Sins of the Fathers: Prosperity (Part Two)

The Troubles

Until recently, Prosperity has been blessed with peace. The goblins of the Hedgewood are cowardly and disorganized, rarely posing a threat to those who do not trespass into the forest. Despite the darkness that pervades Persirra, Prosperity has been an unwavering point of light and hope for civilization.

Several months ago, that changed.

The first time a wagon coming from Greenvale was found overturned and the oxen that pulled it were found dead, locals declared it a freak accident. The second time, it was an unfortunate coincidence. In the weeks since then, however, the accounts of missing travelers have increased in number and frequency. Entire trade caravans have been found smashed and splintered, with broken bodies lying amidst the wreckage of the carts.

Somewhere in the Tower Hills, evil is afoot.

Not all travelers have vanished, of course. The number of horses and their riders that have passed through Prosperity on their way down the Shale River still outnumbers those that seem to have been waylaid on the road. Nonetheless, the fact remains that the North Road is unsafe—who knows how much worse the situation will get before someone does something about it?

In addition to missing persons and lost caravans, a new problem has blossomed within the past two weeks: every few days, early in the morning, animals will be found mutilated. Thus far there have been seven or eight instances where pets and livestock were found dead upon the ground, their bodies torn to shreds and mauled nearly beyond recognition.

The unfortunate beasts have included guard dogs outside the general store, a wagon mule at the logging camp, several cows at the Osburn steading, and even a wild deer at the edge of the Hedgewood. At first thought to be wild animals, the local elven rangers were quick to point out that hungry animals would not likely leave their prey half-eaten. So far, luckily, no persons have suffered this grisly fate.

Sheriff Malcolm Stormraven has placed the blame for the disappearances and maulings squarely upon the goblins of the Hedgewood. A standing reward has been posted outside the sheriff’s office door: ten silver shillings per right goblin ear.


DRAMATIS PERSONAE

CONNOR MACMORDHA – Dan's Character; human fighter
GIDEON MACMORDHA – Erik's Character; human wizard
RHAASK – Chris' Character; dragonborn paladin
TAVUS SATORI – Kyle's Character; tiefling ranger
KILGRIM DARKSCREAM – Jamie's Character; dwarf warlord
JHORI WISEWHISPER – Garett's character; halfling rogue

LIAM MACMORDHA – Connor and Gideon's father, presumed dead; human
GWENDOLYN MACMORDHA – Connor and Gideon's mother; human
KHULESS – Rhaask's father, presumed dead; dragonborn
ZHANT SATORI – Tavus' father, fled the village after murdering his wife; tiefling
ARA SATORI – Tavus' mother, deceased; human
KAYLEIGH HALLETT – Tavus' sister; human
TIMBA WISEWHISPER – Jhori's father, Shale River ferryman; halfling

GLENN HALLETT – Tavus and Kayleigh's uncle; human
FRIEDA HALLETT – Tavus and Kayleigh's aunt, Ara's sister; human

CARTER GYLLENBORGH – Former companion of Liam, Kilgrim, and Ara, now the town drunk; human
FATHER SIMON RINNMORE – Priest of the Trinity of Light; human
OZRICK ULVERSON – Innkeeper at the Green Lady Inn; human
MALCOLM STORMRAVEN – Prosperity village sheriff; half-elf
JESWIK – Stable hand at Rhaask’s ranch; human
LYAL'LIAH SILVERMOON – Commander of the Hedgewood Rangers; elf
AVERY O'BRIEN – Logging camp overseer; human
BRIANA QUINN – Herbalist and apothecary; human
ULAF FLAMEBREW – Proprietor of the Tipped Tankard public house; dwarf

LI'AH (LYE-AH) - An acid-scarred warrior woman, leader of the Black Wing; human
MARCOS - An enormous, hammer-wielding northman; human
ELIANDER - Likely the Black Wing's sorcerer or wizard, and a conniving weasel; elf
DREK - A mysteriously-cloaked dwarf with scarred gray skin and no beard; duergar


The Persirran Calendar

Currently the continent of Persirra observes no year.
There is no significant event in recent history to begin marking the passage of time.

SR: Secundum Ruare (After the Fall) - Current epoch
DL: Diei Lumeno (Days of Light) - Previous epoch

One solar year is 340.2 days long.
Each year has 12 months of 4 weeks. A week is seven days long.
Each year has four Festival Days which fall outside of the regular month.
Every five years the calendar is extended by a single day, which takes place before the first day of the new year. In large cities this (or any other) festival often heralds the arrival of week-long tournaments, fairs, and carnivals.

Calendar by Season

Spring - Warming, Rainfall, Spring Festival, Brightgarden
Summer - Seeding, Seethe, Summer Festival, Quell
Autumn - Leafturn, Harvest, Autumn Festival, Frozenearth
Winter - Darkveil, Ravenous, Winter Festival, Graysky

The Spring Festival is held at the end of Rainfall. This festival is often celebrated with tournaments and brightly-colored decorations crafted from freshly-bloomed flowers.
The Summer Festival is held at the end of Seethe, celebrating the end of the blistering summer heat.
The Autumn Festival is held at the end of Harvest. A great feast is usually held to celebrate the end of the traditional harvest week.
The Winter Festival is held at the end of Ravenous. The worst part of winter has usually ended by this time and people celebrate the inevitable arrival of spring.

The Fifth Year Festival, called Birth Day by some, is held on the day between Graysky and Warming. It is considered the last day of the year during years in which it occurs and, like other festival days, is not marked as a day of the week.

Days of the Week
Sunsday - First day of the week; Pelor's blessed day for agriculture
Moonday - Eve of the moon; significant primarily to elves, eladrin, and fortune tellers
Twiceday - The week's second holy day for those devout enough to attend two services
Windsday - Traditionally the "lucky" day for new sea voyages to set sail
Kordsday - For warriors and holy men of Kord, this is a day for martial training
Fireday - Day of the blessed forge; commonly the Market Day in most settlements
Godsday - Final day of the week; a day for rest and worship


TIMELINE

35 years ago: Liam, Carter, Ara, and Kilgrim form a band called Prosperity’s Shield after they defeat a trio of trolls that had been plaguing the northeastern hills. Word of their valor spreads through the Heartlands and to the Crimson Coast, and they are soon summoned to Winecrest by wealthy patrons to serve the great city.

18 years ago: Ara meets a charming tiefling man in Winecrest and, shortly thereafter, gives birth to Tavus. Zhant, the tiefling, then convinces her to leave the adventuring life behind to raise their son.

17 years ago: Liam returns to Prosperity, where he settles down with wife Gwendolyn to start a family—within the year twin sons Connor and Gideon are born. Prosperity’s Shield is disbanded.

15 years ago: Kayleigh is born, Ara is murdered by Zhant. Confronted with his crime, Zhant flees.

14 years ago: Kilgrim departs Prosperity on a pilgrimage to Hammer's Hope in the northern mountains.

10 years ago: Timba Wisewhisper and his son Jhori take up residence in Prosperity, having left their home of Orchard Meadows to the north.

7 years ago: Word reaches Prosperity of a red dragon plaguing the Crimson Coast from Gull’s Cove to Westport. Liam and Carter gather a party of dragonslayers to ride east in search of the monster. Only Carter returns.

4 years ago: Khuless, without explanation, leaves Prosperity. He rides northward, toward Greenvale. Days later, the dragonborn’s mount is found with his supplies still in its saddlebags. Khuless never returns.

2 years ago: Kilgrim returns from Hammer’s Hope. He takes up the mantle of the town’s only blacksmith, whose years have overcome him.