Ugglastad

Music and Ambiance:

Ugglastad Overview

The town of Ugglastad sits in the grassy highlands approximately one day's travel from the ocean. The walled town rests on a large grassy hill that is covered with rocky protrusions near the top. At the base of the hill, dozens of longships are docked in a sizeable river that meanders from the mountains and lazily flows around the hill before emptying into the ocean far to the northwest. The town walls are made of a mixture of wood and stone. They stand 15 feet tall in places and encircle the base of the hill. At the peak of the hill perches a wooden fortress. It is the home of the High Jarl and must be 7 or 8 times larger than Jarl Halvard’s Longhouse. From the walls at the base of the hill to the longhouse, the entire hillside is covered in buildings. There must be more than a thousand of them. Green pennants embroidered in silver and emblazoned with the shape of a great horned owl, whip in the wind atop the great fortress. Guards dressed in steel mail under green surcoats stand watch at the town’s gates or patrol the town in pairs.

Music & Ambiance:

The Cunning Captain Inn

An ornately carved and colorfully painted sign identifies this as "The Cunning Captain Inn". From the outside, the inn looks inviting, well maintained, and warm. Stacked fieldstone and thick, hardwood logs make up most of the building’s outer structure. A well-crafted, metal door leads to the interior where crowds often gather to dance and sing together cheerfully.
Inside the common room, wooden beams support the upper floor and chandeliers hang from them, filling the common room with warm light. The walls of the common room are covered in bright paintings that depict Nortland battles, fantastical beasts, and faraway places. Several of the paintings must be enchanted because they seem to be moving. A large black stuffed dragon’s head is mounted over the primary fireplace and appears to glower fiercely at those brave enough to approach it. This inn is frequently filled with witches and wizards and the other odd ones of Ugglastad. They can be seen here wearing funny hats and robes, leaning on staffs or finger wands.

• Anne Bladewalker (Older Woman, Inkeeper

Music & Ambiance:

Tricks and Treats

Tricks and Treats is located at the dead end of a narrow street marked as “Navigation Alley”. The alley is located several streets downriver from The Cunning Captain Inn, though the neighborhood here looks less than savory. A small dingy sign identifies the squat non-descript building as the right place. Melancholy-sounding wind chimes clink together ominously as the front door opens or closes. The shop is relatively large but it feels crowded and a little stuffy because the entire room is filled with glass cases and shelves. Each one displays dozens of macabre items…a skull, beads, a stuffed rattlesnake, feathers, the statute of a clawed hand, a jar with eyeballs floating in a yellowish liquid….more. Everywhere, strange things are on display. The room also smells faintly of incense and there is a large cauldron at the back of the room.

• Inx (Elderly Female Goblin, Shopkeeper)

Music & Ambiance:

Open Air Flea Market

High on the large grassy hill of Ugglastad in the district known as the “Inner city,” you find a sloping open-air flea market. The market is crowded and consists of over a dozen small shops extended by tent fronts. There are butchers, some fruit and vegetable vendors, cooks and bakers selling their aromatic wares from several carts, a merchant selling foreign carpets, cobblers, seamstresses, and several other merchants selling lightly used merchandise. Nearby you see a cozy cottage nestled partially into the hillside. A white sign with carefully scrawled green paint names this “The Curative Curious – Apothecary,” though the cottage is now empty.

Music & Ambiance:

"The Faulty Dice" magic shop

The Faulty Dice is a high-end magic shop that is nestled between two large businesses on one of the main streets near the High Jarl’s massive longhouse. It is obviously an important boutique in the upscale shopping district. The crowd here seems to consist of Jarls and other finely dressed folk. Inside a darkly stained cherry hardwood door, is a large, well-lit arcane show room. The colors and tone of the room make for a warm and welcoming ambiance. The room prominently displays dozens of fine wooden shelves and crystal display cases. Inside the emporium, one can smell the faint aroma of incense and spices and hear the sounds of bells and chimes. The powerful magic is nearly palpable and hairs on the backs necks and arms seem to stand on end as though energized by electricity.

• Khimris Vunadath (Middle aged Triton man, Shop owner)
• Alyn Vunadath (Middle age Triton female, Tinkerer/Enchanter)

Music & Ambiance:

The Odd Ones Owlery

Just off one of the main streets, near the Jarl’s massive longhouse is a small stone tower that is taller than any of the buildings around it. Occasionally, owls and other birds can be seen swooping out of the towers many apertures and windows. Past a sturdy oak door, the entry opens into a large cylindrical room made from stone. The ceiling is at least 30 tall and there must be over 100 small enclaves built into the walls. Some are empty and clean, but many of them are active roosts for Owls or other birds. The Owls seem to enter and exit open windows at will and owl excrement covers the walls. An open door just to the left reveals a small office.

• Horzu Highlands (Elderly Human man, Owner and animal trainer)

Music & Ambiance:

The Relieved Coin Inn

Near the river, squats a tavern that is obviously frequented by sailors and other rough types. A poorly maintained sign identifies it as “The Relieved Coin”. From the outside it looks crude, uncomfortable, and unwelcoming. Softwood and stone beams make up most of the building’s outer structure. Most evenings, the sounds of raucous laughter and the smell of powerful alcohol practically ooze out into the street.
Inside, the common room is often filled with thick smoky air, boisterous singing and laughter, and an assortment of foul smells. Most nights, the tavern is full of sailors and other rough types. As often as the bartender seems to wipe down glasses and mugs to clean them, the soiled cloth he uses doesn't seem to get them any cleaner. The walls of the establishment are completely empty, though they are covered in a thin layer of grime and are marked by the occasional gash or hole. This inn is known as a hub for gambling in Ugglastad and many whisper that it is also frequented by several of the town's most unsavory characters. One thing is for sure, the tavern definitely doesn’t smell like it is famous for its food.

• Cedric McKinnon (Human Man, Bartender)

Music & Ambiance:

Street of Smiths

The Street of Smiths is nestled beside a large rocky outcropping that sits just below the colossal walled longhouse at the peak of Uglastad Hill. Green pennants adorned with silver embroidery whip in the wind atop the fortress. At first glance, there appears to be only a couple of large shops here. Upon closer inspection, however, it is apparent that there are over a dozen smithies and shops. The various smiths seem to share forges and grinding wheels and it appears as though there is a general division of labor among them

Music & Ambiance:

The Smelting Pot

Everyone seems to agree that “The Smelting Pot” produces the finest weapons in Ugglastad. A weather-worn sign hangs over a low doorway, advertising the place. Just inside the smithy doorway, there is a wave of heat and a strong scent of metal, wood, and burning slag. The smells are accompanied by the steady sounds of forging and the sharpening of blades. Inside the dark room, a burly red-bearded dwarven craftsman is often hunched over his work. All in all, The smelting pot has a serious feel about it. There are no frills here.

• Bifund Mudbelt (Dwarf Male, Expert Weapon Smith)