Dreadmere

[Valthorn_Illian]

The town is always sinking... gotta love dungeon delving without having to leave the comforts of civilization behind.

[ReaperWolf]

54 minutes ago, Valthorn_Illian said:

The town is always sinking... gotta love dungeon delving without having to leave the comforts of civilization behind.

Precisely and considering the dilapidated conditions aboveground, it's a veritable surface dungeonscape.

[ReaperWolf]

Also, there are entire industries built around catering to adventurers flocking to Dreadmere to make their fortunes and local shoppe owners are quick to provide goods and services ensuring any loot acquired in the 'Mere can be spent for upgrades.

[Mercurion]

I think you mentioned that current day Dreadmere is built on the sunken remains of three previous settlements.

• Grey Elves
• ?
• ?

Also, though currently somewhat sidelined, I'd appreciate a bit more on the Disciples of Cthon.   They feel very Cthuhu-ish.  Does this have a link to any of the ruins from the previous civilizations?  Thanks for your answers!

Oh, and here is another of the faction blurb wallpapers I've sent my players

[ReaperWolf]

9 hours ago, Mercurion said:

I think you mentioned that current day Dreadmere is built on the sunken remains of three previous settlements.

• Grey Elves
• ?
• ?

Also, though currently somewhat sidelined, I'd appreciate a bit more on the Disciples of Cthon.   They feel very Cthuhu-ish.  Does this have a link to any of the ruins from the previous civilizations?  Thanks for your answers!

Oh, and here is another of the faction blurb wallpapers I've sent my players

The city of Tiernival was the northernmost outpost of the Tivallan/gray elvin empire (formerly stretching from the Regency of Dartha hugging Daggerpoint Gulf and heading northwards to what is now the Dark Moors.

 

The other two settlements include an old fortress and settlement known as Olde Mosscrest (ancestral seat of Murkillor's family) centuries ago.

 

Later, the area was inhabited by various nobles and ner'do'wells from the Gaelent Highlands, Ritterlich, etc. The town was a decadent outpost for scoundrels. Eventually the greedy nobles and their cronies retreated to their manses while the town burned. A plague had broken out spread by plaguewalkers, horrid undead constructs manufactured by the Wraith King in Stonegraves - his underground lair and laboratory. With no options, the nearby settlements and the Margraive surrounded the town with fortifications and summoned walls and tossed in dozens of fireballs and meteor swarms. The ashes and cinders of the town was a mass grave that sank into the muck.

 

Flash forward a few centuries and Dreadmere rises from the muck.

 

As for the Disciples. They're still around. Not side-lined per se. They were betrayed by their allies - the River Widows who took advantage of the momentary weakness and chaos of last years assault by Murkillor's minions. The gang is splintered and a little disorganized but the Crimson Herald is rumored to have survived, albeit very weakened. I suspect the other bands - Duskwardens, Maggotcrowns, etc. have been infiltrated by the Disciples...

 

And yes, there are a few truly ancient pre-Tivallan ruins in the 'Mere. Last year featured the Disciples of Cthon being contacted by one of these ancient Cthonic entities when the cyclopean ruins rose from the muck.

 

The Bonehenge Covenant tangled with a Cthonic entity that came down in a meteor and took up residence in one of the crumbling manses on the edge of their territory.

 

>>ReaperWolf 

Edited September 21, 2017 by ReaperWolf

[ReaperWolf]

It's quiet... too quiet...

 

DREADMERE

The grizzled fisherman’s hands shook as he rolled the mug of bitter radish between his leathery palms. “I seen it all from me skiff. I stood dumfounded, a heavy mossback hanging from me line as the twice damned ruins rose from the steaming muck. The sabergrass and mire pitched and heaved then silence before a dozen of twisted towers reached claw-like towards the leaden sky. Slate roofs followed sloughing mud and sending thick rivers of slime flowing through rubble-strewn streets.” His voice trembled as he continued with a whisper “It was as if the earth were spitting the city out like a rotten bit of gristle.”

 

 

 

– Gwilem of Thent, fisherman as told to Albor Wylot, Chronicler Third Class.

Edited September 24, 2017 by ReaperWolf

[Chaoswolf]

Now that sounds like an interesting place to go die in exploring!

[ReaperWolf]

4 hours ago, Chaoswolf said:

Now that sounds like an interesting place to go die in exploring!

The center of Dreadmere is Drowntown, a few islands where the Oxwash river current splits and flows.

 

Around Drowntown is bandland, where the factions have staked out their territory.

 

Beyond that is the Deepmist where things get real exciting. Drowntown may be rowdy but it's not the crapshoot free-for all peril in the making that is the Deepmist but that's where the unexplored ruins, untouched crypts, and monster lairs are to be found.

 

Although make no mistake, there's plenty of peril even in Drowntown just watch your step. Engaging in faction business in Drowntown is a great way to get yourself perished. The Green Sashes, the Reeve, and others don't take kindly to those violating the accords.

 

>>ReaperWolf

[Broonkah]

 

I find myself humming the little ditty

 

"... When Cthon is cast down, 

and your cult has all gone,

You can always go...

to  Drowntown...."

 

".. the deepmist is dark, 

And the ruins a lark,

But all dreadmere goes

to Drowntown..."

 

Sorry.... returning to lurker status

[Valthorn_Illian]

On ‎9‎/‎16‎/‎2017 at 11:51 PM, ReaperWolf said:

Also, there are entire industries built around catering to adventurers flocking to Dreadmere to make their fortunes and local shoppe owners are quick to provide goods and services ensuring any loot acquired in the 'Mere can be spent for upgrades.

 

Their products being of dubious quality at above market price I would expect.

[Dilvish the Deliverer]

7 minutes ago, Valthorn_Illian said:

 

Their products being of dubious quality at above market price I would expect.

I think by definition, their prices are "market price"; being as they make up the market in a very literal sense.

[ReaperWolf]

Market prices are a tad on the high side and fluctuate daily with shipments coming in and out of the 'Mere. There are plenty of purveyors of quality goods so if you're in the market for masterwork arrows, shields, or goods made from unusual materials such as duskwood or even obsidian, it's in Dreadmere... somewhere. For every permanent shoppe there are a half dozen stalls selling high quality spell components (granting metamagic effects), herbs (such as those keeping stirges at bay, granting nightvision, or imparting waterbreathing), trinkets such as talismans (minor elemental protection or even damage reduction that actually work!) etc. Hedgemages and witches make a fine living producing minor temporary magic items for the discriminating adventurer. 

[Valthorn_Illian]

Uh, should have expected that someone would have found the magical equivalence of DEET.

[ReaperWolf]

17 minutes ago, Valthorn_Illian said:

Uh, should have expected that someone would have found the magical equivalence of DEET.

My PCs are new to the 'Mere and are still figuring out a few thing 'cuz their knowledge of the Dark Moors is incomplete at best. Even the ranger (my wife's character) still has a thing or three to learn about herbology.

 

The herb in question - wooly spurdock is 70% effective (80% when fresh) and has a radius of about 10 feet. A personal bundle can be smudged (like sage) and is about 50% effective out to 5 ft. radius. Can be purchased for a gold or two for a bundle which burns for about an hour or a dried tightly wound bundle for 10gp.

 

The most shocking discovery: provisions even preserved ones don't last long near Stonegraves - Murkillor's ruined keep. Fresh food lasts ~12 - 14 hours but iron rations last about a day before moldering or vermin infestation. Water turns foul in about the same time but tastes bad after after only hours.

 

The PC cleric's purify food and drink is proving very useful. The PCs have heard rumors that a certain plant when a leaf is added to a waterskin or one's ration bag will keep the souring at bay for several days. They've yet to figure out what herb though. I suspect they'll be asking around when and if they make it back to Dreadmere.

 

>>ReaperWolf

Edited September 25, 2017 by ReaperWolf

[Mercurion]

On ‎9‎/‎23‎/‎2017 at 10:32 PM, ReaperWolf said:

It's quiet... too quiet...

 

DREADMERE

The grizzled fisherman’s hands shook as he rolled the mug of bitter radish between his leathery palms. “I seen it all from me skiff. I stood dumfounded, a heavy mossback hanging from me line as the twice damned ruins rose from the steaming muck. The sabergrass and mire pitched and heaved then silence before a dozen of twisted towers reached claw-like towards the leaden sky. Slate roofs followed sloughing mud and sending thick rivers of slime flowing through rubble-strewn streets.” His voice trembled as he continued with a whisper “It was as if the earth were spitting the city out like a rotten bit of gristle.”

 

 

 

– Gwilem of Thent, fisherman as told to Albor Wylot, Chronicler Third Class.

What exactly causes various ruins to rise?  I mean, is the mechanism natural (shifts in the waterways, geological shifts, etc.) or otherwise?