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Message: <blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 5413591" data-attributes="member: 92511">Sample villageThe “Village” of Swampshade    In the Grand Duchy of Denil, along the edge of the Greymurk Marshes sat the simple farming village  of Swampshade. The village sits along the old road from the Archduke’s castle and town, Denil Keep, and the port-town of Grennik, the home and stronghold of Braden Justhouse, Baron of Grennik.     In the past three years of so, a well-traveled trail has also formed off the old road from Swampshade to the great crown-city of Brightmoon. This “new road” has become the preferred way from Grennik to Brightmoon. The existing road from Grennik to Swampshade makes the journey quicker, and marginally more safe, than following the wilds along the coast. It has also become known that moving goods by land through Swampshade is much cheaper (without being much longer) than transporting by ship and avoids Brightmoon's often overcrowded ports. This has led to a trend for many smaller/less wealthy merchants and craftsmen (from Grennik and Brightmoon) to travel by land.     This increase in traffic has brought an influx of new persons and businesses to the once quiet farming village which is quickly gaining population and reputation as a burgeoning “quaint country” town. The kind of town filled with friendly, hard working and true country folk.     This is not so far from the case…for the majority of the community. Sadly, as in most cases of “up and coming” towns, not all of the new inhabitants are necessarily as friendly, hard working or true as the original residents. Wherever there are people increasing in prosperity there are usually those unscrupulous individuals seeking to take advantage of their good fortune. Certain persons look to make their own mark or claim “their” piece of the proverbial pie. Then, of course, there is almost always a multitude of travelers “just passing through.”     In the past year and a half, the permanent population of Swampshade has boomed from a mere 300 to almost 800. In addition to these, the town now has 2 inns and 3 taverns (a year ago there was only a single tavern that let passerby’s bed in the stables), a new barracks for troops (garrisoned by Grennik and Denil), a new church of Astar, and a watchtower under construction (the brainchild of the Baron of Grennik being built with the Duke’s permission and financial aid). The comings and goings of troops, construction workers and other travelers of all ilk commonly swell the population by another 50-150 any given week (save in the winter months).      Persons of Note     Althis the Green – human priestess of Tyris keeping a shrine to the water goddess at the spring of the Alevia river about 2 days outside of town. She and her acolytes are known by the village locals from their monthly trips into Swampshade for their supplies and the occasional holiday. Althis is a quiet, soft spoken woman in her late 20’s with shoulder length blond hair. She is almost always encountered wearing robes of the Tyrisian order that begin as white at the shoulder turning pale sea foam green and darkening further to deep blue-green at the hem. Her official title among the clergy of Tyris is “Waverider” though she takes no offense and is somewhat humored by her locally given title, “Althis the Green.”     Asparte the Astaran –came to Swampshade about a year ago. He was sent by his superiors at the temple  of Astar in Brightmoon to purchase or construct a church and encourage the local populace to the worship of “the Celestial Sovereign.” Asparte is very friendly and wise beyond his 27 summers. Asparte has been quite successful in his mission so far, gathering a reasonable “flock” to his new, albeit modest, church in town. His services are also attended by a decent number of travelers, merchants and other “more civilized” townsfolk from outside of Swampshade who pass through. The young priest is the recipient of quite a bit of attention and gossip among Swampshade’s more pious maidens for his handsome face, strong frame and bright green eyes offsetting sandy brown hair. He is troubled by the fact Matriarch Ranoira doesn’t seem to like him and only wishes, in all sincerity, to serve and protect his new community as his god (and temple) will allow.      Captain Barsum Kar Trisliam –Barsum comes from the eastern Barony of Trisliam and after several years in the Duke’s service at Denil Keep was sent by the Duke to captain the new garrison of Swampshade…and keep an eye on the watchtower construction and, particularly, any agents of the Baron Grennik. His force is composed of 50 trained soldiers, 35 of whom plus their “captain” are from Grennik. The other 15, including his cousin and lieutenant, Perrian, have been under his command for a few years. Barsum made the Grennik captain, Selden (who happens to be a distant relation to the local lord Greymon of Aleveld), his “1st” lieutenant to soothe ruffled feathers and give himself some clout with the Grennik soldiers. Barsum has found his new assignment enjoyable barring the annoyance of politics between himself and Sir Greymon (who claims the honor of the defense of Swampshade is, by right, his). His primary duty is to his Duke and working with the town Speaker-turned-Sheriff Thomuk to keep order in the rising town. The latter had thus far proven a fairly simple matter, though thefts seem to be on the rise. Barsum attributes this to the fairly constant flow of traffic and most investigations turn into dead ends. Barsum is a simple and honorable man, a well-trained battle-hardened man-at-arms, just trying to do his job.     Bengamin the Younger –is the son of the original owner and proprietor of the oldest inn (originally the only tavern), the Shining Sheaves Inn (known to the locals as “Old Ben’s”).  “Bengy” recently took over the running of the family business last year when his father, Bengamin the Elder a.k.a. “Old Ben”, decided to retire. Neither Ben (Elder or Younger) has any love for Jervis or his establishment, considering those that frequent it (none of them “locals”) and its owner to be “shady characters” at best.      Drummon (the) Smith –is a native of Swampshade born and raised. He is a booming bear of a man. Drummon is tall, broad shouldered, black-bearded and usually smeared in soot. He is generally easy going, good-humored and hardworking. He is thankful for the recent prosperity of his home village-turning-town. The increase in business, including weapons for the garrisoned troops, has led him to take on two assistants in the past year- one a young teen from one of the outlying farms orphaned last winter who goes by “Mutt” (still an apprentice) and his assistant, Geff, a recent transplant from the keep at Alevand where he apprenticed with Sir Greymon’s smith.     Elma (Elmarentha)- elf proprietress of Elma’s Elixirs, the local potion (and minor magic) shop opened about five years ago. She is considered “one of our own” by most of the original villagers due to her reputation as a “savior” for the aid she’s given (via her potions and herbal concoctions) to many of the local families for various illness and troubles, especially in tending the needs of children. She appears as a lovely, if somewhat short (barely over 5 foot), elf woman with milky unblemished skin, strawberry blond hair typically tied back in a bun and dresses in the normal long skirts and bodice and blouse of the country womenfolk. This is the result of a spell that allows Elma to mask her true 5-foot 10-inch sparkling appearance as Elmarentha of the Shi’Staliiri, the “Star Elves” as men call them. She possesses a set of silver wire-rimmed spectacles hanging around her neck on a thin silver chain that she will don when conducting business. These glasses allow her see magic auras…part of the reason she will generally dismiss Zarachius’ attempts to peddle his wares, many of his items don’t have any.     Sir Greymon Kar Tram of Aleveld –is the lord of the house of Tram which has ruled the holdings of Aleveld in the Archduke’s name (through the authority of Grennik) for the past five generations. The farming village of Swampshade, until recently, was considered to be within Aleveld’s lands. Now that the inconsequential backwater started to bring in some actual trade both the Baron and the Archduke himself have stationed troops there and are constructing defenses. After a butting of heads with the new garrison’s Captain Barsum (the knight backed down after Barsum presented his orders with the ducal seal) Greymon expressed his displeasure to the Baron. Braden Justhouse, the Baron of Grennik, assured him it is the Archduke’s doing, but that the Baron will see to Aleveld’s (and Greymon’s) interests for his house’s continued exemplary support of Grennik. To that end, the Baron made sure that Sir Greymon maintains judicial authority over the people of Swampshade.      Jervis Hawthorn– is the half-elf (Swampshade’s only one in residence) owner and proprietor of the newest (and quickly becoming most popular) inn and tavern in town, the Cat n’ Mouse. Jervis claims to hail from “the far north of Grinlia” originally and is affable with his repeat customers. He’s acquired a reputation for regaling his patrons with tales of his high adventures in “the wild northlands.”      Ormond the Sage –human local sage (and “hedge wizard”). An expert on the swamp flora and fauna of Greymurk (and local persons and gossip) has been a resident of Swampshade for the past 20 years. He is generally liked by the original Swampshade community, if thought of as a bit odd. He is the only person in Swampshade who knows Elma for what she really is.     Ranoira Goldfield – has been blessing and protecting the fields, families and livestock of Swampshade for 3 generations. She has been in the service of Sylari, goddess of nature and weather, for 48 of her 57 years and has served as the community’s spiritual authority for 30 of those 48. Every couple married by rite in Swampshade was bound by Ranoira. Her 2-story residence, simply referred to as “the Abbey” or “Ranoira’s abbey”, sits on the edge of a large field with a grassy knoll at its center just off the road to the west of the town center. Ranoira is the Matriarch (highest ranking priestess, by far) of the community’s small order. The abbey houses Ranoira, 3 underclerics (2 women, 1 man) and 4 novices (2 females, 2 males all recent aspirants with a concern for the “urbanizing” of their rural community) who comprise the Swampshade chapter of the very loosely organized Sylari order. She is not pleased with the new “walls of religion” constructed by the Astaran missionary (the Sylari priesthood does not worship inside any “man-made” construction).      Thomuk Bruntle–Thomuk is the chosen “Speaker” of the village/town, representing the people to the local lord, Sir Greymon. In truth, he has very little power of his own, but with the added weight of Captain Barsum at his side and the support of the majority of Swampshade’s residents, Thomuk is well liked by the people and viewed by Greymon as an adequate/acceptable figurehead for the growing town. Thomuk was made, by the Baron’s authority, the official “Sheriff” of Swampshade last spring. He is still floating on the airs of his new title but will maintain in all seriousness, as he toys with the bejeweled ring of his station, that he is “a man of the people.”      Zarachius Jasper- is a gnome “merchant” who frequents Swampshade every few weeks to every other month or so. He always claims to be passing through en route to Undertown, though he has been in Swampshade for the past two months, now. Zarachius stays in his cart in an open field outside of town, entertains the locals with his illusions and attempts minor trading in/selling his magical goods. He is known to frequent Elma’s shop though will complain bitterly to any who ask that the elf businesswoman “don’t know the meanin’ o’ fair trade. Never gives ye a good deal. Nor knows oon if she sees oon.”</blockquote>

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