Province guide to Danigau part two


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[top]Evershruden

Resources: Coke, copper, gems, spa water?s, salt.
Population: 13,250
The coasts of Evershruden are home to the vast majority of the population with only a few thousand hardy souls living deeper in the mountains. Evershruden is named for the near-constant mists that cloak the mountains; the moist air makes for good growing conditions and a number of small farms eke out a living in the province, most food however comes from the sea, or is imported from Blackruft.
Most of the population lives in villages along the coast but the province is also home too a number of small mining towns.
Evershruden traditionally answered to the Burgundy Tolsted, but recently Volse has cornered the market in imported foodstuffs and used that leverage to take far greater control over how the miners set prices and quality standards.
Evershruden is notoriously home to trolls, who live in caves deep in the mountains and constantly threaten the miners; the trolls are most likely few in actual number but they are far to dangerous for any villager to deal with and even noble hunting parties are often outmatched by a pair of trolls.
Towns
Two towns can be found in Evershruden standing just 6 miles apart. Alisse?s Watch, home to 600 souls is found on the border with Blackruft; it is named after a long ago baroness who lived out her years waiting for the return of a lover lost at sea; whilst the stories are very picturesque the town itself is noted for the pronounced smell of dead fish which hangs in the mist and never seems to fade.
Stansburg is a quiet town of four or five hundred with an adequate harbor that turns into a raucous party town once a month when the miners return to re-supply and sell their produce.
Reports of the goings-on often scandalize the court of Danigau and the Count has repeatedly ordered Baroness Mellisande Neblinger to clamp down on the miners. Unfortunately for Danigau the Baroness needs the produce of the mines too much to take long term action against the miners and in any event rather idolizes the rough ?men of the mountains?.
The rugged nature of the miner?s often leads to corruption and the Counts of Danigau have frequently had trouble imposing their will on the province, the coastal towns are fairly orderly but in the mountains the Count?s arm reaches no further than the end of a sheriff?s fist, many of whom refuse to stray from the coast in any event.
Sites and features
The Rubies Welcome is an infamous brothel/gaming den that has been run, under various owners for almost two centuries. It has been shut down a dozen times and burnt down twice, each time it was rebuilt by lonely miners looking for somewhere to spend their wealth. It is also noted for herbal remedies that are effective against many ills resulting in it officially being known as a house of healing, a polite fiction that allows the baroness to ignore its existence.
Red-river spa is a small village of just 150 permanent inhabitants high in the mountains that is noted for waters with healing properties. The water itself is barely drinkable due to the high mineral content but many visitors claim to have received miracle cures after bathing in the spa steamy waters.
Heated by some geothermal heat source the entire town is far warmer than one would expect for Danigau, and rarely sees snow. Many elderly Danigers retire to the town to enjoy the warmth and the waters, as do poets and other artists.
The river that runs through the town is usually very faintly tinged due to its high iron content but occasionally it runs bright red due to some subterranean activity. When this happens narcotic gases often steam from the river and those who drink from the river can be overcome by delirium; when the river runs red, locals know to stay indoors and seal their windows for the day or so that the gases take to disperse.

[top]Hoklep

Resources: Copper, gems, fish.
Population: 9,500
Sometimes called the shield of Danigau, Hoklep is little more than a string of mountains standing out into the Krakennauricht. The province takes the brunt of storms sweeping in from the west and is the favored target of sea-raiders unable to breach the walls of Blackgate but unwilling to return home empty handed.
Towns
Hoklep is home to large numbers of fishing villages but only one town of any size, Hoklep?s point. Situated as the name suggests at the extreme north of the province the town is home to to perhaps 900 including Danigau?s famed coastguards, selfless heroes who give aid to those seeking refuge against storms by sailing into the teeth of gales to rescue stricken ships or sailors lost overboard, although even these stalwarts rarely manage to save those thrown into the near-freezing waters of the Krakennauricht.
On a fine day one can just see Danig?s isle from the lighthouse in Hoklep?s point and baron Rudolf Meissan has long desired to see if the isle could be settled. Unfortunately the Meissan family has some Anuirean blood and as a result is considered somewhat less ?pure? than full Brecht, the Count doesn?t openly disparage the family, but he does considers that their ancestors suspect judgment could run in the family and has therefore taken no action on this point.
Sites and features
The lighthouse of Hoklep?s point is celebrated in a hundred bards tales as being a sign of safety finally at hand as well as a warning against the rocks against which so many ships have grounded. The lighthouse has been damaged by recent storms and is not the wonder it once was, but it still saves dozens of merchant ships a year, Baron Rudolf often asks the Count to allocate funds to rebuild it. Wary of the huge expense the Count always found some reason to refuse.
The Rip-rocks. These deadly rocks are exposed during the lowest tides but generally lie below the surface, detectable only to those who see the sea foaming. The rip rocks are plagued by deadly strong currents and the sharp rocks have torn out the hull of hundreds of vessels over the years and scattered the contents and crew along the coastline of Hoklep. On occasion a vessel is caught between two or more of the rip rocks, which each stand a hundred feet from the floor like deadly spears, a few of these ships are even repaired and refloated before the inevitable gale drives them fully onto the rocks and doom.

[top]Kantswach

Resources: Iron, Coal, Goat's wool
Population: 4,250
Kantswach is noted for being barren and mostly vertical. Almost the entire population lives in small fishing villages along the coast for the Counts of Danigau long ago forbade prospecting or settling more than 2 leagues from the sea.
Currently Kantswach is home to many refugees from Caebstrech, people un-homed during the recent goblin raids; these incomers are welcome by the inhabitants, but even the loyal Danigers of Kantswach will tire of the refugees eventually and the new Count will need to either grant the refugees land in Kantswach or make it safe for them to return home.
Towns
Aside from Kantsburg there are no large settlements in Kantswach just a series of small fishing villages along the coast. Little distinguishes these tiny settlements although they are often fiercely competitive. Kantsburg itself is home to perhaps 650 including outlying farms, almost a quarter of the provinces entire population. The local ruler is Baronet Morritz Kant (MBr; F3; Br, minor, 12; LN), a descendant of the original Kant who colonized this area for Wulf Danig.
Sites and features
Kantswach is home to the tallest mountain in Danigau, the awesome Mt Riesig. This vast peak is said to have never successfully been climbed by humans, legends place an ancient fortress at its summit however these have never been investigated by reliable sources. Who could have built this fortress, or what happened to them, is unknown, but wild rumors have circulated since the province was settled.
Rumors persist that high in the mountains lives a race of rock-men; these rock-men stand seven to 10 feet tall depending on the tale in question, are tremendously strong, but slow in movement. Some of the tales describe the stone-men as viciously isolationist, others as simply shy. Most tales agree that the stone-men are primitive, but great artists notable for chanting great communal songs.
Katrina?s tower. Not far from Mt Riesig is an isolated tower that is home to the legendary ?Great-aunt? Katrina Danig. Katrina lives here with just the Silent Warder for company. The Warder is an animated suit of armor that supposedly houses the spirit of an ancient Danigau warrior. The Warder never speaks, but does tend to the needs of visitors although this is generally limited to shaking its head when they ask if they can speak to Katrina.
Diamondrock cave. Believed by most to be a myth, this cave deep in the mountains is supposedly studded with cut and polished diamonds, embedded in the walls in swirling patterns and arcane glyphs. Magicians are said to be able to touch true magic in this cave, while true wizards can feel magic tingling through every bone in their body. The cave can only be found, it is said, when the full moon shines in midwinter at which point the illusions that normally cover the cave mouth vanish.
The Count used his powerful source holding to find and collect rare herbs in the mountains including the famed silver-leaf, Sirena?s gold and old man?s folly. With the increased population and resulting disruption to the native mebhaighl these herbs are more difficult to find now than in the past.

[top]Starkhundt

Resources: Iron, copper, spiced lamb and pork sausages.
Population: 11,750
The barren mountains of Starkhundt make this province appear only marginally more habitable than Kantswach although the bays along the coast are far more welcoming. As with the other mountainous coastal provinces of Danigau most of the villages line the coast and survive mainly on fishing.
Towns
Notable towns are Whitecap, a mining community just a few hundred so high in the mountains that the snow lies deep all year long and many of those who first travel to the mines become ill from the thin air. Whitecap is known for the purity of the iron drawn from its mines.
Coal is found further east at Ebondell and the smelters of the prison town often cause smoke to hang over the valley for weeks, every few years local weather conditions thicken the smoke to a lethal smog that causes the Count to order that something be done. Nothing ever is and the life expectancy of those unfortunate enough to live in Ebondell is truly shocking, very few women live in the grimy dale and most of the miners and smelters are prisoners earning their freedom watched over by the oft brutal guards of the Baronet.
The largest town is Clearwater; home to a bustling community of 1,750 or so that includes a number of Halflings and even a few dwarves. Clearwater used to have sizable shipyards but these burned to the ground two years ago; the Burgundy Slepsid still has a bounty of 5,000gp offered to whoever gives information leading to the annihilation of those responsible, for fires of such ferocity never burn in the damp air of Danigau without some assistance.
Clearwater is noted for a spring of fresh water that springs from the mountains two miles to the north and keeps the town supplied with water even in the depths of winter ? the fast flowing river never freezes. Clearwater is ruled by Baronet Heinrich Stark, a cruel man who never forgives a slight or perceived injury; the baronet is however fiercely effective, his sheriffs ruthlessly root out criminals and his councils are noted for their austerity.
Sites and features
The Ice Palace. An impressive title for the a series of chilly damp caves that open onto the Krakennauricht claimed by the Ice Lady, the ice palace is home to the Ice Lady and holds many fell beasts and dire secrets. The air around the palace is barely above freezing even in mid-summer and the coast is deserted for several miles on either side. Within the Ice Palace the temperature is below freezing even in the height of summer and all surfaces in the caves are covered in ice, sculpted to the whim of the Ice Lady.
Those poor fools who follow a kidnapped villager or stolen fishing boat to the palace are set upon by the Ice Lady?s guards and never seen again, the location of the cave is known only to Ice Lady?s faithful and she wants it kept that way.
Dorn?s Stand. This old dwarven hall lies deep within the province, once a thriving mining hall the inhabitants were wiped out by some unnamed horror which smashed in their doors one terrible winter a century or more ago and hunted the doomed dwarves through their halls. Ghosts and worse haunt this place although treasure seekers continue to dare the upper levels in search of old dwarven treasures
Grumbar?s house. This warren of caves is home to several dire bears led; it is said, by the legendary Grumbar, a bear of vast proportions with a hide impervious to normal weapons. The Grumbar occasionally rouses itself to attack miners although this has not occurred recently.

[top]Talhundt

Resources: Iron in the south, marble and limestone in the north, spun goats wool, spiced goats-meat sausages.
Population: 11,250
The natives of the northern-most province of Danigau are sometimes called the proud by other Danigers, as they see themselves as the toughest and most defiant of an already tough defiant breed. Independent to a fault the locals rarely let a fight pass by and are slow to forgive grudges, equally however they never forget aid or friendship given and they are noted for their loyalty to the crown.
Talhundt natives maintain that their heavy goat sausages (stuffed with spices and often soaked in alcohol) are far superior to the finely ground lamb or pork wurst of the Starkhundter?s, the proud have managed in the past to come to blows over the matter.
Towns
The largest town (only locals consider it a city) is Tallenhaven, home to Baroness Theresa Tallen. The town is noted for its theatre/opera house (called the Sphere) and a thriving weaving industry (based on the famously warm hair of the local goats). Perhaps a thousand merchants, farmers and fishermen live in and around Tallenhaven, although during festivals over a thousand more folk flock to the town to enjoy the markets, fairs and plays put on by the baroness.
One of the only other villages to stand out is the village of Lars? Shelter, a whaling village. Villagers annually hunt the great beasts of the sea, sometimes even bringing back one of the kraken?s offspring although these are usually bitter victories with many boats lost or half empty after such a hunt. Almost all of the three hundred households of Lar?s Shelter make their living from the sea either by fishing or gathering kelp, the poor soil permits only a minimal amount of agriculture; although a dwarven family has somehow managed to raise crop after crop for years to the ire of their neighbors
Sites and features
Darkencloak. Some terrible deed happened in the ruined tower north of Tallenhaven, a shadow lies over the tower leaving it in twilight even at midsummer; fell beasts are said to roam the hills around the tower and every few years a foolish boy vanishes after he is accepts a dare to spend a night in the ruins.
Quiet waters. An odd patch of water that barely swells even during the worst storms, Quiet waters is notorious for treacherous tides and a total absence of fish and other sea-life. Something dire is said to lurk under the waves driving all else out and even the most desperate sailor beaches his ship somewhere else to make repairs.
Wrecker?s lamp. This isolated village is noted for a reputation of luring ships blown off curse onto its treacherous rocks. Local tradition does hold that any wrecked ships and cargo are common property; but locals strenuously deny luring the ships for plunder. Several wrecks lie tantalizingly close to the surface but the near-freezing water and rumors of undead keep even the greediest looter at bay.

[top]Wiergau

Resources: Iron, gems, granite, coal, goat cheese and wool, glacial ice.
Population: 9,250
Wiergau is in constant competition to Blackruft for fishing along its short coastline and does poorly, many of its people herd goats and sheep in the mountains and most grow herbs and vegetables in small gardens to supplement the food imported in exchange for the wealth hauled from the mountains. The Burgundy Slepsid has an iron grip on goods transport in this province, as it is the sole importer of the foodstuffs that the populace relies upon.
The iron grip of the guild recently caused Count Erik to act against Volse?s factor Grant Oppelmann after the factor raised prices to breaking point and news reached Blackgate of starving widows and orphans. Volse paid substantial reparations to the Count for his factor?s greed but with the factor missing in the mountains Volse has been unable to fully pin the blame for the price-gouging on his agent ? or find the substantial amount of coin that the factor appears to have embezzled.
Towns
Locals insist that Wierberg?s deep harbor made it the second town founded in Danigau after Blackruft. The mountains press closely about the town however, and the population of perhaps a thousand cannot grow beyond its current limits.
Wierberg is noted for its temple to Sera which is said to have the largest library in Brechtür. The temple has seen better times but is still quite impressive, as it is carved almost entirely from the rock itself and is mostly underground. In shape it is a single vast chamber surrounded by a wide spiral staircase (the only way in and out) from which numerous smaller chambers can be accessed including the famed landscape gallery of Pieter the third prelate and the library cherished by the current incumbent Dieter of Sera.
Whiterock. The second largest town in Kiergau is named for an outcropping of white(ish) granite and is home to a little over 750 Danigers. The miners quarry the hard stone and ship it to Wierberg where it is sent on to Cohrtab in Müden. The town is noted for unusually sober miners ? alcohol has a much stronger impact in the thin air around the town and the local temple of Sera strongly preaches abstinence.
Sites and features
Wiergau is the second-most common target of Urga-Zai raiders, whereas in Caebstrech the goblins raid almost solely through goblynslaughter pass, in Wiergau the goblins cross innumerable small passes through the mountains or travel via the interlinked mines and small tunnels into the province.
Raids are thus small-scale but constant and the mountains prevent the Count from doing more than punish incursions severely ? even the armies of Danigau cannot watch every broken mountainside in this province.
The Fields of Woe are one area where the armies of Danigau historically met the goblins in battle; outnumbered four to one the Danigers died in droves until the thanes of Khurin-Azur led their elite footmen in a forced march to break through the goblin lines. The battle left the bloody fields covered in bodies. Most of the bodies were consumed by the goblins, but even today, centuries later, travelers come across Danigau soldiers frozen in the ice.
The fields of woe are deep within the province, in a valley between three steep mountains. Snow-covered much of the year the field retains a chill that reaches the bone all year around and while undead are not common, tales abound of frozen warriors staggering from the field and visions of the battles that raged over this barren ground. Others say that they have seen the partially consumed bodies of those eaten by goblins crawling from the field to seek proper burial or revenge.
The fields of woe are also sometimes visited by dwarf ?pilgrims?, the dwarves held the pass after breaking through the goblin forces to allow the exhausted humans to get a good ?head start? on the goblins. Over a thousand dwarves died at the fields of woe and although it is believed that the dwarves took their dead with them, or have since retrieved them (dead or alive it is said that no dwarf leaves another in goblin hands) dwarves have been seen in the fields from time to time over the years.

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