Author

Chris Magoun

Maps
Chris Magoun
Thomas Pope

Editor
Thomas Pope

Playtesters
Stacy Allston, Ken Barish, Karen Beaudway, Scott Beaudway, Chris Cambell, Orlando Contreras, Melinda Deal,
Jonathan Fellion, Matt Ficco, Shawn Francis, Ronen Goren, Andrei Hajduk, Dwayne Horner, Julien Isfange, Jeff
Kelley, Eva Kendrick, Alex Lewis, Chadd Mazac, Sean McBride, Stephanie Mead, Thomas Pope, Ralph Scott,
Shawn Stangler, Dennis Strelow, Bill Tannery, Travis Vavra, David Vershaw II, Nick Volberg, Shelly Webster,
Quinn Williams

Revision date: 2/5/2003

© 1997-2003 by Christopher Magoun. All rights reserved
www.runebearer.com
 Table of Contents
Table of Contents.......................................... 2 Region Notes ..................................................................30
Politics and Relations..................................................31
History ............................................................. 4 Locations .........................................................................31
Bostonia Timeline........................................... 4 Plots and Adventures..................................................32
The Lore of Bostonia....................................... 5
The Ancients' Quest for Immortality.......................5
Places ............................................................. 33
The Rise of the Deceiver...............................................6 The City of Boston........................................ 33
The Seeds of Fire.............................................................6 Port Town .......................................................................33
The Tribal Period............................................ 6 High Hill..........................................................................35
Emergence.........................................................................6 The Dregs ........................................................................35
The Time of the Tribes ..................................................6 Guild Street.....................................................................37
The Original Bostonian Tribes ...................................6 Grunjtown.......................................................................38
Tribal Wars .......................................................................8 Religion......................................................... 40
Ander vs. Volus ..............................................................8
The Church of Stratus .................................. 40
The Taint of Paganism..................................................8 Ceremonies .....................................................................40
The Unification Wars ..................................... 8 Churches..........................................................................40
Camille's Vision ..............................................................8 Holidays ..........................................................................41
The Rise of the Bost Tribe............................................9 Holy Writings ................................................................41
The Founding of the Church ....................................11 Recruitment/Training................................................42
The Modern Era............................................ 12 Role in Society ...............................................................42
St. Michael, Erzan and the Zealots .........................12 Structure ..........................................................................42
The Formation of The Engineers’ Guild ...............13 Vision/Mission .............................................................43
The Confederacy Pact .................................................13 The Temple of Aestra ................................... 44
Geography .................................................... 15 Ceremonies .....................................................................44
Churches..........................................................................45
Falleron Barony............................................ 15
Holidays ..........................................................................45
Timeline...........................................................................15
Holy Writings ................................................................45
General Information ....................................................16
Recruitment/Training................................................46
History .............................................................................16
Role in Society ...............................................................46
Region Notes ..................................................................18
Structure..........................................................................46
Politics and Relations..................................................18
Vision/Mission .............................................................46
Locations .........................................................................18
Plots and Adventures..................................................19 The Saints of Aestra and Stratus .................. 47
Hierant Barony............................................. 20 Demons: The Five and their Minions........... 48
Timeline...........................................................................20 Intro...................................................................................48
General Information ....................................................21 How Bostonians View Demons...............................48
History .............................................................................21 Who are The Five?........................................................49
Region Notes ..................................................................22 Where are The Five? ....................................................49
Politics/Relations.........................................................22 What Can The Five Do?..............................................49
Interesting Places ..........................................................22 What is a Spawn? .........................................................49
What about the Demons in the Bestiary? .............50
Plots and Adventures..................................................23
Koren Barony ............................................... 24 Culture........................................................... 51
Timeline...........................................................................24 Who Rules The Land.................................... 51
General Information ....................................................25 The Church of Stratus .................................................51
History .............................................................................25 The Temple of Aestra ..................................................51
Region Notes ..................................................................26 The Mathematicians’ Guild.......................................52
Politics and Relations..................................................26 The Shield Guild ...........................................................52
Interesting Places ..........................................................27 The Engineers’ Guild ..................................................53
Vincent Barony............................................. 28 The Barons ......................................................................53
Timeline...........................................................................28 The King ..........................................................................53
General Information ....................................................30 The Bostonian Calendar............................... 54
History .............................................................................30 Holidays ..........................................................................54
 Marking the Hours ......................................................54 Keshat...............................................................................56
Economics..................................................... 54 Five Square .....................................................................56
Coinage and Barter in Bostonia ...............................54 Mathematicians’ Dice..................................................56
Justice in Bostonia ........................................ 55
Bostonian Games.......................................... 56
 History
Bostonia Timeline
Date Event
0 City of Boston formed.
1 Pelar and Eltherist join Bost in unifying the land. Pelar and Eltherist battle Dingore.
2 Bost attack Ilrace. Divine Light of the Father is found by Pelar.
3 First Zealots take the Divine Light of the Father.
Ilrace and Dingore are defeated.
4 Khodrus join the unification effort.
First battles against the Keevel.
6 Keevel are defeated and driven south across the sea.
Keevel are enslaved by cobrat.
7 First battles against Ander.
8 Jherod wins the battle of Green Pass. Jherod names his sword First Blood.
9 Vens Ander and his wife Sophia use Grunderkin to kill Zephram and take control of the tribe. The Ander join the
cause of unification.
10 Camille rises from the Dark Lake with the Sacred Falls of Aestra. The Azert join the cause of unification because of
this miracle.
War of Unification won and the nation of Bostonia formed.
13 Camille writes The Mercies of the Mother.
17 Dovid writes The Passions.
24 Keevel revolt and win their freedom. Keevel live as renegades in cobrat lands.
26 Brachas Keevel converts to the worship of the Great Turtle. His people follow and earn the respect of their cobrat
neighbors. Keevel are named “Pirate Lords” and become free people in cobrat territory.
42 Elna writes Portrait of the Visionary.
62 At age 28, Michael writes The Sins of Man.
66 Erzan finds cave containing Lightbane rune.
67 Erzan returns to bind Lightbane.
72 Cult of Ulderghast found southeast of Greensgate. Erzan and his followers vow to destroy the cult.
Cult of Ulderghast destroyed by Erzan.
Erzan takes his loyal Zealots and brings them to Lightbane to bind it.
Erzan and his followers start an inquisition in the region.
73 Erzan’s Inquisition reaches its peak.
Michael and his loyal Zealots march to stop Erzan. Erzan is killed and Michael and the remaining Zealots vow to
never again use magic. The Hammer of Michael is created and strips their runes from them.
76 At age 42, Michael writes Magesoul in which he describes the proper conduct for devout mages and urges them to
forsake their runes.
90 Pirate Lords make first raids in Bostonian waters.
93 Michael dies at age 69.
212 Arenna Bost, the last of the original Bost tribe, dies. The Bost line is ended.
350 Rialla Tharkas, a distant descendent of Jherod, takes the throne and starts the Tharkas Dynasty.
364 Boston-Salem road nearly destroyed in winter storms and subsequent spring floods. Trade is brought to a standstill.
Boston suffers worst famine in its history.
365 Sir Lorne Vincent creates Association of Scholars and Engineers.
378 Midlands war pits several nobles against one another over mining rights in central Bostonia. King Damon Tharkas
intervenes, defeats the nobles (including Vincent) and Barony Klein is created.
Pela Ostheimer purchases Association of Scholars and Engineers, moves it to Boston and renames it the Guild of
Engineers.
379 Boston Shipyards expanded by Guild of Engineers.
380 Road from Boston to Nob’s Landing created.
385 Guild of Engineers finishes Temple of the Dark Springs in Sunsrest.
388 Sir Lorne Vincent creates second Association of Scholars and Engineers.
393 King Damon Tharkas takes over the Guild of Engineers and puts the Association out of business. The Vincent
family is left destitute.
423 Fourteen-year-old Talen Tharkas takes the throne. Six months later, he is dead of a mysterious rotting disease
leaving no heir to the throne.
Civil war ensues as several nobles vie for the vacant throne.
 425 Battle of Valice leaves Faust no choice but to surrender and support Baloric in his quest for the throne.
426 Battle of Armor. After fighting each other for 6 days, both Baloric and Falloren are defeated by an army of Templars
and Aeltharze.
Confederacy Pact is signed; the monarchy is dissolved; the office of Lord Mayor is created. General Greyland Pak is
chosen as Boston’s first Lord Mayor.
Guild of Engineers is given a special charter to work as a Sponsored Independent Guild. Gavin Dorniker is made
Guildmaster.
Cobrat invade southern Bostonia, but their attack is stalled by a brutal winter.
427 Cobrat invasion is pushed back. Lord Mayor Pak is successful in his first military campaign.
485 The Traditions of Succession are written.
The Bostonian monarchy is reformed under the Traditions and Rianna Azareth becomes Queen of Bostonia.
591 Grand Father Parsus Corin decreed that once each year, the Father’s Church would pay a substantial tithe to the
nearby temples in recognition of the holy services they provide.
792 The Shield Guild and Baron Relequin James found the town of Fort Talon to guard the passes through the
Terrorbald Mountains.
773 The Church of the Southern Gate is built in Fort Talon.
783 Lord Mayor Eliza Warrandale is discovered hiding taxable goods from Lord James. She flees with a few of her loyal
supporters.
784 The Warrandale Raiders make their first attack on a mining camp southeast of Fort Talon.
788 Fort Talon Mining Company founded.
Bright Burning Flame refugees settle in Fort Talon.
791 After a successful run as a bandit, Eliza Warrandale’s Raiders are stopped by the Shield Guild. Warrandale escapes
south into goblin territory.
798 Teeta Alliance invades southern Bostonia.
799 Teeta Alliance is stopped by joint Bostonian/Cobrat forces. Invasion stalls, though some territory is still held.
Templars fighting against the Teeta Alliance find an old, crystal encrusted human skeleton. Thinking the skeleton is
an oddity, the templars return with it to Ismoth. However, an accident destroys most of the skeleton, and only a
thighbone arrives safely.
A Conference of Bishops determines that the bones belong to St. Olum.
800 Significant mineral and gold deposits found near Fort Talon. Large-scale mining operations begin.
With funds from the new mineral wealth, Lord James builds a beautiful cathedral on the site of The Church of the
Southern Gate, and petitions the Church to house St. Olum’s remains there.
801 St. Olum’s remains brought to Fort Talon. Church is renamed to The Church of St. Olum’s Solitude.
802 Tatokh are allowed to reestablish embassy in Fort Talon.
804 Suggested campaign beginning for Bostonia.
This is a Communion Year – Meaning every 20 years previous is also a Communion Year

Throughout their growth, the Ancients had guidance from

The Lore of Bostonia the Mother and Father. However, when the Ancients had
The following is the story of the genesis of the Bostonian vanquished all dangers from their world, they did not feel
people. It is the account of how the Bostonians were born the need for the favor of the gods. The Ancients' churches
from the race of mages known only as the Ancients. and temples became the focus of scorn and derision
instead of worship. People asked, "Why do we need
The Ancients' Quest for Immortality blessings when we are warm, fed and safe from the
wind?" When the church had all but been forgotten by the
All people of Bostonia (and presumably of the entire people, the priests tried to find some miracle to show the
world) are the children of a race of powerful wizards power of the gods. The priests knew the only miracle that
called Ancients. The Ancients were masters of elemental eluded the Ancients magic was immortality. Regardless of
air, fire, water and earth as well as time and space. This their power or standing, old wizards still died in their
power gave them an advanced magical "technology" that sleep. The priests prayed to the Mother and Father. "Give
permitted the building of huge cities, flying machines, them that which they could never attain themselves. Make
mystic gates and other wonders. them immortal and in doing so, reclaim the hearts of your
children." The Mother and Father refused. Death was
preordained -- a natural force in the cosmos. Immortality
was not a "gift" that could be freely given. This was the
final blow for the church. Everyday wizards took "natural
forces" and twisted them for the benefit of the people.
Nothing, not wind or fire, disease or injury resisted the
power of ancient spells. Perhaps a wizard could discover
the secret of immortality.
The Rise of the Deceiver The Tribal Period
With the church weakened, the Ancients were ready to be
persuaded by the Deceiver. This infernal creature began to Emergence
whisper into the ears of many of the most powerful It took several thousand years, but the earth was healed
wizards. He told them that they could cheat death. To do by the hand of Aestra. The fire-torn lands began to sprout
so, a new cult would need to be created. A cult of primal plants and then trees. Beasts crawled from the sea and saw
gods, older than the Mother and Father, older than the the sun again. First insects, then snakes and then small
Universe itself. Many of these immortality cults began to mammals dwelt upon land. The land was changed, but
blossom across the lands. The Deceiver would empower had become whole. When all was ready, the Ancients that
the cult heads to perform powerful rites and rituals. These had been saved from destruction were stripped of their
rituals seemed to heal the sick and make the aged young memories and allowed to walk the earth. The children of
and vigorous. Instead, they bound the recipient to the the Ancients emerged from the sea in several tribes. They
Deceiver, creating a half-life -- certainly immune to aging knew nothing of their surroundings or their heritage. The
and sickness, but not quite alive either. The Deceiver cult Mother and Father came to these people and taught them.
began to grow powerful at the expense of the Ancients. First, they taught them the wicked ways of their parents,
Though the loyal remnants of the true church fought the then they taught them how to live. Some tribes were
onslaught, the Ancients' lust for everlasting life was too taught to catch fish, others how to work the land, still
strong, and hope was lost. To the loyal few, the Father others were taught to gather what they needed from the
spoke. He told his people to walk to the edge of the sea woodlands around them.
and submerge themselves in their Mother's embrace.
Death was coming to the world. The Time of the Tribes
Each tribe emerged at a different point in the land. Many
The church bells cut the silence.
tribes emerged along sheltered sections of coastland.
No one listened.
Others emerged near small lakes, or cave complexes. Due
The Faithful drowned. to their isolation from each other and the more dangerous
The dead danced. denizens of Bostonia, the tribes had time to develop and
Only me grow. Each learned different skills from the Mother and
Watching the shooting stars, Father. Each tribe saw the gods in a unique manner. The
Witness to the end of days. farming tribes saw their Mother and Father as deities of
agriculture -- water and sun being important for their
The Seeds of Fire livelihood. Tribes that wandered harsh terrain veiwed the
The few who were still devoted to Aestra and Stratus did Mother and Father as protective deities. Lakeside tribes
as the Father told them to do. They travelled to the sea and saw gods that provided bountiful harvests of fish.
entered it, submerging themselves in the waves. In doing
so, they proved their faith in the Mother, and she saved In this manner, all facets of Aestra and Stratus were
them from what was to come. After his children were safe developed. For many years, the tribes grew in isolation
in the womb of Aestra, the Father forged 13 seeds using from one another. When tribes began to encounter one
elemental fire. He then threw these seeds to the earth and another, most found they had common heritage, religion
caused them to blossom. The seeds tapped the power of and language, and peaceful relations were established.
Stratus and elemental fire and blossomed into huge However, as trbies grew and competed for resources,
plumes of flame. Only 12 seeds actually bloomed, but conflict became inevitable.
those were enough to destroy the Ancients and all their
works. The earth was ravaged and would not know life The Original Bostonian Tribes
for thousands of years. Ander
With his cult gone, the Deceiver could not face Stratus. Occupied the southernmost reaches of the Bostonian
Stratus captured the Deceiver and placed him in a prison, valley. This tribe developed mining as well as the rare
a ring of elemental fire. Even in defeat, the Deceiver technology of alchemy. In addition, several magically
mocked Stratus. "Without a Church, even gods weaken. talented individuals were said to be early members of this
Without followers, even gods die." tribe. The Ander were the first to discover runes and also
the first to meet the dreaded Sardukaari. They have
always been sworn enemies of the Unnatural Riders. The
Anders rule the Seeker's Valley to this day.

6
Azart Ilrace
Emerged in the far Northwest, near the current location of Occupied territory to the north of modern-day Salem.
Sunsrest. The Azart developed the technology of mining, They developed skills of herbalism, woodcraft, carpentry
smelting and engineering. This was a small tribe that and built the first roads to facilitate trade with their close
suffered many hardships, meeting many strange beasts in neighbors, the Pelar.
the mountains. They eventually developed several
sophisticated cave and tunnel complexes in the Teeth Keevel
Mountains and surrounding hills. These later developed Emerged from the sea and occupied an island to the
into the town of Sunsrest and the Sunrest Archive. southeast of mainland Bostonia. They developed the
technologies of fishing, net making, shipbuilding as well
Bost
as uses for fish oil, scales and bones.
Occupied the central coast near the current site of Boston.
The Bost were favored by the gods and gifted with skillful The Keevel were the first humans to meet the Cobrat -- at
warriors, metalworkers and fishermen. This tribe grew first in war, but peaceful relations were eventually
quickly and became the largest of the tribes. They sent formed. The Keevel brought many Cobrat technologies to
scouts and emissaries to find and make contact with other humankind, including astronomy and astrology.
humans. They met the Eltherist and Pelar tribes and were
among the first to trade as a means of obtaining resources. Khodrus
Occupied the southeast region of Bostonia, near current-
The Bost would grow to become the strongest tribe in the day Ismoth. This tribe developed shipbuilding, sail
land. Because of this, they were chosen by the Mother and making, navigation and excelled at the making of oil and
Father to unite the tribes of Bostonia. dye.
Dingore Pelar
Occupied the northwest hills, near the current site of Occupied territory to the east of modern-day Salem. This
Salem. The Dingore was the smallest tribe to emerge, tribe developed herding and agriculture. Some members
having only a dozen members to start. This tribe was of this tribe wandered with their herds and came into
gifted with knowledge of animals and plants and contact with the Borakki. From the Borakki, the Pelar
produced hunters and herbalists. brought knowledge of metalworking, new animals and
breeding.
They grew slowly and remained isolated long after the
other tribes had begun relations. Even after encounters The Pelar also encountered the Dingore tribe. The two
with other Bostonians, the Dingore were mistrustful and mistrusted one another immediately and several small
xenophobic. The other tribes saw them as primitive and skirmishes ensued. The Pelar, with the help of the Bost
inbred and relations were rarely good. and Ilrace would destroy the Dingore many years later.
Eltherist Tunderrim
After emerging from the sea, the Eltherist tribe migrated Emerged from the southern sea and wandered into the
inland and settled in the rich hills of central Bostonia. forest south of Bostonia. They had little time to develop
They developed agriculture, brewing and winemaking. In technologies or skills, as they were immediately set upon
addition, they were skilled in cultivating new strains of by goblins. They battled goblins for dozens of years and
plants. This tribe grew large and prosperous on their their numbers were slowly whittled away.
farms. Their central location brought them into contact
with several other tribes and so the skill of diplomacy was The survivors of this tribe fled north to the southern most
developed by Eltherist scouts. borders of modern-day Bostonia. The survivors of these
battles were great warriors, guerilla fighters and tacticians.
Gemenir
Occupied south central Bostonia and developed the Volus
technologies of alchemy, medicine as well as agriculture. Occupied the Seeker's Valley in southwest Bostonia, this
This tribe lived a quiet and peaceful existance, but got tribe developed herding and agriculture. They were rivals
squeezed by the growth of the Eltherist and the migration with the Ander tribe and fought several battles with that
of the Volus. They fought to keep their lands and became tribe until they migrated east, out of the valley. There they
raiders and warriors. However, in they end they were not found several herds of horses, and were the first tribe in
able to maintain their tribal identity and they effectively Bostonia to tame and use the strange beasts.
merged with the Eltherist and the Volus.

7
Tribal Wars Gemenir vs. Volus
The tribes prospered and grew and this led to competition When the Volus emigrated from the Seeker's Valley, they
for scarce resources. Some tribes took to raiding their encountered the Gemenir. They were determined to find a
neighbors when trade failed. This led to skirmishes which place to settle and the Gemenir were determined to
gave way to larger battles and even full scale wars. Some maintain their lands. This led to a series of terrible battles
of the notable conflicts are listed below. in which the Volus destroyed many Gemnir settlements.
The Gemenir surrendered and gave the Volus much of
their land.
Dingore vs. Pelar and Ilrace
The Taint of Paganism
The Dingore were a reclusive tribe who lived off the land,
hunting and gathering. They avoided attempts by their The emerging Bostonians knew their gods and in fact
neighbors to establish contact. This engendered mistrust reaped the benefits of their gifts. However, some
among the tribes. When the Pelar and Ilrace began Bostonians also came into contact with other cultures,
encroaching on the Dingore wilderness, the Dingore other theologies as well as powerful elementals. Some
retaliated by raiding settlements. This began the first of a tribes forgot the lessons of the Fireseeds and began to
series of conflicts between these tribes. worship these new beings.

The Dingore generally had fewer warriors and more For instance, the Dingore worshipped their own version of
primitive technology, and had to use their superior tactics Aestra. This goddess was an earth goddess, providing for
and knowledge of the land to survive. These wars raged and protecting her people. However, over the course of
on and off for years and in fact, continued even after the many years, the Dingore neglected their worship of the
Unification. Father. In addition, the Dingore vision of the Earth Mother
became twisted. As the Dingore faced assaults by the Pelar
Tunderrim vs. Khodrus and Ilrace, she became a bestial druidic goddess, oriented
As the Tunderrim were pushed north by the goblins, they more to war than nurturing and healing.
came into contact with the established settlements of the
Khodrus. At first, the tribes united against their inhuman The Tunderrim was another tribe that suffered the taint of
enemy. However, after the goblins were pushed back into paganism. During their battles with the goblins of the
the woods, the tribes fought amongst themselves. south, the Tunderrim turned to the worship of a forgotten
goblin war god to protect them. This god taught their
In these conflicts, the Tunderrim were superior -- warriors and made them fierce, but it turned them against
hardened from years of battle with the goblins. The the true faith and they were hated by the Faithful.
Khodrus were forced to give up much of their land to the
ferocious Tunderrim. Other tribes that felt the taint were the Gemenir and the
Ander. The Ander began their persecution of the Volus
Bost vs. Keevel after Zephram Ander was granted visions from a
powerful fire elemental. He took this fire elemental as a
As the sailing technology of the tribes advanced, the Bost manifestation of Stratus and began to worship it. Many in
and Keevel ships could cover more distance and
his tribe followed him into this twisted cult.
eventually came into contact. Both tribes coveted a series
of coves and reefs that were rich in seaweed and fish.
These cults threatened to divide the tribes against one
another. Worse, it threatened the purity of the cult of the
During several poor fishing years, the Bost ships tried to
Mother and Father.
deny access to the Keevel fishing vessels. The Keevel
retaliated by attacking the Bost ships. This led to the first
(and only) naval war of the tribal period. The Unification Wars
For the most part, these battles were stalemates until the Camille's Vision
cobrat intervened on behalf of their trading partners and
Throughout the tribal period, the Bost tribe remained the
taught the Keevel how to create shipboard weaponry. This
most powerful tribe. They started with a large, strong
turned the tide in favor of the Keevel and they pushed the
population. They fought some battles and a naval war
Bost out of the reefs.
with the Keevel, but none of these significantly damaged
Ander vs. Volus their resources, or populace. As the tribes began to feud
and paganism grew among the once faithful, Stratus and
The Ander and Volus both emerged in the Seeker's Valley. Aestra needed to unite the tribes. They chose the Bost tribe
Both tribes grew and quickly contacted one another. They as their avatars.
lived in peace until the Ander determined that it was their
destiny to rule the valley. They began a concerted effort to
force the Volus out. The Volus fought for their homes, but
eventually grew weary and fled to the east.

8
Mistress Camille was a common fisherwoman. Aestra The Azart were contacted by a group of Eltherist
came to her in a dream. In this dream, she was sitting in emmisaries led by Dovid. The Azart also questioned the
her boat after a full day of fishing. There was no wind and validity of the visions. They argued that their goddess of
the sun was setting and she was left with no way home. mercy and succor would never call a jihad, even against
As she pondered her problem, a flock of crows landed on pagan tribes. The Azart suggested sending missionaries to
deck and began eating her fish. the pagan tribes. After weeks of discussion, Dovid
angered and left, declaring the Azart enemies to the
As fewer fish remained, the crows began squawking and unification. The Azart sent troops to stop Dovid from
pecking at one another, bloodying each other. As the leaving, but he escaped and he and a small party of
crows argued, a large hawk and a gull swooped down and guards harried and harrased the Azart and slowly made
screeched. Most of the crows quieted, but some continued their way back to friendly land.
to attack the others. The gull and hawk jumped upon
these unruly crows, pecking them to death. The flock of The Pelar and Eltherist attacked the elusive Dingore. At
birds, now acting as one pulled on the nets and rigging first the attacks were amazingly successful and many
and towed the shore. Dingore warriors were killed and settlements destroyed.
The Ilrace, seeing the ferocity of the battles, knew they
She found herself on a stretch of rocky coast by the mouth would be attacked after the Dingore, and so joined their
of a powerful river. The hawk, gull and remaining crows, hated enemies in battle. This helped turn the tide. The
piled the dead birds onto the shore. From their blood, a Ilrace had weapons and armor obtained from pre-war
city of metal and stone began to rise. trade with the Bost. The Dingore were master foresters
and scouts. Together, they began to thwart the
Camille took news of her vision to the others in her Pelar/Eltherist attacks.
village. Her visions were not unique. A young warrior
named Dovid had also had a similar vision. The elders During this time, a small group of Pelar tribal priests
decided that these visions portended the rise of the Bost stumbled upon an Ancient site. This site contained the
tribe to supremacy in the land. They chose the visionaries focus for a powerful Sun rune. The priests understood this
to spread the word to the other villages. Elders of the rune as a gift from the Father. They bound the rune, and
other villages were excited about the news and praised calling themselves the Zealots, gathered an army of the
Camille and Dovid as messengers of the gods. Faithful to finally crush the Dingore/Ilrace.

Within days, elders from all the Bost villages had gathered The Zealots marched into Dingore territory, meeting
at the site of Camille's vision. The Bost tribe began heavy resistance. After several weeks of battle, they were
planning its rise to power. beaten and demoralized. At this point, Dovid returned
from Azart territory, met with the Zealots and they rallied
The Rise of the Bost Tribe around him. In addition to this, the Bost had sent a troop
of warriors into Ilrace territory from the east. The Ilrace
The War in the North could not stand between the two forces and withdrew
To unite the lands, the Bost needed allies. The Eltherist their troops to face the Bost warriors. This left the Dingore
were friends and trading partners and had a corps of alone facing Dovid and the Zealots.
excellent scouts and diplomats. They could spread Camille
and Dovid's message to the rest of the tribes. Some Bost Though the Zealots made progress through the Dingore
elders imagined a bloodless conquest, but others knew -- forces, the Dingore knew the woods well and avoided a
the vision predicted war. single decisive battle. Still, Dovid was persistent, hunting
down the resistance. Eventually, the Dingore were
The Pelar joined immediately, eager to crush their pagan defeated and either surrendered, or fled to the north,
neighbors the Dingore and take control of their rich leaving their tribal lands. Once Dovid broke through from
forests. The Ilrace were not so easily convinced and the west, his Zealots and the Bost warriors attacked the
thought perhaps that the talk of visions was a ploy for besieged Ilrace from both sides, crushing them. The first
Bost supremacy. Camille herself visited the leaders of the battles were won.
Ilrace, but she was turned away. Visions or no, the Ilrace
balked at Bost leadership of the alliance. The Khodrus and the Keevel
The Bost then turned their attention to the their southern
neighbors. The Khodrus leadership initially refused to join
the Bost unification. The Bost attacked and a few minor
battles were fought. However, once the common populace
heard of the miraculous visions of Camille and Dovid,
support for resistance dissolved. The Khodrus
surrendered to the Bost and joined the forces of
unification.

9
The Keevel would be more difficult to turn. They were At this time, a Pelar mage named Fermandel entered the
largely isolated from many of the other tribes and news of Zealots' camp. He presented them with a weapon. It was a
Camille and Dovid's miracles. They also remembered their minor blade made with Borakki metals and had runes of
battles with the Bost. It was unlikely they would be skill and power. Into this, Fermandel had bound several
responsive to friendly contact. minor spells. Still, the blade was far from powerful and
certainly no match for Grunderkin. Furthermore, the
The Keevel would protect their island with their powerful leader of the Bost armies was incapacitated.
considerable naval force. Their ships were fast and armed
with cobrat weaponry. Even with the aid of the Khodrus, A young warrior, Rehesse Jherod took up the sword and
the Bost tribe could never effectively face the Keevel on led Fermandel and a host of fresh Pelar troops to the south
the water. to meet the Tunderrim and Yaelin Ander. Before he left
the northlands, an elder from the Bost church, Telerind
Needing a way to strike at the Keevel island, the Bost took the sword and begged the Mother and Father to bless
disguised their boats, taking on the colors and superficial it, and its bearer in the coming battles.
appearance of the Keevel fleet. This allowed the Bost to
engage several Keevel ships hand-to-hand and capture When the two forces met, the battle raged for days. At one
them. These captured ships and their cobrat weaponry point, a group of Tunderrim, led by Yaelin overran a Pelar
allowed the Bost to raid the port town of Dornvel. They camp where Rehesse Jherod was resting. The two leaders
captured this town and a beachhead on the Keevel met in battle. Yaelin strode forward, bearing Grunderkin.
homeland. The Khodrus followed this raid with dozens of Jherod prayed to the Mother and Father that they would
ships and a large invasion force. Once a significant force favor him. Yaelin attacked first and true to its legend,
landed on the island, the defeat of the Keevel was Grunderkin struck directly at the head of young Jherod.
inevitable. However, with the blessing of Aestra and Stratus, the
magical blade provided by Fermandel moved to parry the
The War in the South death blow.
With the north secured, the forces of unification turned to
the south. The Volus had heard tales of the battles raging With that amazing parry, Jherod had the momentary
north of them. The Volus had a strong religious tradition upper hand and struck at Yaelin, killing him. The blessed
and greeted Dovid and his warriors with acceptance. blade was damaged, so Jherod picked up Grunderkin and
Together they moved to face the formidable combination seeing the lieutenant of the Tunderrim. He threw the
of the Tunderrim and the Ander -- both strong tribes and blade at this leader and the foul blade flew through the
both under the sway of pagan gods. air, piercing the chest of the enemy second in command.

The first battles took place near the town of Green Pass With their leaders killed, the Tunderrim forces were in
(near present-day Green's Gate). Led by Volus scouts, chaos and fled the field of battle. The forces of unification
Dovid and his Zealots travelled into enemy territory. The held the field. Grunderkin was lost in the chaos of the
Tunderrim warriors met him head on and a raging battle retreat, and it was retrieved by a young Ander lieutenant,
ensued. The Bost were weary from months of battle and Vens Ander. He hid the blade and returned to his
were simply not ready for the ferocity of the enemy. They homeland. Fermandel took the damaged blessed blade
were defeated and retreated to the hills. and repaired it, but the force of Grunderkin's blow
destroyed the runes on the blade. However, it was
As Dovid and his warriors rested and regrouped in the considered very lucky by Jherod and his troops. To
hills and caves, a corps of Ander tribesmen worked their commemerate his battle with Yaelin Ander, he called the
way through the mountains to cut the Bost off from their sword First Blood.
homeland. Their leader, Yaelin Ander, possessed a
The Turning of the Ander
powerful sword called Grunderkin. The legend of this
weapon dated back to the tribal period. It always struck The Bost, Pelar and Volus marched south, defeating
true against the leader of the enemy group. As Dovid's garrison forces and taking villages in the southland. The
men tried to escape, Yaelin charged Dovid, attacking him battles lasted several weeks. During this time, the Father
with the fabled weapon. Dovid was felled, but shined upon the Bost and their allies, bringing the raiding
miraculously, he survived the blow and was saved by his Sardukaari out of the mountains to attack the towns in the
men. western Seeker's Valley. The Ander had to send troops to
protect their lands from their historical enemies. Still,
Upon return to their homeland, the armies of the Zephram Ander, the elder of the tribe was committed to
unification were demoralized. Their leader had been defeating the Bost and feeding his elemental god.
struck down and their force defeated. The Tunderrim,
heady with their victory, were planning a counterattack
into the north with the Ander and their foul weapon in
tow.

10
Still, not all the Ander had descended into paganism. A Camille claimed she could prove that all tribes
small covert resistance plotted the overthrow of the tribal worshipped the same Mother. She went with the Azert
leadership. One of the leaders of this resistance was Vens leaders to the Dark Lake, a huge underground lake that
Ander, a distant cousin of Zephram. He knew there was provided water and food to the beseiged Azert. Praying to
no way to get to Zephram with all of his elemental the Mother to spare her as one of the faithful, Camille
magical power and bodyguards. So, he sent his wife proceeded to walk into the lake, immersing herself in its
Sophia to Zephram's court. Zephram had always coveted cold waters. After several minutes of silence, the Azert
the beautiful Sophia and it took little effort on her part to were certain the diplomat had failed to call her miracle
gain access to the leader's bed. and had drowned in the lake.

One night, as the members of the resistance closed upon At that moment, Camille rose from the lake. The water
the palace, Sophia hid Grunderkin under her robes and dripped down her back, burning the Mother's mark on
with it, killed her lover, Zephram. Vens and the rest of the her. The astounded Azert watched as Camille walked into
resistance, on Sophia's signal, stormed the palace. With the the Azert city, among the people and with her new power,
element of suprise and the magic blade, they took control healed their injuries and sickness. The Azert were
of the tribe, restored the worship of the Mother and Father convinced with this miracle and joined their brothers as a
and turned to fight the Sardukaari. unified people.

The Final Battle The Founding of the Church

With the Tunderrim and Ander defeated, the Azert were After the War of Unification, the leaders of the tribes
the only tribe refusing the unification. Dovid, with Jherod gathered at the site of Camille's vision. They agreed that a
by his side, returned to lead the Zealots as they marched single king should be chosen for the whole of the land.
north to conquer this final foe. However, the Azert were The tribes that had remained faithful to the faith would
well defended. Much of their lands were mountainous maintain stewardship of their lands, but pay a tithe of
and many settlements had easy access to the tunnel men, resources and silver to the king. The tribesmen
complexes where the Azert people emerged. initially chose Dovid to be the king, but he declined.
Dovid's vision of founding a new Church had not yet been
The first several battles went poorly for the forces of fufilled. Instead, he nominated his right hand, Jherod for
unification. The Azert were well prepared to defend their the crown. The tribesmen agreed and Jherod became the
homeland, and the Bost were not used to fighting in the first Bostonian king.
rough terrain of the northwest. When a battle was won,
most of the enemy soldiers escaped into caves or tunnels Dovid and Camille began the task of founding their new
and could not be captured. The Bost struggled forward Church. They each chose 12 stewards from their followers
through heavy resistance, unable to bring about a decisive and told them to travel the lands, destroy the old pagan
engagement. shrines and churches and construct new temples to the
Mother and Father. The soldiers and Zealots that
When Dovid and his army finally arrived at the Azert remained after the war were sent with these stewards to
homeland, he was faced with a powerful stronghold dug assist. These 12 churches became the First Churches
into the Teeth Mountains. Thinking it impossible to (which are now high holy sites) and the stewards became
assault, he prepared his army for a long seige. the First Bishops and Mother Superiors of the Bostonian
Faith. The two visionaries stayed at the site of their
The Bost and their allies were weary of fighting and a long original vision and built churches there. The city of Boston
seige seemed to have little probability of success. Camille was built around these two holy sites.
arrived at the scene with a small retinue of followers. She
approached the Azert stronghold in peace to negotiate an Many of the new priests followed the example of the
end to the war. powerful Zealots and took magical runes to augment their
power. The Zealot cult guarded the location of the Zealous
The negotiations continued for 10 days with little Light of the Father, so these new mage-priests took
progress. Camille realized that the problem was religious whatever runes were available to them. Priests of this era
differences between the Azert and the Bost. Simply, the had a wide variety of magical as well as religious power.
Azert did not believe that their lake goddess was the same
Mother that the Bost worshipped. Hence, the Azert saw Priestesses, on the other hand, did not seek out runes. As
the vision of unifying the tribes as that of a hostile goddess priestesses gained rank within the Church, they followed
ordering her people to conquer their neighbors. the example of Camille at Dark Lake and begged the
Mother to spare them as they drowned themselves in the
sea. When they emerged, they had taken the water rune
now called the Sacred Falls of Aestra. Equipped with this
rune, the priestesses went about healing the people sick
and injured from years of war.

11
The Modern Era Erzan’s Inquisition lasted for months. Erzan and his mage-
priests traveled from town to town, rooting out what they
St. Michael, Erzan and the Zealots perceived to be heresy and blasphemy. They held courts
For nearly 70 years after the War of Unification, the where they interrogated innocents and forced confessions
Zealots formed the backbone of the Bostonian Church. from them. Entire towns were burned so as to “cleanse”
These mage-priests spread the word of Stratus, them of their pagan taint. During this horror, any mages
maintained order, and tracked down the last remnants of Erzan found were brought back to Lightbane and forced
paganism in the land. The Zealots were a powerful to bind it.
symbol of the unity and strength of the new nation.
By y73, Erzan and his followers had terrorized a
Two of the most prominent Zealots were Michael and significant portion of the land to the east of Seeker’s Valley
Erzan. Both men had grandfathers who had fought in the (the valley itself had been sealed off by Nalen Ander to
Unification. Both men were respected scholars and priests repel the renegade Zealots). As details of the gruesome
and both had reached the highest circle in the Zealot’s crusade reached Boston, it was clear that Erzan’s
holy rune. Finally, both of these mage-priests had a keen campaign was unjust. Michael rallied his own band of
interest in the nature of magic and its place in history. Zealots and marched southwest to confront the errant
They often corresponded and debated this topic and their mage-priests.
arguments became legendary among the ranks of the
Zealots. Battles raged through the winter. Erzan’s mage-priests
used Lightbane to summon hordes of spiders formed of
A consistent point of contention between the two Zealots shadow. His powers brought darkness and confusion to
was the question of whether magical runes had any the battlefield and twisted the minds of Michael’s
inherent disposition. Michael held the view that some warriors, turning them upon each other. Though initially
runes were inherently evil, dark and corrupting. In repelled, Michael and his followers found that Lightbane
contrast, Erzan felt that all runes neutral symbols of power made its wielders unable to bear the rays of magical light.
with no alignment other than that of their wielder. Using the divine light of Stratus, the renegades and their
shadowy creations were broken.
Erzan considered himself a scholar of magic, and spent
much of his free time away from the church, researching Erzan fled into the hills. Michael caught his one-time
and seeking out rune sites. On one such trip, Erzan friend, and in a final duel between light and darkness,
traveled to the mountains of the Seeker’s Valley. There, he defeated him. While Erzan lay dying, Michael bade him to
found a strange cave reeking of magical influence (y66). reveal the location of the site of Lightbane so that its
Inside, Erzan found the rune site for Lightbane, a rune of blackness could be destroyed. In a moment of clarity,
darkness and fear. Erzan began to tell Michael, but was silenced as the
shadows inside him covered his body and spirited him
Erzan did not take the rune at that moment. Instead, he away. Michael called to the Divine Father to curse the
traveled to Boston to research and contemplate this rune. rune and make its possessors covetous, paranoid, and
Though he found no specific record of the Lightbane, the jealous of their rune – hopefully insuring that only one or
symbolism of the rune was clear. It was pure darkness, two might take this power at one time. It is unknown
fear; some would argue the absence of the Father’s light. whether the curse succeeded or not.
Erzan considered this a perfect test of his beliefs.
Mastering this rune would prove that it is the will of the After their victory, the Zealots headed north into the hills
bearer that dictates the nature of the rune and that runes and mountains surrounding Seeker’s Valley, taking the
cannot corrupt. Erzan returned to the valley, and bound body of Erzan with them. It is unknown why they did so,
Lightbane (y67). and none of the writings of Michael give insight into this
question. However, it is known that they traveled for three
For years Erzan bore his rune without any sign of days and came to a beautiful ridge overlooking the
corruption. He took up residence in the plains outside of Porthas River.
the Seeker’s Valley and continued spreading the true faith.
However, something within Erzan had changed. At that site, Michael and his Zealots buried Erzan with
honor. Afterward, Michael celebrated mass with his fellow
During his campaign to rid the region of worship of mage-priests. During his sermon, he convinced them that
Ulderghast (y72), a powerful air elemental, Erzan Lightbane had corrupted Erzan’s heart and that with
exhibited uncharacteristic cruelty. In his fortress, he would every bound rune, there was a risk. Though it may be true
torture pagan captives, forcing them to convert before that some runes were neutral and could be thought of as
killing them. When the cult of Ulderghast was destroyed, tools, others like Lightbane had ties to otherworldly, and
Erzan gathered over a dozen Zealots and brought them to possibly infernal powers. Still others might affect the
bind Lightbane. Then, he and his band began searching binder’s mind and make it more susceptible to impurity
for new threats to the church. They found these threats in and temptation. Michael concluded that to be good
every village and hamlet in the countryside. priests, the Zealots would have to give up their runes.

12
 For the next, 5 years, the two companies battled for
The Zealots agreed. They constructed an altar and Michael business. Vincent’s Association used the noble’s extensive
placed his hammer upon it. The priests then prayed that connections to push the Guild of Engineers out of central
the divine Father would grant them the strength to be free and northern Bostonia. The Guild still retained contracts
of their magic. Michael touched the hammer to himself, in and south of Boston, but was financially weakened
and his runes vanished. One-by-one, each of the mage- from the struggle. In y393, Pela Ostheimer petitioned the
priests did the same. king for assistance. King Damon Tharkas threw his
considerable resources behind the Guild of Engineers and
From that day forward, no priest has taken a rune. left Vincent’s company bankrupt. However, Tharkas then
proceeded to oust Ostheimer and take control of the Guild
The Formation of The Engineers’ Guild as an office of the Bostonian Crown.
For over 350 years, Bostonians continued to maintain and
The Guild remained an office of the Tharkas monarchy for
use the infrastructure from ancient and tribal times. While
33 years when the monarchy was dissolved by the
these roads, dams and bridges were adequate for light
Confederacy Pact in y426. The first Lord Mayor took
use, they required continuous maintenance and were
charge of the guilds of Bostonia and gave the Engineers a
prone to flooding and washing out.
special charter to operate as a Sponsored Independent
Guild. A young engineer named Gavin Dorniker was
In y364, a particularly harsh winter and sudden spring
made guild master.
warming caused a large stretch of the Boston-Salem road
to be unusable. Trade in the region was brought to a
The Engineers’ Guild continues in this form until the
standstill. Many merchants and nobles suffered heavy
current day.
financial losses and the city of Boston saw the worst
famine in its history. The Confederacy Pact
Seeking to avoid a similar catastrophe in the future, a The Tharkas family ruled Bostonia for four generations
group of nobles, headed by Sir Lorne Vincent, pooled their prior to the year of 423. That time period was marked with
resources and formed the Association of Scholars and improvement of infrastructure, centralization, and an
Engineers to study the architecture of the ancients and increase in the power of the monarch. The Tharkas had
devise new and better ways of building. The Association systematically created laws that undermined the rights of
succeeded in devising several useful engineering the barons. By 420, the barons had lost the rights to mint
techniques and designs that would greatly improve travel coins, hold their own courts; there were harsh limits on
in Bostonia. the sizes of their militaries, and many of their sons and
daughters were essentially held hostage at Boston
Over the next 15 years, The Association rebuilt the Boston- University.
Salem road, constructed a system of locks and dams that
eased travel along the Sunsrest River, and generally Of course, this led to a rising discontent among the
improved the infrastructure in much of northern Bostonia. nobility. On several occasions, there were uprisings and
However, in y378, a baronial conflict, and a drought left brief civil strife. Both the Azareth and the Ander baronies
the nobles in terrible financial shape. Pela Ostheimer, then openly defied the crown at times. These baronies managed
the president of The Association, bought the licenses and to keep some of their former power, and had formidable
equipment from the cash-strapped nobles, moved the natural defenses to protect them from invasion. Few
group to Boston, and renamed it the Guild of Engineers. others dared challenge the might of the Tharkas and those
that did were quickly and harshly put down.
The Guild soon began entertaining offers for work in and
around Boston. In y379 the group repaired and expanded In y423, Xavier Tharkas died, leaving his only child,
Boston’s shipyards. In y380, the road from Boston to Nob’s fourteen-year-old Talen Tharkas as his heir. Several
Landing was constructed. As news of their successful barons laid claim to the throne. However, it was up to the
projects spread, so did the scope and locations of new Church to decide the matter of succession, and to the
contracts. By y385, the Guild was a profitable business and dismay of the barons, Talen took the throne, appointing
Guild Engineers were engaged constructing magnificent Cardinal Fowler as his advisor and minister. Six months
churches in Sunsrest, as well as roads in Seeker’s Valley. later, young King Talen died of a mysterious wasting
disease. Talen had no heir, leaving the throne vacant.
In y388, Lord Vincent had emerged from his financial
difficulties, gathered a group of investors and attempted Three years of civil war followed as the barons tried to
to form a second Association of Scholars and Engineers to take possession of the throne. Baloric, Falloren, and Faust
compete with the Guild. He managed to gather a pool of all battled for control of Boston. The other baronies were
engineering talent and began bidding against the Guild on drawn into the war, each backing one of the three
several projects based in central Bostonia. principals. The intense and widespread fighting left towns
burned and armies in ruin.

13
In y425, the forces of Baron Bagwah Terzani (backing His first official act was to collect the ragged troops
Baloric) crushed the Faustian army at Lake Valice. With remaining from the recent battles and march them south
that defeat, Baron Faust was forced to pledge his where the Cobrat armies had massed. Though early
allegiance to Baloric. In the meantime, the cobrats had battles went poorly for the humans, a particularly harsh
taken notice of the internal strife among the Bostonians. winter stalled the Cobrat attack. By spring of y427, Lord
Several Cobrat states decided to take advantage of the Mayor Pak had managed to push the snake men south
chaos. They allied and began preparing for a massive into the forests.
invasion of southern Bostonia.
Over the course of the next 60 years, the office of Lord
Fearing continued chaos and a Cobrat invasion, Grand Mayor and the Church of Stratus became intertwined. The
Father Weyrand tried to negotiate a peace. He promised Lord Mayors of the time found themselves drawn into
almost total autonomy to the baronies. To maintain order numerous arguments between barons. Having no noble
and repel invasions, each barony would pay a tax in men, ties meant that, although the Lord Mayors were impartial,
money, and resources. A central authority in Boston they could rarely rely on diplomacy to solve these
would use the resources to build a standing army. To disputes and often had to resort to bullying the nobles to
prevent the nobility from using this considerable force to keep them in line. Since the nobles had grown strong in
take control, a commoner with a military background the years of the Confederacy, the Church had to back the
would be chosen to head it. Lord Mayor with threats of religious sanctions, or military
action.
Though many of the nobles supported the deal, both
Baloric and Falloren balked. Both felt they were close to Finally in y485, a group of nobles led by Rianna Azareth
defeating the other and uniting Bostonia under their petitioned the Grand Father to dissolve the office of Lord
banner. In y426, their armies squared off near the town of Mayor and recreate the monarchy. The Grand Father,
Armor. There they fought for six days, clashing numerous Michael Richelau, realized that the Church had moved too
times. Neither force was able to capture the field. Finally, far into the realm of secular politics. He wanted to relieve
when both groups were weary, a swarm of Templars and the Church of political concerns and focus on spiritual and
Aeltharze descended upon them, routing them. theological matters.

The attack by the soldiers of the Church ended the civil After weeks of negotiation and private discussions with
war. The Confederacy Pact was signed by all of the barons Rianna, Grand Father Richelau agreed that noble blood
in y426. The captain of the Bostonian Guard, Greyland Pak should rule the land. However, he also felt that bloody
became the first Lord Mayor of Boston. wars of succession should be avoided, and that the
Church should have some role in determining who would
rule. He penned the Traditions of Succession and the
nobles adopted it.

Through the Traditions, Rianna Azareth was crowned the

Queen of Bostonia in y485.

14
 Geography

Falleron Barony
Timeline

Year Falleron/Eltherist
12 Eltherist tribe given northern lands for their contribution in the Unification.
Jinreh Eltherist becomes first baron of this land.
51 Jinreh dies and leaves control with his son Quan.
Quan becomes baron of Eltherist.
179 Haruman becomes baron.
 183 Eltherest first encounter borakki clansmen.
184 Borakki raid human villages.
187 Weyran Eltherist, firstborn of Haruman dies, leaving Lilith as the heir.
194 Haruman dies.
Lilith becomes baroness.
202 Black Rains
210 Black Rains
211 Lilith dies and her sister Jennith takes over.
212 Jennith's rule is contested by her vassals.
213 A bloodless coup occurs with Thomas Falleron leading a coalition of nobles to overthrow Jennith. Eltherist rule is
ended.
Falloren Barony created with Thomas becoming baron.
219 Construction on Starugard fortifications begun.
222 Starugard fortifications complete. Borakki raiders turned back.
Party of borakki clansmen slaughtered by Starugard border patrol.
223 Borakki clans defeat Starugard garrisons and invade Falleron.
224 Combined force of Falleron, Azareth, and King's Guard pushes borakki back through pass.
Thomas Falleron makes peaceful contact with closest borakki clans.
247 Thomas dies.
Thomas' son Timothy becomes baron.
248 Timothy cements peaceful relations with borakki.
Falleron backs Childress family in their bid to take over Pelar.
274 Timothy Falleron dies.
Timothy's son Edwin takes the throne. Edwin encourages Childress to end their war with Pelgrim and negotiate a
peace.
275 War weary sides declare truce. The Church negotiates a lasting peace that sees the Pelar Barony divided into two
states, Childress and Pelgrim.
423 Fourteen-year-old Talen Tharkas takes the throne. Six months later, he is dead of a mysterious rotting disease leaving
no heir to the throne.
Civil war ensues as several nobles vie for the vacant throne.
426 Battle of Armor. After fighting each other for 6 days, both Baloric and Falloren are defeated by an army of Templars
and Aeltharze.
637 Lilith Eltherist is canonized.

In the year y179 Haruman Eltherist came to rule the land.

General Information Haruman was interested in exploration, and sent scouts to
aggressively map the mountains to the north of his lands.
Current Ruler Roderick Falleron
When his scouts returned with news of a huge pass
Population High
allowing easy access to unexplored territory, Haruman
Military Might Most Powerful of All the Baronies
organized several expeditions to claim it. Haruman's
Friends Koren Barony, Richelau Barony, oldest son, Weyran, led one of these expeditions.
Shield Guild, Engineers’ Guild
Enemies Hierant Barony, White Ratlings, Weyran spent several years in the northern territory. In
Vincent Barony, Olander Barony, y183, his expedition had encounters with several
Baloric Barony aggressive borakki clans. Though the first meetings were
Exports Horses, Wood, Weapons, Finished peaceful, the clans saw an opportunity in exploiting the
Goods physically inferior humans and the next year saw the first
Imports Fine Weapons borakki raids on northern villages. Weyran also mapped a
Succession First-Born Male considerable portion of the borakki lands, and made
contact with dozens of clans. In y187 Weyran got caught
History up in borakki clan warfare and was killed. This left
The lands now occupied by Falleron once belonged to the Haurman's oldest daughter Lilith as the Eltherist heir.
Eltherist tribe. After the Unification, King Jherod granted
the Eltherist rule over their tribal lands, as well as much of When Haruman died in y194, Lilith was reluctant to take
the Dingore lands. The descendants of Eltherist ruled the the Eltherist throne. She had gone to school at the Temple
lands for over 200 years. of the Dark Lake in Sunsrest, and had just become a
Learned Sister. Leaving the Temple to deal with political
matters seemed wrong to her. However, her younger
sister was only 5 years old and thus unsuited to rule.

16
 Battles continued through y224. Falleron and his vassals
Several loyal vassals traveled to Sunsrest and tried to attempted to push the borakki out of Bostonia, but the
convince Lilith to return to the barony. One night after clansmen were powerful and would not be moved. Baron
talking with these noblemen, Lilith had a vivid dream in Falleron called on the king and the Azareth to help them
which the Black Rains poisoned her father’s barony. Lilith repel the invaders. As the vengeful borakki terrorized
walked through the land, surrounded by disease and northern Falleron, the Bostonians amassed their army.
famine, and wherever she stepped, the land was healed.
Lilith interpreted her dream as a message from Aestra. She When the Bostonian army was ready, they marched north
remained a priestess, but returned to Eltherist and took and attacked the raiders. The overwhelming force of the
her father's throne. Bostonian army was more than able to compensate for the
physical prowess of the borakki. The raiders fall back to
Lilith was a kind and merciful baroness and she quickly the Starugard Pass where they encountered several units
earned the love of her subjects. As she predicted, Black of Azareth mountaineers and archers. Taking heavy
Rains came to Bostonia. The first rain came in y202, totally losses, the borakki fled through the pass back to their
wiping out the barony's harvest. Lilith rallied the homeland. After the war, Baron Falleron rebuilt the
physicians and priestesses of her land to care for the Starugard defenses. In addition, he made efforts to make
thousands of people sickened by the rains. Lilith also went peaceful contact with the closest borakki clans. His efforts
among the people to heal them and just like her vision, were successful in y233 when he obtained a treaty keeping
anyone she touched and any land upon which she walked borakki raiders out of Bostonia. In y247, Baron Timothy
was healed. Another rain came in y210. Once again, Falleron would sign a treaty with the Gaerkan of the
Lilith's miraculous healing powers were in evidence. Nation of Bor's Children, insuring peace for many years to
Unfortunately, before she could complete her work, Lilith come.
contracted the sickness herself, and died in y211.
Between the years of y350 and y423, the Tharkas Family
Jennith Eltherist took control of the barony after her put five monarchs on the throne. The Tharkas Monarchs
sister's death. Unfortunately, Jennith had lived in the were meddlers and powermongers who were universally
shadow of her sister for many years and had grown selfish dispised by the barons of Bostonia. During their reign, the
and callous in that time. She allowed her ministers to rule powers of the barons were eroded and more and more
the land while she indulged in extravagant feasts and authority was centralized in Boston. Though several
parties for her friends. Her vassals could not stand for barons considered leading a rebellion against the
such behavior while the barony was still reeling from the smothering rule of the Tharkas, none could unite enough
effects of the rains. Led by Lord Thomas Falleron, the support to do so.
nobles of Eltherist united and forced Jennith to abdicate
her throne in y213. Thomas became baron and However, in y423, fourteen year old Talen Tharkas took
immediately started work reclaiming the lands scarred by the throne. When he did so, he was a healthy young man.
the rains. Soon after his ascension, he contracted a mysterious
rotting disease. Under the influence of the disease, King
In y219 continued borakki raids prompted Baron Falleron Talen's muscles withered into nothing. No physician,
to build a series of fortifications in the Starugard Pass. In y priestess, or mage could determine the cause of the
222, the completion of the fortifications closed the pass to disease, or find a cure. In six months Talen was dead,
borakki raiding parties. Many raiders turned back when leaving no heir to continue Tharkas rule.
they encountered the fortifications. However, in y223 a
large party made up of clansmen from the Macgruden, The king's death set the stage for Baron Stephen Falleron
Kerkull, and Giniss clans clashed with border patrols. The to step forward and make a bid for the throne. The barons
borakki drove off the initial force of Bostonian soldiers. Baloric and Faust also desired the throne, and opposed
However, when the borakki continued through the pass, Falleron's claim. The three barons met in Boston for nearly
they were ambushed and slaughtered. a month after the death of the king. However, the three
could not reach an agreement and war was imminent.
The borakki clans were outraged. In their culture, raiding
between rival clans was an honored tradition. Few raids For the next three years, Falleron, Baloric, Faust and their
resulted in deaths. The clans gathered their allies and supporters clashed. Armies marched across Bostonia,
marched south to teach the humans a lesson. The borakki's fighting, looting and pillaging. The Church cajoled and
initial attack drove Falleron's troops from Starugard. The threatened the barons, but could not stop the war. In the
clansmen poured into Bostonia and burned several first two years of the war, each side tested the other two,
northern villages. fighting many battles, but not committing their forces to a
decisive engagement. For Baloric and Faust, these small
battles escalated and finally in the fall of y425, Baloric
trapped Baron Faust and his army. As Baloric positioned
his forces for the final blow, Stephen Falleron marched his
troops south in hopes of catching both of his enemies
weakened.

17
 Politics and Relations
Baloric had anticipated such a move and his northern
guard harassed Falleron's army. Falleron and his generals Ever since y426 when Guyven Childress supported
could not out maneuver Baloric's troops and their march Falleron’s bid for the throne, the two lands have been
was dalayed at XYZ. Heavy snows ended any hope of allies, and their rulers trusted friends. That friendship has
Falleron reaching the battle in time. In y425, Faust continued to the present day, and now Falleron supports
surrendered to Baloric and pledged support for Baloric's Koren in its continual battles against Hierant.
bid for the throne.
Falleron also maintains a good relationship with Richelau.
That winter, Church officials traveled across Bostonia to Falleron respects the considerable power held by Richelau,
gather support for a plan to end the war. Many barons and sees a land with similar traditions and goals. In
and nobles supported the Church and with that backing, addition, both baronies see the land of Vincent as an
archbishops met with each camp trying to negotiate peace. enemy, and are concerned over recent developments
The Barons balked at the Church's plan, each feeling that there.
they could defeat the other once spring came. Having
failed at diplomacy, the Grand Father and his Cardinals Since the borakki raids ended, Falleron has had a
planned to end the war by military means. beneficial relationship with the borakki Nation of Bor's
Children. Borakki tradesmen frequent Salem and the
The next spring, the land thawed and Falleron marched northern villages. In addition, the two groups have
south to confront Baloric. The two armies met at Armor. coordinated to hold in check the yearly incursions of
As the armies clashed, a force of Templars and Aeltharze ratlings.
descended upon them. In the ensuing chaos, the forces of
the Church decimated the barons' armies. Both Falleron Falleron is mistrustful of Vincent, but needs passage
and Baloric were forced to surrender and abandon their through their territory for trade with Boston. Relations are
quest for the throne. Under the guidance of the Grand strained, and there are continuous negotiations dealing
Father, the Bostonian barons signed the Confederacy Pact, with road and river access and tolls. Falleron sees Vincent
dissolving the monarchy for 60 years. as a land run by scoundrels and cowards, but publicly,
their diplomats maintain an air of respect and cooperation.
Since the defeat at Armor, no Falleron has ever bid for the
throne under the Traditions of Succession. Locations
Salem
Region Notes
Salem is the capital of Falleron Barony. It is a sprawling
Falleron is the “grand old general” of Bostonia. Falleron
city of over 30,000 people on the shores of Lake Sendel. It
has the largest, and best-trained military of any barony. In
is the center of trade in northern Bostonia. Most goods that
addition to a powerful infantry, Falleron has the largest
are traveling south stop in Salem, and are shipped via the
cavalry force in the land. They are a force with which to be
Ilsen River. It is renown for its docks that service
reckoned and their neighbors respect or fear them.
hundreds of river boats every day. It is also the home of
the University of Salem which specializes in medicine,
Falleron is blessed with three of the remaining eight
philosophy, history, and alchemical science.
surviving horse bloodlines in Bostonia. They boast three
stables, and all of their herds are prospering and growing Falleron Keep
free of disease. Falleron also has excellent horse trainers.
The horses are used to supply the cavalry, equip scout Baron Falleron's keep is a huge concentric castle with
units and messengers, and are sold to rich nobles. powerful walls, a moat, and a host of siege engines for its
defense. The castle is built directly beside Lake Sendel.
Falleron has the responsibility of protecting the Starugard The moat is in fact a huge trench filled into which the lake
Pass from incursions. Many years ago, borakki clansmen water was allowed to flow. In addition, the castle has its
used this pass to raid human villages. Now the borakki own docks to service the baron and his court. The castle is
come to trade, but a threat still exists. In the past 150 years, surrounded by a small fishing village that shares the dock
raids by the white ratlings have become more common. with its noble patrons.
Now, it is almost certain that when the mountain pass Starugard Pass
thaws in the spring, the ratlings will come. Falleron
maintains several garrisons and guard towers in Falleron guards the huge pass seperating Bostonia from
Starugard and patrols aggressively during the spring and the lands of the borakki and white ratlings. Starugard is a
summer months. huge gap in the mountains, more a valley than a pass.
Falleron has dozens of watchtowers and garrisons
guarding the pass from white ratling raiders who come
every spring to test their newest schemes and devices
against the human defenders. In addition, patrols protect
the many merchants that use the pass to travel to and from
nearby borakki towns.
18
Plots and Adventures At this point, the PCs have the choice of either returning
home with the goods, traveling further into borakki lands
Just Another Day In Starugard to find another clan with which to trade, parleying with
Oren to get him to trade, or finding a way to replace Oren
PCs are members of a border garrison in Starugard. They
with someone more willing to deal. There are a number of
are ordered by their commander to find a merchant
twists that can be applied to this situation. Gardok could
caravan that has disappeared in the pass. Did they get lost
have died under suspicious circumstances, or the
in the recent late spring snowstorm, or were they taken by
ascention of Oren might split the clan into two camps. Of
white ratling raiders? Of course, if the GM does not want
course, the whole situation could be made more urgent if
PCs to be members of the garrison, then they could be
the goods carried by the caravan were perishable. In any
hired by the garrison commander to find the missing
case, if the PCs decide to remain and deal with the
caravan.
situation in Uld Tannon, they will have to use their
Convincing the Gaerkan subterfuge and conversation skills to succeed.

PCs are merchants, or agents for a local merchant. They Something in the Lake
are charged with bringing a caravan of trade goods
Boats have been disappearing on Lake Sendel for weeks
through the Starugard Pass to the nearby borakki village
now. Fishermen are claiming to have seen monstrous
of Uld Tannon, the home of the Forl Tannon Clan. The
shadows speeding along the lake before they sink beneath
merchants have an excellent relationship with Gardok, the
the surface. Is it a monster, a freak natural occurrence, or
gaerkan of Forl Tannon, and so expect the trip to be a
evil magic that is the culprit?
success.
White Ratling Plague
However, when they arrive, they find that Gardok is dead,
and another family has taken charge of the clan. This new Residents of one of the northern villages have contracted a
leader, Oren, is less sympathetic to the human traders, and strange disease that causes them to suffer a terrible fever,
refuses to do business with them. fall into a coma, and then die. PCs could be passing
through, or they could hear of the illness from reports in a
nearby town. PCs with the physician skill, or divination
magic can determine that the cause of the illness is not
disease, but poison.

A nearby camp of white ratlings has poisoned the town's

well and food supply. Why you ask? Well, the ratlings
have learned that there is a powerful ancient site directly
under this village and they need to clear the town before
they excavate.

19
Hierant Barony
Timeline
Year Hierant/Pelgrim
11 Pelar Barony formed and granted to Caldre Pelar and his tribe. The area of this barony (often called the Pelarem
Region) is approximately what Hierant and Koren currently hold.
Caldre Pelar becomes baron of Pelar Barony.
245 Vale Pelar takes throne of Pelar Barony.
269 Vale Pelar dies with no heir. The lines of succession are unclear.
Pelar Barony undergoes a civil war as two distant branches of the family claim ownership of the land.
Civil war rages for 6 years, involving neighboring barons backing their favored families.
275 War weary sides declare truce. The Church negotiates a lasting peace that sees the Pelar Barony divided into two states,
Childress and Pelgrim.
Northern Pelar becomes Pelgrim Barony.
Disus Pelgrim becomes baron of Pelgrim Barony.
282 Border dispute over Krellwin River flares into combat between Childress and Pelgrim. Childress maintains control of
the river.
298 Disus Pelgrim abdicates his barony to his son, Gerald.
Gerald Pelgrim takes control of Pelgrim Barony.
324 Childress claims Lake Sotebar. Battle between forces of Childress and Pelgrim leaves Childress in control of the lake.
332 Gerald Pelgrim dies.
Gerald's son Tilbrook takes control of Pelgrim Barony.
472 Henry takes control of Pelgrim Barony.
488 Henry Pelgrim attacks several Childress forts on the border in an attempt to secure the region. He then makes a bid to
reclaim the Childress Barony for its own.
Queen Rianna Azareth grants the land to the strongest vassal of the Childress clan, Samuel Koren. Pelgrim resent Koren
for occupying their land.
493 Pelgrim and Koren battle over border dispute near Krellwin Hills.
511 Henry Pelgrim dies.
Henry's son Christopher takes the Pelgrim throne.
516 Young nobles Val Pelgrim and Sara Koren meet at Baron Falleron’s court and fall in love. Their parents do not approve
of the couple.
517 Val and Sara continue to meet in secret and make arrangements for their marriage.
Bandits attack the young lovers as they meet. Val Pelgrim survives the encounter, but Sara Koren is killed as she throws
herself in front of a blow meant for her love. Both families blame the other for staging an assassination attempt.
522 Pelgrim attacks the Koren Barony. Val leads the attack, vowing revenge on Sara’s Father.
524 War ends and the Pelgrim are defeated. When it is found that Val bolstered his troops with goblins and white ratlings,
the Pelgrim are stripped of their lands.
The barony is granted to Daphne Hierant, a distant relative to the Pelgrim clan. She promises normal relations with
Koren, but disputes over post-war borders causes much strain.

20
 531 Daphne leads a force to claim the hills of Oakdale for Hierant. She immediately starts building small fortifications along
this section of the border.
536 Hierant Castle is constructed using borakki laborers. The Engineers’ Guild complains about this violation of their
monopoly, but Daphne Hierant refuses to deal with them.

General Information With the fate of the Childress lands uncertain, Baron
Henry Pelgrim used the confusion to destroy several
Current Ruler Valeria Hierant Childress garrisons and claim key resources along the
Population ??? border. He then claimed the entire lands of Childress as
Military Might ??? his own. Many vassals of Childress and Barons Falloren
Friends Baloric Barony, Borakki, Spice and Olander refuted Pelgrim’s claims. Queen Azareth
Guild held an assembly in the city of Jherod in which she
Enemies Koren Barony, Falleron Barony listened to the claims. After three weeks of legal
Exports Clay, Whale Meat, Whale Oil, Ice, arguments, she decided to grant the land to Childress’
Coal, Iron, Black Quartz most powerful vassal, Samuel Koren. The Pelgrim family
Imports Borakki Goods, Wood, Finished stormed out of the assembly vowing to destroy Koren and
Goods, Fruit, Food, Settlers, Labor reclaim their land.
Succession First-Born Child
Samuel Koren made several peace overtures to Pelgrim.
History These gestures were ignored and the relationship between
the neighboring baronies remained strained. In y493
The Hierant and Koren baronies started as part of the fighting started over access to the mineral-rich Krellwin
Pelar barony. King Jherod formed the Pelar barony in y11 Hills. Over the next generation, battles flared every 2 or 3
to reward the Pelar tribe for their part in winning the War years and the border between the two lands shifted
of Unification. The Pelar barons ruled their land with continuously. Finally in y515, Archbishop Ptolemy, under
honor for over 250 years. However, early in the 200’s, a pressure from the Grand Father, called a summit between
contested inheritance split the family along two distinct the two barons to bring a lasting peace to the region.
branches, the Childress and the Pelgrim. The two branches
of the family fought for years, first with words, then The barons met at Falleron's Keep and both brought a
financially. Finally, after three generations of simmering retinue of advisors and bodyguards with them. They also
hatred, the Pelar barony exploded into civil war. happened to bring their heirs to the summit, in hopes of
teaching them the art of diplomacy. However, when the
In y269 Lord Disus Pelgrim supplemented his personal two young heirs met, they felt an inescapable attraction to
forces with mercenary companies and marched against one another. As the summit raged and their fathers
Childress’ strongholds. Battles raged across central Pelar argued, Val Pelgrim and Sara Koren arranged nightly
and did not end until the Church negotiated a peace by meetings where they could talk in secret. By the time the
splitting the barony between the two factions. summit adjorned, the two had fallen in love.

The settlement stopped the fighting for only a short time. Val and Sara continued to arrange meetings whenever
The new barons Childress and Pelgrim hated one another they could. The young lovers arranged "official" trips to
and sought any opportunity for conflict. Disputes over Boston, Salem, and Ismoth, and though they tried to
territory and resources erupted into battle several times remain discreet. Word of the couple got back to their
between y275 and y350, most notably in y282 and y324. families. Though the recent negotiations had brought
peace, neither family was willing to let go of their mutual
During the generations of conflict, the Childress family hatred and the lovers were forbidden to see each other.
developed a strong relationship with Falloren. Falloren This disapproval only strengthened Val and Sara's desire.
constantly backed Childress as they slowly claimed the They continued to meet, and even planned marriage.
resources of their rival. When Falloren made a bid for the
throne in y426, Baron Guyven Childress mobilized to One night, during a midnight meeting, the couple were set
support him. The campaign climaxed in the Battle of upon by bandits. An apt swordsman, Val attempted to
Armor in which the armies of Falloren and Childress were confront the attackers, but they outnumbered him. Sara
destroyed by a force of Templars and Aeltharze. Baron attempted to help, but as she did so, she was killed by a
Childress died at Armor along with his sons. Control of sword meant for her lover. Val eventually escaped and
the barony passed to Morton Childress who had no heir. made his way back to Castle Pelgrim. Each family hurled
When Morton died childless at age 89, the Childress line accusations at the other. Val was certain that the "bandits"
ended. were actually assassins hired by Baron Koren to kill him.
The angry young man tried to convince his father to mass
an army to destroy Koren once and for all. However, the
Pelgrim Barony was weak from the years of conflict.
Revenge was not a possibility at this time.
21
 Politics/Relations
Instead of rushing to war, Baron Pelgrim and his son met
with Koren and offered a lasting peace. The fighting The lands of the northern and southern Pelarem Region
ended for five years, during which the Pelgrim hoarded have a history of conflict. Ever since y269, when civil war
their resource, built their military force, and planned their divided the Pelar Barony, the descendants of Pelgrim and
attack. As the time for attack drew near, Val realized that Childress have fought for control of this land. These
Pelgrim simply did not have the troops to crush Koren. To battles have left Hierant politically isolated and
bolster his troops, he made contact with several goblin surrounded by enemies.
tribes and a group of white ratlings. He offered the non-
humans silver and slaves for their support in the coming Hierant and Koren hate each other, and oppose each other
conflict. at every turn. Both baronies keep troops stationed at the
border, and though no large-scale conflict has occurred in
In y522 Val Pelgrim led his army deep into Koren years, the patrols often “accidentally” cross into enemy
territory. Pelgrim used his non-human troops and the territory and engage in skirmishes. There is no trade or
element of surprise to gain an initial advantage. However, cooperation between the two baronies, and Hierant
Isram Koren called on support from Falloren and Richelau actively lobbies against Koren in the King’s Assembly.
and defeated Pelgrim's army at Plithan. Then he marched
to Castle Pelgrim and razed it, defeating the Pelgrim Falleron has historically supported Childress and Koren,
utterly. When it was learned that Val Pelgrim recruited and for this reason, Hierant considers them an enemy.
white ratlings into his army, King XYZ stepped in and Falleron lent troops and money to Koren’s war effort, and
stripped the Pelgrim of their lands. He granted the lands has even attacked directly to support Koren. Hierant does
to Daphne Hierant, a distant branch of the Pelgrim. These not have enough troops to patrol its western border, and
lands exist to this day. certainly does not have enough power to act against
Falleron. Hierant looks to the Church and King to keep
Region Notes Falleron’s military machine from claiming large chunks of
its western territory.
Peasants and laborers across much of Bostonia generally
pay attention to the feuds of nobles only when it directly
The people of Hierant and the borakki of Cragshold
affects them. After all, one ruler is as good as the next, and
maintain a brisk trade and cooperate to fight the few
the day-to-day life of a peasant is unlikely to change when
goblin tribes that exist in the region. Cragshold borakki
a new baron comes to rule. People of the Hierant Barony sail down the Borsheld River bringing hides, furs,
feel differently. Hierant has been at war with their
brightsteel, weapons, and stone to Bor’s Rest. Borakki long
neighbor for hundreds of years, and that long-standing
ships carry stoors and stoor honey to Brough.
conflict is deeply ingrained in all people here, regardless
of their station. Hierant citizens take the conflict
In recent years, Vincent has opened negotiations with
personally, and will go out of their way to make life
Hierant. If successful, these negotiations will see the two
difficult for anyone who they feel is sympathetic to Koren.
baronies trading (via a sea route) and cooperating on
infrastructure, and defense. Koren and Falleron have done
Hierant is plagued by poor infrastructure. Since the time
what they can to derail these talks, but plans for the trade
of Diane, the Hierant family has consistently used borakki
route have already begun. It looks likely that Vincent and
labor to perform public works. The Engineers’ Guild
Hierant will soon become allies.
disapproves of this practice and has boycotted Hierant.
Though borakki labor is good and cheap, the Hierant lack Interesting Places
trained civil engineers. Though there are roads throughout
the barony, they are of poor design, have little drainage, Old Castle Pelgrim
and tend to pit and wash out. The Pilgrim’s River is the
During the last battles of the Pelgrim-Koren war, Isram
only reliable means of fast travel in the land.
Koren stormed Pelgrim’s Keep, razing it. Over the course
of the last 250 years, several minor nobles have tried to
Baron Vincent has recently opened relations with Hierant.
rebuild the keep, but none have succeeded. The keep lies
The Engineers also boycott Vincent, but he has
in ruins to this day, and is now the home of a band of
compensated by starting his own private engineering
savage goblins led by a troll.
corps. If relations between the two baronies continues to
improve, it is likely that Vincent will start to aid Hierant Krellwin Hills
improve its infrastructure.
The Krellwin Hills are dotted with coal and ore mines. The
minerals are marched north to the Pathaleen River and
then rafted to Brough. Krellwin is a prime target of the
Koren, and thus is well defended by forts.

22
Bor’s Rest Finding Sara's Killer
Bor’s Rest is a trade town of about 350 citizens. It is a way For over 300 years, the Pelgrim and their successors, the
station for minerals traveling down the Pathaleen River, Hierant have claimed that Val Pelgrim's war against the
and for borakki coming down the Borsheld. This is a good Koren was just. They claim that Sara Koren's own father
place to trade, converse with, and hire borakki. In hired the assassins that accidentally killed her. Now they
addition, the Borsheld River is navigable for many miles feel they may have proof of this dastardly act. Vincent
to the north. A ferry can take a traveler well into borakki Pelgrim, a descendant of Val Pelgrim and a minor vassal
lands. of Hierant, has found a cache of letters written to Val by
Sara Koren. In these letters Sara told Val that she stole
Hierant Castle documents detailing her father's plan to assassinate him.
Daphne Hierant built this fortification in y536. It is a She warned Val to postpone a coming trip to Boston, and
strong castle with two concentric walls, a large garrison, indicated that she was deciding what she would do with
and several catapults. The castle is build to withstand a the incriminating plans.
prolonged siege, and to stop a Koren invasion.
The next week, Sara and Val hurriedly scheduled a
Brough meeting. While the two rode in carriage, they were set
This is a port of 800 citizens built on drained swampland. upon by bandits and Sara was killed. Vincent Pelgrim
Its workers take goods from the Pilgrim River and then shows the characters a second letter where she
transfers them to ships headed for Boston, Ismoth, and describes the concealed compartment in which she hid her
cobrat and borakki territory. private journal and Val's letters. Vincent believes that Sara
may not have had time to deal with the assassination
Frozen March plans before her death. He believes that the young
noblewoman's concealed compartment might still hold the
A dark and dank marsh surrounds the town of Brough. It
incriminating document, or other evidence against her
is frozen all through the winter, but thaws in the early
father. Vincent hires the PCs to find the young
spring. When thawed, the marsh is filled with mosquitoes,
noblewoman's hidden compartment and discover what
and makes the land impassable. Ferryboats carry
secrets lie within. Of course, the Koren family still lives in
passengers and goods upriver, or down the coast a few
the castle and characters will have to use their social skills
miles where serviceable roads can be found.
or stealth to gain access to the bedroom.
Plots and Adventures
Reclaiming Castle Pelgrim
Lord Janasco has been granted a large plot of land in
western Hierant. The land has been unused for many
years and has grown wild and hostile. Janasco wants to
use Castle Pelgrim as his base, but it is currently occupied
by a troupe of goblins and trolls. PCs could be hired to
scout the castle, or clear it out "dungeon crawl" style.
Alternately, if the gaming group in interested in tactical
miniatures battles, the PCs could be placed in charge of a
small army and could face the humanoids in a mass battle.
Once the castle is cleared, Lord Janasco could retain the
PCs as advisors and sheriffs to help him tame the
surrounding lands.

23
Koren Barony
Timeline
Year Koren/Childress
11 Pelar Barony formed and granted to Caldre Pelar and his tribe. The area of this barony (often called the Pelarem
Region) is approximately what Hierant and Koren currently hold.
Caldre Pelar becomes baron of Pelar Barony.
245 Vale Pelar takes throne of Pelar Barony.
269 Vale Pelar dies with no heir. The lines of succession are unclear.
Pelar Barony undergoes a civil war as two distant branches of the family claim ownership of the land.
Civil war rages for 6 years, involving neighboring barons backing their favored families.
275 War weary sides declare truce. The Church negotiates a lasting peace that sees the Pelar Barony divided into
two states, Childress and Pelgrim.
Southern Pelar becomes Childress Barony.
Elder Childress becomes baron of Pelgrim Barony.
282 Border dispute over Krellwin River flares into combat between Childress and Pelgrim. Childress maintains
control of the river.
284 Elder Childress dies.
Fialla Childress becomes Baroness.
324 Childress claims Lake Sotebar. Battle between forces of Childress and Pelgrim leaves Childress in control of the
lake.
340 Fialla Childress dies.
Aldora Childress becomes Baroness.
426 Battle of Armor. After fighting each other for 6 days, both Baloric and Falloren are defeated by an army of
Templars and Aeltharze.

24
 Childress backs Falloren in his bid for the throne. Guyven Childress, and his sons Mazran and Argent fight in
the battle of Armor. All three are killed.
Childress Barony passes to Morton Childress.
488 Morton Childress dies childless at age 89.
The Childress family, weakened from their losses at Armor, finally dies out.
Henry Pelgrim attacks several Childress forts on the border in an attempt to secure the region. He then makes a
bid to reclaim the Childress Barony for its own.
Queen Rianna Azareth grants the land to the strongest vassal of the Childress clan, Samuel Koren. Pelgrim
resent Koren for occupying their land.
493 Pelgrim and Koren battle over border dispute near Krellwin Hills.
516 Young nobles Val Pelgrim and Sara Koren meet at Baron Falleron’s court and fall in love. Their parents do not
approve of the couple.
517 Val and Sara continue to meet in secret and make arrangements for their marriage.
Bandits attack the young lovers as they meet. Val Pelgrim survives the encounter, but Sara Koren is killed as she
throws herself in front of a blow meant for her love. Both families blame the other for staging an assassination
attempt.
522 Pelgrim attacks the Koren Barony. Val leads the attack, vowing revenge on Sara’s Father.
524 War ends and the Pelgrim are defeated. When it is found that Val bolstered his troops with goblins and white
ratlings, the Pelgrim are stripped of their lands.
525 A weary Samuel Koren turns the throne over to his son Dovid.
Dovid takes the Koren throne.
531 Daphne leads a force to claim the hills of Oakdale for Hierant. She immediately starts building small
fortifications along this section of the border.
608 Brinforge Commons founded.

The settlement stopped the fighting for only a short time.

General Information The new barons Childress and Pelgrim hated one another
and sought any opportunity for conflict. Disputes over
Current Ruler Samuel Koren V
territory and resources erupted into battle several times
Population Low
between y275 and y350, most notably in y282 and y324.
Military Might Moderate
Friends Falleron Barony During the generations of conflict, the Childress family
Enemies Hierant Barony, Vincent Barony, developed a strong relationship with Falloren. Falloren
Olander Barony constantly backed Childress as they slowly claimed the
Exports Fine Weapons resources of their rival. When Falloren made a bid for the
Imports High Grade Iron and Steel throne in y426, Baron Guyven Childress mobilized to
Succession First-Born Child support him. The campaign climaxed in the Battle of
Armor in which the armies of Falloren and Childress were
History destroyed by a force of Templars and Aeltharze. Baron
The Hierant and Koren baronies started as part of the Childress died at Armor along with his sons. Control of
Pelar barony. King Jherod formed the Pelar barony in y11 the barony passed to Morton Childress who had no heir.
to reward the Pelar tribe for their part in winning the War When Morton died childless at age 89, the Childress line
of Unification. The Pelar barons ruled their land with ended.
honor for over 250 years. However, early in the 200’s, a
contested inheritance split the family along two distinct With the fate of the Childress lands uncertain, Baron
branches, the Childress and the Pelgrim. The two branches Henry Pelgrim used the confusion to destroy several
of the family fought for years, first with words, then Childress garrisons and claim key resources along the
financially. Finally, after three generations of simmering border. He then claimed the entire lands of Childress as
hatred, the Pelar barony exploded into civil war. his own. Many vassals of Childress and Barons Falloren
and Olander refuted Pelgrim’s claims. Queen Azareth
In y269 Lord Disus Pelgrim supplemented his personal held an assembly in the city of Jherod in which she
forces with mercenary companies and marched against listened to the claims. After three weeks of legal
Childress’ strongholds. Battles raged across central Pelar arguments, she decided to grant the land to Childress’
and did not end until the Church negotiated a peace by most powerful vassal, Samuel Koren. The Pelgrim family
splitting the barony between the two factions. stormed out of the assembly vowing to destroy Koren and
reclaim their land.

25
Samuel Koren made several peace overtures to Pelgrim. In y522 Val Pelgrim led his army deep into Koren
These gestures were ignored and the relationship between territory. Pelgrim used his non-human troops and the
the neighboring baronies remained strained. In y493 element of surprise to gain an initial advantage. However,
fighting started over access to the mineral-rich Krellwin Isram Koren called on support from Falloren and Richelau
Hills. Over the next generation, battles flared every 2 or 3 and defeated Pelgrim's army at Plithan. Then he marched
years and the border between the two lands shifted to Castle Pelgrim and razed it, defeating the Pelgrim
continuously. Finally in y515, Archbishop Ptolemy, under utterly. When it was learned that Val Pelgrim recruited
pressure from the Grand Father, called a summit between white ratlings into his army, Queen Azareth stepped in
the two barons to bring a lasting peace to the region. and stripped the Pelgrim of their lands. He granted the
lands to Daphne Hierant, a distant branch of the Pelgrim.
The barons met at Falleron's Keep and both brought a These lands exist to this day.
retinue of advisors and bodyguards with them. They also
happened to bring their heirs to the summit, in hopes of Region Notes
teaching them the art of diplomacy. However, when the Peasants and laborers across much of Bostonia generally
two young heirs met, they felt an inescapable attraction to pay attention to the feuds of nobles only when it directly
one another. As the summit raged and their fathers affects them. After all, one ruler is as good as the next, and
argued, Val Pelgrim and Sara Koren arranged nightly the day-to-day life of a peasant is unlikely to change when
meetings where they could talk in secret. By the time the a new baron comes to rule. People of the Koren Barony
summit adjorned, the two had fallen in love. feel differently. Koren has been at war with their neighbor
for hundreds of years, and that long-standing conflict is
Val and Sara continued to arrange meetings whenever deeply ingrained in all people here, regardless of their
they could. The young lovers arranged "official" trips to station. Koren citizens take the conflict personally, and
Boston, Salem, and Ismoth, and though they tried to will go out of their way to make life difficult for anyone
remain discreet. Word of the couple got back to their who they feel is sympathetic to Hierant.
families. Though the recent negotiations had brought
peace, neither family was willing to let go of their mutual Politics and Relations
hatred and the lovers were forbidden to see each other.
This disapproval only strengthened Val and Sara's desire. As is obvious from the history above, Koren and Hierant
They continued to meet, and even planned marriage. are continuously at odds. The ruling families of these two
lands hate each other, and will do everything in their
One night, during a midnight meeting, the couple were set power to defeat their rival. Both baronies have garrisons
upon by bandits. An apt swordsman, Val attempted to stationed along their border. Small border conflicts are
confront the attackers, but they outnumbered him. Sara common, and these occasionally expand into more lethal
attempted to help, but as she did so, she was killed by a campaigns. Koren and Hierant do not trade, or cooperate,
sword meant for her lover. Val eventually escaped and and actively oppose each other whenever possible. This
made his way back to Castle Pelgrim. Each family hurled long confl ict has left Koren economically weak.
accusations at the other. Val was certain that the "bandits"
were actually assassins hired by Baron Koren to kill him. However, Koren has support from one of the most
The angry young man tried to convince his father to mass powerful baronies in the land. Ever since Guyven
an army to destroy Koren once and for all. However, the Childress battled alongside Falleron troops at Armor, the
Pelgrim Barony was weak from the years of conflict. two baronies have become staunch allies. For nearly 400
Revenge was not a possibility at this time. years, Falleron has traded with Koren, and supported it
militarily and economically.
Instead of rushing to war, Baron Pelgrim and his son met
with Koren and offered a lasting peace. The fighting On the other hand, Vincent and Olander have been
ended for five years, during which the Pelgrim hoarded courting Hierant recently. The three baronies look as
their resource, built their military force, and planned their though they are very close to signing a deal that would
attack. As the time for attack drew near, Val realized that essentially make Hierant, Vincent, and Olander trade and
Pelgrim simply did not have the troops to crush Koren. To military partners. Whereas the balance of power in the
bolster his troops, he made contact with several goblin northeast is currently in Koren and Falloren’s favor, this
tribes and a group of white ratlings. He offered the non- agreement would certainly tip it back in favor of Hierant
humans silver and slaves for their support in the coming and its allies. Both Falloren and Koren are nervous about
conflict. this turn of events, but aside from drastic measures, it
seems there is little they can do.

26
Koren has an excellent relationship with the nearby Ker Culhain Home
borakki – perhaps the best of any Bostonian barony.
In y736 a clan of borakki, crowded into their fleet of
Several of the clans allied with the Ker Culhain (see
longboats, arrived in Jherod. The leader of the refugees,
below) before their disgrace are grateful to Koren for
Marduc Ker Culhain requested an audience with Baron
giving land to the exiled borakki. These allied clans cannot
Koren. He explained to the baron that his clan had been
associate with the Ker Culhain, but they have established
relationships with Koren. Koren trades with seven borakki exiled for the crimes of its seer. They needed a place to live
clans, and borakki workers are welcome in the barony. and work, and an opportunity to rebuild their clan and its
Many borakki work at the Jherod Shipyards, and honor. After consulting with the Archbishop, Harmon
Brinforge Commons. Koren decided to allow the borakki to remain on his land.
He made Marduc Ker Culhain his vassal, and granted him
a small plot of land on the coast of Koren.
More recently, the borakki have been sharing maps and
shipbuilding techniques with Koren. With the help of the Jherod
borakki, Koren has sent several exploratory parties to the
land of Belfern, and has even started two small colonies Jherod is the capital of Koren Barony. It is a city of 15,000
there. people with approximately four times that living in the
surrounding towns and villages. It is the center of trade
Interesting Places and government for Koren. It also acts as a base of
operations for borakki ship captains entering Bostonia. It
Brinforge Commons boasts a busy port and a shipyard with several skilled
It is said that almost 200 years ago, a group of miners shipwrights, including a borakki shipwright.
excavated an ancient anvil from the rocks deep beneath Castle Lindmoor
the Brin Hills. They gave the anvil to a nearby village
smith, Halley Roth, who provided tools for the mine. Irenstole
Miraculously, the quality of Roth’s tools increased
In y789, relying on maps provided by borakki
fivefold. They were lighter, sharper, and resisted rusting
shipbuilders, a fleet of four small ships traveled northeast
and breaking. Other nearby smiths traveled to Roth’s shop
past the borakki lands and to a land called Belfern. Belfern
to see this wonderful forge.
is a land of icy peaks, windblown plains, and sprawling
crystal caverns. The winters are long and dismal, with
After news spread of the anvil’s power, Baron Koren
chill winds, and 12-inch snowfalls being normal. Summer
commissioned Roth to produce a cache of weapons. The
brings only a few weeks of relief. However, some of the
weapons pleased the baron and he immediately sent a
lowest valleys bloom into beautiful seas of flowers, herbs,
group of workers and soldiers to the village to construct a
and bushes for those weeks.
new forge for Roth. This place was named Brinforge
Commons and it is used to produce weapons and tools for
The outpost of Irenstole lies on the southern coast of
the baron and his men.
Belfern approximately 1000 miles northeast of Boston.
About 300 people live here, scouting the land, prospecting
for useful mineral deposits, and scratching out a living by
hunting the local wildlife.

27
Vincent Barony
Timeline
Year Vincent/Klein
212 Arenna Bost, the last of the original Bost tribe, dies. The Bost line is ended.
Succession to the Bost lands is debated. Many think the lands should be split between Bost's vassals. Many nobles,
including Ashe Vincent make claims to their land.
213 King Balin Ernst is asked to resolve the dispute over the Bost lands. Under serious pressure from Cardinal Richelau,
he names Lord Cameron Richelau to be the new steward of the barony.
218 Several nobles in Richelau revolt and try to oust Cameron. Cameron crushes this revolt with the aid of the king's
troops.
Ashe Vincent stays out of the direct conflict, but covertly supports the rebellion with supplies and money.
365 Sir Lorne Vincent creates Association of Scholars and Engineers.
378 Midlands war pits several nobles against one another over mining rights in central Bostonia. King Damon Tharkas
intervenes, defeats the nobles (including Vincent) and Barony Klein is created.
Rimwort Klein is named baron.
Pela Ostheimer purchases Association of Scholars and Engineers, moves it to Boston and renames it the Guild of
Engineers.
388 Sir Lorne Vincent creates second Association of Scholars and Engineers.
393 King Damon Tharkas takes over the Guild of Engineers and puts the Association out of business. The Vincent family
is left destitute.

28
399 Rimwort Klein dies and his son Palin takes command.
Palin Klein becomes baron.
421 Vincent family inherits a small sum of money from distant relatives. After some shrewd investments, the Vincent
clan is once again accepted at court.
424 Cedric Vincent convinces several mercenary companies to join him in overthrowing the Klein Barony. The new baron
immediately proclaims his support for Baloric's bid to the throne. In return, Baloric recognizes Vincent as the true
rulers of Klein.
426 Battle of Armor. After fighting each other for 6 days, both Baloric and Falloren are defeated by an army of Templars
and Aeltharze.
Vincent and his army are delayed by bad weather and miss the Battle of Armor. By the time he arrives, the battle has
turned against Baloric. Vincent returns to Klein and prepares to fortify his newly claimed lands.
428 The Lord Mayor, knowing that he will be unable to dislodge Vincent, and pressured by Baloric, recognize Cedric
Vincent as the leader of central Bostonia. Klein Barony is renamed to suit its new master.
Cedric becomes baron of new Vincent Barony.
433 Cedric Vincent founds Victory Point to commemerate the acknowlegement of Vincent as the true ruler of the
midlands.
511 Cedric Vincent dies at the amazing age of 110.
Cedric outlived all of his children and siblings. His nephew, Palin takes the throne at age 72.
519 Palin Vincent dies.
Gharmon Vincent takes the throne.
567 Falleron places territorial claims on northwest region of Vincent Barony. The claims cover most of the Agane Hills
and Ordas Mountains.
568 Falleron's claims to the Agane and Ordas regions of Vincent are refuted, but Gharmon Vincent refuses to have the
case heard by the King.
Falleron gathers troops and pushes into and around the Agane hills.
569 Gharmon Vincent dies.
Felina Vincent becomes baroness of Vincent Barony.
Felina pushes Falleron's troops out of Agane and petitions the King to hear claims on the region.
Falleron accuses Vincent of sabotaging the evidence of their claim, but withdraws the claim.
571 Felina Vincent forms the Third Association of Scholars and Engineers.
572 Felina Vincent commissi ons the Third Association of Scholars and Engineers to build a line of fortifications along the
northwest border.
575 Castle Agane built.
587 Fotifications complete.
Felina Vincent dies.
Nero Vincent becomes Baron.
696 Xavier Udong is expelled from the Sandalfeet and barely escapes with his life.
701 Xavier unites dozens of bandit groups and outlaw mercenaries into a small, but effective fighting force. He raids the
surrounding territory and is called "The Bandit Lord" by the local populace.
702 Lord Grod Helmund defeats the Bandit Lord Xavier.
Helmund is granted the bandit keep and the surrounding lands as a reward. The keep is renamed Helmhold.
Gadras Vincent takes command of the barony.
789 Gadras Vincent dies.
Ordis Vincent takes command of the barony.
793 Vincent begins courting Olander, pouring money and manpower at their failing infrastructure.
799 Mining camps in northern Agane established.
802 Vincent begins investing in Hierant Barony. Trade and military agreements between the two lands are negociated.
804 Tharongor discovered.

29
General Information Over the next several weeks, violence broke out among
several of the factions in the region. Lord Vincent saw a
Current Ruler Ordis Vincent possiblity in the chaos. He hired a group of mercenaries
Population and marched them into the midst of the fighting. His
Military Might Low-Moderate, but with trained warriors easily defeated the miner rabble. Once he
interesting Siege Engines, and War drove the other factions out of the area, he moved his own
Machines workers into the mines and took control under the
Friends Hierant, Olander, Mathematicians’ pretence of maintaining order.
Guild
Enemies Falleron, Koren, Engineers’ Guild Vincent's gamble put him in control of several of
Exports Midlands' most profitable mines. However, it also
Imports escalated the violence. Other nobles followed Vincent's
Succession Oldest Child example and gathered their own troops to protect their
holdings or to attack the holdings of others. For many
History months, the region was consumed in battles.

The land that is now the Vincent Barony used to be called Dismayed at the failure of order, King Damon Tharkas
the Midlands Region. The Midlands are a rocky, mineral - decided to act. He gathered his men and marched into the
rich region with excellent mineral deposits. Several Midlands, defeating one noble after another. Within seven
baronies claimed these lands, but none owned the troops months, King Tharkas controlled the region. To punish the
or infrastructure to truly control them. Instead, the barons, factions, Tharkas drove them out of the region, and set up
and their dozens of vassals built small fortifications and a new barony with Rupert Klein in command. The nobles
staked their claim, much like gold rush prospectors were outraged at the loss of their land, but they had been
would. The region's borders shifted continuously with weakened from months of fighting in the mountains.
new mining companies starting, and nobles coming and None of the nobles alone could seriously challenge the
going as their fortunes changed. King's decree, and the lingering resentment between the
factions kept them from allying.
Up until y377, the various factions coexisted peacefully.
However, prospectors representing the Midlands Mining The Kleins ruled their barony from y378 to y424.
Company found a particularly rich silver deposit that However, when the barons battled for the throne upon the
year. At the time they found the vein, they did not have death of Talen Tharkas, Vincent saw his opportunity.
the equipment to start digging. A group of prospectors Under the cover of the political chaos sweeping the land,
stayed behind to guard the claim, while others traveled to Vincent raised an army of mercenary troops and
gather more men and equipment. overthrew Klein in a bloody battle. Once his control of
Klein Barony was established, Vincent immediately
While the prospectors waited, another group representing backed Baloric in his bid for the Bostonian throne. In
Lord Karl Estavo stumbled upon them. When Estvo's men return, Baloric promised to recognize Vincent's claim to
realized how rich the silver deposit was, they concocted a the Midlands region.
plan to drive the prospectors from their claim. They had
with them a large amount of alchemical reagents used to The final battle of the Bostonian Succession War occurred
test ore samples. They poured the reagents into the small at Armor. There, the armies of Baloric and Falleron
stream from which the prospectors got their water. The clashed and while they were engaged, the forces of the
tainted water made the Midland prospectors ill and they Church ambushed them. All of the armies involved took
were forced to leave. When the mining companies miners terrible losses, and found their will to fight depleted. The
arrived, they found Estavo's men working their claim. two barons reluctantly signed the Confederacy Pact,
ending the war. Vincent had promised that his troops
The Midland Company miners were furious and decided would support Baloric at Armor. However, logistical
to repay Estavo's men for stealing their claim. They setup problems and "bad weather" delayed his forces. By the
camp a couple of miles from Estavo's camp. One night, time Vincent arrived at Armor, the battle had ended.
they snuck into the mine and sabotaged several machines,
hoping to bring work to a standstill. Unfortunately, the The fortuitous delay meant that while many of Bostonia's
machines collapsed when they failed, killing three of most capable armies lay in tatters, Vincent's forces
Estavo's men. remained strong and combat-ready. When the
Confederacy Pact was signed, Vincent's victory was
The next day, Estavo's men traveled to the Midlands complete. The new Lord Mayor did not have the authority
Mining camp and attacked, killing 11 men and wounding to dislodge a seated baron. Baloric lobbied the Church to
several others. The Midland miners retaliated that night, allow Vincent to remain in power. After much debate,
but as they made their way to Estavo's camp, they Vincent kept his throne.
mistakenly attacked a supply train owned by Lord
Pritchard, drawing them into the violence. Region Notes
The Vincent family has always resented the Engineers' Vincent finds an unlikely ally in the Mathematicians’
Guild ever since they were forced to sell it in y378. The Guild. Both the Guild and the Vincent family have
Guild is not permitted to operate inside the barony, and historical disputes with the Engineers and that is certainly
the baron and his supporters do what they can to oppose a major reason for their cooperation. However, the
the Engineers. All public works projects in the barony are leadership of the Mathematicians is impressed with the
handled by The Third Association of Scholars and mechanical designs produced by the Vincent family.
Engineers, an organization founded by Felina Vincent in
y571. The Third Association is a group of skilled and Locations
well-trained architects and engineers. They do an excellent
job of building and maintaining the mines, roads, bridges, Castle Agane
and dams of the barony. Their craftsmanship is widely In y567, Falleron announced that it had credible claims to
praised, and some even say their work is superior to that the Agane Hills. Falleron petitioned the king to hear these
of the Engineers. This group is supported by Baron claims. Of course, Gharmon Vincent refuted the claims.
Vincent, as well as the Mathematicians' Guild. Vincent’s advisors had many contacts in Boston and
managed to keep the case bogged in bureaucratic
The last three barons of Vincent have been considered formalities for nearly a year. Falleron became impatient
mechanical geniuses and inventors of the highest repute. with the delay and moved troops into the region.
The mines of the Vincent Barony are equipped with Gharmon tried to counterattack, but Falleron’s men would
devices that improve the safety and efficiency of the not be moved.
miners. Similar marvels can be found at building sites,
smelters, and state-run smithies. Vincent keeps the plans Falleron held the hills for several months. In the early
of these devices a well-guarded secret. Many outside months of y569, Felina Vincent used alchemical “bombs”
organizations would like to get a close look at these to shatter the Falleron defenses. She then surrounded the
devices, or steal the plans for them. So far, they have not invading troops and forced them to surrender. Falleron’s
been successful in doing so. men regrouped and prepared for a second assault on
Agane. Before the attack could come, the Shield Guild
Politics and Relations intervened on behalf of the king. After over a year of
Vincent is the "scoundrel" of Bostonia. The history of the dispute, the king would hear the claims on Agane.
region has been one of revolution, violence, and treachery.
Because of this, and the shady dealings of its rulers, As the hearing progressed, it became clear that Falleron’s
people in other baronies cast a wary eye toward Vincent. claim was not strong enough to allow them to take control
However, Vincent’s strategic position makes it a powerful of Agane. The Falleron delegation accused Vincent’s
barony, and its power and wealth make it a desirable ally. agents of destroying their evidence, but could prove
nothing. Falleron withdrew his claim on Agane and he
Recently, Vincent has opened relations with its northeast and his advisors left Boston in shame.
neighbor, Olander. For years, Bostonian noble circles have
whispered of mental illness in the Olander clan. Rumors In y572, Felina commissioned the Association of Scholars
abound of a degenerative condition, afflicting each and Engineers to build a line of fortresses along the
generation with a more crippling form of insanity. The northwest border to serve as a warning to Falleron. The
existence of this illness has never been proven, but the powerful Castle Agane is the keystone of that line. It was
evidence is compelling. For years, the Olander clan had completed in y575.
ignored the condition of the barony. Roads degraded,
farmland lay fallow, and disease was allowed to run Heldholm Keep
rampant among the livestock. Many peasants starved, or In y696, a Salem Sandalfeet boss named Xavier Udong
fled to other lands. was expelled from the Feet for assassinating his rival
bosses. Xavier fled Salem and hid in the wilderness to the
Vincent has poured money, men, and expertise into the south. A couple of years later, he reemerged as the leader
Olander Barony, repairing the failing infrastructure, and of a band of ruffians prowling northeastern Vincent. His
providing relief to the suffering peasantry. The young band made many successful raids in Vincent and Koren.
baron, Callus Olander, is spending a great deal of time in
Vincent’s court and now accompanies Baron Vincent as he By y701, Xavier was a notorious bandit leader and he
travels. The two barons have become political allies and succeeded at recruiting several rival groups as well as one
are reportedly becoming close friends. or two outlawed mercenary companies into his army.
With his small, but effective, fighting force, he raided the
Hierant is another barony in which Vincent is investing. region and earned the name “The Bandit Lord” from the
Hierant has suffered from its long-standing feud with local populace.
Koren and Falleron. Vincent sees befriending Hierant as a
way of creating a powerful axis in northeastern Bostonia.
To this end, Vincent is negotiating trade, construction, and
military agreements with Hierant.

31
In y702, several attempts were made to capture or kill the Plots and Adventures
elusive Bandit Lord, but none were successful. Finally, a
minor nobleman named Grod Helmund discovered the Reconciliation
location of the bandits’ hidden keep while he was on a
Vincent is the most industrialized barony in Bostonia, and
hunting expedition. Lord Helmund petitioned Baron
the Engineers have been forbidden to operate there for
Vincent for enough troops to storm Xavier’s fortress. The
Baron granted Helmund’s petition, and the nobleman over 400 years. In an attempt to mend their differences
proceeded to trap the bandits in their fortress and starve and tap the huge market that Vincent represents, the
them out. Engineers would like to set up a meeting with Baron
Vincent. The Guild is sending a skilled diplomat to
represent them at this meeting. The PCs are hired to escort
Baron Vincent granted Helmund the bandits’ keep and a
this diplomat.
small amount of the surrounding land as a reward.
Heldholm Keep is a moderately sized wooden fort
When they arrive at Vincent's court, the diplomat tells the
protecting a small manor that serves as the home of the
party a secret. To aid the meeting's success, he has brought
Helmund family. The keep is said to have several secret
a set of Candles of Tranquility. The question is: how to get
tunnels and passages underneath it, and there are many
them into the meeting room and ensure they are lit?
rumors of Xavier’s hidden treasure being buried
somewhere on the grounds. Spies
Tharongor The Engineers' Guild is tired of hearing about Vincent's
In y799 several new mining camps were established in the grand machines. They hire the PCs to enter the Vincent
northern Agane Hills. Thousands of miners started Barony and acquire the plans to a mechanical drill used to
clearing the land and digging new mines in hopes of dig mining tunnels. PCs with engineering skills could
finding new coal, slate, and iron deposits. However, in draw plans if they could get a long, close look at the
machine. PCs without such skills will have to find an
y804, one of the mining camps made an even more
existing set of plans, steal them, and then return to Boston.
fascinating discovery. While clearing a dense copse of
trees, they found the ruins of a small, ancient city. Klein's Revenge
The Baron quickly moved troops to protect the region Since being overthrown by Vincent, the Kleins have faded
from outsiders, as well as from whatever might emerge and become a minor vassal to Baron James. However, they
from such an ancient place. Several small wooden forts have never forgotten Vincent’s treachery. Recently, the
and dozens of foot patrols watch the region, but are Klein family has come into a significant sum of money,
careful to give the city a wide berth. Currently, the area is and they are looking to use it to damage their longtime
off-limits while the Baron decides the best course of nemesis, Vincent.
action.
The nature of this revenge depends on the players and the
Victory Point characters in your campaign. A group inclined to stealth
Victory Point is the home of the Vincent family and the may be asked to sneak into Baron Vincent’s keep and drop
a nearly undetectable poison into his food. A group
capital of the barony. The powerful walls of Lorne Castle
inclined to diplomacy might head a delegation sent to
oversee the town of about 5000 inhabitants.
undermine the talks between Vincent and Hierant. If you
West Garzan have a tactically inclined group, and want to make a long-
term campaign of it, the group could be hired to gather
West Garzan is a town of 350 people. The most important troops and lead them against Vincent.
feature of this place is the tollgate designed to stop all
river traffic. 100 guards and several ballistae protect the Exploring Tharongor
gate. All river boats are stopped and then taxed based on
The word of the ancient ruin in the hills of Agane spread
the nature of the goods they carry. A ferry of passengers
across the land quickly. There are hundreds of scholars,
might be taxed only 2 bits/person. A barge carrying trade
tomb raiders, wizards, and adventurers that would love to
goods will be charged a percentage of their value.
explore Tharongor Ruins. Unfortunately, Vincent’s troops
turn everyone away, no doubt so that the greedy Baron
can pillage the ruins himself.

PCs could be hired by any number of adventurous souls

who want to plunder Tharongor. However, they will have
to get past Vincent’s army to do so. Worse yet, when they
emerge from the ruin -- battered, bloody, and clutching
some ancient treasures, they will have to somehow evade
the patrols again.

32
 Places
The City of Boston

Boston is the capital of the land of Bostonia as well as the In addition to serving as a watering hole for weary sailors,
headquarters of many of its most important institutions. Port Town provides many services to traders and ship
The city itself houses about 55,000 people. About four captains. Many trading houses and wealthy captains own
times that many live in the region surrounding the city warehouses to store goods pending their sale. Traders not
with the highest density existing along the coast to the so wealthy can often rent space for a price. The
north of Boston. Mathematician's Guild runs a measuring house here to set
the value of goods, confirm the purity of metals and
Boston is bordered by the Bost River to the north and the convert currency.
Guardian River to the south. The hills to the west become
particularly rugged in the few miles as you approach the Harbor Master's Section
city and thus form a wonderful defense. Boston has This is a small complex of docks, warehouses and other
historically been very difficult to attack. buildings all catering to the shipping trade of Boston.
There is an auction house here as well as offices for several
However, the nearby terrain also hinders land travel into trading houses and brokers. In addition, the only shipyard
and out of the city. The only roads leading to Boston come in the entire northern coast is here.
from the coastal regions to the north. The hills and
swamps that border the city in other directions make the This place is continuously active
construction of roads difficult. Bostonians often arrive in with sailors and traders. The auctions might be a good
their capital by one of many ferryboats that service the place to pick up specialty items that could otherwise
city. not be found. Captains often look for good crew here
and so characters may be convinced to take a sea
Boston is a cramped city. People are packed tightly in the journey.
narrow streets. Buildings extend upwards several stories,
giving alleys the appearances of tunnels at times. During The various captains and traders all have their own
the day, streets and markets are choked with merchants agendas. Goods may be in jeopardy of being stolen and
and citizens going about their noisy routine. Traffic jams need guarded. A trader on the losing end of an auction
are frequent. The crowds, coupled with the tall buildings may hire mercenaries to abscond with the important
(and thus the lack of easily visible landmarks) can make goods.
getting around in Boston painful for foreigners.
Warehouse Row
Boston is a center for trade. Merchants from all over the This is a long row of warehouses, built close together near
known world flock here to sell their goods. Anything but the loading docks. In the daytime, this place is buzzing
the rarest of goods should be available here. Taxes are with sailors and dockworkers loading cargo on and off
high however, as are the merchants' markups. Prices will trading ships. However, the Dockworkers' Guild prohibits
often be 2x what they would be elsewhere in the land. work after parting bell. After hours, the row becomes
quiet with only a few tavern goers and warehouse guards
walking the docks.
Port Town
Warehouse Row is isolated, quiet with lots of shadows
Along the eastern edge of the city, the Dark Sea brings and hiding places. A breach of curfew is often ignored (or
trade from the Cobrat and Borakki. In addition, the harsh bribed from the memory of) the bored guards. This makes
approaches to Boston make sea trade a desirable the row an perfect place for the darker elements of
alternative. Ships come and go almost daily, making Bostonian society. The quiet attracts all types of thieves,
Boston the largest port city in the land. All of these muggers, secret meetings and shady deals. Cargo that
captains, ships' crews, scoundrels and traders need a needs to be moved discreetly is loaded quietly in the dark
decent place to eat, sleep and spend their coin. Port Town of night and there are several unused warehouses that can
is that place. act as impromptu meeting places for the Sandalfeet or a
pagan cult.
Port Town consists of the docks, shipyards and the
surrounding homes and businesses. Nearly all the shops Campaign Use: Warehouse Row is a perfect place for
here cater to the hundreds of travelers that frequent the the PCs to skulk while investigating an evil plot. The
area. There are plenty of inns, taverns, brothels and abandoned warehouses are great hideouts for the bad
gambling houses in Port Town. This is Boston's red light guys and when PCs crash the party, no one will hear a
district and all manner of pleasure can be purchased. small battle.

33
Halderstot's A large bar dominates the northeast corner of the place.
Here Byron Aldon provides ale and strong rum to the
At the cityside end of Warehouse Row, is a converted patrons. Prices are slightly inflated since the Inn caters to
warehouse. Unlike the others, this warehouse is noisy and sailors and soldiers who often have money to spend and
populated around the clock. Warm light and music spill like the atmosphere. Members of the Shield Guild drink
out of the shuttered windows. A dozen or so inebriated for half price. Food is also available, but only during the
and happy tavern-goers mill about the front of the place, dinner hour.
laughing and chatting. The front doors are generally If an entertainer arrives at the inn, several hay bales are
propped open during warmer months. A professionally available to create an impromptu "stage" area. Sea songs
painted wooden sign is chained over the front window. It and war ballads are the most popular, and entertainer or
reads "Halderstot's Hole... Sure Beats Seawater." not, it is likely that a sing-a-long will commence at some
point any given evening. Gambling is permitted, but
The first floor of Halderstot's is a large common room, frowned upon as it tends to stir up hostilities and Dinkle
with round tables and chairs meticulously lined up in has had his place wrecked more than once.
rows. Everything is arranged around a set of wooden
tables and shelves that make up the bar. The place is quite The common room is available for bunking after all the
efficient and seems designed to pack as many patrons into drinking patrons leave. This is usually a couple hours after
as small a space as is comfortably possible. There is no the Final bell.
room for dancing and no place for entertainers to ply their
trade. Lining the right hand side of the room, there is a Campaign Use: The Dinkle and Bunk Inn is a good
large pile of crates, stacked almost to the ceiling. Behind place for seafaring charcters to enter the city of
this wall, there are several large cooking pits and a Boston. Here they can meet the regular characters:
makeshift kitchen. The smoke and smells of cooked meat sailors, sea captains, smugglers and the like. This is
pervade the entire place. the place for a good bar-brawl, or to hear rumors from
a gnarled sea captain.
A couple ladders lead to the upstairs. Two long hallways
lead past a series of rooms. These rooms are rented to In addition, this is the place to book passage on a ship,
those who are too drunk to get home, or have nowhere or meet with characters from other species. Cobrat and
better to bunk for the night. They are not ideal for Borrakki can often be found here. Much news from the
sleeping. The walls here are thin and not of the sturdiest far reaches of Bostonia enters the city through this
construction and the noise and smells from the downstairs tavern. Be careful of the occasional press gang
are here as well. The place is clean however, and preferred though.
by sailors who want to be close to the action... and work
the next morning. The Deh Shelst
This is a small tavern, a few blocks away from the main
Horatio Halderstot was a merchant and speculator. He docks. It sits on the Bost River where it empties into the
made a fair bit of money purchasing goods and hiring Dark Sea. The place is a stout, one-story building with one
merchant sea captains to sell the cargo at borakki and wing sitting on supports over the river. There are several
cobrat ports. Unfortunately, he made a couple bad trades smoky chimneys pouring thick smoke into the air. The
and then fell in with a shady dealer named Leopold place has an odd smell about it; a mix of honey and
Pentaris. Leopold cheated Horatio out of a large portion of burned leaves.
his funds. With the remainder, Horatio retired from
trading. The Deh Shelst (meaning the Shelst House) is an authentic
cobrat tavern run by Seelaa Err, a retired high cobrat sea
Horatio used his connections to finance the purchase of captain. She runs this place with the help of a retinue of 5
this warehouse. He then had it converted to a cozy tavern, lows and a few human workers. The DS caters to cobrat
catering to sailors and capitalizing on its proximity to the and tries to recreate an authentic experience for cobrat
docks. crews far from their homes.

The Dinkle and Bunk Inn The Deh Shelst has a number of fireplaces continuously
This is a four-story inn nestled between two warehouses boiling large pots of water. This creates a warm, humid
in the Harbor Master's Section of Port Town. It is run by atmosphere, mimicking many of the cobrat islands. Much
Tannor Dinkle, a retired guardsman and Shield Guild of the inn is a dirt floor, covered with large palm fronds.
member. Rocks and treestumps act as tables and chairs for the low
cobrat that form the bulk of the ships' crews. Another
The first floor is a large common room and drinking area. section has a set of finely carved wooden tables and chairs.
It has a straw-covered, wooden floor. The straw has Each table has a hookah and a full tobacco bowl on it.
soaked up many spills and thus has a smell of stale Finally, one wing sits over the river. Several trap doors
alcohol. There are small wooden tables and chairs all permit access to platforms sunken into the water. This
about, as well as 4 stone fireplaces distributed throughout. allows cobrat to bask in the water as they drink and chat.

34
The DS serves some standard human fare, but the cobrat Campaign Use: The Church is a big part of many
prefer mice, rabbits, dogs and other live food. The Bostonian's lives. This particular church is a huge
beverages cobrat prefer tend to either be excessively symbol towering over the city. When people think of
sweet, like the chel frond wine many highs drink, or church, this is the place they picture in their mind,
powerful like the shelst for which the tavern is named. even though many Bostonian citizens will never enter
this place. It is a large, gothic chapel and it is both
High Hill majestic and eerie at the same time.

The northwestern part of Bostonia is set in the foothills of As stated before, many church ceremonies and holy
the Arnost Mountains. The ancients supposedly carved days are celebrated here. Devout characters and priests
the mountain into a set of plateaus suitable for settlement. may have reason to attend such celebrations, especially
These plateaus still remain and many Bostonians have if they have ties to the church. If the characters need to
settled in this district that is called High Hill. see a high-ranking priest, perhaps the meeting will
occur here.
High Hill is a rich district. Many of Boston's wealthiest
residents live in this isolated community. Its view and Watchpoint
relative quiet draw those who can afford to have a beast or
Even though the Sunrise Church towers over Boston, it is
servant carry them up the steep assent to the village.
not the highest point in the city. During tribal times, the
Bost built a small stone hut to watch over the river and
The homes of High Hill are large, many having more than
plains to the north. This peak is the highest point in the
two or more stories. They are all of fine construction and
area and became known as Watchpoint.
architecture. Some are copies of ancient designs kept by
the Engineer's Guild while others are actual hybrids,
People stopped using the guard post after the unification
ancient structures patched with Bostonian workmanship
of the tribes and after a nasty rockslide killed several
and material.
citizens, the rocky path to the hut was gated by the
church. No one makes the climb to Watchpoint anymore,
High Hill's main road leads from the Garner District,
and some say it is haunted by those killed in the rockslide.
winds through the Arnost Hills and finally through a
narrow channel where the earth is cut between two steep Campaign Use: In contrast to the church just below
rock faces. Several of the more paranoid citizens paid to it, this is a place of shadows. The chill wind, the
have a tall iron gate built here. The gate is open in the day, treacherous climb and the fear of angry ghosts keep
but locked in the night and guarded by private most people away. However, people still come here on
guardsmen who are instructed to not let any strangers occasion. They rarely have a good motive. Bodies have
pass. been found here and it has been rumored that the
Thieves' Guild uses this place as a meeting place and
The Church of the Eternal Sunrise hideout.
This church of Stratus, The Father sits at the highest point
in the city, towering above the district of High Hill.
Because it is on the east face of the hill, the priests there The Dregs
have an excellent view of the sunrise for their morning In sharp contrast to the spacious homes of High Hill, the
prayers. The building has a tower with a stained glass southwestern part of Bostonia is home to a maze of
dome to catch and reflect the morning sun for a wonderful rickety, wooden structures that surround narrow streets
display. and garbage-filled alleyways. This region is called The
Dregs and it is Boston's red-light district.
This is by far, the richest and most majestic church in the
land. It is frequented by the most influential people in the Though the Dregs is not the poorest section of the city
city. In addition, many of the Church's special functions (Grunjtown certainly has that dubious honor), it is the
are held here, including the Communion ceremony. most dangerous. The city guard tends to turn a blind eye
to all but the most serious offenses here, and so banditry is
The church consists of two main parts, the chapel and the common. Unlike many neighborhoods, there is little
tower. The chapel is a gothic styled building archways community awareness. Everyone watches out for
and columns made of dark gray stone. Gargoyles sit in the themselves and perhaps their families and that is all. This
many corners and alcoves. The stained glass here is well- is not a place for the weak or naive.
crafted and depicts the actions of many of Bostonia's
saints. St. Dovid, St. Camille, St. Michael, St. Sebastian and Thieves, prostitutes, smugglers and slavers all use the
St. Sorthan are all depicted here. The altar has a 20' Dregs as their preferred place of business. Shady deals of
diameter sun carving hanging above it. all sorts are made here and anything can be bought. Sex,
illicit herbs, components for dark magics, poisons,
people...

35
Three Hid Away Bo Gannog is a wiry goblin with thin, twisted limbs and
tufts of gray hair sticking out of his head. He is old and
In the back of one particularly cluttered alleyway is a crouched and has the demeanor of a grumpy and sore old
burned out husk of a building. A stone stairway is the man. He stares at everyone entering his shop, always
only thing that remains. It leads to a door about 8 feet appearing right behind a patron, or peering over a shelf or
underground. A sign on the door reads "3 Hid Away" just around the corner. While most people mistake this as
a desire to ferret out shoplifters, Gannog generally is more
The door here is generally locked and only a special interested in determining the interests of the patrons, and
"coded" knock will get the attention of the occupant. This their potential ability to help him acquire more rare items.
knock can be learned by those familiar with the Dregs, or
with those willing to part with enough coin. Gannog often trades goods for services. People that cannot
pay in coin, or goods can go on a quest for rare herbs and
The proprietor of Three Hid Away is an old, gnarl- alchemical reagents. He uses the time patrons spend in the
skinned goblin named Bo Gannog. He greets potential shop to evaluate their needs and abilities. If he feels they
patrons, strangers and repeat business alike, with a grunt could be useful, he will offer them a trade instead of
and snort. Bo Gannog will then turn and lead his visitors charging cash.
into the main shop.
Gannog was a shamanic student in his goblin tribe. He
The main shop smells of bitter herbs and incense. The learned quite well and was almost certain to take over
place is packed with shelves, which in turn are filled with when his shaman died. When it was time for Gannog to
small jars, vials, pouches, parts of animals, ornamental take his rune, he could not bring himself to finish the
gems, alchemical reagents and tons of other trinkets that ritual (which involves eating the former owner of the
may or may not be useful to a practitioner of magic. Much rune).
of the stuff is junk, but looks quite interesting. Some of the
items here have serious use in magical spells or potions. One of Gannog's rivals was not so timid and he took the
This is a place where a GM can place a hard to find spell rune and banished Gannog from the tribe. Gannog was an
reagent, or herb. outcast in goblin society and had many enemies in his
tribe. He fled north to the human lands and used his
The store is small, cramped and reeks with a mix of sweet knowledge and training to start his current business
herb, incense, sour sweat and dead things. Curtains and endeavor.
tapestries hung about the place, as well as the maze-like
arrangement of shelves give the store a claustrophobic Round-A-Bout Traders
feel.
In a particularly nasty-smelling section of the Dregs is a
Bo Gannog (Goblin) tiny warehouse and lot with several run-down wagons.
This is the warehouse and office of Round-A-Bout Trading
Strength 8 Hit Points 33 Company, the smallest trading company in all of Boston.
Agility 6 Initiative
Dexterity 10 Move Round-A-Bout deals in all kinds of goods, but specializes
Speed 11 Attack 12 in Borakki goods. Furs, foodstuffs and some weapons and
Toughness 13 Defense armor are all available, as are metal tools, rugs, tapestries
Intelligence 12 Damage and some pottery. True to its reputation, most of the items
Willpower 16 Armor Loc AV are of low quality. These goods are sold in the storefront
Charisma 3 1 0 right next to the warehouse. Some of the higher quality
Spirit 15 2-4 0 stuff is sold to other shopkeepers in more upscale areas of
Perception 13 5-7 0 town.
8-9 0
10-12 0 Round-A-Bout survives because they are willing to resort
Skills and Abilities to almost any tactic to make money. Round-A-Bout has
Alchemy 18 been accused of theft, banditry and extortion. They are
Ancient Knowledge 13 reviled by their competition for being rogues and little
Herbalist 19 better than the Sandalfeet.
Medical 17
Physician 15
Ritual Spell: Grow 16
Ritual Spell: Ritual of Tendrils 15
Trading 18

36
The truth is indeed more sinister. Round-A-Bout traders is Lamplighters' Guild
a front for a small slaving operation. Agents of RAB prowl
the streets of the Dregs as well as the surrounding villages The Lamplighters' Guild is a small group of individuals
looking for potential victims. Vagabonds, wanderers and that serve a vital purpose in Boston. Namely, they venture
those without friends or family are targets. Those they out just before sunset, traveling their designated routes
subdue are shipped to a small port several miles up the filling and lighting the street lamps that illuminate the
coast from Boston. From there they are taken south to the main roads in the city.
Cobrat lands, or north to Borakki territory. There they are
sold to various contacts evil enough to deal in human Not really adventuring types, Lamplighters are often
slaves. drawn from the local citizenry. Members of the guild are
generally fit, have excellent knowledge of their
The Sandalfeet of both Boston and Salem would like to see neighborhood, streetwise and have decent climbing skills.
RAB eradicated. However, neither guild has acted against Many of them are used to walking in the cold and rainy
the slavers. There are many rumors as to why this is the Boston nights. Several of them are said to walk their
case. One of the most sinister is that Round-A-Bout has routes barefoot to aid in climbing the lampposts.
captured and is holding hostage someone close to either
Brendon Bethany or The Chief. Lamplighters are not adventuring types on average.
However, it is said that many of them moonlight as
Round-A-Bout Slaver lookouts, scouts and informants for the local thieves'
guild. Characters who are on the take may have extra
Combat: Sword +1 contacts, an extra knowledge or two and perhaps have
Combat: Net thief skills as well.
Combat: Unarmed +1
Kn: Bostonian Underworld Clean Lamplighter
Kn: The Dregs +2
Craft: Slaver Climbing +1
Craft: Wagon Driver Streetwise
Stealth Combat: Knife
Disarm Trap Kn: Neighborhood Streets +2
Fast Talk Kn: Boston +1
+32 Buy Points +43 Buy Points

Description Description:
These unscrupulous men roam the streets of the Dregs This is a package for a character who is a member of the
looking for some unfortunate to "bag". If a suitable target Lamplighters, but is not working for the thieves' guild.
is found, then several of these men will arrive to stalk the Generally, these characters do not make good
victim until he is alone. Then they will strike, adventurers, but it is possible that a character had this job
immobilizing their prey with nets and clubs. before getting into more dangerous pursuits.

Suggested Attributes: Suggested Attributes:

Suggested Limitations: Suggested Limitations:

Thieving Lamplighter
Guild Street
Climbing +1
In the middle of the eastern side of the city, between the Streetwise +1
docks and the central marketplaces, lies Guild Street. This Combat: Knife+1
wide, well-engineered and well-maintained road is a Kn: Neighborhood Streets +2
major thoroughfare through the city's trade district. Kn: Boston +1
Thousands of people come here daily to buy and sell Kn: Sandlefeet
goods, seek employment or carry out other business with Kn: City Patrol
the Boston guilds. Fast Talk
Stealth
In addition to the mundane crafts guilds such as the +31 Buy Points
bakers' guild, basket weavers' guild and candlestick
makers' guild, Guild Street is home to the various major Description:
guild houses. The Mathematician’s Guild, Engineer’s This character is a normal lamplighter who works as a
Guild, Shield Guild and Spice Guild all have houses here. lookout or scout for a thieving guild. A character like this
will have a few more skills than his mundane counterpart.

Suggested Attributes:

37
Suggested Limitations: In several places, the grunj have constructed little islands
of dirt, rocks and mortar. On average, these islands are ten
Sandalfeet feet or so in diameter. They serve as marketplaces,
While not a guild per-se, The Sandalfeet have ties to many meeting places and communal centers. When the grunj get
of the merchants on Guild Street and elsewhere in Boston. together to discuss news or listen to one of their elders
The current Head Man in Boston is named Brendon speak, they will often do so at the largest of these islands.
Bethany. He is a young, good-looking scholarly man who If the matter is of great import, or the weather is
took control of the guild five years ago when the previous inclement, then one of the ancient buildings will be used
leader died on a mission. Bethany was a successful as a meeting hall.
lieutenant at the time and had enough support to quietly
take the reins of power without bloodshed -- rare for a The ruined buildings are indeed ancient dwellings that
guild of thieves. have crumbled throughout the years. They are used now
as apartment buildings for several grunj families. Walls
Brendon Bethany constructed of paper and thin wooden planks are used to
divide the house into one or two room dwellings.
Strength 11 Hit Points 31
Agility 16 Initiative
The two most intact of these buildings are used as a
Dexterity 16 Move meeting hall and a dwelling for the elders of the village.
Speed 13 Attack 15 These places are well maintained and spotless.
Toughness 11 Defense
Intelligence 15 Damage 2d6 As in most grunjtowns, the people dwelling here are poor.
Willpower 12 Armor Loc AV Many make a living by taking low-paying jobs in the city,
Charisma 18 1 0 but most live off the land, either by planting gardens and
Spirit 10 2-4 2 keeping animals, or scrounging through the surrounding
Perception 20 5-7 3 marsh for edible plants and herbs. A few with craft skills
8-9 2 sell trinkets and pieces of art on the Boston streets. Others
10-12 2 with herbalism skills sell potions and salves of varying
Skills and Abilities effect.
Concealment 12
Conversation 17 Boston grunj have to deal with terrible living conditions.
Detect Trap 13 Many residents of the south side of Boston have begun
Disarm Trap 15 depositing their garbage on the outskirts of grunjtown.
Stealth 16 This coupled with the damp conditions and mosquito
Streetwise 15 population means that disease is common here. A small
Swim 14 church of the Mother, The Divine Waters of Mercy, has
been built here to help combat the poverty and sickness,
but it is difficult work.
Grunjtown
The Divine Waters of Mercy
Boston, like many other large Bostonian cities has a
significant grunj population. These creatures live in In the year 477 a priestess named Ilmader Pria Donodan
squalid ghettos on the outskirts of the city. These visited the city of Boston. During her visit, she expressed
grunjtowns are often dirty and crowded with shacks and an interest in the Bloodpools, the set of battlefields where
wooden lean-tos lining the muddy and often impassible Jherod defended the newly founded city from the goblin
streets. hordes. A trip to these historic battlefields was planned for
the mother. However, on the way, the expedition passed
Boston's grunjtown is just outside the city, in the marsh by the grunjtown south of Boston.
that borders the southern side of town. The road to this
place consists of wooden planking that leads from Boston Ilmader Donodan was distraught at the suffering she
and then abruptly stops about 100 yards from the large witnessed. The grunj were impoverished, underfed and
knot of huts. These huts are built on slats and in trees to suffering from mosquito-borne diseases. A handful of
keep them safe from sinking into the marshy ground. sisters tended to the mob of grunj, but could not even
begin to ease their pain. Pria called a halt to the trip and
The town itself consists of about 400 wooden and thatch immediately began tending to the sick. Still, one more set
huts and shacks that look as if they are about to fall into of hands was not nearly enough.
the swamp. In addition, there are about a dozen or so
ruined buildings with hints of ancient architecture. The Ilmader's visit passed without incident, but as she
However, these places are in terrible condition and their later wrote, she could not forget her experience in the
inhabitants have patched the many holes with crude wood grunj village. She had seen grunj before, and thought them
and thatch construction. quaint and simple creatures. However, she never realized
the squalor in which many were forced to live.

38
She returned to Boston two months later having had a The fountain build by Pria Donodan spouts cool, clean
vision in which she returned to the grunjtown to minister water. The grunj are permitted to use the water for
to them. Upon her arrival to the swamp community, cooking, cleaning and bathing. Out of respect the grunj
Ilmader Donodan prayed to Aestra for a sign that her carry the water to their homes before using it and never
work in the grunj village would be blessed. In answer to dump the used water. Instead, they carry the wastewater
her prayers, a small natural spring broke through the to the sea to return it to the Mother, saying a prayer of
ground at her feet. thanks as they go.

The water was clear and pure. Ilmader commissioned the The Bloodpools
Engineers' Guild to build a pool and fountain on the site. The Goblin Wars were one of the young Bostonian
Several sisters from Boston and the surrounding villages nation's most difficult struggles. While internal strife
heard of the miracle and arrived to aid in the building of a occupied a large portion of the Bostonian fighting force, a
church. The Temple of the Divine Waters was founded. horde of goblins marched from the south, threatening the
city of Boston.
The Divine Waters of Mercy is a small temple of Aestra.
Currently, six sisters tend to the temple and fountain Jherod took his loyal warriors (whose descendants would
there. A statue of Ilmader Donodan (died year 483) later become the Shield Guild founders) and met this
watches over the door to the small stone building. The goblin army in the marshes to the south of Boston. The
temple and its sisters are devoted to healing and battle there was hard fought, but the goblin hordes were
ministering the grunj of Boston. nearly eliminated. Because of the scope of the carnage, the
battlefield was called the Bloodpools.

Today, there is a monument and a statue dedicated to the

battle. In addition, the human dead were buried in a
nearby cemetery. The goblin dead were buried in mass
graves.

39
 Religion
The Church of Stratus Confession
Stratus is the Sun God of Bostonia and the Father of All The teachings of Stratus require sinners to show remorse
Things. He represents all masculine aspects of mankind for their transgressions. Part of this contrition is confessing
and the world in general. He is a stern god, intent on the sins to a priest. In addition, it is believed that the
increasing his worship, maintaining order and seeing humiliation of discussing revealing one’s sins will
justice done. When the ancients strayed from the Church discourage future sinning. Confession is customarily
and began following the Deceiver’s Cult of Immortality, heard about once every month.
Stratus destroyed the world, killing all but a handful of
Mass
faithful followers who were saved by Aestra. Stratus
favors noblemen, diplomats, judges and warriors. He Mass is held once a week. The Father is praised and the
dislikes illusions, mages, and thieves and despises the celebrant gives readings and a sermon.
undead.
Communion
Ceremonies Once every twenty years, the Archbishops and selected
Marriage Bishops gather in Boston for a special ceremony. During
this ceremony, Stratus enlightens his priests with his
Shared ceremony between the Father’s and Mother’s divine wisdom.
church. Both priests and priestesses take part, symbolizing
the symbiosis between man and woman, Father and Coming of Age
Mother, and the two churches. Participants exchange When children reach age 12-16, they are considered
bracelets of a metal fitting their classes. (If the lower class adults. A priest and priestess bless the child. In some rural
participant is a woman, then the man’s family will pay the communities, many children celebrate this event at the
woman’s family a dowry. If the man’s family is of a lower same time. Some villages stage rituals that include tests of
class, there is generally no payment – though there can be. bravery, strength, and teamwork. Upper-class children
Sometimes, the in-laws are given jobs to improve their come of age individually and their parents throw them
station. In most lower/middle-class marriages, this elaborate parties. Children of merchant-class and urban
custom is ignored and there is no payment or poor families usually do not celebrate coming of age.
consideration.)
Baptism
Ordination
When a child is born, both Father and Mother welcome
Priests are ordained after a long period of theological, him into this world. A priestess sprinkles holy water over
administrative and political training. A Bishop, a child while a priest passes a holy flame about his head.
Archbishop or the Grand Father performs the actual
ceremony. It consists of a week of private readings, fasting Naming
and prayers lasting nearly 20 hours each day. At the end
Churches are named after their unique features. These
of the week, a public mass led by the celebrant blesses and
names can change due to extraordinary events. The
ordains the new priests.
naming ceremony is presided over by a Bishop or
Dawn’s Greeting Archbishop. Depending on the circumstances of the
naming, the ceremony is accompanied by either a feast, or
Each morning priests lead the devout in prayers to greet a session of fasting and prayer.
the Father as he rises above the horizon.

Dusk’s Farewell Churches

The size, architecture and layout of Stratus’ churches vary
Each evening priests privately bid the Father farewell and
pray for the souls of their parishioners as night with the location of the church and its wealth. Urban
approaches. churches are large structures with gothic architecture.
They feature arches, spires and ornate carvings. Many
Petition of the New Moon urban churches have beautiful stained glass windows
depicting saints or scenes depicted in holy writings. The
The moon is considered a mirror through which Stratus
wealthiest of churches have domes or skylights that catch
watches the night and protects humanity from the dangers
the sunlight and illuminate the interior with shimmering
that lurk in the shadows. For this reason, nights with a
colors.
new moon are considered very dangerous for Bostonians.
On nights of the new moon, demons and devils tempt
Rural churches place an emphasis on efficiency and
mortals and send minions to collect old debts. On
function. Generally speaking, they are simple, one or two
evenings before a new moon, public ceremonies are held.
room buildings with humble furnishings and few ornate
People pray for the Father’s protection, strength and
trappings. There is no money for sculptures or stained
guidance through the coming night.
glass.
 St. Sebastian’s Day
Bostonian tradition dictates that every church is named for
August 3rd is when Sebastian started his journey to find
some unique feature. New churches are often named after
other humans across the Teeth Mountains. This is a feast
geographic or nearby physical features. Churches
day. Traditionally, great hospitality is given to travelers on
associated with some historical event, or a notable
this day. Rural villagers sometimes engage in
individual, have names based on that association. The
name of a church can change due to events. Changing the “pilgrimages” where the members of one village travel en
name of a church is a fairly serious matter, accompanied masse to a nearby village where they are treated to a great
by a special ceremony. feast, dancing and drinking. In the cities, taverns and inns
often give some kind of free food or service for the day.
Holidays St. Dovid’s Day
Longest Night August 14th , St. Dovid's Day, is celebrated with a special
December 22nd is the longest night. Bostonians believe that mass. Many devout nobles seek the council of their priests
this is the day Stratus destroyed the ancients for their sins. on this day, hoping to gain the benefit of Stratus' wisdom.
This is a day of atonement fasting and somber This is a feast day.
introspection. The devout do not speak all day and cities St. Gidus’ Day
and towns are cloaked in an eerie silence. When the new
moon falls on the 22nd, it is called Endless Night. September 1st is a celebration in the regions around Salem.
Prayers and offerings are left at the Gidun Monastery and
Endless Night thanks are given for the many orchards and vineyards in
A day of mourning the dead and contemplating the region. Wine, cider and pies are often made on this
transgressions against the gods. Undead and demons are day.
particularly strong this night and people do not dare go
out after dark. In rural communities, people gather in Holy Writings
barns, inns, storehouses and other communal buildings There are several important holy documents that form the
hoping that their numbers will protect them. foundation for the beliefs of the Church of Stratus. The
most important of these is called The Illuminations of The
Sunsong
Father. This document was originally a set of scrolls based
June 24th is the longest day of the year. Church services on the writings of seven tribal priests who were visited by
are attended at dawn and the rest of the day is filled with Stratus several hundred years before the War of
feasts and dancing. It is customary for rich merchants and Unification. It was compiled and translated by the holy
noblemen to provide food and drink for their servants. It men of the Bost, Eltherist, and Pelar tribes and formed the
is a common day for wedding proposals. basis of a common religion between these peoples.

Day of Forgiving The Illuminations is divided into four parts called

March 2nd is considered the coming of spring. Bostonians Seasons. In order, these are:
thank the Father for returning life to the world. This is a
day for considering your sins and begging forgiveness. It • The Fall of the Ancients (Fall Season)
is traditionally a day where parties resolve grudges and • The Wrath of the Father (Winter Season)
feuds. It is a fast day. Confessions and services take a • The Emergence (Spring Season)
better part of the day. • The Way of the Light (Summer Season)

Withedusting The first three Seasons are a detailed history of the fall of
Traditionally, the day of the first snow is called the ancients, their destruction, the sparing of the faithful,
Withedusting and it marks the beginning of the winter and their subsequent emergence from the sea.
season. Priests hold a special mass the eve after the first
snow. Here, they pray for the well being of the land and The final season is the most read and quoted. It outlines
ask the Father to return springtime when he is ready. the obligations of man to the church, to the gods and to
Some rural communities hold Withedusting Festivals and each other. It is considered a faithful translation of the will
harvest celebrations. These are generally scheduled of Stratus, detailing what he expects from his priests and
between September 20 and October 7. his followers.

St. Michael’s Day

February 19th is the birthday of St. Michael. Devout mages
do not practice magic on this day. The Mathematician’s
Guild is shut down for the day and even the priestesses do
not cast spells in honor of the saint.

41
Another book that shapes the Church of Stratus is The Structure
Passions of Dovid. Dovid wrote The Passions several
years after the War of Unification (y17). Dovid was The Grandfather rules the Church from his Sun Throne in
inspired by his intense study of The Illuminations and his Boston. He is responsible for interpreting the words of
desire to see the leaders of the new Bostonian nation held Stratus, his saints and disciples and from them, creating
accountable to an idealistic religious law. This book Church law. He is the final word on Church policy and he
describes the relationship between the church and the has tremendous influence and power both in a spiritual
state. It speaks of the Father’s expectations for behavior of and secular sense. At a word, he can mobilize the mighty
the kings, barons and lords of the land. It outlines a set of Templar Orders, conduct an investigation, order a
laws that detail the rights of noblemen, as well as their sanction, or declare and entire community guilty of
obligations to their subjects and the church. In addition, it heresy. The Grandfather is chosen by the Counsel of
creates a set of courts to enforce these laws and establishes Cardinals and serves until death.
the Light of Justice.
Reporting directly to the Grandfather is the Counsel of
After Michael defeated the rogue mage priests and Cardinals. This is a group of five wi se and holy men who
convinced his followers to abandon their magic runes, he advise the Grandfather on matters of religion and politics.
wrote Magesoul (y76). This book borrows heavily from Technically, no one reports directly to the Cardinals.
The Fall of the Ancients to argue the point that magic is However, in practice, the Cardinals act as the
inherently perilous to the souls of its practitioners. It Grandfather’s link to the Archbishops. Information and
forms the basis for the Church’s stand on magic and requests flow through them and therefore, they can
mages. Magesoul describes a rigorous code of conduct for control the agenda. The Cardinals are chosen by the
devout mages, and finally urges them to abandon their Grandfather and can be replaced by him at any time. Most
runes. are chosen from the ranks of Bishops and Archbishops,
but this does not have to be the case.
Recruitment/Training
There are 12 Archbishops in Bostonia. Each is responsible
Acolytes generally start the seminary between ages 15-18.
for the stewardship of a single Barony. Archbishops are
The largest seminary colleges are in Boston and Salem, but
charged with overseeing the spiritual and political path of
smaller schools exist in other regions. Training lasts from
their baronies. Archbishops act as liaisons between Boston
4-6 years, depending on the acolyte’s previous education.
and the various baronies. They report to the Grandfather,
Acolytes receive training in theology, history, politics and and the Counsel of Cardinals.
administration. If a student shows particular aptitude for a
certain course of study, then he may be recruited into one
In times of peace, Archbishops work with the barons and
of the specialized branches of the Church, such as the
the bishops to ensure that the tenets of the Church and the
Purifiers, Sunbringers or the Light of Justice.
needs of the people are met. In times of internal conflict,
archbishops try to bring about a peaceful resolution as
Role in Society
negotiators and judges. If peace cannot be obtained, then
The Church of Stratus serves two main purposes. First, the the archbishops report to Boston. The Grandfather might
Church provides a single vision of morality and virtue for allow the nobles to continue to battle; he might order the
the people of Bostonia. This spiritual ideal, elucidated in Templars to settle the conflict; or he might call for a
The Way of Light, and brought to the people by the sanction.
preaching of the Ilpaders, guides all devout Bostonians in
their everyday dealings. There are about 50 Bishops in Bostonia. Each bishop has
the responsibility for a diocese. Baronies have from 2-6
In addition, the Church acts as a unifying force politically. diocese based on population. Bishops appoint and oversee
It wields incredible power in the form of the Light of priests. They travel from parish to parish, presiding over
Justice, the Templar orders, and the Sanctioners. That ceremonies and taking confession. Their duties focus on
power is used as a stabilizing force, insuring that baronies the spiritual and religious training of their parishioners.
do not engage in destructive civil wars and that Bostonian When a vacancy arises in a diocese, the priests in a diocese
nobles follow the laws laid out in The Passions of Dovid. convene and nominate candidates to become the new
Bishop. From these candidates, the Archbishop chooses
the new Bishop. Bishops generally serve for life, but under
extreme circumstances, the Archbishop or the Grandfather
may demote them.

42
At the bottom of the formal church hierarchy are the
parish priests, called Ilpaders (“small father”). They The Light of Justice is a group of priests trained in law and
conduct the operations of a single church. They minister to investigation. They are well-respected judges that travel
the people, preside over ceremonies and teach their the land hearing cases and settling disputes. In addition,
parishioners the ways of the Father. Priests of large they investigate crimes that interest the church, or that
churches have many administrative and financial duties in local authorities cannot solve. Justices transcend the
addition to their religious ones. In smaller, more rural church hierarchy. They answer only to the Grandfather
parishes, the priests are tied closely to the community and and his Cardinals and can investigate almost anyone,
share many of the day-to-day tasks with their flock. including Barons and Archbishops.

Lay ministers exist below the church structure. They The Sanctioners are a secret arm of the church. There is no
technically have the same rank as parish priests, but lack mention or record of them in any of the church’s histories
the respect that formal training brings. Though they are or records – they do not exist. No one knows where they
becoming fewer, Bostonia still has several remote rural train, or how they recruit new members. Most Sanctioners
parishes that have difficulties attracting priests. Few operate on their own, appearing where their services are
priests volunteer for such duty and often, Bishops are required, and then disappearing just as quickly.
loathe to appoint them in these places for political reasons. Sanctioners have theological training, but are not ordained
When this happens, the community may send its wisest priests. Instead, they are highly trained assassins, hunting
and most learned member to become a lay minister. heretics, rogue mages and other perceived threats to the
church. Sanctions occur suddenly and without witnesses;
The nominee travels to the nearest parish to be tested by victims just disappear without a trace.
the priests there. The test is three days long and covers
topics of theology, doctrine and history. If the nominee Vision/Mission
passes the exam, he becomes a lay minister and can The Church of Stratus has the following goals:
preside over ceremonies and preach to his community.
• Uphold the teachings of Stratus.
After seven years of service, a lay minister may test again
• Convert the unknowing pagans and destroy those
to become an ordained priest.
who knowingly ignore the Father’s light.
• Maintain order among the former tribes and promote
The Purifiers are a small select group of priests that
a unified vision for all of humanity to uphold.
operates out of Boston and Salem. They are trained in the
• Ensure that the nobility follow the teachings of Dovid
history and practices of the ancients. In addition, they are
and understand their responsibility to the Church and
experts at reading runes and understanding the operation
to the common people.
of magical artifacts. When a dangerous artifact is
• Destroy undead, demons, witches, necromancers,
discovered, the Purifiers respond quickly, analyzing and
heretics and other enemies of the Father and the
neutralizing it before any harm can be done. The item is
Church wherever they are found.
then taken back to the Purifiers’ headquarters where it can
be studied, destroyed, or safely stored. The Purifiers • Discourage the tainted practice of taking runes.
Monitor those who bear runes and control the
report to the Grandfather, as well as the Cardinals and the
artifacts of the ancients so they can do no harm.
Archbishop of Salem.

The Sunbringers are another special order of priests,

specializing in battling the undead. They are based in a
small temple in the middle of the Bloodpools, a swamp
where the dead often rise. There, they hone their combat
skills, as well as their undead turning ability. While the
majority of Sunbringers remain in the Bloodpools to check
the spread on undead there, experienced Sunbringers are
sent to locations that require their specific skills. Most
notably, Seeker’s Watch houses a small garrison of
Sunbringers. Sunbringers report to the Bishops.

43
 Rite of the Second Moon
The Temple of Aestra
The night of a second full moon in a single month is a
Aestra is the Bostonian Sea Mother. When Stratus chose to special occasion for Aestra’s temples. This night occurs
punish the ancients for their quest for immortality, Aestra once on a different date each year. Prayers are offered as
called to the handful of faithful, beckoning them to the the moon rises in the sky. People of all types, professions,
sea. She bid the faithful to walk into the sea and into her and classes attend the ceremony, light candles, and ask the
embrace as the fireseeds crashed into the earth, destroying Mother for special favors.
all life. Those that heeded her call were saved.
Sailor’s Prayer
Aestra represents the feminine ideal: she is strong and
Sailors will often come to temples and ask for this special
self-reliant, yet possesses an infinite capacity for
ceremony to be performed. The Sisters say a special prayer
compassion and forgiveness. She is the patron of mothers,
over a set of tin medallions. Each sailor is then given one
children, sailors and those in need of healing. She controls
of the blessed medallions to wear on his journey. The
the sea and weather and provides mercy, charity and
Mother’s blessing aids the sailor in the case of storms, and
healing to the sick. Schools dedicated to the teachings of
insures that if he were to drown, the Mother would take
this goddess exist all over Bostonia.
his soul to rest. Many sailors in Bostonia can be seen
Ceremonies wearing their blessed medallions.

Marriage Rites of the Tides

Priestesses as well as priests perform the ceremony of The priestesses consider the moon to be a symbol of the
marriage. For details about this ceremony, consult the text holy union between the Mother and Father and often refer
for priests. to the moon as a Divine Bracelet (as in a marriage
bracelet). They also understand the link between the
Coming of Age moon’s phases and the tides; the most extreme tides occur
during full and new moons. During nights of the full and
Priestesses as well as priests perform the coming of age
new moon, the priestesses gather quietly around bodies of
ceremony. For details about this ceremony, consult the
water, say prayers to the Mother and Father, and cut
text for priests.
themselves on the forearm, or the calf, letting their blood
Baptism flow into the water.

Priestesses as well as priests perform baptisms. For details It is interesting to note that the Aeltharze do not
about this ceremony, consult the text for priests. participate in these ceremonies on nights of the new
Naming moon. On these particularly dark nights, they say prayers
and man their posts all night as though waiting for an
Temples of Aestra are named in a similar fashion as enemy to come.
churches. For details about the naming ceremony, consult
the text for priests. Fertility Rite

Morning Ritual Women having trouble conceiving often come to the

Mother’s Temple to participate in this ceremony. The
Each morning, Learned Sisters immerse themselves in petitioner brings her closest female friends and relatives
water, mirroring their full induction into the faith. The with her and they are hidden away for a day of prayers,
contact with water powers their magic rune and allows incense, and fasting. When evening comes, the priestesses
them to regain lost skill levels. join the women; the petitioner is stripped and laid on a
table. The women dance around her and sprinkle her with
Rite of Our Mother the Savior
holy water and various fertility concoctions from oldwives
The Sisters know of a number of underground rivers and tales.
lakes, the location of which they keep secret. When young
women complete their training and are ready to join the Vigil for the Sick
ranks of Learned Sisters, they are taken to one of these This ceremony is held for those that are sick beyond help.
secret sites (or to the Dark Lake in Sunsrest). At the stroke It is a last plea to the Mother to save the life of a loved one,
of midnight, the head priestess in attendance begins or to at least provide comfort to one who is soon dying.
ringing a bell and the lay sisters walk immerse themselves The petitioners gather outside the temples, light candles
in the water, drowning themselves like their ancestors did and hold vigil. A single priestess presides over the prayers
years ago, and like St. Camille did at the Dark Lake. and meditation. It is said that the longer the vigil, the
Aestra saves the sisters and they emerge unharmed and more likely it is to be effective.
with the Sacred Falls of Aestra rolling down their backs.

44
Churches St. Antel’s Day

As Aestra is a sea goddess, Her temples are always built Though not widely celebrated, physicians, healers and
near a body of water. Her temples are simple, and often herbalists often tithe to the Mother's church on July 27th.
consist of multiple buildings. All temples have a The most devout of them offer their services to the poor
dormitory for the priestesses, and a main temple for for free, or at a greatly reduced rate.
public services. Some temples have infirmaries, and Day of Tithes
isolated chambers for ceremonies that are carried out in
secret. The priestesses of Aestra minister to the sick and poor of
Bostonia and they never require payment for their
Aestra’s temple compounds feature open space, quiet services. The Church of Stratus is well-funded by taxes
courtyards, orchards, gardens, and fountains. Typically, and generous donations from the nobility, but Aestra’s
the main temple area is an open structure flanked by rows temples rarely collect levies, and often escape the notice of
of columns. noblemen.

Temples are named for their unique features much like the On August 31 st of y591, Grand Father Parsus Corin
churches of the Father. decreed that once each year, the Father’s Church would
pay a substantial tithe to the nearby temples in recognition
Holidays of the holy services they provide. This tithe generally
consists of some percentage of the church’s income, but
Ice Vigil could be paid in goods or services.
On January 1st , Learned Sisters celebrate the Ice Vigil.
During this holiday, able-bodied Sisters trek out into the Over the years, the tradition has grown such that almost
cold and meditate for hours. This grueling test cleanses all citizens present a tithe. This can be almost any gift
the Sisters’ minds and souls, and sometimes leads to given sincerely and freely. The poor usually offer a day’s
visions and revelations. No one is accepted at the temples, work; craftsmen provide some gift of their handiwork; the
though the remaining lay sisters treat those already in the rich give gold, fine goods or art with which to decorate the
infirmary. temples.

Winter’s Breaking Harvest Celebration

On January 21st , Bostonians celebrate the inevitable On September 30th , rural Bostonians celebrate the harvest.
coming of spring. The winter stores are inventoried and a A feast is held and priestesses are asked to bless the fields
generous feast is held, featuring canned fruits and and animals to insure that the next year is bountiful.
vegetables, smoked meat, and jerky.
St. Camille’s Day
Day of the Hunt St. Camille's Day is October 12th . It is the holiest day for
May 14th is Hunting Day. All priestesses who are capable the Temple of Aestra. Priestesses spend the day in quiet
with a bow take to the wilderness and hunt all varieties of meditation. Many of the poor honor the Mother by
game. Animals that are brought back are butchered and bathing in a nearby body of water. Festivals are held
cooked, and then a huge feast is held for the temple’s where wealthy citizens and nobility hold feasts for the less
parishioners. In regions where no temple is present, it is fortunate. It is traditional to eat gull, duck or some other
common for the local nobility to open their hunting water bird on this day.
grounds to everyone for the day. At the feast, there are
St. Alice’s Day
games and archery contests and priestesses teach local
children how to shoot. November 3rd is St. Alice’s Day. St. Alice's Day is not
widely celebrated. However, it is a time where the
St. Weirgrub’s Day chronically ill are said to be particularly blessed by the
June 6th is St. Weirgrub’s Day. It is a day to honor the dead Mother. People with chronic illnesses often pray for relief
and remember loved ones. Flowers are laid near places on this day.
significant to the dead person being honored – for
instance, a favorite chair, their workplace, or the spot of Holy Writings
their death. An extra meal is often cooked and served for There are several works considered holy to the Temple of
the dead on this day. Aestra. The most prominent of these is The Mercies of the
Emergence Mother, which is a companion work to The Illuminations.
Camille wrote this book in y13 after a weeklong vigil
July 21st is believed to be the day that the faithful emerged where she was visited by visions sent from Aestra. The
from the sea. This holiday is celebrated with a special Mercies establishes the Temple and its priestesses,
mass held in the morning followed by a string of describes their mission and code of behavior, and
baptisms. Because it is considered a special honor to be describes the miracle of the Sacred Falls.
baptized on the Day of Emergence, many families wait
until this day to have their newborns baptized.
45
Another important work is Portrai t of the Visionary Reporting to the Grand Mother are the various Mother
written by Elna, shield maiden and companion of Camille, Superiors of the temples across Bostonia. Most temples
in y42. This book describes Camille’s life, both before and that house over 30 priestesses have a Mother Superior,
after Unification. Elna focuses on the changes in Camille and there are about 120 such temples. A Mother Superior
after being given the gift of the Sacred Falls, and the is the leader of her temple. She has the power to run the
saint’s quest to establish the Temple and its traditions. It is temple’s daily and is responsible for the welfare and
not only considered an important historical work, but Elna spiritual development of the priestesses under her charge.
captured dozens of conversations between Camille and She decides where the priestesses travel and work, whom
her students, apostles and servants. The wisdom they heal; she can even commit her priestesses to battle if
contained in those conversations is considered part of the there is need.
holy writings of the Temple.
A Mother Superior must report to the Grand Mother every
Recruitment/Training six months. This report is usually a written letter, but
could be a visit to Boston. Because of the volume and
The Temple of Aestra does not maintain a network of
length of these reports, the Temple of the Emergence has a
formal schools. Acolytes are recruited into the temple
large staff dedicated to reading and transcribing them.
between the ages of 11-14. After 2-3 years of training in
Reports sent via a personal visit, special messenger, or
theology and healing, the young women become lay
those marked secret, or urgent in some way are given
sisters and are sent to a distant temple to begin their work.
directly to the Grand Mother.
Lay sisters minister to the poor, heal the sick, and observe
the ceremonies of Aestra. In addition, they may take
In theory, each Mother Superior is equal in rank.
additional training in the healing sciences, or in the sword
However, a de facto hierarchy has developed with the
and bow. Finally, after 3-5 years of working and training,
Mother Superiors from the largest temples on top. Mother
a lay sister may petition her Mother Superior to become a
Superiors from Sunsrest, Salem, Boston, Ismoth, and
Learned Sister.
Seeker’s Watch are granted a great deal more respect and
Role in Society deference than their peers. When a Grand Mother dies,
her successor is almost always chosen from the ranks of
The Temple of Aestra exists to heal the bodies, and the these five.
souls of the people. The priestesses walk among the
commoners of Bostonia, helping them, healing them, and Temples with less than 30 priestesses usually have no
ministering to them. Through their daily actions and Mother Superior. The priestesses choose their leader from
words, they represent the glory of the Mother. They see the eldest and wisest of their number. This “Eldest Sister”
themselves working with the people, as opposed to does not report to the Grand Mother unless there is a
lording over them. Temples of Aestra are community need. However, by tradition, she will send a periodic
centers, having activity throughout the day. Even though report to the nearest Mother Superior. The Mother
the priestesses do not hold regular sermons, or masses, Superiors of the larger temples will address the needs of
people flock to the temples to seek advice or aid, to bring a these small temples, and informally coordinate resources
small gift, or to pray. to keep all of the nearby temples operating smoothly.

Aestra’s priestesses rarely get involved with the Under the Mother Superiors, and Eldest Sisters are the
complicated politics of the Bostonian nobility. They leave priestesses of the temples. Learned Sisters rank above lay
that to the Church of Stratus. However, they do wield the sisters, but there is little practical distinction. The two
power of the Aeltharze, and can mobilize the templar groups work side by side with no thought of subtle
orders when required. In crisis situations, they will differences in rank.
support the Church with their swords and healing
expertise. Vision/Mission
Structure The Temple of Aestra has the following goals:
• Uphold the teachings of Aestra.
The Grand Mother leads the priestesses of Aestra’s • Protect the weak, the sick, and those unable to defend
Temple from the Temple of the Emergence Boston. She themselves.
receives visions from Aestra, which she interprets and • To promote the healing of the world and humanity
uses to guide her followers spiritual and moral path. from the scars of ancient magic and the fireseeds.
When required, the Grand Mother can wield terrible • To destroy the magic that caused the ancients to turn
power. She can mobilize the templar orders, or call the from the true Church.
Aeltharze to battle. In addition, her magical powers are • To come to a greater communion with the Mother
formidable, and she commands hundreds of priestesses through her gift of the Sacred Falls.
with similar runic skills. Most importantly, the Bostonians
• Show the unknowing pagans the glory of Aestra.
love her, and her words can sway the hearts and minds of
• Maintain order among the former tribes and promote
the commoners.
a unified vision for all of humanity to uphold.

46
 Camille was also the first to gain The Sacred Falls of
The Saints of Aestra and Stratus Aestra. She convinced the Azert tribe to join the
Certain individuals are revered for their piousness, their Unification by drowning herself in the Dark Lake. When
service to the churches, or because of some miraculous she rose from the lake, water dripped down her back,
occurrence. Bostonians believe that when these special burning the Mother's mark on her. This mark gave her
people die, they are called to serve the Father and Mother amazing powers to heal the sick and injured. Seeing this
as saints. Saints are immortal beings who serve the gods miracle, the Azert had no choice but to join the new
by acting as messengers and go-betweens to the mortal Bostonian nation.
world. There are dozens of saints revered by the churches. Dovid (Aug 14)
Below is a sample list.
The original founder of the Church of Stratus. He shared
Alice (Nov 3) Camille’s visions. Dovid was a farmer and later a warrior
Born to a poor peasant family, Alice was bedridden with who led the Bosts in uniting all the tribes in the valley.
leprosy while still very young. She lost the use of her arms After founding the church, Dovid wrote many works that
and legs, and then lost the limbs themselves. She became became the basis for much of Bostonian law and tradition.
known for her holiness and devotion to Aestra. When a Elbrand (Oct 9)
temple to the Mother was built next to her home, she had
a window cut into the wall so that she could attend After the founding of the Church, Elbrand traveled the
services with the priestesses. She later trained to be a Seeker’s Valley converting the pagan tribes that still
priestess, but never attained the rank of Learned Sister. practiced there. He was captured by a hostile tribe and
Nonetheless, it is said her touch could heal. Before her beheaded. Legends say that after he was beheaded,
death, she was cured of her disease by the grace of the Elbrand stood and carried his still preaching head in his
Mother. hands. The pagans scattered and filled with fear, many of
them converted to the Father.
Antel Gemenir (Jul 27)
Gidus (Sep 1)
A member of the Gemenir tribe, Antel was said to have
been contacted by Aestra and taught the healing arts. He Born a wealthy noble in Salem. When his parents died, he
became the first physician. Said to have had supernatural used his fortune to help the poor. He was so generous that
powers to mend bone and torn flesh. his philanthropy left him impoverished. He left the city
and became a hermit in the nearby hills. Legend says that
Camille (Oct 12) Aestra, touched by his gentle nature, sent animals to him
The founder of the Temple of Aestra. Mistress Camille and blessed him with the ability to make apple trees and
was a common fisherwoman. Aestra came to her in a grapevines grow at a touch.
dream. In this dream, she was sitting in her boat after a
full day of fishing. There was no wind and the sun was One day, Baron Celus and his hunting party chased one of
setting and she was left with no way home. As she the animals to Gidus’ dwelling and a stray arrow injured
pondered her problem, a flock of crows landed on deck Gidus’ leg. The Baron was horrified at the accident and
and began eating her fish. had Gidus brought to a nearby village to be treated. While
there, the villagers were stunned as all the animals flocked
As fewer fish remained, the crows began squawking and to him and a beautiful orchard grew around his dwelling.
pecking at one another, bloodying each other. As the Upon hearing the story, the Bishop of Salem built a
crows argued, a large hawk and a gull swooped down and monastery at the site and made Gidus the abbot.
screeched. Most of the crows quieted, but some continued
Michael (Feb 19)
to attack the others. The gull and hawk jumped upon
these unruly crows, pecking them to death. The flock of Led his followers against a group of rogue mage priests
birds, now acting as one pulled on the nets and rigging that were using their positions for personal gain. Michael
and towed the shore. destroyed the rebel mage priests and then determined that
the influence of magic could only be contrary to the
She found herself on a stretch of rocky coast by the mouth influence of god. He and his followers gave up their runes
of a powerful river. The hawk, gull and remaining crows, and priests have not taken runes ever since.
piled the dead birds onto the shore. From their blood, a
Olum (Dec 2)
city of metal and stone began to rise.
St. Olum was a young nobleman who lived from during
Camille took news of her vision to the others in her the years 459 and 516. In y484, Olum was moved by
village. Her visions were not unique. A young warrior Grand Father Michael Richelau’s call for a focus on
named Dovid had also had a similar vision. The elders spiritual and religious concerns. He renounced politics
decided that these visions portended the rise of the Bost and war, and joined the monastery at Avenol.
tribe to supremacy in the land. They chose the visionaries
to spread the word to the other villages. Elders of the
other villages were excited about the news and praised
Camille and Dovid as messengers of the gods.
After several years as a monk, Olum sought a more
personal relationship with Stratus and Aestra. Olum Demons: The Five and their Minions
became a hermit, but when his father heard of his new In Bostonia, I wanted to avoid the typical representation of
calling, he tried to get his son to reconsider. Olum’s father demons you see in other fantasy games. That is the pointy
became more and more insistent until Olum worried his head, bat-winged, clawed fighting machine that may or
father would force him from his solitude. Olum fled south, may not answer to some lower power. Sure, these are
deep into goblin territory. fearsome opponents, but really are just another monster
when you think about it. Bostonia already has some
Olum the hermit lived alone for a dozen years until a fearsome monsters and I wanted demons to be interesting
nomadic goblin tribe, the Brigg Dah, happened upon his and special in their own right.
home. The goblins captured the human, and were about to
kill him, when Olum found he could speak the goblin Intro
tongue so long as he was reciting scripture. These goblins
In the world of Bostonia, there are 5 true demons. These
had not had much contact with humans and so tales of the
creatures are thought to be ancient lackeys of the Deceiver.
new gods fascinated them. Olum was spared and set
They were the first converts to his Church of Immortality,
about converting the pagan goblins.
his most devout followers and his evangelists. They
brought the Church of Immortality to the people of the
Olum died after a month-long theological argument with
a thugraa of The Wretched One. Olum convinced the ancient world and collected souls for the Deceiver,
goblin to give up his hideous rune and convert. However, knowing full well they were damning the world in doing
in doing so, he contracted a wasting disease, and died so.
shortly thereafter in y516.
When Father Stratus unleashed his fireseeds upon the
Parsus (Nov 1) world, the Five (as they are commonly called) escaped
destruction by using powerful magic to exile themselves
Traveled south and became a missionary in cobrat lands.
from this world. In doing so, they saved themselves from
He learned cobrat and lived as much like a cobrat as
the Father's wrath. However, they also sealed their own
possible, trying to prove that belief in the Father and
fate. The limbo they entered (and in fact took a good
Mother did not interfere with cobrat traditions. When the
chunk of their world with them) had no escape; no portal
cobrat king expelled all foreign missionaries and made it
back to Earth. They had exiled themselves in a prison.
illegal to preach anything but belief in the Great Turtle,
Parsus did not flee. Instead, he went into hiding so that he
Over the course of thousands of years, the Five slowly
could minister to his converts. Years later, he was
learned how to weaken their prison so that they could
discovered and killed.
observe the world and subsequently, how they could
Sebastian (Aug 3) affect it. They watched humanity crawl out of the sea,
form tribes and develop into the society of Bostonia. Now,
A great believer in converting enemies instead of fighting they have enough power and knowledge to influence that
them, Sebastian spent years ministering to the Borakki and society-- to twist and warp it in hopes of increasing their
the Cobrat. In his travels, Sebastian theorized that other power and somehow escaping their millennia-long exile.
enclaves of humans must have survived the Fireseeds.
Sebastian traveled across the Teeth Mountains to find How Bostonians View Demons
these enclaves and teach them the ways of the Mother and
Father. Bostonians view the world as a battleground of virtue and
vice; fortitude and temptation. As children of the ancients,
Weirgrub (June 6) they are fully capable of both great deeds and great
hubris. The laws of the Father as interpreted by the
The daughter of a Seeker’s Valley nobleman, she was
Church exist to protect people from themselves and their
schooled at the Temple at the Falling Water in Seeker’s
inherent weakness.
Watch. Her studies brought her close to the Mother, and
she became a Learned Sister. She remained at Falling
The lust for magic is one such weakness. The ancients
Water and became head of the orphanage there, tending to
were masters of magic and thus masters of their
the city’s forgotten children for many years. She was
environment. They controlled such power that nearly
known not only for her kind spirit, but also the hours she
anything was possible. However, they were not satisfied
spent in meditation and contemplation of the Mother’s
with the great power they had. They lusted after secrets
ways.
mankind was not meant to have and in doing so, turned
from the true faith.
Late in her life, Weirgrub received a vision in which she
was granted the ability to raise the dead through the
power of the Sacred Falls of Aestra. The next day, an
earthquake struck Seeker’s Watch, leveling her beloved
orphanage. All of the children were killed. Weirgrub
walked from child to child, touching each of them and
bringing them back to life. Soon after, she died.
48
After the Emergence, men again turned to runes to help • Appear to the intoxicated.
them unite the Bostonian tribes. However, once again, the • Grant boons of information or even power to a
magic corrupted the men and turned holy priests into mortal.
power mongering murderers. For these reasons, the • Occasionally send their minions to the world.
Father and His Church frown upon the use of magic. • Possess a mortal.
People are taught that magic is a corrupting force and that
all magic, no matter how benign, has the potential to taint Generally, the demons appear to mortals to offer advice,
a soul. Still, there are those who risk their lives, their give information, cajole, persuade, argue and twist. They
sanity and their souls to possess magic. Why? The same rarely appear as themselves, but are there as trusted
reason people commit adultery, steal and oppress the friends, women of statuesque beauty or that voice in your
masses. Demons. head. They are the slick lawyers of Bostonia; the devil on
the shoulder telling you that you deserve that necklace
Not to say that Bostonians don't believe in free will. They more than the noblewoman who owns it; the loneliness of
do. However, they see free will as the playing field a soldier away from home; the force that drives you to
between good and evil. The Father and Mother espousing bind the rune regardless of its price on your soul.
virtue on one side and the Five spewing bile on the other.
Though it costs them dearly, the demons can also grant
Who are The Five? power to mortals they favor. Tomax is known for giving
The Five represent things for which people commit mages access to powerful runes in exchange for their
murder. These are the most grievous taints (sins) in the souls. Aphadae may grant beauty or agelessness to a vain
Bostonian mind. victim. Guilder often appears to those in serious debt,
offering a "quick way out... just sign here."
• Tomax of 1000 Runes: Lust for magic
The gifts are beneficial at first, but tend to encourage
• Aphadae: Lust for flesh
dependence on the demon for continued boons. And of
• Guilder: Lust for money
course, at an ever-increasing cost. Once you have willingly
• Makav: Lust for power
agreed to forfeit your soul, or the soul of an unborn child,
• Entropy: Insanity
or you have killed someone with or because of your gift
(the souls of those killed by the demons and the mortals
Though insanity is not considered a sin, it is considered a
they court go to Tertentathador for eternity), you belong
taint that allows a person to be possessed by demons.
to The Five.
Insane people are not treated, but are put to death instead.
Once this happens your body can be possessed by them
Each of The Five has other more minor spheres of
for whatever nefarious purpose they have in mind. Even
influence. Tomax for instance, is a horrible glutton.
someone so owned can only be possessed when they are
Aphadae is vain. Guilder is the patron of dishonesty and
drunk, otherwise intoxicated or sleeping. The demons use
illusion. Makav can read minds.
the body as often as they feel the need. The person in
Where are The Five? question gets very little rest, and physically deteriorates
the more he is possessed.
The Five exiled themselves by transporting a large portion
of their city into an extra dimensional space just before the Since the demons rarely have access to the world, they
fireseeds destroyed the Earth. This demon city is called often sate their substantial lusts when they have this
Tertentathador (ter - ten - tuh - THAD - er). The Five rule chance. However, there are times when they have a more
this city, tormenting the souls there, creating minions and specific agenda in mind -- something to accomplish while
otherwise plotting to escape into the world. they are here. This could be meeting someone in person to
collect on old debts, appearing to one of the secret demon
Entropy is the exception to this rule. He somehow cults that exist, or spreading demonic seed across the
survived the fireseeds and escaped the Father's notice. land...
However, he was rendered dormant by the blast (much
like the Deceiver was) and was later found by tribesmen What is a Spawn?
who were then instructed by Stratus and Aestra on how to
Quite simply, a demon-spawn is the child of a demon. It is
imprison the body of Entropy. Entropy still lies
part mortal and part demon. Whenever someone
somewhere beneath the Earth in a dormant state.
conceives a child while their body is possessed by a
What Can The Five Do? demon, they conceive spawn. Lore has it that spawn are
always conceived as twins. Giving birth to twins is
The Five are limited in their actions because of their exile. considered a bad omen for the family and in some remote
None of The Five (but for Entropy) can appear in the areas, twins are decapitated, or drowned in holy water
world. They can see the world and can affect it in a soon after birth. Spawn can be born as single babies,
multitude of ways. For instance the demons can: though this is rare. The assumption is that one twin killed
and ate the other in the womb so as to remain undetected.
• Appear in dreams, including daydreams or fantasies.
49
Spawn look and act much like humans. They do have What about the Demons in the Bestiary?
some demonic power however. Spawn generally don't
need to sleep and can see in even pitch darkness. These Those are called Minions and they really aren't demons.
powers often do not appear until sometime in early They are created by The Five and infused with demonic
adolescence. It is possible that they have other powers power. However, they are the mere foot soldiers for the
based on their parentage. real demons. Imps and eyes are used as the main line
troops. The Unkillable are shock troops and the Enforcers
Spawn are more susceptible to insanity and demonic are secret police and assassins. Because these beings are
influence. Their souls are forfeit and their demonic parent constructs and not true demons, they can leave
can contact them when they like. They are forsaken by Tertentathador and travel to the real world, though
Father Stratus and Mother Aestra and can never receive a sending them to Earth takes a great deal of power on the
blessing or healing from the agents of the Church. part of The Five, so they don't do it often. They are used to
kill, torment, give messages to and otherwise deal with
Spawn that kill other spawn/demons gain their powers. mortals when The Five cannot.
This makes the single-born spawn very powerful and
these spawn are often highly intelligent and can develop
terrible powers. Think babies talking when they are
months old; think parents having freak accidents; think
Damien in The Omen!!!

50
 Culture
Who Rules The Land • Identify Heresy – The Grand Father can declare an
individual, a group, a city, or even a whole barony
Bostonia is a tight federation of feudal baronies bound “In Opposition” to the teachings of the Church. In
together under a relatively weak king and the awesome doing so, he is excommunicating them from the faith,
power of the Church of Stratus. What follows is a and essentially removing them from the nation of
description of the most powerful political entities in the Bostonia.
World of Bostonia. • Make War – The Church has the power to make war
on heretics, and pagans without the sanction of any
The Church of Stratus other organization. Between the Templars,
Sunbringers, and fighting monks, the Church’s army
The Church is the single most powerful organization in exceeds that of most baronies.
the land. Through tithes, donations, and obligations, the
• Hear Cases – Justices travel from court to court
Church has significant financial resources. Through its
hearing cases that involve crimes against the Church.
Templars, Sunbringers, and the various fighting monastic
Barons cannot refuse a Justice entry into their lands,
orders, the Church wields great military might as well.
or stop them from trying religious cases. Barons do
The Church influences the actions of the nobility through
have jurisdiction over secular cases, but because
teachings of St. Dovid, and through the Traditions of
Justices are trained judges and investigators, most
Succession, has a voice in who will be king.
baronies allow them to hear cases involving major,
secular crimes as well. Finally, Justices are often
The Father’s Church takes an active role in the affairs of
called upon to act as arbitrators in disputes between
the land. The Archbishops continuously monitor the
barons, or other powerful nobles.
baronies, making sure the Barons follow Church law and
• Influence Over the People – Bostonians believe that
seeing that rivalries do not get out of hand and endanger
the Church is their means of salvation. Priests are
the safety of the people or the state. Justices travel from
well-respected individuals and their words carry
barony to barony, dispensing advice and hearing cases.
weight. Peasants and nobles alike consider the
Almost every village and town has a chapel and supports
attitude of the Church before making any major
an Ilpader through tithes.
decisions.
The Powers of the Church of Stratus • Influence Over the King – In a peaceful succession,
the Church chooses the king. After he is chose, the
• Collect Tithes and Obligations – It is common people king serves for life, and cannot be dethroned by any
of Bostonia are taught that regardless of personal action short of war, or excommunication. Still, the
wealth, supporting the Church is a responsibility. king and Church usually act as one
Commoners are expected to tithe to the Church at • Gifts – The Church makes a regular practice of giving
least twice a year. Tithes are supposed to consist of gifts to nobles that it favors. These gifts can be
1/20th of a family’s wealth, but few priests actually monetary, but often take the form of artwork, trade
keep a close watch on how much a given villager goods, animals, and even land.
contributes, as long as some effort is made to • Sanction – People that act in open defiance of the
contribute. Church, commit heinous crimes, or promote heresy
• Write Holy Law – The Grand Father has the ability to sometimes just disappear in the night. Those that
write new laws in the Divine Book. These laws bind study Church history, or are in certain noble circles
every citizen of Bostonia (and theoretically, every circulate rumors of a cult of assassins who enforce the
intelligent being in the world) to a code of conduct teachings of the Father with a dark zeal.
that follows the teachings of Stratus and Aestra.
• Traditions of Succession – The Church administers The Temple of Aestra
the process in which a new monarch is chosen.
The Temple of Aestra is less interested in political matters
According to The Traditions, nobles that have a
than its male counterpart. Sisters rarely take part in the
legitimate claim to the throne present their claim
before a panel of Cardinals and the Grand Father. In day-to-day politics of Bostonia. Instead, they prefer to
theory, The Traditions describes a formula for keep to their traditional role as healers, charity givers, and
choosing the new king, based on his lineage, wealth, ministers to the poor.
military might, faith, and service to the land. This is not to say that the Temple lacks influence. The
However, in practice, many of these criteria are Sisters of Aestra are the caretakers of the people. They are
subjective, and the panel has a large say in the well loved and can easily sway public opinion to their
outcome of the formula. cause. In addition, the Sail of St. Gilla and the Aeltharze
Order provide the Temple with protection and a military
presence in case of a conflict.
The Powers of the Temple of Aestra • Enforcement – The Mathematicians are permitted to
certify merchants who use their standards. A Guild
• Day of Tithes – In y591, Grand Father Parsus Corin Certificate tells traders and consumers that the holder
decreed that each year, the Church of Stratus would uses standard measurements, and does not cheat by
pay a substantial tithe to the Temple of Aestra for the shaving coins, under filling casks, or watering down
services they provide. Now, the Day of Tithes has his wine. Though most common merchants and
become a tradition throughout the land. Citizens with tradesmen do not own a Guild Certificate, many
local temples present gifts to the priestesses that larger companies do.
minister to them.
• Blackballing – Though the Mathematicians are
• Make War – The Temple does not have the same recognized as the authority on measurement
mandate as the Father’s Church to make war. standards and fair trade, they have no real
However, they have command of the most powerful enforcement authority. However, in markets where
archery units in Bostonia, the Aeltharze. In addition, the Guild is established, their word is powerful. If the
the Sword of Sorthan and the Sail of St. Gilla are Mathematicians announce that an establishment is
pledged to protect the Sisters and their places of cheating, they will find it hard to continue to do
worship. business in that market.
• Sisters of the Sea – Because the Mother is a sea • Magic – The Mathematicians have mastery over time
goddess, sailors hold the Sisters in high esteem. and space through the power of the First Equation.
Sailors will never harm a Sister, and will do their best Though magic is generally disdained by the Church,
to keep them from harm. Even pirates (if they believe the Guild is so well established and performs such an
in the Mother’s Temple) will not harm a Sister important service, that they are permitted to continue
willingly. their studies unhindered.
• Influence Over the People – The Sisters minister to the • Assemble – Each guild has an embassy in Boston to
people, heal them, and care for them. Everyone is keep their leadership informed of events in the
welcome at their temples. Because of this, the capital.
common people of Bostonia love them. Crimes
against priestesses are not tolerated, and anyone The Shield Guild
moving against the Temple politically would find
many people united to stop them. The Shield Guild is a quasi -mercenary organization with
garrisons all across Bostonia. In times of peace, the Shield
The Mathematicians’ Guild Guild sells its services to the baron, supplementing their
forces with trained, professional soldiers. Guildsmen are
The Mathematicians maintain the integrity of Bostonian often found defending towns from goblin attack,
trade. They produce the finest measuring devices in the patrolling for ratling raiders, or hunting dangerous
land, and set the standards for Bostonian weights and creatures. If an outside force attacks Bostonia, the Shield
measures. The Mathematicians are charged with setting Guild is honor-bound to mobilize and congregate in
standards for many industries and then enforcing those Boston to await the king’s orders.
standards. Some things the guild regulates include the
weight and metal composition of coins, the purity of Though the Guild is a powerful force, it relies on the
mined ores, and the amount of liquid in a “full” barrel of patronage of many of the Bostonian noble families for its
ale. The Mathematicians have a presence in the markets of survival. Thus, it tries to keep itself out of Bostonian
Bostonia. However, they are strongest in Boston, Ismoth, politics, and remains neutral in baronial rivalries.
Jherod, and Salem. Their influence is much weaker in the
western lands, and in rural areas. The Powers of the Shield Guild
• Act as a Professional Mercenary Organization – When
The Powers of the Mathematicians’ Guild Bostonia is not threatened by an external enemy, the
• Measurement Standards – The Mathematicians set the Shield Guild acts as a group of mercenary companies.
standards for all measurement in the realm. They Regional garrison commanders run these companies.
produce standard weights and pan balances which • Maintain Garrisons – The Guild maintains dozens of
merchants then purchase to insure that their dealings garrisons across Bostonia that act as their regional
are fair. They produce other standards for length, headquarters. The forts and the land they occupy
volume, metal purity, and other measurements. The have been provided by the king and are owned
work of the Guild insures that trade is equitable entirely by the Guild.
across the land.
• Assemble – Each guild has an embassy in Boston to
keep their leadership informed of events in the
capital.

52
The Engineers’ Guild • Make War – The barons of Bostonia have a right to
make war on other barons or lesser nobles. The ability
The Engineers’ Guild is a group of architects, civil of the barons to exercise this right is limited by the
engineers, construction workers, and teamsters. They are watchful eye of the king and the Church.
charged with maintaining the many roads, bridges, and
dams in Bostonia. In addition, they hire their services to • Create Courts – Barons have the right to create courts,
most of the barons, providing them with the expertise appoint judges, and try secular cases.
required to build fortifications, and public works projects. • Grant Land – Baronies are run like tiny feudal
monarchies. The Barons can grant land to noble
The Powers of the Engineers’ Guild
families in exchange for some obligation. Generally,
• Build for Pay – The Engineers’ Guild has a monopoly this obligation is in the form of military service and a
on large construction projects in Bostonia. They portion of the bounty from the land.
provide services to the Crown at cost, and sell their
• Assemble – Each baron has an embassy in Boston to
expertise to the barons at a significant profit. They
keep him informed of events in the capital.
operate in all of the baronies except for Azereth,
Vincent, and Hierant. The King
• Certify Their Own Measurements – The Engineers’ Bostonian kings are chosen in a rigorous process called
Guild uses its own system of measurement that is The Traditions of Succession. The Traditions is a holy
different from the one regulated by the document written by Grand Father Michael Richelau in
Mathematicians’ Guild. They are not required to have y483. It details the method by which a new king is
any of their measurements, or equipment checked by crowned.
the Mathematicians’ Guild.
The king is chosen from the ranks of the sitting barons,
• Assemble – Each guild has an embassy in Boston to and he is considered “First Among Equals.” Kings rule for
keep their leadership informed of events in the life. The king is charged with protecting the land from
capital. external attack, and promoting peace within its borders.
He maintains control of his own lands and also takes
The Barons command of the King’s Guard, and the Shield Guild.
The first barons were tribal leaders who fought with
Dovid and Camille in the Unification. In exchange for The Powers of the King
their support, they were allowed to rule their lands, so • Defend Bostonia – The main power and duty of the
long as they remained subordinate to the church and the Crown is to defend Bostonia from outside forces.
crown. Though the tribes are gone, the barons retain Each baron pledges some portion of his military
control of their lands, and have even more power than 800 might to defend the Crown. If Bostonia is threatened,
years ago. the barons must answer the king’s call and send their
Essentially, each barony is a miniature hereditary forces to Boston.
monarchy. The baron is the king and can rule his land as • Collect Obligations – Based on the original agreement
he sees fit, so long as he meets his obligations and follows signed by Dovid and the tribal leaders, the barons pay
the Church’s law as written in The Passions of St. Dovid. for their right to rule their land. Each barony is
required to pay an obligation of money, goods,
The Powers of the Barons
services, or natural resources. Every 10 years, the king
• Levy Taxes – Barons are permitted to levy taxes in meets with the barons and revises their obligations.
their lands.
• Tax – The king can tax goods that travel by sea, ships,
• Mint Coins – Barons can mint coins that conform to mercenary companies, and the guilds.
the standards set by the Mathematicians’ Guild.
• Write Laws – The king can write laws into the Crown
• Raise Armies – Barons are permitted to raise and Book. These laws immediately effect every citizen in
maintain standing armies and supplement this force Bostonia.
with mercenary companies.
• King’s Land – Bostonian law states that the king can
• Write Laws – Barons may write laws into the Mortal reclaim undeveloped, or underdeveloped land. So, if
and Coin books of their land. Though the laws are a baron owns a mountain chain rich in minerals, and
similar throughout Bostonia, there are differences never mines that chain, then the land can be claimed
between baronies. The king monitors these for Bostonia by the king. Most often, ownership of the
differences to insure that legal discrepancies do not reclaimed land is then transferred to an aspiring
endanger the stability of the nation as a whole. noble, or a neighboring baron.

53
• Moderate Disputes – The king has the right to St. Alice’s Day Nov. 3
intercede in battles between baronies if the conflict Longest Night Dec. 22
endangers the stability of Bostonia as a whole.
Generally, the king uses his influence to negotiate a Marking the Hours
peace. However, if need be, the king can use military
Time is kept in many Bostonian cities by means of "bells."
force to settle the dispute.
There are six bells each day. A bell keeper keeps time and
• King’s Barony – When the king is crowned, he moves rings the bells at the appropriate hour. It is not an exact
to Boston with his most trusted advisers, and a system, but works for most purposes. In large cities, bell
personal guard. Though he remains a baron, and keepers are paid by the city government. In small towns,
continues to own his lands, there is no way he can and villages, local priests act as bell keepers.
effectively rule them. The laws dealing with this
situation vary from barony to barony. Some barons The Greeting bell rings just before sunrise and calls the
keep their title and lands, and appoint a steward priests and the other faithful to wake to greet Stratus in
(often the heir) to run things. Others simply abdicate morning prayer. It is also the beginning of many
the title of baron, and allow their heir to take over Bostonians' day.
immediately.
The Working bell is rung about two hours later and
• King’s Treasury – The king has full control over the signifies the beginning of the workday. Many businesses
Bostonian treasury. He is permitted to keep 10% of time their opening to coincide with this bell.
the obligations and taxes collected each year. Some
portion of this wealth is sent to the king’s home The Sunsheight bell rings at approximately noontime.
barony. The king keeps the rest and uses it to enrich Many of Bostonia's wealthier citizens will take a lunch at
himself, or further his political ends. this time. The poorer laborers and farm workers generally
do not have this luxury.
The Bostonian Calendar
The Parting bell rings just before sunset and marks the
The Bostonian calendar is exactly like our own modern-
end of the workday and the time for the evening prayers.
day calendar with respect to the divisions of days, weeks,
and months. Years are counted from the Year 0, which is
The Closing bell rings about 3-4 hours after the Parting
marked by the founding of Boston.
bell. It signifies the closing of the city gates.
Years are often shown with the notation y preceding the
The Final bell rings about midnight and starts the curfew.
number of the year. Thus y120 is the year 120.
It is custom that no well-intentioned people should be out
Holidays in the streets between Final and Greeting.

The church ordains most of the holidays celebrated in

Bostonia. Church holidays are celebrated throughout the Economics
entire land. In addition to these widely celebrated days,
many regions and towns have their own local holidays, Coinage and Barter in Bostonia
usually to mark an important event, or person in the area’s
The standard currency in Bostonia is the silver penny or
history.
coin. In addition, copper Bits are minted and are valued at
1/10 of a coin. Gold crowns are worth 20 pennies. For
An abbreviated list of holidays follows. More detail about
very large purchases, precious metal ingots can be valued
each holiday can be found in the religion section.
and traded.
Holiday Date
Since the dissolution of the Bostonian Monarchy, the
Ice Vigil Jan. 1 Barons have had the power to mint their own coins. The
Winter’s Breaking Jan. 21 King and the Mathematician’s Guild regulate the coins’
St. Michael’s Day Feb. 19 purity and composition. This means that in general, coins
Day of Forgiving Mar. 2 from every barony have exactly the same value. This
Day of the Hunt May 14 sometimes is not the case however, and occasionally, coins
St. Weirgrub’s Day Jun. 6 will have different value based on where you spend them.
Sunsong Jun. 21
Emergence Jul. 24 Coin tampering and counterfeiting are common crimes.
St. Antel’s Day Jul. 27 Some less scrupulous shopkeepers may shave coins,
St. Sebastian’s Day Aug. 3 taking a small bit of precious metal from each coin, hoping
St. Dovid’s Day Aug. 14 to melt it into ingots later. Many shaved coins show file
Day of Tithes Aug. 31 marks or nicks and all are slightly under legal weight, but
Harvest Celebration Sep. 30 that is hard to tell unless you carefully measure each coin.
St. Camille’s Day Oct. 30

54
In general, a laborer working in a city can expect to earn The definitions of these crimes are pretty straightforward.
about 2p each day. Likewise, his food, clothing and However, the punishments vary a great deal with the
housing will probably cost him about that much. Most region, the circumstances of the crime and the social
laborers in Bostonia live day to day and save very little standing of the defendant and the victim. One important
money. point to realize, Bostonians have a cultural stigma against
imprisonment. Jails in Bostonia are often small and used
On the other hand, skilled workers can make considerably as holding pens for accused criminals until justice can be
more than a simple laborer. Many tradesmen earn 3-5 served. Only severe crimes for which no other appropriate
pennies a day. Those with specialty skills (armor or punishment can be found will be punished with
weapon smith, alchemist, sage, etc.) can earn even more imprisonment.
than this, many specialty jobs costing 10 or more pennies
each day. To give some examples, the Divine Book deals with moral
and religious matters. The crimes here are considered
In rural communities, coinage has much less value. Barter crimes against the Father and Mother as well as society at
is often the major means of trade. Food and services are large and so are often dealt with publicly. The punishment
traded between families. Coinage is only useful if there is for heresy, necromancy and other witchcraft is usually
a considerable community nearby in which to spend it. death. For peasants, missing tithes or other obligations
Many rural families will keep a small savings and use this usually results in a small pittance (fine) paid to the church
to purchase hard to find supplies. in question as well as a few extra prayers at the next mass.
A noble who fails to meet obligations is denying the
authority of the Church and setting a bad example for the
Justice in Bostonia people. Thus, he can come under strict sanctions from the
The Bostonian justice system is heavily influenced by the Church. These could be large fines, or the loss of land, or
teachings of the Church and St. Michael in particular. In in extreme cases, the leader could be deposed by a
his book, The Sins of Man (y62), Michael describes and Church-led force. Adultery is punished with public
explains the sins offensive to the Mother and Father and humiliation (usually flogging) of the guilty.
how sinners might be dealt with by the virtuous. Today,
the Barons have power in their lands and can make or The Crown Book deals with issues affecting the nobles
break laws through official Decrees. However, throughout and how they behave toward one another and their
all the different lands, you will find there are certain subjects. Generally, disputes between nobles are settled by
common elements dictated by the King, the Church and the nobles in question, or by the King and the Church. As
the Bostonian culture. such there is no body of laws and punishments in this
book. Instead, the rights and obligations of the nobility are
Crimes in Bostonia are divided into Books. A Book is a detailed here.
legal document defining a crime and the standards of
punishment. The Books are generally the same in each The Mortal Book is the "Book of Crimes" as it details the
barony. However, Barons have the right to add to the majority of personal and property crimes in Bostonia.
Mortal and Coin (and some of Crown) Books by writing Crimes ranging from petty theft and vandalism to rape
Decrees, changing the laws to suit their tastes and the and murder are detailed here. In general, the most serious
economy of their holdings. The priests in the baronies crimes (such as rape and murder) can bring death to the
have the responsibility of monitoring the Books, recording guilty. However, the punishment is often altered based on
the changes and reporting to the Bishops. Gross deviations the relative standing and worth of the guilty and the
are not tolerated. victim. For instance, if an influential person kills a peasant,
then the penalty might take the form of restitution to the
Divine Book Mortal Book victim and his or her family. A nobleman killing a peasant
Heresy Murder is not likely to get death. However, if a peasant were to
Religious Obligations Assault kill a nobleman, he would hang. In the case of a
Tithes Theft commoner killing another commoner, circumstances
Adultery Slavery would dictate the punishment. A crime of passion may
Practice of Necromancy Kidnapping bring forced labor to help support the victim's family.
Practice of Witchcraft Rape However, a premeditated killing could bring exile, or even
Cursing Arson death.
Crown Book Coin Book
One last note: In rural areas, where every person
Taxation Taxation
represents a valuable source of labor, there are few crimes
Obligations of Nobles Counterfeiting
that will lead to the death of the guilty party. Unless the
Obligations of Servants Coin Shaving
criminal is deemed to be a menace to the community, he
Rights of Nobility Fraud
will be spared to work the fields. In an urban setting,
Ownership of Weapons Laws of Trade
Rights of Succession Inheritance where people are more plentiful than gainful
employment, the death penalty is more common.

55
 If no player can make a line of five squares, then the game
Bostonian Games is a stalemate. At this point, the game can be considered a
draw, or the players can continue with an additional rule.
Keshat Which of these two things happens is discussed before the
Keshat (meaning big fish) is a dice game that originated in game begins.
the cobrat lands and was brought to Bostonia by sailors.
The game has grown in popularity and now is the most When the game is stalemated, and the players choose to
popular game in Bostonian taverns. continue, they can use their dice to remove their
opponent’s mark from a square, or they can place their
Keshat is played with seven six-sided dice. The dice are own mark. They cannot do both in the same turn.
rolled and any or all of the dice can be re-rolled up to two
more times. The goal is to make a match of three (the fish) This game is sometimes played as a gambling game. An
and then two matches of two. initial wager is placed on the table and the “first square” is
given a doubling cube. At any time in the game, the player
Rolls are scored by adding the total of matched dice and with the doubling cube can choose to double the wager. If
subtracting the total of all the unmatched dice. A zero is his opponent agrees, then the wager is doubled, the game
scored if the fish is not made. The lowest total that can be continues, and the doubling cube is passed to the
scored in a roll is zero. A match of all seven dice is a opponent. If the opponent does not wish to double, he
Keshat and scored 60 points. forfeits the game.

As an example a roll of 5,5,5,4,4,3,2 scores 3x5 + 2x4 = 23 - Mathematicians’ Dice

5 = 18. A roll of 5,5,4,3,2,2,1 scores nothing since there is Mathematicians’ Dice is a game played in the universities
no match of three. of Bostonia. It is a favorite pastime of students, physicians,
and of course, members of the Mathematicians’ Guild.
Keshat is often played with each player taking three
rounds. The player with the most points after three rolls Mathematicians’ Dice is played with a set of dice,
wins and the losers pay the winners the difference in their consisting of a d4, d6, d8, d10, and d12. In addition, a tiny
point totals. In this type of game, a Keshat on the final egg timer (with anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute of
round of play scores 100 points. sand) is required.
Five Square One player, called the “caster” tosses the dice behind a
Five Square is a game of strategy played in northern and screen and turns the egg timer. The caster must take the
eastern Bostonia. The game has recently become popular numbers on the dice and, by mentally placing operators
among borakki traders that frequent Bostonian towns and (+, -, *, /, and =) between their values, create an equation.
mining camps. Among the borakki, the game is called This equation is read left to right, with no parenthesis, and
Rune Squares. without paying attention to the order of operations. He
orders the dice from left to right as they would read in his
Five Square is played on a slate table called “The Gray”. mental equation, lifts the screen, and flips the timer.
One player (the “drawer”) begins the game by drawing a
5x5 board on the gray with chalk. He then puts numbers For example, if the caster threw a 2, 5, 8, 4, and 9 on his
from 1-24 randomly in the squares, leaving the center dice. He might come up with this equation:
square as a blank, “free” square. The other player (the
“first square”) takes the first turn. 2-5+8 = 9-4

A player takes his first turn by placing 4 dice in a cup and He would thus line the dice up in the order 2, 5, 8, 9, 4.
rolling them. The player can take any combination of
those dice (generating a number from 1-24) and place his Once the caster flips the timer and raises the screen, the
mark on the like numbered square. Any dice used to mark second player (the “reader”) has to come up with his own
a square are placed back in the cup. Any dice not used are equation that matches the pattern of the dice. He must
left on the board. make his equation before the flipped timer runs out of
sand (in other words in less time than it took the caster).
On his second and subsequent turns, the player can
choose to roll any dice he has left on the board from last If the caster cannot come up with an equation before the
turn, or he may leave them, using their value to mark timer runs out, the reader gets a point. If the caster makes
squares. As before, once a die has been used, it is placed an equation, and the reader creates one in time, the reader
back into the cup to be re-rolled next turn. gets a point. If the caster succeeds in making an equation,
but the reader fails, then the caster gets a point.
The player to get a line of five squares horizontally, Then the players switch roles and continue until one
vertically, or diagonally is the winner. player gets a predetermined (usually 5) number of points

56