Kiern Vale Handbook
Chapter 4: Kern A-Thel – The lands of
house Kor-Om'thel
Prologue | Landscape and Important
Locations | Local Population | Recent History | Characters
Organizations | Background of Player Characters
|Expansions of Further
Information
|
Possible Backgrounds for
Player Characters The Granite Courts The character could be a
descendant of one of the merchants, artisan, or smithing families that gather
in the Granite Courts and work in the ore market beneath the Lord's castle.
Alternatively, the character is the member of one of the families serving in
the Lord's guard or in more minor roles (warehouse workers, servants, and so
on). It is possible that over the years, as the character matured and came of
age, he or she witnessed the slow changes taking place in the region. Alternatively, the character
could be a member of a mining family who frequently comes to town to sell
their produce, or one of the people who migrated here from the Orm'theril (less recommended for
beginner players).
The character grew up within
or near the small and isolated stone estate of House Kor-Om'thir, relatively
far from the Imperial Road. During her early years, the character spent time
in or around the wind-stricken stone courtyard, with the wild nature always
close by, especially in winter. Characters of even lower origin grew in the
wooden cabins and shadowy fields around the shore of the nearby mountain
lake. Over the recent years, the character witnessed how the estate's
inhabitants became more isolated and much less welcomed in the Granite Courts,
where they used to visit more frequently in the past to procure supplies.
The character grew up on a
farm within or near one of the small, poor villages located alongside the
magnificent falls. These villages sustain themselves through fishing and
small-scale agriculture in spring and summer, and their inhabitants sometimes
venture from their homes to offer small services and sell goods to passing
travelers on the nearby Imperial Road. During the winter, many villagers migrate
to the land beneath the lower falls or seek safer places, such as the Granite
Courts or even the estate of Kor-Om'tir. At times, they are forced to
confront or suffer raids from bandits or wild tribes descending from the
higher grounds on the outskirts of the Mag Eglor Forest. The people in
these villages, once respectful of the authority of house Kor-Omthel, are
only vaguely aware, if at all, of political changes in the castle and its
surroundings – including the chance to meet on of the Grey Scholars, who now
venture into the countyside to test “the contamination level of Gabbutu
blood” purportedly flowing in the veins of the villagers.
The character originates from
the inn carved under the gigantic staute of Lady “Ice shard” at the bottom of
the icy stairs leading to the Karansil Mountains, or from one of the nearby
farms. Although most of the inn's
occupants are transients, travelers and traders headed to or from the Granite
Courts, there are a few permanent residents in and around the inn - a handful
of farmers supplying the inn with provisions; retired fighters who settled
here, sometimes with their families, after being dismissed from the lord’s
service, and a few former miners turned intermediaries, traders, or
adventurers along with their families. Most of those locals earn their living
guarding the road and the caravans passing through it, or supplying them with
various services. Most of the inn folk are devout followers of the Blue
Reflection, according to the simple yet ancient ways of the mountain people.
The
character grew up on an isolated farm or amongst mountain tribe, living far
from the Imperial Road or the larger settlements. Deep in the wilds, isolated
farms and encampments of hunter tribes struggle to survive. Their rugged
inhabitants visit settlements only once every few months to sell their
produce (be it agricultural or furs and game) and exchange it for supplies.
These people and their families are as rugged and weathered as the mountains
they live on, their tongue sometimes hard to understand. They are deeply
immersed in ancient customs and beliefs, traditions which can be traced back
to the ancient Dush'ma or the mysterious and dangerous forest of Mag Eglor. |
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Kiern Vale guide
Created and edited by Gideon Orbach (2017) © All rights reserved.
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