Settlements & strongholds in the
Thorn Lands and vicinity
Bay Inn – population 40
Travelers to Wrighters find Bay Inn a comfortable place to spend
the night. Since the defeat of the Lostafinga hobgoblins the settlement,
which once consisted of only a family operated hospice surrounded
by five outbuildings, has grown substantially. Five new families
have moved to Bay Inn; among the new arrivals are a blacksmith
and a merchant who runs a small general store specializing in
seed and farm implements.
Caer Calnsey
Located on a high bluff overlooking the Eagle River, Caer Calnsey
serves as the seat of power for Emory, Duke of Calnsey, Defender
of the Faith and High Knight of the Fraternal Order of Protective
Eagles. The Duke of Calnsey ranks second only in power to the
Ard Righ and his many towered castle does not belie this fact.
Caer Calnsey supports a force of roughly 600 men-at-arms, including
a crack company of heavy cavalry made up of the noble sons and
daughters of his vassals. More importantly, however, the castle
doubles as the training ground of the Fraternal Order of Protective
Eagles, the Ard Righ's personal bodyguard.
At any given time a minimum of 100 hopeful Eagle candidates will
be in training at Caer Calnsey. Most are warriors or paladins
of first- to third-level, but roughly a quarter are of higher
level. At least 25 full members of the Ard Righ's bodyguard will
also be present at all times at Caer Calnsey to conduct the training
and testing of the candidates. These master knights are at least
seventh-level, with the average being a ninth-level fighter. They
are led by the order's Master of Arms, Sir Dallan Allister, a
21st-level paladin of Lilnana – that is when the duke, a 24th-level
paladin of Lilnana is away.
Caer Goldriver
Located on a bluff directly overlooking the Eagle River and a
few miles south of Gold Creek is the isolated home of Lady Vaness
Goldmane. Cliffs line the Eagle River for several miles to the
north and south of Caer Goldriver making a river crossing near
the castle difficult (to say the least) by conventional means.
Lady Vaness supports only a small body of men-at-arms and remains
aloof from courtly politics. The dazzlingly beautiful Lady Vaness
remains unmarried and very little otherwise is known about her.
Castle Arbuthnott
About a day's ride from the town of Frontier, Castle Arbuthnott
stood for years as the last bastion of Eirbrony power on the frontier.
The lord of the castle, Sir Scot Arbuthnott has formed a strong
friendship with Baron Veilvein, the Archdruid Par Far, and other
members of the Fraternity of Thorn elite. It was Lord Arbuthnott’s
last minute reinforcements during the Battle of Legacy Hill that
turned the tide of the battle against the Lostafinga hobgoblin
army led by a Knight of the Onyx Horns. Lord Arbuthnott’s troops
also assisted in the sacking of Lostafinga Keep which fell on
Aze 10, 1006.
Castle Nissban
Caer Nissban strategically overlooks the south road to Kent from
a stony hill west of Loch Nissban, south of Cailid and east of
Gundh. It is the home keep of the Nissbet Clan and of Adarc, Baron
of Nissbet, a rotund and jolly warrior with a keen ear for rumor.
Adarc, however, finds more joy in wine and women than in politics
and has a reputation as a shrewd businessman. His castle supports
around 300 soldiers.
Cliff Watch Brooch
This outpost tower overlooks the Frontier Trail as it winds through
a pass in the western range of the Dead Tree Hills. Formerly controlled
by the Lostafinga Hobgoblin Nation, Veilvein, Baron of Thorn has
rebuilt the tower and garrisoned 30 soldiers here.
Dun Airlie – population 550
This prosperous walled town is the home of the Airlie Sept of
Clan Nissbet. Dun Airlie is best known for its equine husbandry.
Horses purchased from the stables of Dun Airlie are usually of
superior quality. The town is also known for its annual steeplechase
each fall during the month of Azé after the Good Harvest Day festival
which fills the towns three inns – The White Stallion, Gold Brooch
Inn, and Airlie Inn – with competitors and spectators.
Filwin’s Mill – population 64
Filwin Lightfeather, the halfling proprietor of this settlement,
saw a great opportunity when the Fraternity of the Thorn began
the pacification of the frontier lands. Having amassed a small
fortune during his career as an adventurer, he decided to open
an inn and gristmill on the border between the Keep of Thorns
and the Arbuthnott Clan lands. He later recruited several glassblowers,
an herbalist and a smith to settle on his land for the purpose
of supplying the Keep of Thorns wizards with laboratory supplies.
He presently is in the process of constructing an even larger
gristmill and has begun a very successful seed business. Two years
ago he established a second smithy employing a half dozen smiths
who specialize in the crafting of farm implements and last year
he opened the first of three planned communal granaries.
Filwin will also provide transport by boat to Teardrop Island
for a fee. He’s known to charge extra for anyone who he thinks
has treated him rudely.
Griffon Ferry – population 201
During the days of hobgoblin rulership this small settlement served
mainly as a place of rest and relaxation for the hobgoblin cutters
on leave from their regular duties. The village’s inn, the Four
Finger Inn, has a reputation for hosting a rough crowd. Lady Effe’s
House of Pleasure, a brothel, is also a popular stop for soldiers
and roughians from throughout the Thorn Lands.
Located at a narrowing of the Griffon Ride River, the village
is also the location of a ferry which offers the only access to
the east bank of the river for several leagues to the north or
south. The cost of the ferry ride is 1 sp per person, 5 sp for
a horse and rider and 1 gp for a loaded wagon.
Since the defeat of the Lostafinga the village has experienced
a population boom. Dozens of families have moved into the area,
but probably the most notable new arrival is the priestess of
Lilnana, Morrandia. She was sent here to establish a temple to
the goddess and the building has neared completion, promising
even more growth for the village.
Approximately one mile from the village Baron Veilvein has ordered
a the construction of a new keep to house 150 soldiers. Construction
has been completed on the barracks and the soldiers have constructed
a wooden palisade to protect the encampment.
Kinhome – population 290
The village of Kinhome, located on the edge of MacFadden Marsh
and close to the coast, has also grown since the demise of the
Lostafinga, but not nearly as quickly as some of the other settlements
in the Thorn Lands. The mostly human village consists of around
30 homes, a grist mill, general store, smithy and inn.
New Haven – population
Norwich – population 385
This farming hamlet on the road to Vebronia from Frontier lies
in Moonchacer Clan lands. Its only inn, The Star Call Inn, is
a comfortable stop over for travelers on their way to the capital.
One Arrow – population 492
Settlers in the Thorn Lands always speak respectfully of the rugged
inhabitants of this frontier village. In the years before the
protection of the Fraternity of the Thorn, the people of One Arrow
stood alone against the Lostafinga hobgoblins. In those days the
population of the village consisted of less than 50 human males
and a handful of half-elves, dwarves and others. They were mostly
pioneers – trappers, hunters, prospectors, farmers and retired
adventurers looking for a quiet place to live out their years
– who had established the settlement as a meeting place and fortress.
For many years they lived under the hobgoblin shadow without incident,
but that was not to last.
The cause of the attack on One Arrow is unknown. Most believe
it to have come merely at the whim of a bored warlord, but the
battle which followed has become legend in these parts. For three
days the 60 defenders of One Arrow huddled behind the wooden palisade
as a vastly superior hobgoblin force assailed them. However, the
skill of most of the defenders was far superior to their adversaries’.
The defenders sent deadly arrows into the hobgoblin ranks as they
stormed the walls, and more often than not, an arrow that hit
left a bloody hobgoblin body laying on the field.
On the evening of the third day, the defenders could see their
arrows were nearly spent and so the 31 remaining gathered during
a lull in the fighting and offered a prayer to Erus, the god of
fair combat and victory. Apparently, their call was heard. As
they fought on into evening, every arrow seemed to find its mark,
and though fired their bows until their arms ached the arrows
never seemed to run out. Finally, as Beldar rose into the night
sky the hobgoblin lines broke and the remaining warriors fled.
In the aftermath of the battle, the defenders found to their amazement
only a single unused arrow among them. Seeing the arrow as a sign
from Erus, the village was given the name One Arrow and the arrow
was placed in a special shrine in the town center for all to see.
After the battle, the hobgoblins never dared attack One Arrow
again.
Though the village has grown, especially since the fall of the
Lostafinga, it retains much of the rugged individualistic personality
of its founders. The village forbids hobgoblins form entry within
its walls and most of the inhabitants foster a strong suspicion
of strangers. It serves as a haven for the more adventurous pioneers
in the newly opened Thorn Lands and as a monument to the struggle
against oppression.
Several businesses have opened shop in One Arrow. Among the more
interesting establishments are a leatherworker, a bowyer/fletcher,
a smithy, and a weaponsmith. There has been talk in recent months
among the influential citizens of One Arrow of replacing the aging
wooden palisade with a stone wall.
Silvermoor – population 400 gnomes
The principal enterprise of this gnomish settlement in the Westmoors
is the removal of silver from the rich silver mine located there.
Recently, however, silver mining has become secondary to the community's
fascination with the invention of smoke powder by the gnomish
inventor, Willow Gundergurder. Willow first tested the explosive
powder in the silver mine on Silven 1, 1007. To the gnomes dismay
to much powder was crammed into the mine and the resulting explosion
blew a whole in the roof of the mine and unearthed an ancient
prison chamber wherein was confined a shadow dragon held in stasis.
The power of the blast woke the dragon who then attacked the village
killing scores of gnomes before flying away to unknown parts.
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