The current game is in a section of my world called Tsarin, which is a relatively peaceful valley that is renown for its vast pasture lands, its alcohol production (& consumption) and its protected by a unique individual, Sarinth an ice dragon. It is surrounded by the Reach Mountains which supports Thoric Dwarven lands beneath and the golden-horned ram-minotaur humanoids called, Jahlen on the upper region.
Sarinth exists as background, and should be simply impossible to reach until the characters get to be extremely high level. Just as humans ignore ants, Sarinth ignores the valleys inhabitants, their activities and politics as long as they do the same to him. He does have a secretive cult dedicated to his service, but it is unknown if it is true or just a bunch of fanatics that believe they serve him. (I'm unsure at this point.)
The main inspirations for the valley is Innsmouth, the coastal village in Lovecraft’s Shadow Over Innsmouth. Terrible secrets the citizens hold, that without sacrifices, a Cthulhu-esque creature will escape, crops will fail, and the peace end. While the ffolk are correct, a traditional sacrificing is needed, how and when is of significant interest to a lot of groups.
There is an ongoing battle of cultural values going on. Less than two hundred years ago, the valley, or actually the mountain town had a mini-revolution, when the Flavs took over. These are lawful good do-gooders, who believed the previous regime (Pollanics) was overly cruel to benefit from the situation. The Pollanics were in power for more than five hundred years and used the beliefs of the farmers, to push their regimes goals. For example they rigged the sacrificial voting process to execute traitors or clerics to unfavoured dieities. The Flavs are trying to minimize the killings but often turn a blind eye if its done privately. They are coming down very harshly on anyone who uses the old ways for personal benefit, though. Flavs have very clear, posted public laws, which is the only reason why they have a grudging respect from most other noble families.
To make matters even worse, villagers severely resent city-folk. Good intentioned they come to the town and are shunned because they are not kin. While Tsarines have long worked with Dwarves, Elves, Jahlen during times of war; the rural farmers shun anyone that is not like them in the villages and around their farms. The only group the farmers do not resent are Halflings and Fey. Halflings are kin, citizens and brothers, living side-by-side. The fey are everywhere and the farmers do not try to intervene with most of these mischievous beings as they are believed to bring luck.
Towns have both druids and clerics; listening to the druids for their advice to ensure crops fertility, but utilize the healing and other benefits that the clerics provide. Clerics are almost exclusively city-folk, assigned to an obelisk (focus of all faiths, replaces church buildings, literal source of divine magic) dedicated to mostly lawful deities. The farmers resent the continuous requests for tithing and prayers but are dutiful. The druids require little, seasonal sacrifice of grains, livestock and a yearly live sacrifice. People are generally pagan, so they worship multiple deities, so balancing is rarely a problem for them.
Just as beneath the sea there are dangerous leviathans, beneath the high grains that grow there are the secret societies with nefarious agendas. One cannot go into the towns without eventually interacting with them. Cults of strength (Duelling), Snake (Transformation), Dark Dreamers (Cthulhu awakening), Door (Fey), Moon (Lycanthropes) just to name a few. These cults exist in the city, but they seem that much larger and more menacing in the small towns. In fact some of the towns are completely controlled by these groups, so they don't just shun strangers but openly try to convert or kill them.
Alcohol is the primary product of the farming region as there are ales & whiskeys from Tsarin available throughout the domain. Each region has its own distinctive tastes and are sought out. Because it is so plentiful it is also cheap. Lyrrians say, 17 out of the 23 Tsarin fests involve praising alcohol, its consumption and its blessings – the other six days are just drinking contests. Twice a month wild Bacchanalia festivals happen, most correspond to the holy days just out of convenience. They love to drink to excess!
A small group of Tethinners, (essentially tea-totallers) watching the ffolk when they drink. Fey also watch over their mates, who would be lost without their friendly, ever ready to be tricked good souls. But the biggest reason why Tsarines are safe are the loyal hounds at their side. As they say: Some men can be happy with a woman, many are miserable with them, but every man needs a loyal dog at their side. The hounds are identical to German Sheppards, but with a magical sense of smell. Many men have a dog at their side virtually every hour of the day. The wives often have a stable of bitches and pups at their side at the home.
The larger towns are always in the mountains, more sophisticated, or they try to be, as they are growing with people, profits and opportunities. Aristocrats and the merchant class vie for profits, going on long caravans. Towns are heavily fortified, and are prepared for periodic incursions of nasty folk from beneath the surface or the mountains. Only merchants and nobles are taxed, the ffolk pay with their time in the military if called upon service.
There's only one major city in the region, the former capital and home to the Pollanic Clan, Ecalos, it is the opposite of solace. Here the evil church of Keran (Spheres: Domination, Darkness, Fright, Preferred Colour Black, LE) runs alongside the Pollanics as necromancy, summoners and the many cults run afoul of each other. Every evil scheme seems to come back to this place. Fortunately, they are their own worst enemies. While there have been multiple secret attempts, no outright rebellion has occurred and this is still a loyal city officially. It is the only place where arcane spell casters can be found, though not too open.
Most adventurers are Company Men, hired swordsmen who accompany trade caravans and delve into the mountains for both treasure and to wage war on the goblin, troll, & gargoyle threats. Magic is omnipresent, but devices are rare. Only nobles have the right to use weapons or travel, but Company Men go on behalf of the company, skirting these rules. Farms and villages show adventurers a good time if they just pass through, but if they overstay their welcome, they are quickly shunned.
All PCs start as Company Men, but as they level up they will have the chance to strike out on their own, there are benefits for doing it both ways. Right now 90%+ of their booty is given to the company as they get a miserable salary, but they are ignored by the local authorities and given the basic needs, including healing. Eventually, they will probably establish either themselves as their own company or a permanent base, (fort or tower) on the frontier or just take over a small town. Or this is what I am expecting will happen.
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