Difference between revisions of "Stoneheim"

Revision as of 16:50, 16 September 2008

Overview

• Country: Located in::Orcish Empire
• Leader: Turrosh Mak (or in his stead, Lord Guardstone)
• Population: Population::7500

Stonheim has stood for centuries. It’s walls and buildings consist of stone mined from the Drachensgrabs and they’ve withstood countless battles, storms and threats. The city is nominally ruled by six mercenary lords headed by Lord Guardstone], humans who long ago threw their lot in with Turrosh Mak.

The Lords of Stonheim have aided Mak in training his troops, and provided mercenary muscle when needed. Despite being the capital of the Turrosh Mak's empire, Stonheim has a significant population of humans who provide a variety of essential services and tradecrafts to Mak's empire, including smithies, fletchers, armorers, and leatherworkers, as well as orcs, other humanoids and a wide variety of half-breeds.

It's most notable landmark is the Citadel, a fortress that has stood for centuries, if not a thousand years. It is here that Turrosh Mak holds infrequently holds court on the few days each month that he is in the city.

The City

Stoneheim is surrounded by a solid, 25-foot tall stone wall watched over by a number of stone towers. A mix of humans and humanoids typically walks the walls, looking for would be attackers (adventurers, renegade tribes, wandering monsters, etc.)

Specific Locations

Citadel of Stoneheim ()

The fortified keep of the Citadel sits on a bluff overlooking the city of Stoneheim. It is home to Mak's Honor Guard (when they are in the city) as well as an elite cadre of mercenary guards.

Lords Row ()

Six walled manor houses form a semi-circle row around the Citadel. These are the homes to the Lords of Stonehiem, and each is protected by at least a half-dozen mercenary guards.

The Silver Turtle Inn ()

The Silver Turtle is what passes for an upper class establishment in Stoneheim. Run by a human named Evan Silvercloak (Human Aristocrat 3/Sorcerer 3) the inn’s specialty is turtle soup. It’s popular with the Lords of Stoneheim and their henchmen.

The Retching Troll Tavern ()

Reknowned in the city for its drunken troll pit fights. How the owner, Arthant (Human, Ranger 9) is able to get the notoriously hardy trolls drunk is a mystery, but it’s a trick he’s able to pull every night, to astoundingly vicious effect. The tavern is built around a large, sand-filled pit in which the trolls battle, occasionally splattering blood (and severed limbs) onto the onwatchers. The tavern is popular with all aspects of Stoneheim society.

The Carved Gnome Tavern ()

The Carved Gnome caters to the humanoid population of Stonehiem, promising all manner of exotic meats cared from sentient creatures. The tavern takes its name from its prized gnome steaks, though that dish has been on the menu less and less thanks to the tribes having killed most of the non-Obsidian Bay aligned gnomes on the Pomarj. The tavern’s owner, a half-orc named Ragak Earripper (Half-Orc, Barbarian 5), offers a 100 gp bounty to anyone who brings him a

Temple of Hextor ()

The more militant mercenaries in Stoneheim – including most of the officers – are members of the Church of Hextor and regularly attend its services. It is presided over by Marscott Diregate (Human, Cleric 10) who oversees a contingent of 33 warrior-priests.

Temple of the Earth Dragon ()

Most of the common people of Highport worship the Earth Dragon, but a good number of mercenaries and humanoids can be counted among its ranks as well. As in Highport, the Earth Dragon provides the glue that holds together much of Stoneheim society and prevents species-vs.-species fights from breaking out. Its high priest is Jerlis Stonehand (Human 11) who truly does have an animated stone hand in place of his left hand.

Temple of Grummosh ()

The Temple of Grummosh is a great arena-style building, with stone seats overlooking a central raised square that serves as an altar and ceremonial battleground. Services are held nightly, and well attended by the city’s humanoid contingent, especially orcs and orc half-breeds. It’s high priest is the orog Eregak (Orog, barbarian 4/bard 4/cleric 4)

Temple of Pyremius ()

The great pyre of Pyreumius, god of murder and fire is one of the great spectacles of Stoneheim, occurring every week on Godsday. A sacrifice, preferably an intelligent one, is offered as part of the pyre, burned alive by its roaring flames. The high priest of the temple is Lucaint Firebringer (Human, Cleric 6/Wizard (Pyromancer) 5).

Forge of the Ever-Bleeding Spear ()

The forge is run by the orc weapon-maker Cragguk (Orc, Fighter 3/Expert 4), whose signature weapons cover themselves in a blood sheen whenever they are wielded in battle. Most in Stoneheim consider this weapons to be blessed by Grummosh, and Cragguk never wants for business.

The Armory of Ilneval ()

The Armory of Ilneval serves as both and armor foundry and a temple to the orc god of war and leadership. Its priest, Oggar the Redshield (Orc Cleric 5/Expert 2) has forged armor for all of the elites in the Empire of Mak including, it is said, for Turrosh Mak himself.