Mowbrenn

Mowbrenn is a walled city of 19,000 people located on the main trade route, north of Rel Mord. It could not be more different from Hendrenn Halgood. Count Blackmar Huldane is a harsh, repressive ruler who extracts every copper owed to him from his cowed subjects, who live in fear of his brutish militia troops. Huldane, a war hero of the Almorian campaigns, was never so cruel and tyrannical before the wars; but then, he is not the man he used to be.

The power behind Huldane's throne is the sinister adviser, "sage" Quarlanth. Quarlanth gained a high reputation for himself as a tactical adviser to Huldane in wartime. Small wonder, since this disguised priest of Hextor often knew exactly what the enemy would be doing, from information given by fiendish sources. Now he has wormed his way into a position of power where he uses his ring of human influence to control the count.

Mowbrenn has become a city infested with dark cults in its secret places and undercity, and victims disappear into the night shadows never to be seen again. A few of virtue have fled to Barren Keep to join Blackmar's son. Those left are sunk in despair.

Again, Archbold does not examine the rumors of this city too closely, since demanded monies are paid and the king himself has seen Blackmar slay fiend and foe in battle. How could he now be cruel and unjust?