Briefing by the Sword of the Band of the Red Hand - Crisis Spots in the Mountain Region
Mountain Region – Towns and Villages that are Troubled Spots as Identified by Angus Farbairn, Sword of the Band of the Red Hand.
Lewes – a walled and embattled town on the western edge of the mountain valley. Upriver from Lewes are a number of abandoned ruins. Prospectors travel upriver to search for gold. There are abandoned mines from the empire times upriver and into the mountains. However, few are willing to risk it anymore. Prospectors reluctantly talk of terrible creatures and “worse things” around the ruins and spreading outwards. A contingent of Red Hands is normally stationed here to deal with threats that wander down from upriver. All but the support staff have been pulled out to deal with the threat from Gwynedd. The Red Hand quartermaster can tell you that there 2 nameless ruined villages and the ruins of the town, Verinsgate, upriver. The standing stone circle to the northeast of Verinsgate has the name of “The Devil’s Gate”. Red Hand patrols rarely see any activity or are entirely wiped out (strong patrols that stick to the open areas are generally safe; no one knows what happened to the missing patrols….).
Valen – related to the above threat is Valen’s situation. Recently, a small group of trades and business people started to re-establish a settlement at Valen. They are worried about the ruins upriver from them being a source of abominations. The ruins they are worried about are connected to the ones upstream from Lewes (they form a large arc). The new settlers have not seen any notable threats yet; however, they are rightfully worried why no one has settled in this spot before…..
Penshurst – an isolated community that has been plagued over the years with deformed creatures wandering out of the mountains and nearby forest. The people of Penshurst are the most enthusiastic supporters of the Red Hand in the entire realm. They root out any deformities due to magic, even among their own children. Deformed children quietly vanish or are banished. Deformed creatures and plants are killed and burned. Red Hand patrols scour the area and eliminate magical abominations; but these return. There are rumours of a “Forbidden Keep” or fortress upriver. The people around Penshurst avoid any discussion, questions, etc. that involve the “Forbidden Keep”. It is a topic that ‘does not exist’. Red Hand patrols have never entered the keep. Apparently, there have been sightings of it; however, encounters and threats of being cut off has prevented any confirmation or exploration….
Camber and Der’s Mine – This area is important for its gold production. Lately, the production has dramatically declined. Both places (Camber supports the Mine) have seen a dramatic increase in violence and other disruptions to the peaceful production of gold in these communities – claims of theft, abuse, and general disorder. In addition, the miners claim there is a creature in the mine that kills the unwary and makes mining dangerous or even fatal. The gold trade is especially important due to rising prices of outside goods levied by the pirates of Daradurn.
Sainsbury – refugees from the north report of ancient looking structures and caves in the mountains to the north; but anyone who investigated has disappeared. The refugees report all kinds of unprecedented threats and abominations.
Durindale – it’s been cut-off since the loss of Daradurn to the pirates and their burning of Rosedale (to show the Mountain region that the pirates were not to be messed with and they could strike upriver easily). Re-establishing contact with Durindale is a must. They had an on-going battle with abominations from both the forested hills to their north and south. Durindale is a base for fur traders and prospectors….
Daradurn – it has become a pirate base and is strangling trade with the Mountain region. The pirates know the Mountain region has to trade through the port (cut off to the west and north – eastwards trade too unpredictable, dangerous, and long). Daradurn had been the Mountain region’s main outlet to the outside world. The port has strong defenses (the pirates took it over by trickery and stealth). These same pirates demonstrated their resolve and power by destroying Rosedale and enslaving the population. This measure helped to cow the local population of Daradurn – who are very abused by the pirates – and to discourage any moves against the pirates’ hold of Daradurn….
Lewes – a walled and embattled town on the western edge of the mountain valley. Upriver from Lewes are a number of abandoned ruins. Prospectors travel upriver to search for gold. There are abandoned mines from the empire times upriver and into the mountains. However, few are willing to risk it anymore. Prospectors reluctantly talk of terrible creatures and “worse things” around the ruins and spreading outwards. A contingent of Red Hands is normally stationed here to deal with threats that wander down from upriver. All but the support staff have been pulled out to deal with the threat from Gwynedd. The Red Hand quartermaster can tell you that there 2 nameless ruined villages and the ruins of the town, Verinsgate, upriver. The standing stone circle to the northeast of Verinsgate has the name of “The Devil’s Gate”. Red Hand patrols rarely see any activity or are entirely wiped out (strong patrols that stick to the open areas are generally safe; no one knows what happened to the missing patrols….).
Valen – related to the above threat is Valen’s situation. Recently, a small group of trades and business people started to re-establish a settlement at Valen. They are worried about the ruins upriver from them being a source of abominations. The ruins they are worried about are connected to the ones upstream from Lewes (they form a large arc). The new settlers have not seen any notable threats yet; however, they are rightfully worried why no one has settled in this spot before…..
Penshurst – an isolated community that has been plagued over the years with deformed creatures wandering out of the mountains and nearby forest. The people of Penshurst are the most enthusiastic supporters of the Red Hand in the entire realm. They root out any deformities due to magic, even among their own children. Deformed children quietly vanish or are banished. Deformed creatures and plants are killed and burned. Red Hand patrols scour the area and eliminate magical abominations; but these return. There are rumours of a “Forbidden Keep” or fortress upriver. The people around Penshurst avoid any discussion, questions, etc. that involve the “Forbidden Keep”. It is a topic that ‘does not exist’. Red Hand patrols have never entered the keep. Apparently, there have been sightings of it; however, encounters and threats of being cut off has prevented any confirmation or exploration….
Camber and Der’s Mine – This area is important for its gold production. Lately, the production has dramatically declined. Both places (Camber supports the Mine) have seen a dramatic increase in violence and other disruptions to the peaceful production of gold in these communities – claims of theft, abuse, and general disorder. In addition, the miners claim there is a creature in the mine that kills the unwary and makes mining dangerous or even fatal. The gold trade is especially important due to rising prices of outside goods levied by the pirates of Daradurn.
Sainsbury – refugees from the north report of ancient looking structures and caves in the mountains to the north; but anyone who investigated has disappeared. The refugees report all kinds of unprecedented threats and abominations.
Durindale – it’s been cut-off since the loss of Daradurn to the pirates and their burning of Rosedale (to show the Mountain region that the pirates were not to be messed with and they could strike upriver easily). Re-establishing contact with Durindale is a must. They had an on-going battle with abominations from both the forested hills to their north and south. Durindale is a base for fur traders and prospectors….
Daradurn – it has become a pirate base and is strangling trade with the Mountain region. The pirates know the Mountain region has to trade through the port (cut off to the west and north – eastwards trade too unpredictable, dangerous, and long). Daradurn had been the Mountain region’s main outlet to the outside world. The port has strong defenses (the pirates took it over by trickery and stealth). These same pirates demonstrated their resolve and power by destroying Rosedale and enslaving the population. This measure helped to cow the local population of Daradurn – who are very abused by the pirates – and to discourage any moves against the pirates’ hold of Daradurn….