View the map in closer detail here.
Introduction and Major Events:
The Pearl Coast Baronies are a collection of City-Barons stretching across the northwestern coast of Aedelmear. The area derives it’s name from the iridescent white cliffs that line the coast (some reaching up 3000 ft tall!)
Read The Great Rending for important background information on the world and a general timeline for the most important events. Read the Tides of Chaos to gain insight on the recent history of the region.
If you would like to make a Mage, Healer, or a Vowed that revolves around deities, please make sure to read through The Divine Planes to see how the Divine work. This is not the only way to get magic, so if they lore doesn’t inspire anything in you, let me know and we can find some other source of magic power.
Starting Locations:
Fort Hlothwick
Area Summary:
Fort Hlothwick is a backwater adventuring post on the banks of the River Pethwyne. It serves as the final staging point for caravans moving across the Arngot Valley to the River Theron. During the Tides of Chaos, most people left to defend the major cities, but now people come flooding back looking for mercenary work, or to research and plunder the surrounding ancient ruins.
Rumors:
- (Short-term) A local caravan leader is asking for help moving goods across the Arngot Valley, but no one seems to be taking them up on the contract…
- (Long-term) Merchants say the Dwarthair of the Last Hearth have found a weapon…? No a tool…? Perhaps a divine blessing…? that could help them rout the creatures occupying the dark halls of their ancestors.
Loffclid
Area Summary:
Since its founding half a millenia ago, Loffclid has been a de jure township under the Barony of Aesmuf. But over centuries of trade and close marriages, the town has created deeper cultural ties with the Aelfir of Efforwinne. Recently, Aesmufian expeditions flood into Loffclid to loot the ruins of the Mistwood. The adventurers sent are undisciplined and disrespectful, and their tensions with the locals are beginning to create irreparable rifts.
Rumors:
- (Short-term) A newly formed Adventuring group headed into the hills to investigate rumors of a terrible monster. They have not come back. It has been a month.
- (Long-term) A festival is coming up that has been celebrated for centuries, up to the first days of the town. It hold significant local importance, but adventurers scoff at it’s backward ways.
Maerwicc
Area Summary:
Maerwicc was the worst affected Barony during the Tides of Chaos. The largest of the Great Warbands had plundered their way to the very gates of the city, destroying all civilization in its wake. Even 8 years later, outlying villages and farms still lie in rubble, their fields scorched and fallow. The city starves, as the remains of the warband harry reconstruction efforts.
Rumors:
- (Short-term) The Baron is searching for anyone who can help secure farmland to the East, and offering a hefty sum to those who are able to.
- (Long-term) Unusual men walk the lower streets of Maerwicc whispering words of revolt. “The Baron must die,” they say. “The nobility are eating while you starve,” they say.
Wedilton
The ‘City on the White Cliffs’, and home to the Church of the Mother Protector. At the beginning of the Tides of Chaos, the Church of the Mother Protector was a small organization of militant worshipers. Now, after a near half century of conflict in the Tides, the Church has gathered enough influence to become the de facto leadership of the city. Bands of Crusaders, sent out to assist other Baronies, now return home with uncompromising religious zeal.
Rumors:
- (Short-term) There are whispers of occult worship in the caves underneath the city. Odd for them to choose such a holy city to do it in…
- (Long-term) The Church has sent forth a new army to cleanse the Darkroot Forest. Those returning from Camp Darkroot mention nightmares and horrors beyond mortal comprehension. Of those who return, many are driven mad by what lurks in those woods.
Whitecliffe Bay (Engilmar/Othricport)
The twin cities of Whitecliffe Bay couldn’t be more different. Engilmar, to the East, is a city of high nobility. Othricport, to the West, is a city controlled by a council of moneyed interests. Their intense rivalry once nearly led to war, but bloodshed was avoided when the Tides of Chaos forced both cities back to defend outlying territories. Now, with the Tides over, history looks to repeat itself. A great number of Engilmari nobility are dying under suspicious circumstances, and Engilmaran raids push deeper and deeper into Othricport’s territory. War is on the horizon.
Rumors:
- (Short-term Engilmar) From a posting on the tavern wall: a petty noble is looking for guards for his visit outside the city.
- (Short-term Othricport) A man nervously pulls on your cloak. His eyes dart back and forth, with his voice shaking. He is looking for protection.
- (Long-term Engilmar) In response to rising tensions, the Baron of Engilmar and his family has hidden himself away in the palace. Royal proclamations are rare, and public appearances even rarer.
- (Long-term Othricport) The Oligarchs are spending vast amounts of money on esoteric materials… many merchants are puzzled, but they prefer silver over answers.