Lake Ostrel and Kleine
by ShaneGSo lovely was the loneliness of a wild lake.
Landmarks: Village of Kleine
Resources: Fish
Secrets: A king’s treasure lies somewhere within the lake.
Encounters (Air):
1) Bat
2) Eagle
3) Elemental, Air
4) Gargoyle
5) Pelican
6) Seagull
Encounters (Land):
1) Badger
2) Bear
3) Farmer
4) Goblin Raiders
5) Miners
6) Otterkin
Encounters (Water):
1) Barge
2) Elemental, Water
3) Fisherman
4) Giant Water Spider
5) Otter
6) Snake
To the east of the Farolas Hills lies the northern sector of the Great Grasslands. Here also lies the village of Kleine, on the shores of turbulent Lake Ostrel. The Plunging Cataract, a mighty, booming waterfall, feeds the lake. It is from the Plunging Cataract that Thunder Rift takes its name, for when the air is still, the crash of the water echoes throughout the Rift with a muffled roar. Fortunately for those who live in Kleine and the surrounding area, the thundering of the water is not excessively loud. Through some acoustical trick of the lake and the canyon walls, the blasting echo carries into the higher regions of the Rift rather than directly across the lake, leaving the noise bearable, even pleasant, in Kleine.
The pure water, direct from the Plunging Cataract, seems healthy for the fish because their numbers never seem to lessen. It is also used in the funeral rites for those from Kleine.
The land in this northern region is exceptionally fertile, excellent for bountiful yields and healthful grazing. When the season is over, the farmers can bring their harvest and livestock into the town proper where they generally receive a fair price for their efforts.
Kleine
Town
Government: autocracy
Population: 120 non-farmers (115 humans, 5 others) 1280 farmers (1280 humans)
Languages: Common, Dwarven, Goblin
Threats: goblin raids
Mayor of Kleine
Bedan: farmer
Councilman Baur: Councilman
Kleine rests on the shores of Lake Ostrel, taking its bounty from the waters and from the fertile land surrounding the lake. Those who sail the lake in small crafts quickly haul in an abundance of fish. Similarly, by farming crops or herding cattle and sheep, citizens can easily wrest their needs from the earth.
The population of Kleine is almost exclusively human, but dwarves, elves, and halflings are always welcomed.
There is no smithy in Kleine. When the citizens need metal work done, they must either travel to Melinir or Torlynn, or they must put in an order at the trading post.
The orders go out once a week and travel down the Drake River with trade goods. The smith in Melinir usually finishes the work in time to catch the upriver ferry, two weeks from the time he receives the orders. The Torlynn smith is usually faster since he receives a lesser volume of work from Torlynn's populace. However, his work is generally of lower quality than that of Melinir's smith.
Kleine has most of the other things that make a town livable, including a general store, a chapel, warehouses, stables, and a decent inn. Kleine is a small town, though, so the residents must travel to Melinir or even out of the Rift if they desire any city life.
The only trading route these days is downstream to Melinir. The ongoing dwarf/ore conflicts dissuade all but the most foolhardy merchants from traveling into the Farolas Hills. The best bet for safely selling one's goods is to send them down the river.
If the town is in imminent danger of being attacked, the watchman rings a bell at hand, whereupon all citizens rush to their homes, bar their doors, and ready their weapons. Although the town has never yet been under siege, they remain prepared for just such an emergency.
01: Stockyard
The butchering of cows and sheep happen in the building that abuts the stockyard. The hide is sent to the leatherworker.
02: Watchtower
A 50-foot-tall watchtower that the town watch (composed entirely of volunteers or those who have no other jobs) can make sure that any assault does not come unheralded. A watchman rings a bell in case of danger.
03: Granary
Rye, wheat, barley and triticale are all stored in this building.
04: General Store
This store sells mainly fishing and farming tools, food, some mining equipment and lumber.
05: Leatherworker
As if to compensate for its lack of a smith, Kleine houses one of the finest leatherworkers in the valley. Given time and some decent leather, he can turn almost any hide into a durable work of art.
06: The Melodious Harpy
The Harpy is very popular among the hard-working farmers, and it has become the unofficial town hall. The Melodious Harpy is where the locals come to relax, blow off steam, and enjoy one another's company.
07: The Docks
There are seven docks, one for each of the families who use them. Superstitious as some of them are, an eighth dock will never be built.
08: Inn
This is a decent inn which caters to the barge merchants from Melinir and Torlynn along with the more successful miners before they head out once again to the Burning Hills.
09: Wharf Master
Part business and home for the wharf master and family, it is here that barge merchants pay for dockage to one of the families that owns a dock.
10: Mine Office
The miners themselves come from many second or third sons and daughters wishing to move away from the farming/fishing lifestyle. From here they can check on claims for mines in the Burning Hills. Some maps of both the region as well as mines can be purchased here as well
11: Chapel of the Achiever, the Peacemaker
Miners, farmers and fishermen visit, but the size of the place has other uses. It is mainly a layover for miners to rest and all to store their goods.
12: Farm
a) Bedan’s: farm
13: Private Home
These buildings are the homes of:
a) Mayor of Kleine
b) Councilman Baur
c) The Butcher
d) Mine Officer
e) 7 fishermen families
f) 2 current watchmen families
The King's Barge
It is said that there is a great treasure lying in the remains of a barge under the Plunging Cataract. Apparently, the barge was carrying the king and princes of a small land to meet the betrothed of the eldest son. They carried with them a substantial dowry, customary in this area, along with their magical armor and weapons.
In haste, they instructed the captain of the craft to waste no time in travel. The barge master foolishly interpreted this command literally and did not halt at nightfall, not even when a heavy mist arose from the surface of the river. The barge master ignored the warning signs of impending waterfalls, or perhaps he didn't notice them.
In any case, it is said that the barge plunged over the falls and nothing more was ever heard from the king.
That royal treasure still lies under the falls, free for those who have the courage and means to take it, or so the rumors say. Countless explorers have met death seeking this wealth, and no one has found any proof of the tale.
I could write up so much more for this place, but I'll move on and may revisit this (like everything else I've done).