Heldarn

Heldarn is a town of 1,900 people which stands along the road which runs between Morsten and Terlisean. Before the wars, Heldarn was a major market town. Produce from the north and south of the province were traded at fairs and festivals like the Harvester. Today, Heldarn is most important as a reserve garrison town, with 300 light infantry and 200 light cavalry here able to quickly support border watches and forces to the east or north. Heldarn is the place for adventurers seeking the greatest diversity of potential adventure across the whole province.

Heldarn is also noteworthy for the Herrifen and Shinemaster families of gnomes. These gnomes, who have relatives and interests among the Highfolk, have been moneylenders for several generations. Traditionally, they have played an important role in the local economy. Farmers from villages would band together and borrow money from the gnomes to buy ploughs, wagons and tools. The gnomes charged low interest rates and were regarded as genuine benefactors. Come harvest time, their homes would be swamped with gifts of grain, fruit, vegetables and beer from grateful recipients of their loans.

Unfortunately, times have changed. There are grumbles that the gnomes are engaged in usury. They have increased their interest rates to five percent per month. The fact is that defaulted loans have forced them to raise their rates. The rumor is that they’re going to get rich by bleeding Furyondy folk and then run off with the money. Gnome player characters may well be approached for help by these families, who might need protection from angry customers in these hard times.

Heldarn contains one notable rotten apple. He is Petrenek, an agent of Iuz and a member of the Shadowclaw, Iuz’s sinister network of spies. Petrenek is detailed in the “Characters and Forces” section.