly, especially to paladins or bards, and yearns to be able to benefit more. While she is very friendly to Lynwerd, she was almost in rebellion against old King Archbold, flatly refusing to collect the higher taxes Archbold tried to impose. She is very active in the area, chasing smugglers and slavers. Pirates and slavers avoid the bay area, which is marked by a 25-mile string of lighthouses using Continual Flame beacons. This string of Light-houses, Ferrene's Folly, may not be duplicated anywhere, for reasons implied in its name. Replacing cheap wood with expensive magic only made sense in Ferrene's desire for a lasting monument, but for the next generation, it will make that section of coast a little safer.

Fairwind Bay

A shallow bay with white sands, it is a home for aquatic elves and selkies, who sink smugglers and spy for Shinning White Castle. The elves are led by a priestess of Deep Sashelas who is noted for her scrying. It is said she knows all that happens below the Bay.

Rent

A fortified mansion house defended by a militia under the command of Sir Pierell Dempstren defends a profitable coal mine located in a local geological fault, and called the Rent for the way the land is torn.

Others have found this coal too dangerous to mine, but Dempstren has been so successful he has been able to pay his taxes in full and on time for the past decade. Naturally, he is paranoid that others may steal his secret methods and everybody is warned to stay away at least 5 miles from the mine upon pain of death. He has no authority to order a death sentence, but when everybody is dodging taxes, a man who pays so well is not to be chided for being impolite. Until there is proof he actually carries out such a threat, royal and province authority is going to be eager to assist him in chasing people off his land.

Claw Point

The major promontory on the Western Coast of the Bay, it is said to be a cause of the Bay being calm water, except when it isn't. Currents make it quite easy to get too close to the Claw, and statements about a ship "getting Clawed" are understood all over the Bay.

More interesting to those wanting quick wealth is that the tall, sheer cliffs have eroded to reveal a massive network of burial passages and catacombs that extends for at least a mile. The Oeridian bodies therein have been there for at least 600 years. The bodies were buried with both treasures and trinkets, which has attracted large numbers of treasure hunters despite the risks. The natural risks are bad enough. The catacombs are hard to reach, requiring climbing sheer cliffs full of unsafe rock and subject to nasty storms with inadequate warning. And the bay just to the West is a favorite of smugglers and pirates who are not friendly to visitors.

The only people who know how dangerous the catacombs themselves are are the treasure hunters, who are likely to deny dangers when they want backing, and exaggerate it when just bragging. However a large number never return from entering there, and the bodies of others are found floating between here and Shantadern. Tales abound of the curses that affect tomb robbers, rotting diseases caught from the malign air, and of vengeful undead who stalk those taking treasure from these tombs.

[ Gazetteer ]

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