Gazetteer of Otkorion

Ahnvil
A splinter group of the Jrusteli, the Choreographers, built Ahnvil. While some of them were God learners, not all were. They were destroyed at the end of the Second Age, like all the Evil Ones, and they left their secrets behind. The Choreographers were experts in the interaction of Heropaths etc... The area is generally shunned except by Arkati HeroQuesters.

Akta
A well-known temple to Gorakiki-Beetle, it is privy to certain magical powers to co-ordinate regiments in attacks upon Otkorion.

Alster
A small, but budding, group of expensive villas built by Estali who sell them to rich Otkorioni southerners. They are generally regarded as a sign of southern decadence, and are purchased by rich Farmer Caste merchants (who technically only buy the building, not the land).

Aranirua
Somewhere in southern-western Otkorion lies Aranirua. As the highlands of Otkorion break into the lowlands of the Felster, there is a long stretch of rocky cliffs and drops, piled high with scree. This land is difficult to navigate, and provides a natural barrier to invaders from Holut and southern Lalia. One point of note is the Sheening Rock, which reflects the light of not the present, but from over a thousand years ago.

The Aranirua was said to have been made in the Godtime, when Kannar the Swordbearer was thrust into the land by a foe, sheering it forever.

Arkalhome
A recent town set up by a Fronelan fanatic who came south speaking of awfulness spawned by Arkat. It is a centre of Arkat the Deceiver worship. It is supported by Greon Penhalagon, a rich Lord and respected scholar, who funded its creation.

Aroran
A small fishing village. Producer of various fish based products.

Baby Lamb
A trading outpost in northern Otkorion. Its founder is known to have a rescued a Hsunchen Tnapi, thus gaining the trust and respect of the Tnapi people. This opened up trade negotiations between Otkorion and some Vustrian beast people.

Baelifal
A large fishing village that transfers and moves fishing products produced by the surrounding villages. It is run by a Gorianti Dormal worshipper and his position is made safe by the fact that Bishop Cardys anti-paganism is avoided by the economic aid he gives to the Duncolm Bishop nearby.

Barrowfal
A small fishing village, and the progenitor of Spineblades.

Bastak Octate
These eight villages all form the larger portion of food sent to Baelifal. The exact village is referred to by its position on a compass i.e. the Northern village, or the South Western village. The villages are guarded by a dangerous wolf spirit.

Beast Parent Lakes
These lakes are where, according to Hsunchen myth (and now accepted as truth by the Otkori) the gods Hykim and Mikyh lay together and gave birth to the first Beasts. Both lakes have a single island in the centre of them. The north most lake is considered evil and tainted, the dumping ground of many Jrusteli experiments. The southern lake is fertile and makes for good fishing.

Binch
A large fishing town. Every Sacred Season they sacrifice new born lambs to a freat Water Spirit that brings large amounts of fish in return to feed the people of Binch for the entire Sacred Time.

Blessed River Temple
This was where a temple to the river god Tanier was located. It vanished, along with everyone within, one day. Offerings are now made on the day that it vanished, in honour of the Saints who took the offending pagan temple from Henotheist lands.

Blood Tear Diamond
This is a ruined Dragonewt city, constructed by the Ormsland dragonewts. After it was summoned from the earth, it was used in a ritual to summon a True Dragon. The ritual went wrong for an unknown reason, devastating the city and the dragonewts within it. Little now remains, except for the Longshied Lodge, a holy place used by those who hid from Uz raiders in the Second Age, and the Artist's Pillar, a tall stone column that is part of the ruins, from atop which famous artisrts have used in the past to paint the strange ruins about.

Bythmil
A magical grain mill located in Chanton Fields (q.v.). It is a small town consisting of a large mill, mainly made of enchanted silver that churns out magical grain. Smaller mills dot about it, each capable of making the same magical grain, although not as potent as the mill that is the namesake of the town. A St. Goldentongue merchant house exports the grain throughout Otkorion.

Calhaven
The home of Archbishop Surantyr - he selected a small, but well fortified, manor house to live in. Besides the heavy guards it looks innocuous enough.

Coao
Otherwise known as Kingstone, this area is used by the barbaric Lanksti to crown some of their kings. It is holy to Orlanth Rex and is protected by some of hi spirits. Pilgrimages are sometimes made here, especially to Alakoring Dragonbreaker.

Chanton Fields
Owned exclusively by the Au Fragraa family, and farmed by their Farmer Caste. The land was blessed by Chanton Au Fragraa, a Family Hero, and now defended by him as a hero incarnate, some two centuries after his death.

Cilknave
A small merchant town with a silver statue to St. Chalana in the town square.

Cirohal Fort
A fort surrounded by a teeming town. One of the main Church Militant forts, the two was built around it. It is one of the barriers of defense against previous raids by Lanksti and supports the Humakti near the Salantia Forest when required.

Crankton
A renowned market place that came into being by selling Mostali trinkets (and things that just looked to be Mostali trinkets) some fifty seven years ago. Whilst it still sells such things, it is also known for the sale of magical items and other exotic goods. It gives a portion of all profit to the steads of the surrounding lands in return for food and mead throughout the year. They make most of their trade manufacturing Crankton lighters, based upon Mostali artifacts, which has a booming trade in amongst the Safelstran tobacco smokers.

Dearan
This small walled town was built by God learners to house one of their less successful experiments that they brought back from the HeroPlane. It is a Son of Krjalk, although many scholars believe it to "merely" be a Broo Hero Priest of Krjalk that was stranded on the HeroPlane and "rescued" by the God Learners. It has a mystic connection to the Hunger rune.

The beast is kept underneath the city in a maze, magically enchanted to be ever changing, stopping the Beast from leaving. However, three new born children are left in the maze every year to placate its hunger. Without the children the creature will grow so Hungry as to devour the Maze and escape. The children are all selected from the newborn of the twon. Many so-called Heroes have attempted to kill the beast, and failed.

Dragons Death Mound
A place holy to Orvanshagor. If three dream dragon skulls are brought to the holy pillar on its summit, and the correct rituals performed, Orvanshagor will appear. Because dream dragon corpses fade, it is difficult to get the three skulls at once.

Dunhaven
This is one of three stone circles, the others being Malhol and Vanfal. Malhol is made entirely of basalt, Vanfal is made of alabaster and Dunhaven is made of obsidian. Malhol, meaning Sacred Lightning, is atop a hill. It is frequented by children, and used by priests of the neighbouring village of Felstone as a good ceremonial ground. Vanfal, meaning Orlanths House, is on level ground and, being near the Beast Parent Lakes, is generally ignored to its location near dangerous waters. Dunhaven, place of Death, is located at the bottom of a shaft with stone walls cut deep into the ground some 30m deep - some blame its construction on the Mostali but others look to older creatures. Rumours say that the stone circles form a magic road that leads to the lands of Hell, but the magics used to open it have long been forgotten.

Dunriglyn
This town is built upon the grave of a dead necromancer. In the centre of the town is a hill, set into which is an enormous skull said to be that of a god.

Eternal Rest
A small fort complex in which lives the Eternal Knight and his companions. This group came here some three centuries ago and the knight bought land off of Fiesive for a considerable sum of money. He has been here ever since, sometimes leaving on long journeys, sometimes adventuring. He speaks in a Fronelan or Carmanian accent, no one is quite sure which.

Fasturs Creek
This small creek is a mythic place. With the proper rituals one can travel to the River of Swords, Nomia' River (a place in the Galvosti mythic landscape) and the Bubbling River of Souls where souls can be fished from the waters with copper rods.

Felstone
A village neat Malhol.

Finton
A fishing town in southern Otkorion mainly selling salted fish for winter, and badgershark. Since the creation of a solidified cult of St. Goldentongue, the sales of their fish has dropped considerably due to the competition of fish imported from the Felster region.

Ford Bridge
An enormous stone bridge, almost like a building it is that thick and wide, that crosses the Upper Tanier River as an extension of the Stormwalk. It is wide enough for four caravans. It is home to the Tundlebrine Inn, a minor temple to St. Goldentongue.

The Forest Fort
When the Hammer invaded southern Otkorion, one of his more insightful Knights commandeered some Wizards to construct a special fort to use as part of the offensive against northern Otkorion. The fort was magically constructed to look like a small wood, even upon closer inspection. In fact, the only way to discover that it is not is to touch the camoflauged stone walls. Whilst initially successful in allowing stealth strikes into northern Otkorion, an Orlanthi scout accidentally noticed the door left ajar one day. The fort was later stormed and the Seshnelans all slain. Indeed, things may well have gone differently if not for this chance occurrence.

The fort is now used as an outpost for the Churchguard East, although a small tower mounted with arablests now makes it's location apparent, a necessary addition to bolster the magical forts weak defensive capabilities.

Fruglehofen
A small town set up by Safelstran immigrants. Now, only the elders can be recognised as not being Otkori.

Frygthal
A small town 10km from the Stormwalk. Has a major temple to St. Orlanth.

Golden Town
A large town which is entirely based around a major temple to St. Goldentongue. Trade here in the Many Market Square is constant, even throughout the night. This enormous trade centre is well known.

Gorak's Keep
Abandoned ruins previously lorded over by the Death Lord Gorak Evilblade. It is now inhabited by ghosts and Zorak Zorani spirits.

Gustbranifal
A silver mine, founded by the Henotheistic Church. Omens and portents led to its discovery, and the silver provides the Church with the large majority of its holy metal. Here is one of the few places where Farmer Caste Henotheists may learn the magic of Gustbran.

Halmark
The westernmost settlement in northern Otkorion.

Hapelgan
A small village that used to be a town. Its population was greatly reduced by Thanatari purges in 1598 ST, and the vacant buildings torn down and sold off as raw materials.

Horial
A village at the foot of Mt. Horial. Activities concerning the Thanatari Heresy took place here some time ago.

Hraftal's Fields
Here was where Hraftal, son of Orvanshagor, was slain by the demon Hijbil in a valiant battle. It is said that any who die here, on this land, will always go to Solace.

Inchal
A town ruled by a priest of Arkat Peacemaker.

Jewel In The Water
Another uninhabited dragonewt city, it remains untouched in the middle of the river Tanier. It remains intact, its inhabitants having been slaughtered by an Orlanthi army in the early Second Age. Whenever people seek entry to it, the waters rise to protect the city. It is haunted by ethereal dragonewts, and is still a centre of interest for Ormsland dragonewts. They make pilgrimages there, for purposes unknown, although they have not been successful for a thousand years as they have always been prevented by dragonslayers who are sent omens to stop them.

Loch Ford
This ornate bridge stretches over the 2 key mile expanse of the Tanier, and is noted for the gold water runes that stand ten by ten metres on its side. There are seven in all along the bridgeside. The bridge also acts as a form of damn, complicated mechanisms designed by Calantia allow the Lochkeeper to regulate the flow of the Tanier which prevents the spread of the swamp near Valantia.

Lofaks Print
A huge horse shaped depression in the ground. It is used by Hsunchen to celebrate their holy days. Regular battles break out as the beast people try to conduct their pagan ceremonies against the will of the Church.

Malhol
See Dunhaven.

Marroil
A farming village.

Mierhal
A small village supporting a spirit cult in addition to Henotheism. The spirit cult is that of a Fertility spirit. Main assets are agriculture and hunting.

Njalsland
A stretch of land owned by the Deokirk and Bov Rua families. The land is mainly used as grazing land and for growing crops.

Palata
A large, but simple, Earth temple of the standard sqaure block construction. It was a major site until the Yanniaf, when it was shut down and the priests who oppossed the order located within to die. Their ghosts now reside within, and the site has become an embodiment of Dark Earth. It is one of Surantyr's Hundred Edicts of Reformation to reopen the temple, cleanse the site and release all the trapped souls to the peace of Solace. Like most of the Edicts, no particular effort has been made to begin this process.

Pirsch
This is a temple to St. Urox, with a large temple to Arkat Chaosbane nearby that was built some fifteen years ago. It was built on a holy spot to the Bull Knight and serves as a way station for pilgrims.

Ralia's Gash, Ralia's Wound
These two locations are next to extensive gorges and trenches in the Scanthil Forest said to have been inflicted upon the deity during Godtime. They are both bronze mines, although other metals are occasionally found. All metal is sent to the Gash where an enormous mechanical forge plundered from Bad Deal, and operated by an apostate dwarf, is used to smelt and forge.

Rawson Lentme
A large portion of land owned by the Rawson Family. It constitutes a large percentage of the Otkorioni land the Rawson Family own, and they rent the fertile fields out to Farmer Caste members of various families. All business is conducted at Rawsondal, a small town located in the Lentme.

Ronan's Stretch
Previously known as Brentano's Lands after the Galvosti Lord who owned it. It is often still called that. The Fields produce most of the food for the southern region. Four towers stand in the Stretch, all that remains of Galvosti military outposts, but have now been desecrated as a sign of disdain and are mainly used by children to play in.

Saran
A large fishing village with a magic well that springs forth different liquids depending upon the day of the week. The effect is attributed to the Moon.

Sharrowmal Fort
A highland fort/town responsible for the farms around it. Well known for its cattle herding and its minor temple dedicated to St. Orlanth and Odalya.

Skoldenhome
An ancient fortress from the First Age, built by Skolden - a Horali from Brithos who left his land when he unearthed an amulet that had great and unearthly powers. It was rumoured to have given the power to command any living being, or summon angels from the Sky Realm. Whatever the truth of the matter, Skolden chose power over immortality and left the Brithini to make a petty empire. The Vampire Kings of Tanisor took care of Skolden, but no one knows what became of the amulet. Some say it remains within Skoldenhome, others say Arkat took it at Dorastor.

Skoldenhome is a large, robust fortress. The top levels are easily accessible, but there are eight doors that lead to different portions of the lower levels. In all the years, only two have been opened, being protected by strong wards which renders them almost impossible to open. The fortress was used by the Otkorioni to defend against Galvosti, but with the opening of the Border Forts it now has less soldiers stationed within.

Sword Wall
Instituted by Bishop Branfal in 1596, shortly after the Humakti camps that operated around the Salantia Forest were destroyed in retaliation to decades of offensive actions taken against the undead present within. The Sword Wall is a fortification with about 70 worshippers of St. Humakt. They also ensure that unauthorised people do not enter the forest.

Mt. Ternamor
From the peak of this mountain it is said that one is able to leap into a Storm Castle owned by a giant who used to be a god but was cast down from divinity for seducing Ralia. He is said to guard the Wind Shield.

Tirògel
This mysterious spot has existed for as long as memory allows, discovered by Barac Silvermane in the Godtime. It is a large pit in the highlands that constantly pours forth mist. Those that enter never return. No one knows where it came from, or where it goes, and neither divination nor magical research has revealed any information. It has been visited seven times in known memory by otherwise unknown species of long limbed, black eyed albinos with long blond hair. They never return once they have asked directions as to where it is.

Toobad
A rocky pit, large enough to fit an entire village. When first discovered it was thought to be too bad for anything worthwhile. Alan Lordcaster took it as his bloodlines home, and within a few years of setting it up found to his shock that it was a Mostali quarry, discarded in the Second Age. It now makes a lucrative trade in masonry, crystals and a dwindling source of rune metals.

Vanfal
See Dunhaven.

Wolf Hold
A large fort that has stone walls surrounded by a wooden fortification. Inside lives the mercenary group, the Wolf Beserkers. The mercenaries are all warrior caste members, and their leading priest controls a Telmori spirits that was vanquished a century and a half ago and placed under the command of the Beserkers. The spirit resides on Mt. Wolf Paw. The Beserkers are well known and receive a lot of work from the Church, especially as an effective offensive unit against Vustrian Hsunchen. Once a year they open their gates to the public to find new recruits by testing them in a variety of arduous competitions.