Difference between revisions of "Cinnamon Valley"

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The Sea of Windbourne Hills, A Children's Primer

See the history of the Windborne Hills for the origins of the Hill People and Hmanans.

Cinnamon Valley lies in the south central part of the Windbourne Hills, jutted up against Culverwood.

Geography

The Cinnamon Valley is a fertile place, blessed by the gods with the Volcano Glitterox and many geysers and numerous lava pools. Glitterox spectacclarly erupts every year on the winter equinox and enriches the soil. The volcano sends up sparks that resemble firecrackers exploding. These "sparks" land across the valley, and where there is a spark, a Glittermint Tree sprouts in the spring, a gift of health and goodness from Alemi.

Another sacred landmark in the valley is Magpie Lake and Magpie Falls. The lake has some of the purest water in The Wold. "Cleansed by Alemi," these waters help the folk of the area to remain healthy and able to work until the day they die.

Throughout the valley, there are always some people -- more often, Hill People -- who are blessed with talents, unusual powers. Some said that Alemi used the sacred waters of Magpie Lake to bestow these liberal gifts, used for the good of all. Others said that certain beings, called The Sisters, watched over Cinnamon Valley and blessed those with talents.

The Dread lies to the north and east. This neighbor is a northern extension of Culverwood perverted by a powerful lich. The Dread sought to rule by power and strove to become powerful enough to bring upon everyone The Great Death, a horrible blight that would signal the end of The Wold. The lich created a group of mages called the Sons of Dread, who played a prominent role in the Year of Ascension.

Rowena lies to the north and west. The City-state of Effacia is a day¹s travel north through Rowena. Rowena is as peaceful as the Dread is violent. It's people are kin to the Hill People of Cinnamon Valley, but they have become estranged since the coming of Royd the Merciless.

The Time of the Jarl

In the Scab, the people of the valley say there lived a mighty race of Fire Giants who protected important things and accomplished important tasks. But these giants were manipulated by a great evil so that their culture diminished into servitude. Eventually, the giants were corrupted and weakened to the point that they were not prepared for attack. A powerful group of adventurers invaded their home and slaughtered half the tribe before being defeated. Great damage was done, and those giants who were young and could not remember the honor of their people moved into exile, led by Royd the Merciless, the Jarl. Traveling the high valleys of the Scab, Royd and his followers traveled west, towards the Windborne Hills.

Five years ago, the Jarl, Royd the Merciless, arrived in Cinnamon Valley. He simply walked into Castle Wolf, asked for an audience, killed Sorngrim the VII, the Hmost Honorable Hnand, and took over. Royd and his three giant-kin recruited a most vile army that taxed the land horribly. Once a month he visited the Honorable Hnand and Hill People Chiefs and collected taxes. No one dared to refuse. The Witchspawn Coven tried to overthrow him, but lost their power when Jarl and his two fire giant brothers, Hrolf and Magnor, knocked over the sacred stones, robbing the Witches of power. He burned those witches he could catch. A few still survived in secret.

At that time the evil of the Dread threatened the valley. Royd then declared that all males over the age of 14 must join the army to defend the homeland. The army, spurred on by Hrolf and Magnor, held back the Dread armies with great success. Eventually a great battle was fought near Strongwind Castle. After that the Dread seemed to turn their energies elsewhere.

The Hill People of Rowena, however, did not come to aid their neighbor. They believe that their brothers and sisters of Cinnamon Valley must have forsaken their faith, or such a horrible fate would never have come upon them. They also blame Cinnamon Valley for the recent influx of two witch covens into their peaceful kingdom, saying that it is the Cins' fault that the witches were allowed in this area of the Windbourne Hills in the first place. The Cins argue that the witches' coven was always loyal to the kingdom, even giving their lives in its defense.

But even though the army of the Dread was turned away, no one was inspired to rejoice. It is as if the spirit of the Hill People died in Cinnamon Valley the day Royd took over. Whereas they, in the past, had stood up to or simply ignored all previous invaders, here they just gave up and accepted their lot. Something vibrant in this people was lost. Where there were gifts, they were erased. When Glitterox erupted, the Hill People shuddered and hid in their hovels -- afraid of the wrath of the gods. It is generally accepted that someone of the Hill People, or some clan or family, acted as a traitor to their people, allowing Royd¹s coup to succeed -- and indeed, for a time, there were no gifts of the gods, either to the land or to the Hill People. Even the loyal priests were not granted spells above the 3rd level.

The Dragon Consortium

This was the poor life in Cinnamon Valley until arrived the noble heroes known as the Dragons! A one time collaboration of Storm Dragons and Gold Dragons, they came to Cinnamon Valley when one of their own, a son of the Hill People named Gareth, learned that the Dread had kidnapped his father. Coming in like a proverbial storm, they rode into The Dreadlands and rescued the patriarch. Then they turned their wrath upon Royd and his allies, and slain were the giants, their army, and Blast the red dragon who had allied himself with the giants. The Cinnamon Valley was once again free!

Before leaving, the Dragon Consortium helped the people set up a government, The Pitchfork Council. This group would have a representative of each culture group within the valley: Hmanas, Hill People, Witches, and Druidfolk.

A decade after the Year of Ascension, another heroic group arrived and moved north; the Grey Dragons! This group fought the Sons of Dread and eventually, high above Mount Bone in a flying castle, destroyed the lich leaders and the Dread himself! Leaderless, the Dread was no more, though the evil of the woods to the north endured...

Cinnamon Valley is once again free and self-governed. However, the Windbourne Hills is a hotbed of contested kingdoms that tends to fight and vie with one another. The future is hopeful, but very fragile. May Alemi guide them and give them health. May Domi give them his courage.

Places of Note in the Valley

Jarlwolf

Jarlwolf is the largest town in the Cinnamon Valley, and the seat of government for the area. Following the overthrow of the Jarl, the Pitchfork Council was formed and convenes in the Jarlwolf Assembly Hall. This map only shows one quarter of the city, but the most interesting part for adventurers.

Three roads enter the town of Jarlwolf and converge on an open area that hosts the open air market twice weekly. In the middle of the ‘square’ lies a small fenced park where the Adventurer’s Board can be found. There is also a training arena with a combat ring, a track, and a series of archery targets. A field house abuts the arena and a jousting lane that lies to the west. The Green Dragons offer combat lessons here, and have set up quarters in a back room of the Jarlwolf Bathhouse. H’lals Café & Bakery does a brisk business during the festival when outdoor theater, jousting, and displays of the martial arts are held.

To the Northeast, along the road to Effacia, lies a small castle whose outer wall was destroyed during the overthrow of the Jarl. The ruins of the outer wall provide building materials for the rest of the village. The dry moat is now a grassed in ditch and often a flock of sheep can be seen grazing the area. The inner wall and great hall were repaired and turned over to the Pitchfork Council to be used as the Jarlwolf Assemby Hall and apartments for visiting council members.

Across the road from the old castle lies Dulcet's Manor. Formerly an abbey for a sect of monks that has long since disappeared, it has been used by different groups and kept in repair by the Witch Circle of Weal. It contains a number of interesting features including a glass roofed inner garden and a fruit orchard and apiary behind the main building. It is surrounded by a low stone wall. Who knows what lies beneath the old abbey!!

Bistoc’s Warehouse sits beside the road leading west to Witchspawn and Rowena. It is here that wagon trains are organized and guards hired. Bistoc, a large heavyset man, also rents storage space for a fee.

There are three inns in Jarlwolf; The Friendly Shadows, which is the best kept of the three, The Nag’s Head, and The Broken Cauldron which has the most rooms and is renowned for it’s hearty meals. Two taverns augment the inns but do not offer rooms. They are The Black Cat, a small seedy place, and The Last Drop, which through its name pays tribute to the many citizens who were hung by the Jarl’s forces during his bloody reign.

Jarlwolf has a small cadre of craftsmen including Thelonius Bedstraw , a half-elf who runs Thatches, Dorik Riverstone, a dwarven stonemason who owns Dorik’s Masonry, and Hmartin, a carpenter / cooper who runs Jarlwolf Woodworks and specializes in ornate barrels, crates and chests, and unfinished furniture. They are augmented by a variety of commercial enterprises including a local branch of the Catacombs.

Trakker’s sells outdoor gear including tents, bedrolls, rope and climbing gear, and outerwear. Hruby’s deals in inexpensive jewellery and glassware. Hruby is unmarried but is actively courted by a number of hmana men in the village. Inge and Hobbs, two halflings originally from Rowena, run a general store that services many of the local farmers. The Tannery is run by Marko Clemso, a small stocky man of advanced years. His two sons were lost in the Dread Wars and he has no other heirs to take over the business after he is gone. Clarra Brun is a half-elf who runs the Dancing Lights, where she makes and sells a variety of candles as well as oil lamps and outdoor lanterns. Shard’s Earthenware is where Ollo Redfern can be found, turning out clay pots and other items on his potters’ wheel. A puff of smoke from the chimney lets you know that his kiln is fired and that the shop will be a little on the warm side.

Sweets, well, the name speaks for itself, doesn’t it. This confectionary is run by Hmona Nightshade, a hmana with a gift for cooking. The chocolate fudge is especially worth stopping in for. Puk’s is by far the most interesting store in Jarlwolf. This fiesty gnome has assembled a unique collection of animals and plants that draw children and adults alike to his shop, just for a look. If you are looking for a quality ewe to upgrade your flock, or one of the rare Magpie Lake leeches for your aquarium, Puk’s is where you will find it.

Hnancy Oldfield is the proprieter of Hnan’s Tack Shop. The shop carries a full line of equestrian gear as well as harnesses for teams of oxen and other beasts of burden. If Hnan doesn’t have it, she will have it made on order. Hmark Oldfield, Hnan’s older brother, runs Hmark’s Granary and Mill. Hmark took the business over from his father, and has prospered greatly since the defeat of the Jarl.

The two main temples in Jarlwolf are dedicated to Alemi and Domi respectively. Neither is particularly large. There is a small shrine to Gargul on the outskirts of town, watched over by a ragged hermit.

To the south of town, along the road to Merrydale and Magie Crossing, lie the remains of an ancient circle of rough, uneven standing stones. Some have toppled over and no one knows who erected them, they have been there long before any written records began. The local druids and witches treat the circle with great reverence. A convergence of ley lines occurs beneath the stones, and just perhaps some ancient evil lies beneath them.

A traveler leaving Jarlwolf by any road will immediately find himself in a rolling, pastoral setting of farm fields and grazing lands punctuated by small isolated woodlots and wooded valley bottoms. Many of the barns have stone foundations and thatched roofs, as do the cottages that accompany them.

Magpie Crossing

Merrydale

Merrydale is a hamlet, with a colony of halflings living here as well as humans, as a visitor can tell by the hobbit-holes in several embankments on one side of the town. The human buildings are stone cottages, as it is not wise to build with wood so close to the Culverwood. Most have flowerboxes in the windows, and roofs of sod or thatch. A few elves and half-elves have settled here as well, and more have come recently as refugees from the Emerald Kingdom.

• There is a single inn -- The Thirsty Lad. The innkeeper, a human named Tem Goodbarrel, is also on the Village Council.
• The Village Council consists of Simmay Swanfeathers, an elderly female halfling druid and farmer. She seems to be the leader, or at least is the most respected; she is attended by her son, Stan. Hned Cooper, a bespectacled middle-aged man, is owner of the general store; Hned holds the title of "mayor," but Simmay is more respected. Emery Winston is a farmer and leader of the local militia. And Tem.
• There is a small shrine to Alemi, but no priest in residence. The shrine is tended by an older female halfling, Saray Goncklyn, an expert NPC with ranks in healing and know religion. She sweeps the place up and helps locals with cuts and births and broke bones and such.
• Other establishments of note: The local blacksmith is a former adventurer. There's also a village school run by the schoolmarm, a Miss Ammebelle.
• A Faerie Trail runs south from Merrydale into the Culverwood, but generally only elves, druids, and the forestborn walk there. Even they tread carefully. The Spring of Alnair is on the Trail, just inside the wood.

The Tower of Boydos

A tall magical tower stands on a low hill in the western part of the valley, near to the Culverwood. It is a lawless place, east of Merrydale, and the Pitchfork Council has little power there. There is a band of people thereabouts -- some call them renegades -- known as the Sons of Chaos. The tower itself is the place where an immortal power, named Boydos, sleeps. The tower changes in appearance from time to time. It has looked like a lighthouse painted as a candy cane. It has appeared as a blue lightning bolt, frozen as it hit the earth. It is a very dangerous place, guarded by strange mad dwarven monks who can teleport short distances.

The Pillar of Cnut

This sole standing pillar certainly seems odd, especially since there are no other ruins or signs that an ediface might once have stood here. Legend says this pillar appeared here overnight long ago without any hand building it. Maybe it comes from the legendary Tower of Cnut, of which all that now remains (they say) are a few scattered magic stones with strange rumored powers. In any case, inscribed on the base of the pillar itself are these words in antique common: "Let this Pillar here stand, in tribute to the glorious accomplishments of the Reknowned Cnut!" But no one now knows what those accomplishments were. At the nearby intersection, there are three signs on a signpost: To Jarlswolf, To Magpie Crossing, and To Merrydale.