Avamor: Place List

Introduction

This is the archive where Guardian has placed old material from his Illithid War campaign. You can use the format and material here to set up your own DM cheat sheet.

It may be helpful to refer to the Continental Maps.

AL'VAS

More information will be forthcoming. For now, check out the map of the town, and it's surrounding countryside!

Additional Details/Maps: Al'vas town | Al'vas Countryside

ARDENIA

Nation
Ruler: Duke Alan Markkson
Population:		Allies: Peacewood, Isenvar, Tyris
Ardenkeep 30,000	Morkain 3,400	Enemies: Fandril
Arkhail 2,850	Waystation 850	Founded/Built: 2990
Hathway	Wingrove	Terrain: Forest, farmland, Hellsteeth Mountains, Caldin's Gap
Jelaud		Government: Monarchy
		General Alignment: Good
Defenses:
Ballistae, heavy	Ballistae, light	Catapults, heavy
Catapults, light	Glyphs (8th-10th)	Land of stability (16th)
Magic Circle (foundation)	Magical Weapons	Major Ward (18th-Ardenkeep, Morkain only)
Moat	Symbols (Hopelessness, Persuasion -16th lvl, only some cities)
Teleport Barrier (15th)	Terrain	Walls (all towns & cities)
Wards, elemental (14th)	Wizard Locks (14th)
Troops:
Archers (xbow) 1,700	Engineers (siege, artillery, counter-siege) 2,000
Golems, Iron 6	Hv. Horse 680	Hv. Infantry 1,100
Lt. Horse 700	Lt. Infantry 2,000	Mages 12
Md. Horse 80	Md. Infantry 300	Gray Company
Polearm, Pikes 1,400	Priests 50	Spies (excellent) 27
Tatheari 13
Magic: C (Max level around 8-9) No organized guilds. Magic mostly regulated under old Imperial Law (register with the local authority, don't cast spells in towns/cities without a license, heavy fines). Most of the magical defenses are left over from the Empire. Ardenia lacks the trained wizards to do more than poorly maintain the failing wards. Priests of Avaryan help keep spell-slingers under a watchful eye.
Religion: A (Avaryan)
Accuris, Corellon, Crom, Kamarr, Kitai, Lanua, Silvanus, Talamyr, Vardin
Economy Type: A (Very Wealthy) Grains, meats, finished products, textiles. Ardenia has some of the richest farmland of the Seven Kingdoms. Even the various Merchant Clans leave off their backstabbing here.
Guilds: All of the greater Merchant Clans have representatives here. Western Dwarves from Chakka-Luk (through Mordeen) also pass through Ardenia on their way to the Ironheart Mountains.
Brief Description: Ardenia is the last bastion of the Empire of the Hartland. Alone of the Seven Kingdoms, the Markkson family has never claimed a royal title, instead maintaining their land as a Dukedom. The people are happy and well-fed. There is very little crime (since criminals are usually conscripted into the Gray Company in lieu of a prison sentence or execution - a la Foreign Legion) except on the southern border with Fandril. Ardenia is at almost constant war with its poorer southern neighbor (the "Bandit Problem"), with actual armies taking to the field every five years or so (the Fandrilians regularly get stomped). As for Horeen... open conflict hasn't broken out yet - mostly due to the fact that Ardenia and Horeen are almost entirely dependent on each other's trade. Horeen can never seem to get enough of its nobles to stop fighting each other and turn on Ardenia. Ardenia, though it has the far superior troops, does not wish to wage war on "former countrymen whose leaders have led them astray."
People of Note: Jacob Malierre (High Priest of Avaryan)
DM Notes: Duke Markkson carefully maintains the status quo in Horeen through judicious use of spies and blackmail. He does not wish to conquer Faldrin, even though he certainly has the capability, as that would immediately give him tens of thousands of hungry mouths to feed, in addition to a vastly increased criminal population. Policing Fandril would be a nightmare. This is a blind spot with most Ardenians: The people of Fandril attack Ardenia out of desperation - they're starving. If the Ardenians would simply offer grain at a price the Fandrilians could afford, there wouldn't be wars.
Weather:	Winter: Mild	Spring: Mild	Summer: Mild	Fall: Severe fog, especially near Hellsteeth
Culture/Customs: Modeled after Renaissance France. Gentlemen carrier rapiers for self-defense as well as duels of honor. The longsword is a weapon reserved for knights and the noble-born. Metal armor is reserved for the nobility and military personnel (active or retired). These laws are strictly enforced.

ESCARPMENT

Geographical

Brief Description: The Escarpment is a massive uplifting of the edge of a continental plate. What exactly causes this unusual feature is unknown. The land lifts straight up on both sides, having little physical effect on nearby lands. The Escarpment separates the Corinian Forest, on the west side, from the Silver Forest, on the east.

Places of Note: Of all the Eastern Dwarves and Elves who have tried to explore the Escarpment (at least, its eastern side) very few have returned. Those who have tell of this strange plateau extending far north, running into a huge range of mountains, and far south, where it runs into the sea and forms dangerous mazes of shoals and coral reefs.

The Escarpment rises between 2,000 and 4,000 feet in height (about 1/2 mile to 4/5 mile). Its walls are rocky and hold many caves raised from under the ground. Many rich veins of ores, including mithril and adamantite, can be mined from its walls.

The caves are uninhabited for the most part. However, there are lairs of svirfneblin, duergar, Drow, and other creatures from Underearth. The vast majority of these lairs remain undiscovered for the inhabitants either slay intruders or escape deeper into the Escarpment, collapsing tunnels as they leave.

Several of the caves lead to passages, which lead to the caverns and pathways of Underearth.

Some portions of the Escarpment are homes for dragons (good and evil) and one or more beholders.

Of the surface of the Escarpment, little is known. It is difficult to approach the Escarpment by air due to the fierce winds that prevail about it, some of which can reach hurricane force during a moderate storm.

DM Notes: Classify this as one of the five most dangerous places on the continent. Good site for unusual "underground" adventures, mining expeditions, exploration - especially for high level parties (9th+).

NYVIN

Ralkstag, City
Ruler: Prince Rheylid Asrytal
Population: 52,000		Allies: Peacewood, Isenvar, Tyris
		Founded/Built: Pre-Cataclysm
		Terrain: Jungle, coast, plantation
		Government: Benevolent Monarchy
		General Alignment: Any N
Defenses:
Ballistae, heavy	Catapults, heavy	Coral Reef
Demons, bound (Unknown)	Devils, bound (Unknown)	Glyphs (various, 12-15th)
Guards & Wards (18th)	Land of stability (17th)	Mage Ward (vs. non-guild magi)
Magic Circle (foundation)	Magical Weapons (various)	Moat
Symbols (18th)	Teleport Ward (vs. non-guild magi)	Walls (30x20')
Wards, elemental	Wizard Locks (18th)
Troops: 5200
Archers (xbow) 1000	Demons (Unknown)	Devils (Unknown)
Golems, Iron 6	Hv. Horse 680	Hv. Infantry 1,100
Engineers (artillery, counter-siege) 470		Golems, Iron
Lt. Horse 500	Lt. Infantry 1200	Mages 10
Md. Horse 250	Md. Infantry 900	Polearm 800
Priests 30	Spies (Good) 40
Magic: C (Max level around 8-9) Bardic Collegium, Magisters' Collegium, (Rheylid Asrytal)
Religion: B (Accuris)
Avaryan, (Bael), Crom, Kamarr, Lanua, Silvanus, Talamyr, Amara, Falrun, Mahnan, Shune, Vardin, Kitai
Economy Type: B Silver, rare woods, leisure, trade from Greyslope.
Guilds: All of the greater Merchant Clans, as well as most of the lesser Merchant Clans, have representatives here.
Brief Description: Unlike the rest of Ralkstag, Nyvin and Raskar are prospering. Nyvin was fortunate to have a silver mine located nearby. It is also much warmer than the rest of the land, bordering on the jungle. Rare woods are regularly harvested from the surrounding jungle. Ships leave regularly for Greyslope Isle.
People of Note:
DM Notes: Nyvin rates a higher magic and economy rating because of the silver mines and rare woods industries. Nyvin also has fewer undead than any other city in Ralkstag, save Raskar. Rheylid Asrytal is the cousin of Ralkstag's former king, Vendariel Asrytal II. The silver mines are extensive, tunneling miles under the surrounding land. Several times, miners have had to give up lucrative veins because of the magma beneath the rock. It is this magma which warms the surface land to near-tropical temperatures.
Weather: Hot and humid. Nyvin gets more rain than most other parts of Ralkstag due to its location. The Escarpment and Greyslope Isle shield it from most ill weather.
Culture/Customs: Graverobbing is a crime in Ralkstag. To prevent would-be undead-slayers from depsoiling the dead, Ralkstag has a standing bounty of 20gp per hit die of undead slain permanently. Proof of slaying must be given.

Orstin