Location idea resource

[Tonguez]

The Valley of Frogs

It has been approximately eighteen days since our party left the village of Mazuhtla and the journey has been arduous and unpredictable. The Alps are of an exceedingly high altitude and consequently temperatures are exceedingly low, such that nights are kept in miserable silence with all huddling over whatever heat is to be found. Worse though than the heat is the extreme aridity of these mountains, such that is a veritable desert.

The natives claim that this was not always so, and indeed they have shown us dry riverbeds and even arid escarpments where they say great waterfalls once flowed. The problem they say is with the goddess 'Shwak-Kuh' who, as far as I can ascertain is some great amphibian.

Aparently Shwak-Kuh was offended by the words of a chieftain who spurned her romantic advances. In retaliation she took the Rain Spear of Tchaquaotl and has confined all rains to her home valley and nowhere beyond.

Shwak-Kuh lives in a Valley further down the mountain ahead of us, and the natives say that despite the surrounding dryness that valley is full of fresh water streams and pools. The Valley is deep, dense with growth and has but a single entrance. Amongst the trees and undergrowth the children of Shwak-Kuh roam - tiny poisonous arrow frogs guard her gates, and give warning of any who intrude, further in larger and more terrible creatures roam, most terrible of all a great Froghemoth that sits at Shwak-Kuhs side.

NEXT: The Red Grotto

 

[thol]

The Red Grotto

My momma told me never to go to the Red Grotto, for sure. She says it's a place where things live that takes kids like us, and we never return home. Ever. Well she's right part about that... but it don't keep us here. Nope. We stay cause we wanna.

I got here cause I followed a fairy. I tried catching it with a bucket, but it was too quick. Took off for the Mistwood, and I followed. I wanted a wish so I could get me some magic swords and gold. I chased it over the Fallen Footbridge and past Troll Rock, and then I don't know where cause I gots lost. But that fairy was still flittin so I ran after it. Finally, I was here. In the Grotto. Funny thing is, I didn't feel like leaving. And why should I? I gots everything a kid could ask for! Other kids to play with, anything I could think of to eat, and all sorts of swords and gold and stuff. And Wengin lets us ride him sometimes. Up over the Mountain of Steam and all the way to the Barrier. He even does fire shows sometimes.

Neena got here by climbing into a hole in a tree and falling down inside. Halter made it floating on his raft through the marsh trees. All of us got here different, but we all wanna stay just the same.

Sure, sometimes some people come looking for us, but Wengin always takes care that they don't find us. He's good about that. Says they'll spoil the Grotto, break it's magics, and then no more kids could live here. So I hope he burns em all good when they come.

Next: Messiah's Hold

 

[Gundark]

Messiah's Hold

On the edges of the wildlands where orcs and goblin tribes plague the lands of men stands a ruined fortress. Only bricks line out where walls once stood and moss and grass have grown over it. Long ago a Paladin named Ranem defended these walls with his force against the monster hordes of the Orge Mage Tharax. For three days the seige went on, the fortress and inhabitants were slowly being worn down agains the monster tide. The Gods of Good were not helping because many of the people lost their faith and followed after false gods. At the dawn of the 4th day the monster hordes broke down the walls of the fortress and poured in to slaughter the inhabitants. Ranem during the seige had been exhorting the defenders to turn once more to the Gods of Good. The wearied defenders began to pray once more to the Gods. There were only 30 defenders left when the thousands of monsters broke through. Ranem and his thirty fought like dragons and slew thousands of monsters, in the end the monsters fled from the lands and none of the thirty faithful were killed. Ranem was proclaimed a saint and a saviour, and once more the people turned again to the Gods of good, the people knew that only the Gods could have caused such a great miracle. The fortress became a holy site which pilgrams still travel to this day.
Time has past and people once again have become slow to remember the Gods of Good. The Fortress fell into disrepair as the church and nobles thought the gold could be better spent elsewhere. Shadow grows in the areas around messiah's hold, monsters again regain their strength and will once more move on the children of men.

Next up: The Tombs of Is-poluth

 

[carpedavid]

The Tombs of Is-Poluth

About twenty leagues south of Wendell's Folly and twice as many west of the Sword of Murado, lies the small coastal village of Is-poluth. Unremarkable in almost every way, the village would have died out decades ago if it weren't for one spectacularly interesting feature: a series of tombs carved into the limestone cliffs to the north of Is-poluth.

The tombs are believed to be those of a small colony of ascetics that made their home in the area over three hundred years ago, but that's not what makes them remarkable. A gentle breeze, for which no one can find a source, continuously blows from the back of the tombs, but that's not what has caused the crude carvings on the wall to be worn away by the hands of the thousands of faithful that flock to the tombs every year.

What is remarkable about the tombs is that those who visit them can commune with the dead. The tombs are constantly filled with sobbing widows and parents of dead children who are able to catch glimpses of their lost loved ones. The dead don't stay long - most visions fade after only a few seconds, and they can only be seen by those who had a connection to them, but even when the tombs are empty, the spirits can be heard whispering among themselves.

Next Up: The Well of the Seven Sisters

 

[Bran Blackbyrd]

The Well of the Seven Sisters

King Atralis had his crown seized by a usurper and he was forced to flee into the foothills of the mountains nearby. It is said that he lived there for many years while his enemies hunted him. His only companions were his seven daughters.
Without his kingdom, he wasted away in the cave that was now his home. His daughters took care of him and tried to sustain his health. Many times a day they would go down the rocky hillside to fetch water from a large stone well, which was left behind by some unknown people. Eventually Atralis died, still wishing he was king. The stories say that his daughters never left the cave, but continued living there, bringing water to the body of their beloved father. Supposedly their tremendous grief eventually turned them to stone.
There is no trace of the king’s remains, but there is a cave in the foothills and at the bottom of the hill is a well surrounded by seven pillars of stone. This place is known to the locals as The Well of the Seven Sisters. They say it is a haunted place and that sadness falls over anyone who visits until they leave. Many people are dared to drink the water or spend the night beside the well or in the cave, no one does. Female voices, melancholy ones, are sometimes heard talking amongst themselves at the well’s edge. It is said that if you take a bucket of water from the well up to the cave and call, “Father!” that the king will answer back; moaning about his lost lands.
Most or all of this is probably superstition and rumor. What is fact is that there are ruts worn in the ground around the well where the stone pillars have moved back and forth. No one is ever seen disturbing them and they could not be moved without the aid of pulleys and beasts of burden, but no hoof marks are ever found either. Still, the stones are moving somehow. The rut that leads up the side of the hill into the cave would be harder still to explain.

Next: Hunters' Moon Hollow

 

[thol]

Hunters' Moon Hollow

I move amongst the pillars of wood silently, swiftly. Up the ridge I ascend, to overlook the blanket of leaf that covers my home. Here is where I have lived for generations. My brothers have lived and died before my eyes, and I mourn them all, not yet born or already departed. The air today is light, but rain comes soon to the hollow. And tonight, the full moon.

They come on these nights, the brave hunters. The stags move as if gorged with the juice of week old, sun-aged grapes, and as such, they are prey; although the moon can have stranger effects. They would not come on other nights, as without the silvery stream of the heavenly mother's light, the spirits of the ages, the ghosts of the past, would be about.

I do not mind the hunters so much. The stags are too plentiful for my taste, and my own hunt is no challenge without their help. So I let them be, as do my brothers. For this night alone. Else, there are few who travel in my domain unscathed. Zyl-tor the Fool seemed to fancy the hollow in years gone by, but he is long forgotten by lesser beings, even I can barely recall him. In these times, Jhenna is the only one safe here when the mother moon is not full.

The wind is changing. I can smell them now. I must go. Beware. If you dare come this night, be sure come sundown the following, you are far away from here. If you saw my yellow eyes shining in the darkness, you would not wish me upon your worst enemy. You would see me in your nightmares if you could survive. But you would not. The humans call this place Hunters' Moon Hollow. They call me 'Moonfang' and 'Death in the Dark'. But in truth, Kargeris is my name, and I am Father of the Wolves.

Next: The Isle of Jol

 

[blargney]

The Isle of Jol

Running.

Adele's body is instantly a fine mist of blood.

Gasping for breath.

Her head falls straight down.

Tumbling down the idyllic grassy hillside towards the beach.

It lands in a puddle of gore.

The boat is his only way off this sun-drenched hell.

Invisible lips stained red as they drink.

He yells at the sailors to push off.

Bloodied teeth smile at him.

He splashes through the surf to the longboat.

He runs from the cairn atop this meadowed mound of an isle.

His body turns to a spray of blood.


Next: Malg's Orchard

 

[blargney]

ps - Sorry if you find the style jarring, I just felt like experimenting a bit! The next one will be more normal!

 

[Dirigible]

Malg's Orchard

Halfway along the Kingsroad between Karinth and Islesport, there stands a crude wooden signpost, point bypassers towards a dirt track that parts form the road and winds into the hills.

Following this track (for two hours on foot) brings one to an enourmous slat gate, fixed to a likewise huge fence that stretches out many hundred of meters to either side. Inside the fence is a house built to twice a human's scale, which to it's owner is a cosy cottage of wood framed construction. Off to the side, a forest of apple, pear and peach trees flourish down one side of the hill, out acorss a wide, shallow valley and up another slope. These trees are the largest and healthiest to be found in the kingdom, a testament to their owner's skill in fruticulture.

The proprietor of the orchard is an ogre of amy unusual characterstics. Malg is somewhat of a runt in his kind, although a good foot and a half taller than his bretheren, his scrawny physique marking him as a weakling. In addition, his hygiene and tidy dress make him seem less threatening to even casual observers. Perhaps his most distinguishing feature, though, is his extensive skill in magic (Wizard 5).

Malg holds a deep sense of affection to the land, and has developed numerous spells with the profits from his fruit and cider trade. Most of his spells are of littleinterest to any adventurer, focused as they are on agricultre, plant growth, and mimicing various druidic magics. With these spells, his trees grow so vigourously that certain products of them seem to have healing or other magical properties.

The ogre is well respected in nearby villages, as his deals are always fair, his produce top notch, and on occassion he has even stepped in to assist his neighbours against raiders. Few who've met him credit that he would wade into battle with the Knifefang goblins, throwing lightning bolts with a cold fury that belies his everday occupation. Fewer still know that his sappling-sized walking staff acts as a wand of ice storm with a handful of charges remaining. Also, it should be mentioned the local garrison would be willing to step in on his behalf if he was threatened.

Malg's Orchard is home to a few others : three human fieldhands; Glassera, a shy, gentle bugbear woman who makes fine pies from Malg's fruit; and Hoofer, the dire mule that Malg takes his produce to market on.


Next : Citadel of the Iron Rose

 

[Bran Blackbyrd]

Citadel of the Iron Rose

King Thalrao Vardos was a just ruler, but a soft one. His enemies used this to their advantage and plotted against him. Thalrao's advisors heard rumors of this impending betrayal and had the conspirators captured and brought before the king. He chose mercy and released them because he had once called these men friend.
The conspirators went ahead with their treasonous plans and soon an army was at the castle gates, howling for the king's head. The leaders of the coup were already inside the castle and while Thalrao's honor guard was busy defending the gates the usurpers rushed the throne room and killed the king.
Two of the conspirators left and the leader, Kellem Surto, sneered as he told the king's consort, Kiera Vardos, that he would be back to claim his queen. When he turned to walk away she took the clan sword from the crest on the wall and attacked him. It was used as nothing more than decoration for decades, as large as a greatsword and not meant for regular use. Still, she slew him quickly. She tracked down the captain of the honor guard and had him find her a suit of armor. She donned it, ignoring the captain's protests. Together they found the two surviving turncoats attempting to sneak out of the castle and killed them. At the gates of the castle she threw the men's severed heads out to the attacking army and rallied her men against them.
The army was eventually turned back and Kiera herself sat the throne. She was as hard as any warrior and sought out detractors without mercy. Her men gave her the nickname of The Iron Rose. She ruled many years with the captain as her consort. She survived three poisonings and a stab wound given to her by an assassin. In her sixty-fifth year the castle was again overrun during a coup and the captain covered her escape as she fled the castle. She survived long enough to rouse a band of nomadic horsemen from the nearby plains to fight under her banner. Under her command they retook the citadel and once again she sat her throne.
Eventually she died of old age, still sitting on the throne, her sword resting on her lap, her hand on its hilt. She never bore an heir and the castle was finally claimed by her enemies.
Curiously, since her rule the so-called Citadel of the Iron Rose has never been held by anyone for more than a year. Anyone who takes it for their own meets with tragedy and woe. Even now armies break their backs against the citadel walls, but would-be kings fall to wrack and ruin before they can even celebrate the anniversary of their victory.
It is said that only a true leader, a warrior-king or queen as hard as iron can truly claim the Citadel of the Iron Rose and not set in stone the day of their inevitable doom.

Next: Crochuk's Codex