Setting


The Valley

The area is a rural, inhabited by nearly all humans. It is surrounded by hills, and impressive mountains loom to the north. A heavy and expansive forest lies in the valley. It's tall, husky conifers blanket the hills and extend southward.

The valley tends to be cold and damp most of the year, with patches of thin snow on the ground. It is common for a dense mist to linger under the towering trees, most of the morning, and just after dusk.

The only authority in the valley area is the Earl and his men, who appear to be fair if not stern, and always terse.

The valley and surrounding areas are basically "low tech" AD&D. The more technologically advanced weapons and armour are not generally available here. Dragons and things of faerie don't roam about in these lands, and most beasties are things of legend and rumour.

Village of Timglae

The populace is of a fairly closed minded sort, not kindly to strangers of any kind. The village is centered around farming, and has a healthy vegetable market. Boars and especially chickens are raised for meat and eggs.

There are few spellcasters, and nearly all of them are priests of some variety. Wizards are seen as evil and if discovered, are generally banished or worse. (If you wish to play a wizard you should include a good reason why your character has followed that calling. Needless to say any spellcaster should have a backup "trade" in case villagers prove to be hostile.)

There are very few guilds, as most people that live inside the village work more or less for the Earl. Halls of learning, libraries, schools, and the like are things of cities and needed only by city folk, and so are not present in Timglae. They may be found elsewhere. Although villagers tend to make their own things, a few shops speckle the centre of town:

Blacksmith
Office of the Earl
Temple - "Followers of Kaele"
Tavern & Inn
Clothier
Temple - "The Iris Guardians"
Stables
Fruit & Vegetable Merchant
Weaver
Bowyer/Fletcher

Town of Ravendale

Ravendale is larger than Timglae. It's proximity to a large river provides meager trade with other towns. Tradesmen seem almost as common as farmers here, resulting in shops of some variety.

The city has a more varied racial blend as well. Dwarves and elves together make up about ten percent of the population.

Ravendale is known far and wide for its fine beer, wine and spirits. The townsfolk pride themselves on this fact. The yearly bloodmoon festival gains special momentum in Ravendale as people savour the pick of the grape harvest.

The icy undercurrents of the Palethorne wind down from the north, passing through Ravendale. On unfortunate years, its banks swell and flood the riverside houses.

Wizards are reluctantly tolerated here. Most spell components are peculiarly rare. People therefore tend to have a conservative approach to magic use.

Panther - jiriss@yahoo.com
Last Update: November 25, 1998