Saturday, March 31, 2018

Worldbuilding: Whiteford town in the Patchwork Lands

I have been slowly building up a Rolemaster campaign setting for some time. The players are making characters, so I am drilling down to a specific starting point.

The general setting of the Patchwork Lands is a cluster of small nations and city-states on the western edge of a vast continent.

Each Hex = 10 miles

I am placing the starting area in the town of Whiteford, on the border between Alstur and the Eastern Marches in the southeastern areas of the region, near the border.

Each Hex = 1 mile

The river is the border between the two nations (who are allied). Whiteford is an important town as it is close to the true frontier - In both Alstur and the Eastern Marches 80%+ of the people live in the western plains and the border is a line of fortresses and towers holding back the incursions of creatures from the Drake Mountains to the east.The Baron's Road runs along the Silver River's north bank to Whiteford; after that is the trail that connects Alstur's border forts. South of the river is the March Road that connects the March's fortresses to the main areas.

  Surrounding Whiteford are a number of villages, each with 200-400 citizens; those in the hills are walled. The locals are aware that they are on the frontier and typically go about armed; quarterstaves, dagger, and clubs are ubiquitous and when travelling spears and even bows are seen.

  Whiteford itself has stone walls and is home to about 1,100 humans (about 185 households), ~120 dwarves (about 30 households), ~60 halflings (about 10 households), and ~20 elves (about 7 households). The village has 3 taverns (The Brazen Head, Old Thatch, and Marie's), an Inn (the Knight's Reward) [the extra traffic of the border road makes an inn viable), a wine-seller, a butcher, a bakery, and 2 blacksmiths. Master Gilbert is a master weaponsmith, armorsmith, and leatherworker who can craft enchanted gear. Morgaine is a weapon master who has a number of students and is in the employ of the local ruler. There are three parishes in the town itself: St. Anne's, St. Stephen's, and Queen of Heaven, each with a parish priest. Also in town is the Cleric Simon.
I am doing a departure: in the Patchwork Lands campaign priests as in 'runs a church' are often Sages or Laymen but can be any non-evil, including the classes of priest or cleric. Clerics, the class, are users of channeling magic, which is tapping into extra-planar energy. Good channelers use positive, morally good sources roughly analogous to the Positive Material Plane in AD&D; evil ones typically strike pacts with demons. God is not involved! 
  Cleric Simon is well-respected and works closely with the local priests and ruler. Is is a barber-surgeon as well as cleric.
  Also in town is Goodwife Roundtree, a married woman in her mid-30's with 6 children and a perpetual smile. She is a Lay Healer as well as an herbalist and is often sought out.
  Perched right on the walls is an old building, old enough that the very top is the tallest building not part of the castle. Inside is the home of Old Burty, a scholar and sage, and his servants.

  At the bridge is Whiteford Castle, a stronghold that covers the river and is home to Sir Connar of Whiteford, the hereditary knight that rules this area. Blooded on both the frontier and in battle with neighboring nations, he is counted as one of the best horsemen and jousters in the lands. His wife, Lady Doranne, and his 2 sons and daughter reside there with his staff and retainers.
  In a small tower just outside of the castle is the home of Mister Elmhill
I am doing an alternate etymology of 'Mister' as a contraction of 'Magister' and using it as a generic title for any essence user!
  Mister Elmhill is a retainer to Sir Connar, but will also tutor and mentor other essence users.

  Altogether this gives me a decent 'home base' for an adventuring party, provides people who can act as mentors and trainers, and has plenty of room to slap new stuff in.

Thoughts?

No comments:

Post a Comment