May Update
Added 2020-05-01 13:37:14 +0000 UTCI feel like it's been a long time since we did a monthly update. Let's get started with all the maps that we managed to finish over the last two months.
Veryne is a small village on the edge of the Veryne Forest. It is continuously plagued by werewolves. The castle town of Myrewatch was build to watch over the Duwyn Mire. Most of the time it stations about 50 soldiers. The initial purpose of the castle was to keep the bandits in check, but in recent years the soldiers were mostly keeping the werewolf population of Veryne Forest under control. When the War of the Vale broke out the soldiers were sent to fight and the castle was left unmanned. The creatures in the forest were left unchecked and their population has rapidly increased.
The villagers have build their homes in a circle around the village center with a small wooden palissade between the houses. There is one entry point on the west end of the village. Usually villagers can walk right in, but at night the village is well guarded. No one is allowed in or out the city at night.
While Veryne's defences won’t fend off a significant force, it's still more than a usual village of its size would have. The houses around the edge of the village are built close to each other and the areas between them are closed off by a 2 meters tall palissade. Around the outside of the village the villagers have added wooden stakes pointing outwards, to repel any monsters. The same stakes are put in the ground at the village gates.
The people of Veryne have grown more and more desperate as werewolf attacks have increased. These days they are scared to leave any lights on after dark and most peoples lock their doors and windows at the end of the day. They are desperate for someone to fix their problems.
Burnard is the largest town along the Murr Shore. The city used to be very isolated from the rest of the kingdom due to its location. The Murr Shore is a dangerous place and often raided by the tribal orcs that live there. Still, Burnard grew and grew and in recent years it has pulled up a palissade around the town. That, together with a dedicated town watch has been enough to keep the town safe now. But the orcs are multiplying. They're getting stronger...
Burnard is an old town that started out as a fishing village during the reign of the Burbric Empire. Since then it has grown a lot and these days it's one of the main trading hubs along the Murr Shore, only contested by Wyryndam to the north. The days of the fishing village are can still be seen in town. The Fish Market is a square where merchants gather to sell all sorts of wares.
Around the town square are the Town Hall and the Church of Dor, the God of Safety. The people of Burnard believe that Dor protects them against the dangers of the region.
Beyond the walls of the town the orcs are getting more and more dangerous. Beyond their walls the people of Burnard have grown soft, and the orcs have started to toughen up. They have expanded their territory closer to the town and their numbers have increased. Already the people of Burnard are afraid to leave the town. Soon they'll be trapped behind the walls they built to protect them.
Two days traveling south-east from Darlon-is-Met is the city of Hotlon-is-Met (Hotlon-on-the-Met), a busy city on the King's Road of Burbry. Most people in the city worship Pedas, the God of Creation, the members of the Mason's Guild particularly. As the God of Creation, Pedas has a love for architects and builders. Loyalty to this God ensures that whatever you design or build, it will withstand the test of time.
The streets of Hotlon are wide and well made to ensure that people and carts can travel through the city comfortably. Off the main roads are the narrow, winding alleys with dirt paths. it's easy to get lost here and you might meet the not-so-pleasant citizens of Hotlon here.
On the south shore is Hotlon Castle with in its center Hotlon Keep, a large tower that overlooks the city below and is home to Duke Myronne of Eslond.
Throughout the city are various inns, tavern and brothels to make yourself at home, as well as some shops, stables and parks. On the north and south ends of the city are the North- and South Docks and warehouses. There are often people at work there and if you're looking for a well-paying-probably-shady-job, that's where you need to be.
In general, Hotlon is known as a pleasant place to spend time and many travellers rest up here to spend some downtime. Just make sure that you don't get caught in the city's affairs, or you'll end up spending more time here than you'd like.
Harvess is a small village in the Archduchy of Sovar located in the Gynardan Mountains. The village itself is of little importance, a minor stop along the road. What makes it interesting for travellers is the tower around which the village is build.
The Mage Tower of Harvess is a small school that specializes in training wizards. It was founded by Varakh Markand some 500 years ago. Varakh was one of the mightiest wizards of his time and build the tower as a home and place to teach his children in the ways of magic. His son Dorros followed in his father's footsteps and continued teaching magic, not only to his kin, but any who sought to learn.
Over the years the Mage Tower has known many highs and lows. Some students turns to the evil ways of necromancy in hopes to gain immortality, others rose to become powerful servants of the realm, advising the king himself and defeating kingdom's greatest enemies.
These days anyone who wishes to learn the ways of magic seeks out the tower, but to be taken in one must show great potential.
Forling is a small village in the Farlal Vale between the Farlal Hills to the north and the Forling Forest to the south, located along the river Trae. The village used to be in the Kingdom of Burbry, but recently the Duchy of Daundry, and with it Forling was annexed into the Kingdom of Domari. Their new dwarven overlords haven't interfered with the daily ongoings yet, but a number of dwarves have travelled north and settled in the village.
The village is has always been fairly isolated. Being in the far southern ends of the Duchy of Daundry and near the old borders of the kingdom it saw very few travellers. The dwarves mostly stuck to their dwellings in the mountains and weren’t heard of or seen that much. The people of Forling were used to a quiet and uneventful life.
Towards the end of the war King Auder XI signed a treaty, transferring the Duchy of Daundy to the dwarven Kingdom of Domari. The burbric people, mostly human, felt angry and abandoned by their king, and had to deal with this new life. At first, not too much changed, but quickly dwarves started coming from the south. Most continued traveling north, but some stuck around and settled in the village. Most of the dwarves have built their houses across the river from the main village and mostly keep to themselves, but the people of Forling don’t like outsiders much. There’s a tension in this village and sooner or later, something has got to change.
Nilou is a small outpost on the northern part of Burbry in a region called Civilization's End. It is the last outpost you'll come across before heading into the wild and untamed wilderness to the north.
Many regions in Wordal improved as the influence of the Burbric Empire declined. However, the northern regions quickly started decentralizing and became more and more "uncivilized". The lands are now ruled by the tribal Lords of Olorlay and the Knurd clans. The northern region of Burbry is called Civilization's End. Travel north or west from here and you'll leave civilization behind.
In this region is the small outpost of Nilou. It is located between the towns of Merrisant, from which it gain protection, and Nossont, from which it gains supplies. Nilou is a small and friendly final stop before heading into the dangerous lands to the north. Adventurers will be able to rest up here and get some supplies from the towns folk.
Sorlang is a town located in the Burbric Great Vale, isolated in a small valley along the Syne River. The town is built around the Sorlang Monastery, a place of worship dedicated to Dinnerva.
Ellen Sabath, The Priestess of the monastery is in charge of the town and has a firm grip on its people. She makes sure that Dinnerva is worships in every household and that no one steps out of line. To protect the people of Sorlang she ordered the monks from the monastery to pull up a wall around the town and for the gates to always be closed. She has taught the people of Sorlang to be self sufficient and not to depend on the outside world. The people of Sorlang are not allowed to leave, and traders are not allowed to enter. All for their protection.
Ellen's strange behavior and teaching have attracted the attention of the High Priest of Granvalle, who oversees the churches and their practices in the Duchy of Granvalle. He insisted to inspect the monastery and town. Ellen does not plan to let him in, and her people are willing to fight. All for their own protection.
Another thing that has slowly been worked on is the World Anvil. All new location have been added and the world map has been updated! I have also started creating some Coat of Arms for various factions and families.
Yesterday the poll for the next theme concluded and the next two months we'll be exploring a number of fortresses and castles in Wordal. I have the first two maps for May in the making already. The first one will be the Archduchy of Sovar and the one after that will be Derwon Castle.
Thats' it for this update! As always, happy gaming and stay safe!
