The Harrowmarsh
I have included here some extra information
about the Harrowmarsh. There has been no information released about the
provinces that make up the swamp yet from TSR of here is some info that
I have designed for it. I am using the description on the Hydra in Blood
Enemies for most of what is below, so if you have the book check out pages
42-45 for a description of the domain, the Hydrakin, and the Caracdir.
There are four provinces that make up the
Harrowmarsh
Province |
Law |
Temples |
Guilds |
Sources |
Waterfjord (0/8)*
|
Hy (0)*
|
-
|
Hy (0)*
|
-
|
Tory (1/7)
|
Hy (1)
|
-
|
Hy (1)
|
-
|
Sodden Falles (1/7)
|
Hy (1)
|
-
|
Hy (1)
|
-
|
Laughaure (0/8)
|
Hy (0)
|
-
|
Hy (0)
|
-
|
* Fortified Holding
Abbreviations: Hy = Hydra's Guild
(Bereak the Hydra)
Here is a brief description of the provinces
Waterfjord:
This province is home to the hydra itself.
It is deep in the Harrowmarsh and is comprised only of swamps. It is the
furthermost province from dry land, and is situated right at the end of
the Asarwe River on the coastline. To move into the province requires
a boat or barge. Armies are unable to invade as they can not move in large
enough numbers to be of any use. It is possible to move troops through
the province but there is nowhere for them to land without sinking into
the swamp.
The province is home mainly to the Hydrakin. There are thought to hundreds
of the monsters here, as well as large numbers of crocodiles, and snakes.
The province is also home to the Hydra at his tower in Waterfjord Tower.
Although it mainly keeps to itself, any who visit are sure to make their
way into the Hydra's stomach. Boats travelling down the river have also
disappeared occasionally. There are also a few small human settlements
in the province, home to maybe 50-100 fishermen and pirates in each. These
settlements are known as Althlone Island, Younghal Harbour, Drogheda Bay,
and Westpoint. Each is comprised of huts sitting on stilts above the swamp,
surrounding a central platform. Also each village has 5-10 fishing vessels
or small rafts tied up to their houses.
The village of Westpoint is also thought to be home to a mage and alchemist
known as Dwynaa the Bose. This ancient sorcerer is a friend of the lizard
men and trades with them for the animals and plants he needs to make highly
effective and fast acting poisons. He can sometimes be found in anywhere
from Rohrmarch to Binsada selling his wares.
Tory:
This province is the most northern of the
four provinces, bordering the Brecht kingdom of Rohrmarch. Home to the
Caracdir it is a place little visited by Humans. The main Caracdir village
is a settlement built onto a hill, known as Tory. Over 100 of the lizard
men live there, and the village is walled and protected by 5-10 warriors
at all times. The province is still very swampy and small boats or rafts
must be used to move around. The Caracdir use these rafts, or they can
swim or wade through the swamp. A favourite tactic is to hide beneath
the swamp with only a nostril peaking above the surface of the water.
This makes the lizard men almost invisible and they can easily ambush
travellers. The Caracdir eat humans so travellers are advised to take
the road north of the swamp, rather than end up in a Caracdir's cooking
pot. Although Tory is the only known Caracdir village they are found throughout
the Harrowmarsh and there are thought to be at least a thousand of them
scattered throughout the four provinces.
Sodden Falls:
Once part of Binsada this province has long
been abandoned by both Binsada and the Hydra. As the driest of all the
four province it is rarely used by the swamp creatures that inhabit the
rest of the Harrowmarsh. Many islands of dry earth and rock dot the province
so it is possible to invade and capture it, provided you had enough vessels
to move your troops from one small island to another. The province is
however home to a large number of bandits, who run the
Hydra's Guild (also found in Binsada and Sendoure). This guild is not
owned by the Hydra itself, as the Awnshegh has little interest in other
lands or money. Instead one of the bandits has set himself up as overlord
of the Harrowmarsh. Baraek the Hydra as he is known claims to be the true
Hydra and dresses up in a crocodile skin costume to scare his followers
into believing him. It is also believed that he may be a Magician or Wizard
as much of his appearance may come from illusionary magic.
Baraek has gathered a reasonable horde of 12 GB together and maintains
a small army of 2-3 units of bandits which he uses to raid ships and caravans
travelling down nearby roads. He also runs a protection racket among the
citizens of the Harrowmarsh that brings in some money to his coffers.
He prefers to remain on dry land though and spends much of his time in
this province or in Sendoure.
Settlements in this province are much larger that the other three, with
200-400 living in each. They include Longfjord, Adelaide, Dundalk, Gweebarra,
and Nenagh Birr.
Laughaure:
The least populated of all of the Harrowmarsh's
province. This isolated area of the marsh is also the most dangerous.
Large numbers of Hydrakin and crocodiles roams the swamp eating anything
that stands in their way.
Anyone living in the marsh would find themselves open to constant attack
from these monsters.
Despite this a few small human fishing villages exist on the coast. These
are built similar to the ones in Waterfjord province, but are smaller
with only 30-40 fishermen in each. The villages include Blackwater Sound,
Chalky Inlet, and Laoghaire Point.
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