Sarresh

Once a trade town "twinned" with Hardwyn in the County of Urnst, Sarresh is now the major garrison for the troops patrolling the Artonsamay and the border with that southern land. The County of Urnst has strong garrisons and patrols along the river, so the hobgoblins of Sarresh are careful to avoid any encounters with Urnst troops. Sarresh-based patrols have acquired the habit of taking half a dozen chained and gagged human hostages with them to discourage Urnst bowmen from firing at them, but these patrols are mostly for the sake of appearance. The priests of Balmund, who direct the garrison of Sarresh, do not see Urnst as a major threat since that nation was a signatory to the Pact of Greyhawk and accepted Iuz's rulership of the Shield Lands, but they are afraid of reprisal raids by ex-Shield Land folk now living in the County's northern borderlands. Indeed, such people frequently cross the Artonsamay by night and ambush humanoid patrols and supply wagons, and have been successful in rescuing some of the slaves who accompany the patrols.