The Coming of the Zioth

Yunim / Dunweig

by Arnellplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigPreceptor Halaren

Halaren stands wide and heavy, large feet and hands offsetting a comparably small head. He looks in his late twenties. His skin is pale and a little blubberous, tugging his facial features downwards to give him a slightly sad and dim-witted appearance. His face is well shaved, and hair medium in length, though so thin and wispy his head is clearly visible underneath. Further adding to his girth are the heavy robes he wears, well worn and covered in smudges. A long, deliberate …
, edited by the DM

Yunim

Yunim is (in the year 577) a cosmopolitan trade center in the region of Meheiral, run by the Orithoranplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Orithorans

This religion, dead for five hundred years, states that all gods bow to the god of justice, and are so far beneath him that they are as the lowest of servants of a king. The Orithory, a deeply carved quarter-sphere of stone that often weighs over a thousand pounds, symbolizes justice, and is thus their primary symbol. The center of the Orithoran religion was in a region they called
religion, led centrally from the great Temple of Justice. It is on the edge of Yunim Lake, making fishing one of its principal industries. The Orithoranplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Orithorans

This religion, dead for five hundred years, states that all gods bow to the god of justice, and are so far beneath him that they are as the lowest of servants of a king. The Orithory, a deeply carved quarter-sphere of stone that often weighs over a thousand pounds, symbolizes justice, and is thus their primary symbol. The center of the Orithoran religion was in a region they called
religion dominates the local area and this means the town is focused on this aspect of life.

While there is a low presence of soldiery, there is a strong sense of law and the courts are foreboding and feared. The Temple of Justice is center of both religion and law, so the clergy are the lawmakers in the town, and there is no council to speak of. In this sense it is a theocracy, but practically speaking, the town and the Meheiral area is an oligarchy run by the central figures of the clergy.

The people are law-abiding and compliant, not least due to the harsh justice meted out for any crime.

Yunim's central market is near the temple, which is the focal point of the town. The market has three distinct areas. The first is the fish based food market, where wooden boxes are laid at angles for display early in the morning next to fishmongers wooden chopping block tables. However, as the lake is not tidal, the fishermen do come and go throughout the day, even if the fishing is usually best at dawn and dusk. The fish are gutted for those not used to doing this themselves, although most residents buy the fish whole; they last longer and it is simply less messy. The dusty ground is stained red in part. Alongside the stench of the fish, even when salted, are the somewhat fresher tones of the spice and vegetable sections.

The second major market sells normal wares and household goods, the majority of the canvas covered stalls being in the streets and small squares outside the blacksmiths and barrel makers. Risk of fire seems high, but over the years there have been few incidents, none large enough to be recorded as a problem for the town, and none causing significant structural damage.

Finally, there is the tourist section of a the market aimed at pilgrims. It is a street away from the fish for obvious reasons. Here, there are two jewelers selling from the fronts of houses in the streets closest to the Temple, where religious symbols are artifacts are sold to pilgrims, along with stalls that line the street with cheaper trinkets such as representations and depictions of Orithoranplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Orithorans

This religion, dead for five hundred years, states that all gods bow to the god of justice, and are so far beneath him that they are as the lowest of servants of a king. The Orithory, a deeply carved quarter-sphere of stone that often weighs over a thousand pounds, symbolizes justice, and is thus their primary symbol. The center of the Orithoran religion was in a region they called
nature, including brooches and chest pins for ladies and gentlemen that pilgrims and the pious then hope to get blessed at the temple so they can wear them proudly, and prove they have made the journey to the temple when they return home, and hope for favor in the future.

As a center of religion and trade, Yunim has several inns. In these times, pilgrimage is one of the few ways that commoners and those tied to the land can travel.1)

It is widely rumored that magic is an accepted part of the Orithoranplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Orithorans

This religion, dead for five hundred years, states that all gods bow to the god of justice, and are so far beneath him that they are as the lowest of servants of a king. The Orithory, a deeply carved quarter-sphere of stone that often weighs over a thousand pounds, symbolizes justice, and is thus their primary symbol. The center of the Orithoran religion was in a region they called
religion, although no public displays of magic have been evident in the town of note. Most distrust magic or that which cannot be easily understood.

While the Orithoranplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Orithorans

This religion, dead for five hundred years, states that all gods bow to the god of justice, and are so far beneath him that they are as the lowest of servants of a king. The Orithory, a deeply carved quarter-sphere of stone that often weighs over a thousand pounds, symbolizes justice, and is thus their primary symbol. The center of the Orithoran religion was in a region they called
religion is dominant in the town, most other religions are at least tolerated, with the exception of Morenthiansplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigMorenth

Morenth's theology revolves around the simple idea that the entire universe belongs to him, and humanity is barely worthy to bask in his radiant presence. Those who refuse to acknowledge this simple, self-evident fact heretics, and deserve punishment or death. There is no repentance for heretics
.

Magic

In turn 77plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_big: Johannes's Adventure: A Burning Cat

Johannes woke to the light of the sun and the sound of Mineasia's playful voice. She was not at all surprised to find Johannes in a bedroll with her mother, and seemed to have completely forgotten the frightening experiences of the previous night. “Can I ride Roomis again?
, Johannesplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigMaster Johannes Eltermann

Johannes Eltermann is very tall, and slightly more slender than average, and has a well-defined, delicate bone structure. His hair and eyes are dark brown. He keeps himself well-groomed and clean-shaven, and tends to dress in plain but well-tailored clothing in dark, formal colors. The lack of ostentation flaunts his taste. He currently wears good-quality traveling clothes with matching boots, a belt, from which a dagger hangs, and a cloak.
has a vision about a tunnel under the Orithoranplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Orithorans

This religion, dead for five hundred years, states that all gods bow to the god of justice, and are so far beneath him that they are as the lowest of servants of a king. The Orithory, a deeply carved quarter-sphere of stone that often weighs over a thousand pounds, symbolizes justice, and is thus their primary symbol. The center of the Orithoran religion was in a region they called
temple where wizards perform experiments.

Timeline

c. 0-210

The village is spawned on the banks of the lake. No one knows when within this time the village was settled beyond a few families. Nevertheless, fishermen and local people settle as there is a natural harbor suitable for jetties and fishing vessels, with a sharply graded waterside forming the edge of the lake. There is fertile land locally (particularly to the West and South). The first records of the village are dated 210, when reference is made to Yunim in a court record of a man “accuseth of banditry most fowl against the peoples of Yunim”.

In 577, the lake is full of reeds and plants at its edges, but generally, and especially in the region of Yunim, the sides of the lake are sharp and angled, meaning the water gets deep quickly and there is little 'beach' to speak of. This results in jetties that provide good harbor for the many fishing vessels. However, this also leads to many parents keeping their children away from the sides of the lake as the reeds and algae hide the water-line somewhat, and the steep angle of the lake edge on the southern side in particular make it treacherous for children and those on foot. Quite how this deep blue lake becomes known as the Black Lake in the centuries to come, especially with regard the soils and water color, is unfathomable and of course unknowable to the peoples of Yunim.

c. 210-306

Various raids and local rivalries lead to the village growing slowly if at all. The village responds by closing ranks and meeting out severe punishments for any infringements in law. During this time, a small central courthouse is built by the councillors that govern the town's affairs.

c.306 – 381

It is during this time that the Orithoranplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Orithorans

This religion, dead for five hundred years, states that all gods bow to the god of justice, and are so far beneath him that they are as the lowest of servants of a king. The Orithory, a deeply carved quarter-sphere of stone that often weighs over a thousand pounds, symbolizes justice, and is thus their primary symbol. The center of the Orithoran religion was in a region they called
religion grows as a body of belief, and the various idols and gods are cemented. The town is forming its own identity, and strengthened by the years of defending itself against rivalries, is led between 350 and 381 by 'Marnach' who begins to form the region of Meheiral. The town grows in size, but as much as it is rivaled by Maelbourgplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigMaelbourg

[This map is obviously missing a lot. There aren't huge open spaces in Maelbourg.]

Maelbourg is a walled town in the Barony of Huerten, with a population of approximately six thousand. Its primary exports are textiles, wool and coal, the last of which it acquires from deposits in the nearby hills. The land on which the town sits was added to maelbourg index
in terms of size, the relative strength, both in terms of political will and military presence of the Orithoranplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Orithorans

This religion, dead for five hundred years, states that all gods bow to the god of justice, and are so far beneath him that they are as the lowest of servants of a king. The Orithory, a deeply carved quarter-sphere of stone that often weighs over a thousand pounds, symbolizes justice, and is thus their primary symbol. The center of the Orithoran religion was in a region they called
religion means that the city is rarely attacked and the defenses remain minor.

c.381-500

The Temple of Justice is constantly added to and improved, and a period of stability for the town is welcomed. Peace reigns. In 480-486 there is major building work on the front steps of the Temple, making in a more imposing presence, and the addition of columns is made.

c.500-577

The town's expansion is greatly reduced and while the outskirts of the town remain spread out, with numerous farms, Maelbourgplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigMaelbourg

[This map is obviously missing a lot. There aren't huge open spaces in Maelbourg.]

Maelbourg is a walled town in the Barony of Huerten, with a population of approximately six thousand. Its primary exports are textiles, wool and coal, the last of which it acquires from deposits in the nearby hills. The land on which the town sits was added to maelbourg index
grows more rapidly. Detractors of the town believe this is due to the preferential areas to live in. Meheiral as an area is threatened by the rising prominence of Maelbourgplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigMaelbourg

[This map is obviously missing a lot. There aren't huge open spaces in Maelbourg.]

Maelbourg is a walled town in the Barony of Huerten, with a population of approximately six thousand. Its primary exports are textiles, wool and coal, the last of which it acquires from deposits in the nearby hills. The land on which the town sits was added to maelbourg index
. However, it is still much larger than its rival.

c.577

The Battle of the Magicsplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Battle of the Magics (577)

Belazan: The conflict dates back to the beginning of time, and has little to do with magic. I imagine the first men to craft arrow heads out of stone were feared and hated by their enemies, and the weapons themselves viewed with suspicion. Nothing changed when mages began to hire themselves out to princes and kings. The kingdom with more power was hated, but that hatred couldn't target an entire kingdom. To do so would be to admit inferiority. Instead, the weapons…
(577) affects the town. No one knows quite how. The confusion is exacerbated by the belief that the Orithoranplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Orithorans

This religion, dead for five hundred years, states that all gods bow to the god of justice, and are so far beneath him that they are as the lowest of servants of a king. The Orithory, a deeply carved quarter-sphere of stone that often weighs over a thousand pounds, symbolizes justice, and is thus their primary symbol. The center of the Orithoran religion was in a region they called
religion disappeared well before 577.

c.577-743

It is unclear when the name change to Dunweig occurs, but the Plague of Morenthplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Plague of Morenth (678-699)

After Drannenveldt, the leadership of the House of Morenth grew a bit frantic. They saw that the Jarramites, due to their commercial power, had a small measure of official tolerance, and they came up with their own plan to get a bit for themselves.
(678-699) and the town’s proximity to Maelbourgplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigMaelbourg

[This map is obviously missing a lot. There aren't huge open spaces in Maelbourg.]

Maelbourg is a walled town in the Barony of Huerten, with a population of approximately six thousand. Its primary exports are textiles, wool and coal, the last of which it acquires from deposits in the nearby hills. The land on which the town sits was added to maelbourg index
means this may have major bearing on the town. That the ruins of the Temple of Justice remain for the next 400 years (evident in 1001) within the town's living area is a curiosity. The temple has not been repurposed, and the stone hasn't been plundered. It is perhaps even more strange that no one in Dunweig makes much of the mystery. It is rarely or never discussed.

By 744 the town is conquered and the name change is complete. There is no reference to Yunim being conquered, so history suggests the name change was some years prior to 744. It is possible that the town was wiped out previously, and resettled in the 600s, but this is supposition.

c.744-1001

Dunweig is conquered by the Andrithanplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAndrithanism

Based on original ideas from Karl Schinke (Ardith). Symbols for aspects other than the Mother, along with the artwork, were contributed by Myron Wyles (Halaren).

Andrithanism and its variants are the dominant religion in Rang and the surrounding kingdoms. Within the boundaries of
Kingdom of Rangplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Kingdom of Rang

Overview

Rang is a huge kingdom, covering more than a million square miles, and extending from the Great Sea to the Ice Sea. It dominates the area politically, militarily and religiously. Rang is a monarchy, led by King Diure LXIV, but its immense size weakens the central government. Most feudal lords manage their lands independently, and only answer to the king in the loosest sense. The king does have several pockets of power, such as in Huerten, which allow him to maintai…
and consumed into it. While still maintaining its law abiding and compliant atmosphere, the town grows steadily more Andrithanplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAndrithanism

Based on original ideas from Karl Schinke (Ardith). Symbols for aspects other than the Mother, along with the artwork, were contributed by Myron Wyles (Halaren).

Andrithanism and its variants are the dominant religion in Rang and the surrounding kingdoms. Within the boundaries of
, both by nature of conversion, force and eradication of previous traditions. The town is walled and fortified, but its prominence is reduced. The city of Yunim becomes a relatively minor fishing town, though there is still trade, and it is used in some decades as a post for monitoring and overseeing the town of Maelbourgplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigMaelbourg

[This map is obviously missing a lot. There aren't huge open spaces in Maelbourg.]

Maelbourg is a walled town in the Barony of Huerten, with a population of approximately six thousand. Its primary exports are textiles, wool and coal, the last of which it acquires from deposits in the nearby hills. The land on which the town sits was added to maelbourg index
, the only permissible location for the Morenthiansplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigMorenth

Morenth's theology revolves around the simple idea that the entire universe belongs to him, and humanity is barely worthy to bask in his radiant presence. Those who refuse to acknowledge this simple, self-evident fact heretics, and deserve punishment or death. There is no repentance for heretics
religion.

Dunweig in the year 1001

Dunweig is a trading, fishing town on the edge of the Black Lake, in the north-central region of the Barony of Huerten, which itself is in the southern border of the Kingdom of Rangplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Kingdom of Rang

Overview

Rang is a huge kingdom, covering more than a million square miles, and extending from the Great Sea to the Ice Sea. It dominates the area politically, militarily and religiously. Rang is a monarchy, led by King Diure LXIV, but its immense size weakens the central government. Most feudal lords manage their lands independently, and only answer to the king in the loosest sense. The king does have several pockets of power, such as in Huerten, which allow him to maintai…
.

The town
  • Population: 4000
  • Features: 1mi diameter, walled
  • Imports: Iron, Hemp, Salt
  • Exports: Fish
  • First conquered in 744.
  • Dunweig was the site of an ancient Orithoranplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Orithorans

    This religion, dead for five hundred years, states that all gods bow to the god of justice, and are so far beneath him that they are as the lowest of servants of a king. The Orithory, a deeply carved quarter-sphere of stone that often weighs over a thousand pounds, symbolizes justice, and is thus their primary symbol. The center of the Orithoran religion was in a region they called
    temple.
  • The outskirts of the town, outside the walls, include various inns and farmland along with peasantry.
  • Market days are held twice weekly, as is Rangplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Kingdom of Rang

    Overview

    Rang is a huge kingdom, covering more than a million square miles, and extending from the Great Sea to the Ice Sea. It dominates the area politically, militarily and religiously. Rang is a monarchy, led by King Diure LXIV, but its immense size weakens the central government. Most feudal lords manage their lands independently, and only answer to the king in the loosest sense. The king does have several pockets of power, such as in Huerten, which allow him to maintai…
    custom.

Walls and guards

Although it was only early afternoon, the large gates of Dunweig were closed, and four soldiers stood outside them. Three were well- armed and identically uniformed, and seemed the types who were always itching for combat. The fourth had only a long rapier with a silver hilt, and looked stern, but far calmer than his companions. “Your business?” he asked when Sahlmanplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigSahlman El Musafir

Sahlman's hair is blue-black and graying. His skin is dark and weathered. A huge handle-bar mustache sweeps down to cover much of his lower face, and Sahl is always careful to keep it properly groomed. He is generally very particular about his clothing, equipment and appearance. Sahlman wears the desert robes of his homeland, with headgear that blocks out the sun and hangs over his neck. He wears light trousers and high hard boots, and when his robes are wet, the hard links o…
and Hebabelt approached. – The gatekeeper let it pass. Apparently, there was no actual law against carrying weapons in Dunweig.69plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAppeared or occurred in:

: Sahlman's Adventure: The Murderer of Dunweig

Before dawn, the pair packed up, ate a brief breakfast and were on their way. The sky was clear and the weather was warming up, and a pleasant breeze blew between the trees. Shortly after noon, Sahlman spotted the Black Lake in the distance. Hebabelt explained that its name came from its dark sands and thick under-water growth, and that it was known to catch foreigners and even the occasional local by surprise in the night. More than one person had fallen into the water before noticing it was th…

One unusual aspect of Dunweig was the absence of armed soldiers in the streets. There couldn't have been more than two or three in the market. The walls of the town were unusually high and sturdy for what they protected, especially considering the numerous gaps in the walls that led to the Black Lake. Perhaps the presence of those walls alone was enough to lessen the need for soldiers.39plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAppeared or occurred in:

: Ranes's

“Tolls for bridges, tolls to enter the town, what'll be next, a toll to use the facilities?” Kreemon muttered.

“Animals are permitted on the main roads only. We try to keep the town clean,” the guard said as they passed the gateway.

Each lantern in the town shone as a streaked globe through the fog, barely providing enough light to walk by. The first hazy building they saw gave itself away as an inn by its height and shape, and the amount of light emanating from a particular room.

Inns and Taverns:

Ranes' Inn

Mentioned in turns: 39plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAppeared or occurred in:

: Ranes's

“Tolls for bridges, tolls to enter the town, what'll be next, a toll to use the facilities?” Kreemon muttered.

“Animals are permitted on the main roads only. We try to keep the town clean,” the guard said as they passed the gateway.

Each lantern in the town shone as a streaked globe through the fog, barely providing enough light to walk by. The first hazy building they saw gave itself away as an inn by its height and shape, and the amount of light emanating from a particular room.
,43plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAppeared or occurred in:

: Master Johannes Eltermann

The inn was filling up with fishermen, who spoke mainly of their extraordinary catches that day. Moren's name flowed around the room as well, as each table of eavesdroppers passed it on to the next.

“Priestess!” Ardith was startled to find Ranes several steps in front of her, looking up at her face with a nervous smile as he walked.
,53plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAppeared or occurred in:

: Johannes's Vision (Johannes only)

DM's Introduction

Johannes woke early on the chilly morning of the eleventh of Farinon. He hugged his arms to his breast, trying to rid himself of a lingering chill. Something didn't feel right, so he lifted his hands and looked them over. They were dirty and scarred, but narrow and light. They were a woman's hands. He took those strange hands and felt up and down his body, but somehow was not shocked at what he found. He was
,69plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAppeared or occurred in:

: Sahlman's Adventure: The Murderer of Dunweig

Before dawn, the pair packed up, ate a brief breakfast and were on their way. The sky was clear and the weather was warming up, and a pleasant breeze blew between the trees. Shortly after noon, Sahlman spotted the Black Lake in the distance. Hebabelt explained that its name came from its dark sands and thick under-water growth, and that it was known to catch foreigners and even the occasional local by surprise in the night. More than one person had fallen into the water before noticing it was th…

Description:

Sahlmanplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigSahlman El Musafir

Sahlman's hair is blue-black and graying. His skin is dark and weathered. A huge handle-bar mustache sweeps down to cover much of his lower face, and Sahl is always careful to keep it properly groomed. He is generally very particular about his clothing, equipment and appearance. Sahlman wears the desert robes of his homeland, with headgear that blocks out the sun and hangs over his neck. He wears light trousers and high hard boots, and when his robes are wet, the hard links o…
asked directions to the largest inn, which, as it happened, was easily visible from the gatehouse. Inside, he bought a drink and talked to the innkeeper. Ranes was a rotund and exceptionally short man, with a mostly bald head of light brown hair. He wore uniformly brown clothing, and over that, a gaudy, multi-colored vest. His eyes gave him away as someone who smiled often, but he was not smiling currently. In fact, he had a ragged look to him that seemed totally unnatural on his friendly, happy face.69plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAppeared or occurred in:

: Sahlman's Adventure: The Murderer of Dunweig

Before dawn, the pair packed up, ate a brief breakfast and were on their way. The sky was clear and the weather was warming up, and a pleasant breeze blew between the trees. Shortly after noon, Sahlman spotted the Black Lake in the distance. Hebabelt explained that its name came from its dark sands and thick under-water growth, and that it was known to catch foreigners and even the occasional local by surprise in the night. More than one person had fallen into the water before noticing it was th…

Ranes' inn is the only inn which regularly serves meat, fish being the staple protein in Dunweig.

Market and Shops

Description:

Four roads met in a cross at the center of town. Along two of the roads was the market, which, judging by the residue left over from the day before, expanded into the other two roads during a market day. Outside the main cross were the homes of townsmen and guildmasters. In the center of the cross was the Temple of Andrithaplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAndrithanism

Based on original ideas from Karl Schinke (Ardith). Symbols for aspects other than the Mother, along with the artwork, were contributed by Myron Wyles (Halaren).

Andrithanism and its variants are the dominant religion in Rang and the surrounding kingdoms. Within the boundaries of
.39plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAppeared or occurred in:

: Ranes's

“Tolls for bridges, tolls to enter the town, what'll be next, a toll to use the facilities?” Kreemon muttered.

“Animals are permitted on the main roads only. We try to keep the town clean,” the guard said as they passed the gateway.

Each lantern in the town shone as a streaked globe through the fog, barely providing enough light to walk by. The first hazy building they saw gave itself away as an inn by its height and shape, and the amount of light emanating from a particular room.

Small booths, some hooded and others open to the sun, lined the narrow streets. One or two people stood behind each, calling out glorified descriptions of their wares, or haggling with customers. Precisely what they were shouting was not always easy to hear over the jumble of voices in the market. Occasionally a horse and rider, smelling strongly of sweat and mud, would come through, and everyone would rush to the sides of the streets. Some of the horses drew carts, which would soon be taken apart and reassembled as more booths. Children followed the carts, jumping up and down to get a peek at the latest addition to the marketplace, hoping to see exotic spices or multi-colored trinkets, rather than the apples or grains that were so common this time of year.

Dunweig's market was nothing compared to the trade center of Gernainia, the closest city to Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit

Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of
's home village, hundreds of miles from here. It really just struck her as being loud and over-crowded. All the villagers from the area must have flocked here for the market day, much as Gernainia swelled during the fairs, but here, market days happened twice a week.chapter1plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAppeared or occurred in:

Chapter 1: A Chance Meeting in Dunweig (Rewrite of turn 1)

This is a rewrite of Turn 1, and the second revision of this chapter (previous version). I have taken many more liberties with events and dialogue in these rewrites than in the turns, where I never modify dialogue except to correct typos.

It had been a long journey, and there was still a long way to go. It was a month today since

Purchasing Weaponry:

It took Johannesplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigMaster Johannes Eltermann

Johannes Eltermann is very tall, and slightly more slender than average, and has a well-defined, delicate bone structure. His hair and eyes are dark brown. He keeps himself well-groomed and clean-shaven, and tends to dress in plain but well-tailored clothing in dark, formal colors. The lack of ostentation flaunts his taste. He currently wears good-quality traveling clothes with matching boots, a belt, from which a dagger hangs, and a cloak.
and Kreemon some time to find a place where weapons were sold. They were stored in a small room in the house of a townsman. He had piles of daggers and knives, but little else. “I keep stocked up on a few things here on the off chance that one of the baron's knights stops by – or someone like you,” he had said. Apparently, weapons were not used much in Dunweig, other than for spearing fish. The crossbows were expensive.44plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAppeared or occurred in:

: The Investigation Begins

“Ardith.”

A voice.

“Come here.”

Ardith looked for the source of the voice, and saw nothing. She looked for anything at all, and saw nothing. She looked for darkness, and could not find even that. Ardith screamed and woke up.

The butcher's skin had taken on a color normal for a corpse by the time it was moved to the watching room for the night. By morning, the watching apprentice had nothing to say about it. As was the tradition in

The ruins of the Orithoran temple

The ruins have the odd property that anyone entering them forgets why they entered, and then leave.45plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAppeared or occurred in:

: The Temple of the Orithory

Ranes' was filling with lunchtime customers, who still spoke quite a bit about the butcher, although not near as much as the day before.

“Something strange is going on at the Temple,” said the deep, throaty voice voice a man behind a wooden pillar.
Despite investigating the phenomenon, the party was never able to figure out why it happened.

Description:

The first thing Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith

Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but Ardith wears it with the ease of one long accustomed to the burden.
spotted among the ruins was deeply worn and long-since hewn in two, but was unmistakably an Orithory. Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith

Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but Ardith wears it with the ease of one long accustomed to the burden.
had seen pictures of them in the illuminated manuscripts of her seminary. The Orithoransplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Orithorans

This religion, dead for five hundred years, states that all gods bow to the god of justice, and are so far beneath him that they are as the lowest of servants of a king. The Orithory, a deeply carved quarter-sphere of stone that often weighs over a thousand pounds, symbolizes justice, and is thus their primary symbol. The center of the Orithoran religion was in a region they called
had claimed that all gods bowed to the god of justice, and were so far beneath him that they were like the lowest servants of a king. Many found their philosophy distasteful, as evidenced in the destroyed temple. Among their many stone symbols, the quarter-sphere of dented and engraved stone they called the Orithory was the primary. Like this one, they often weighed over a thousand pounds and were engraved so deeply that some marks would remain even after hundreds of years of weathering. This indeed was quite old, for as far as Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith

Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but Ardith wears it with the ease of one long accustomed to the burden.
knew, there had not been any Orithoransplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Orithorans

This religion, dead for five hundred years, states that all gods bow to the god of justice, and are so far beneath him that they are as the lowest of servants of a king. The Orithory, a deeply carved quarter-sphere of stone that often weighs over a thousand pounds, symbolizes justice, and is thus their primary symbol. The center of the Orithoran religion was in a region they called
for over five hundred years. The temple, and, consequently, Dunweig, was at least half as old as the Zioth.

Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith

Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but Ardith wears it with the ease of one long accustomed to the burden.
could not identify any of the other nearby fragments, except to say that this might have been a pillar, or that an altar, or a pile of dust a section of ceiling.45plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAppeared or occurred in:

: The Temple of the Orithory

Ranes' was filling with lunchtime customers, who still spoke quite a bit about the butcher, although not near as much as the day before.

“Something strange is going on at the Temple,” said the deep, throaty voice voice a man behind a wooden pillar.

Johannesplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigMaster Johannes Eltermann

Johannes Eltermann is very tall, and slightly more slender than average, and has a well-defined, delicate bone structure. His hair and eyes are dark brown. He keeps himself well-groomed and clean-shaven, and tends to dress in plain but well-tailored clothing in dark, formal colors. The lack of ostentation flaunts his taste. He currently wears good-quality traveling clothes with matching boots, a belt, from which a dagger hangs, and a cloak.
witnesses:

“There were some instances I saw of illogical behavior on the part of people in authority, difficult to explain. And then there were the ruins of the Orithoranplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Orithorans

This religion, dead for five hundred years, states that all gods bow to the god of justice, and are so far beneath him that they are as the lowest of servants of a king. The Orithory, a deeply carved quarter-sphere of stone that often weighs over a thousand pounds, symbolizes justice, and is thus their primary symbol. The center of the Orithoran religion was in a region they called
temple in there. They seemed to tamper with memory.”

“So you know about that. It's not easy to leave Dunweig knowing about the ruins.”55plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAppeared or occurred in:

: The magic of Osander River Village

Johannes saw the light flicker, and a crash of thunder miles away, but otherwise he was unaware of Ardith's attempts to wake him; the farmer was in the way. His wife and seven children, ranging in age from two to around fifteen, stood inside, staring in much the same way the farmer had.

Andrithan Temple: 1001

“Four roads met in a cross at the center of town. Along two of the roads was the market, which, judging by the residue left over from the day before, expanded into the other two roads during a market day. Outside the main cross were the homes of townsmen and guildmasters. In the center of the cross was the Temple of Andrithaplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAndrithanism

Based on original ideas from Karl Schinke (Ardith). Symbols for aspects other than the Mother, along with the artwork, were contributed by Myron Wyles (Halaren).

Andrithanism and its variants are the dominant religion in Rang and the surrounding kingdoms. Within the boundaries of
.” 39plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAppeared or occurred in:

: Ranes's

“Tolls for bridges, tolls to enter the town, what'll be next, a toll to use the facilities?” Kreemon muttered.

“Animals are permitted on the main roads only. We try to keep the town clean,” the guard said as they passed the gateway.

Each lantern in the town shone as a streaked globe through the fog, barely providing enough light to walk by. The first hazy building they saw gave itself away as an inn by its height and shape, and the amount of light emanating from a particular room.

“The Temple was by far the tallest building in town, and the most sturdy and ornate that Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith

Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but Ardith wears it with the ease of one long accustomed to the burden.
had seen in the barony. Steps as wide as the Temple itself were hewn from red and grey stone, and led six feet off the ground. At the top were double doors, carved from oak and embossed with the Sign of Andrithaplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAndrithanism

Based on original ideas from Karl Schinke (Ardith). Symbols for aspects other than the Mother, along with the artwork, were contributed by Myron Wyles (Halaren).

Andrithanism and its variants are the dominant religion in Rang and the surrounding kingdoms. Within the boundaries of
. Above the doors was another Sign, at least a body-length wide. The doors were unguarded.”39plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAppeared or occurred in:

: Ranes's

“Tolls for bridges, tolls to enter the town, what'll be next, a toll to use the facilities?” Kreemon muttered.

“Animals are permitted on the main roads only. We try to keep the town clean,” the guard said as they passed the gateway.

Each lantern in the town shone as a streaked globe through the fog, barely providing enough light to walk by. The first hazy building they saw gave itself away as an inn by its height and shape, and the amount of light emanating from a particular room.

Local politics and customs

Kreemon and Johnannes discover much mistrust between people of Osander and Dunweig. It is thought that it is hard to leave Dunweig with knowledge of the ruin, as if it is deleted from the mind. Lutont (NPC) appears sure there is something not to be trusted about Dunweig.55plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAppeared or occurred in:

: The magic of Osander River Village

Johannes saw the light flicker, and a crash of thunder miles away, but otherwise he was unaware of Ardith's attempts to wake him; the farmer was in the way. His wife and seven children, ranging in age from two to around fifteen, stood inside, staring in much the same way the farmer had.

By morning, the watching apprentice had nothing to say about it. As was the tradition in Dunweig, the body was buried early in the morning, before no one but an apprentice healer and the butcher's immediate family.44plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAppeared or occurred in:

: The Investigation Begins

“Ardith.”

A voice.

“Come here.”

Ardith looked for the source of the voice, and saw nothing. She looked for anything at all, and saw nothing. She looked for darkness, and could not find even that. Ardith screamed and woke up.

The butcher's skin had taken on a color normal for a corpse by the time it was moved to the watching room for the night. By morning, the watching apprentice had nothing to say about it. As was the tradition in

“William Hernholtz. His great-grandfather was appointed to his position by Diure the Sixtieth, which explains his Duerstadtplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe City of Duerstadt

Duerstadt has been the capital of Rang since the reign of Diure XXXVIII (729-749). It is a major trading port on the Ice Sea (so called for the occasional iceberg that shows up therein). The Ice Sea separates Rang from the Skendu Islands to the north. Although the harbor of Duerstadt isn't threatened by pack ice in the winter, the various Skendui ports are, and the distance between the north coast of
name. His father was the only man in the line not to hold the title of constable, but he made certain the current constable would be the first in line for the position when it became available again.” As an afterthought, the apprentice added, “In Dunweig, constable is a hereditary position, but there is a test for intelligence and physical ability, the first of which the constable's father failed.”49plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAppeared or occurred in:

: A Dark Man, a Shadow

“No, not there! Please, slow down! I don't care what freedoms you've had elsewhere; you can not behave this way in a temple of Andritha! And I already told you, that animal must be sent back up to wait outside! Wait!”

Kreemon stopped suddenly, and glared at the priest.

Evil Sorcery

An Evil Sorcerer has tormented Dunweig, committing a series of murders. At times, therefore, the town has been under lockdown and/or curfew.

“People are talking. You'll find that a great many of them believe there's some kind of evil magic about. All that kind of talk does is add to the panic. This may not be the best time to look for a job in Dunweig.”

Hebabelt and Sahlmanplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigSahlman El Musafir

Sahlman's hair is blue-black and graying. His skin is dark and weathered. A huge handle-bar mustache sweeps down to cover much of his lower face, and Sahl is always careful to keep it properly groomed. He is generally very particular about his clothing, equipment and appearance. Sahlman wears the desert robes of his homeland, with headgear that blocks out the sun and hangs over his neck. He wears light trousers and high hard boots, and when his robes are wet, the hard links o…
find the town in lockdown, due to a recent spate of murders and evil sorcery.

1)
It is interesting to note that in European Medieval times, places of pilgrimage were often areas of juxtaposition. It was not just the pious that would partake in pilgrimage. Even in the relatively low populations of the times, thousands would undertake pilgrimage. They often stayed in farmhouses and people's lodgings along the pilgrimage route. True, there were fewer religions than in the Zioth world, but the level of travel is far higher than once thought and research shows that people would also travel to explore, and adventure. Pilgrimage was undertaken by the curious, not just the truly religious. It was quite commonly known what pilgrimage routes were and, for example, South London in England was a known area of prostitution, where many pilgrims would explore their darker sides and venture into the unknown. Pilgrimage was often fun: adventure, exploring, and the forgetting of the rigors of harsh mediaeval life. There was even a mediaeval phrase for female pilgrims: 'go a pilgrim, return a whore.' This was in part as many pilgrims would run out of money and have to turn to other means for food and lodging. Finally, the priests that travelled were often pious, but were also accused of traveling to avoid carrying out their duties with due diligence. This fits with the Yunim model as harsh justice would be one way to discourage any relaxation in one's moral code, or places of pilgrimage could become chaotic places where pilgrims were fleeced of their monies by the resident traders selling religious trinkets and by the increased price of food and board.