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Regions: Midmeadow, Bestien's Tower, Starkwall, The Stone Road.

Located in the bountiful heartland between the Nutherwood and Gamboge forests, the area that is now known as Woodverge has always had a reputation for rustic beauty and simple living. Within the last several decades, however, the region's proximity to the Theocracy of the Pale has caused much heartache for Rel Mord. Now it is arguably Nyrond's most troublesome province. These are terribly troubled lands, with bandits, goblinoids, and zealots, close to riot and open rebellion. Midmeadow's current leader, Sir Weynoud Aspranth came to rule the town at Lynwerd's behest, replacing a weak ruler who had allowed local Pholtans too much power. So far his success at this and other problems has been limited.

With the Theocracy of the Pale on its to the North, worship of Pholtus has always been strong, and the more militant forms have prospered. The Valorous League of Blindness is the most militant and legalistic part of the Pholtus worship. They are ascetic and highly intolerant. Some wear blinders or put out an eye as a sign of their intent to only follow official doctrine. The League is very popular in Woodverge and has followers in all classes and areas. It appeals more to the lower and uprooted, but includes some of the minor nobility, some of whom convert only when they fear their peasants will run them out of town unless they do. The influence of the Valorous League is strong enough that in many ways it, and not Aspranth, rules the province.

Besides vigorous efforts to recruit more members, League members are strongly into law enforcement. However, the law that is enforced is that of Pholtus, and the most rigid and intolerant version of that rigid and intolerant creed, rather than the laws of Nyrond. The most obvious evidence of that is the vigorous witch and demon hunts, led by the Knights Valorous, the elite of the Valorous League.

The leader of the League in Woodverge, and effectively in all of Nyrond, is Grishken of Midmeadow, a high level priest of Pholtus. Age 66, gaunt at 6'2", with steely grey hair and watery gray blue eyes, he is a maniacal zealot. He is very apocalyptic and terrifying. In an organization full of difficult people, Grishken is likely the worst. If the facts are overwhelming and one argues long and hard, Carindrell will acknowledge there might be a footnote to the rules allowing for softer treatment. The Palish ambasador will acknowledge your failure to agree with him is due to mere ignorance and stupidity, though he routinely starts yelling in hopes of penetrating all that bone in your head. But with Grishken, disagreement means you are a disguised fiend worshiper worthy of burning on the spot. The only bright spot is that he does want a trial first. It is likely fortunate for the rest of Nyrond that he and Carindrell do not get along and even work against each other to some extent.

The prime candidate for most frightening member of the League is Zylinchin, Chief Fiendfinder-General and head of the Knights Valorous. Age 41, at 5'3" and nearly 17 stone of muscle, he has cropped brown hair, and hazel amber eyes. He heads a band of warriors and warrior priests that hunt down fiend worshippers, or those they can torture into confessions in the opinion of their critics. They also try to convert people to the worship of Pholtus, and are said to find a swordpoint a very useful argument. They also find dispensing alms to the poor convincing, particularly when most alms are dispensed to Pholtus worshipers. Zylinchin reports to Grishken, but can be found nearly anywhere in Nyrond. He is hated by many, particularly by those in power. Rumor says that several nobles have put a price on his head. This is denied, possibly because he has not, yet, been charged with a capital crime.

Midmeadow

Midmeadow, the capital of the new province, reflects the continuation of difficult times here. While most cities in Nyrond have been growing since the Wars, Midmeadow has shrunk, to 11,100. Once perhaps the most beautiful city in Nyrond, with many buildings designed by elven architects, a series of arsons, tax riots, plague, and a ruler who did nothing useful left much in ruins. The new ruler has managed to restore public order, in part by acknowledging the Valorous League as effectively a second police force. Tho officially allies, the militia and the League get along poorly. The 600 militia deem the League know-it-all amateurs and resent that the League's rule is preferred in some parts of town, particularly where there is a heavy Pholtus population. However, during the years under the previous ruler, the militia were ordered only to protect a few of the major public building from rioters and the League were the ones who actively kept order within the town. The League deems the militia slackers who are unwilling to enforce the laws of Pholtus, the only ones that count in their view. But with a major crime problem, the two forces must work together.

The biggest limitation to the spread of the League has been a smoldering resentment by many of the poor who go hungry while local produce, and even Gamboge produce, were sent north to the Pale to be sold for badly needed revenues. As times have improved this is less of a problem, but such resentful hatred has a way lingering long past its time.

Much of the crime problem is due to the presence of large numbers of Tenhas. An estimated 10,000 fled from Tenh to Nyrond when Iuz took over that country. Perhaps half of those stayed in Woodverge, and half of those that stayed settled in shanty camps around Midmeadow. The locals deem them lazy, indolent, feckless, and arrogant. A number of the refugees have skills that were well honored in Tenh, but are rather useless in Nyrond, which makes them scornful of the lowly jobs they can do, and not eager to do a good job. So, as in many places in Nyrond, they suffer considerable discrimination. To survive, they do what they must, which can include begging, stealing, and scavenging. Debauchery, drink, and prostitution are common. Some have turned to evil cults and others are bandits, none of which improves their reputation.

Bestien's Towers

Bestien's Towers is a twin towered castle on the sourthern edge of the Nutherwood Forest. It houses 150 heavy infantry and 300 light, as well as some of the 800 militia who patrol the Nyrond-Pale border, and the 1600 militia who patrol the Artonsamay River. Any of these may also venture into the Nutherwood to chase down the Fists, forces of Iuz, bandits, or others who raid Nyrond. The Pale claims the Nutherwood, but these same groups are just as willing to raid the Pale and so no objections are made to Nyrond presence in the Nutherwood. But encounters between Pale and Nyrond troops in the Nutherwood or along the border are apt to be stiff and as brief as possible.

The Bandit Kingdoms, particularly Stoink, are much the more bothersome threat. The city state has been raiding Nyrond, among others, for a long time, and the arrival of Iuz has changed little. So the river is heavily watched to keep the damage to a minimum, and to watch for any greater danger such as Iuz getting active again. Hobgoblin soldiers, marauding bandints, and a rare fiend cross into Nyrond upon occasion. While these attacks do no appear to be an organized source of aggression, they still cause important loss of life and have driven farmers away from the fertile Artonsomay basin.

Starkwall

Starkwall is at the border of Nyrond and the County of Urnst at the river. It is marks the northern end of the Stone road. Starkwall is a fortified watchtower, and a base camp for the local militia. Given the danger of raiders from Stoink or other Bandit Kingdom centers, it is not surprising that the militia is suspicious of all in the territory. Their dedication to the job is remarkable given they are poorly equiped, their wages often late, and the food meager and poor. However, their kin, who mostly graze sheep and goats, are the ones most at risk from the raiders. And bad as current conditions are, they have been improving.

Visitors to Starkwall are routinely warned of Skandar Gundersson, age 41, 6', Wavy blond hair, and blue eyes. How he acquired his limp is unknown, but presumed disreputable. He is said to be from Riftcrag, but he is wanted in a number of locations. The most recent was Iuz, who is reported to be mad enough at him to threaten not to kill him. . He is deemed unscrupulous and unpleasantly depraved, cruel, dishonest, twisted, and vile, by the folk who speak well of him. Few doubt he would betray them all to slaughter for a handful of copper.

Unfortunately for those disgusted by him, he is extremely useful as well. Countless bandits have had their careers ended as a result of information he is able to supply. How he gets the information is unknown, but it is highly accurate and very helpful. So much so that they will do anything for him, except trust him an inch more than absolutely necessary.

The Stone Road

This great highway forms the border with the County of Urnst and Nyrond, stretching from Starkwall to Crystal Springs. The name refers to the dry stone walls, 4 feet high, which line the highway along its full length of over a hundred miles. The lands on both sides are somewhat stony and livestock farming, especially sheep and goats, is of major importance.

For the most part the entire border is patrolled by soldiery from the County, and serves largely to move troops quickly up to the North to meet threats from the Bandit Kingdoms. Nyrond only maintains a few small watchposts along its length.

[ Gazetteer ]