jdrakeh
Front Range Warlock
Originally established by the Cerulean Empire as a fortress outpost to combat the threat posed by bandits and wandering tribesmen who inhabited the area, the keep at Ermetn on the River Choha and its surrounding environs (Map Book, Page 14) were gifted to the hero Vital Harper in the year 1894 RE for his slaying of the Fell Beast menacing the city of Huam, to the East. Vital brokered a number of treaties with the local tribesmen, offering them the promise of peace in exchange for shared use of the surrounding lands. Under the guidance of Vital, both the local tribesmen and Ermetn prospered. A small village grew up around the keep, the local tribes benefited from the protection of the Harpers, and all was well.
In the year 1934 RE, under the leadership of Vital Harper's decendant, Sighard Harper, much of the land surrounding Caer Ermetn was leased to the Cerulean Miner's Guild in exchange for a share in the profits produced by any mines that they established. This arrangement violated many of the treaties brokered by Vital Harper and, ultimately, provoked a series of coordinated raids on the village at Ermetn by once loyal tribesmen living in the area. With help from the Cerulean Empire the threat was quickly quelled and those responsible were forced out of their homes and off of the land leased to the Guild. In the following years, infrequent raids on Ermetn continued.
Despite the unfortunate politics of the arrangement with the Miner's Guild and the bloodshed that followed it, the lease agreements allowed the village of Ermetn to become a bustling center of commerce and an important trade nexus of the Empire when it was discovered that several very rich veins of silver ran under the Harper lands. During the conflict between Bhamotin and the Cerulean Empire (1944-1963 RE), these veins of silver proved a crucial source of revenue for the Cerulean Empire, though Ermetn itself remained militarily neutral during the conflict.
When Sighard Harper took ill in 1968 RE, control of Ermetn fell to his second son Eadric, as his first son had dissapeared when adventuring in the East. Eadric did his best to make reparations to the tribes that remained in the area, opting not to renew mining leases on their land when the time came. This action strained relations with the Mining Guild but successfully reestablished peace with the remaining tribes in the area, much to the relief of Ermetn citizens and tribesmen alike. When Sighard passed on in 1967 RE, Eadric was formally appointed the ruler of Ermetn.
Today, Eadric still rules the freehold of Ermetn, though the city's growth has slowed due to diminishing returns from the mines still being operated and the recent reported sightings of goblins in the area. Bowing to pressure from the Mining Guild, Eadric has begun offering a 6GP/month wage to any who are willing to patrol the hills North and West of the city where the most productive mines operate. Additionally, Eadric has put out a call for able-bodied men to serve as proper soldiers in anticipation of possible goblin raids, as the Cerulean Empire has made it clear that they are not willing to commit many troops to the defense of the city given Eadric's current poor standing with the Mining Guild.
As our first chronicle begins, Winter in Ermetn has turned to Spring and, with the coming of the thaw, reports of goblin activity to the North and West of the city have increased. To make matters worse, Eadric has reason to believe that the Ceruleans have infiltrated spies into his community with the intent of assessing Ermetn as a possible jumping off point for another attack on Bhamotin, an untenable position for the young Harper, who wishes to maintain the freehold's history of military neutrality. With political tension growing and a possible monstrous threat lurking in the nearby hills, Ermetn is primed for adventure. Our heroes have answered the call. . .
In the year 1934 RE, under the leadership of Vital Harper's decendant, Sighard Harper, much of the land surrounding Caer Ermetn was leased to the Cerulean Miner's Guild in exchange for a share in the profits produced by any mines that they established. This arrangement violated many of the treaties brokered by Vital Harper and, ultimately, provoked a series of coordinated raids on the village at Ermetn by once loyal tribesmen living in the area. With help from the Cerulean Empire the threat was quickly quelled and those responsible were forced out of their homes and off of the land leased to the Guild. In the following years, infrequent raids on Ermetn continued.
Despite the unfortunate politics of the arrangement with the Miner's Guild and the bloodshed that followed it, the lease agreements allowed the village of Ermetn to become a bustling center of commerce and an important trade nexus of the Empire when it was discovered that several very rich veins of silver ran under the Harper lands. During the conflict between Bhamotin and the Cerulean Empire (1944-1963 RE), these veins of silver proved a crucial source of revenue for the Cerulean Empire, though Ermetn itself remained militarily neutral during the conflict.
When Sighard Harper took ill in 1968 RE, control of Ermetn fell to his second son Eadric, as his first son had dissapeared when adventuring in the East. Eadric did his best to make reparations to the tribes that remained in the area, opting not to renew mining leases on their land when the time came. This action strained relations with the Mining Guild but successfully reestablished peace with the remaining tribes in the area, much to the relief of Ermetn citizens and tribesmen alike. When Sighard passed on in 1967 RE, Eadric was formally appointed the ruler of Ermetn.
Today, Eadric still rules the freehold of Ermetn, though the city's growth has slowed due to diminishing returns from the mines still being operated and the recent reported sightings of goblins in the area. Bowing to pressure from the Mining Guild, Eadric has begun offering a 6GP/month wage to any who are willing to patrol the hills North and West of the city where the most productive mines operate. Additionally, Eadric has put out a call for able-bodied men to serve as proper soldiers in anticipation of possible goblin raids, as the Cerulean Empire has made it clear that they are not willing to commit many troops to the defense of the city given Eadric's current poor standing with the Mining Guild.
As our first chronicle begins, Winter in Ermetn has turned to Spring and, with the coming of the thaw, reports of goblin activity to the North and West of the city have increased. To make matters worse, Eadric has reason to believe that the Ceruleans have infiltrated spies into his community with the intent of assessing Ermetn as a possible jumping off point for another attack on Bhamotin, an untenable position for the young Harper, who wishes to maintain the freehold's history of military neutrality. With political tension growing and a possible monstrous threat lurking in the nearby hills, Ermetn is primed for adventure. Our heroes have answered the call. . .
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