Swan Bore

Swan Bore is a market town located on the Duntide River. This town of 2,400 people is named after an extraordinary event that occurs regular as clockwork on the first day of Growfest each year, on a stretch of the Duntide for some three miles north and ten miles down-river. A standing wave some eight feet high moves down-river, and on its crest ride great black-breasted swans, honking and whooping. Traditionally this was the first day of a great market festival and week of feasting, with markets strewn across the whole of the town where merchants, traders and charlatans from all over the Flanaess would come.

Hepmonaland ivory, barbarian land furs and Ekbir silks could be found for sale beside Nyrondese food, meat and fish. Oxen, herons, boars, and sheep were roasted and slices sold in hot, crusty bread together with local beers and ales.

Unfortunately, this year's markets were hard hit by tithe-grabbing militias. Many foreign merchants have sworn never to return.

Swan Bore is administered by merchant families of considerable influence and power, and to date they have managed to stave off most taxes by deferring payments. This has meant that the common folk have had to pay more than their share. There is great resentment against the wealthy rulers here, and a rabble-rouser of the Valorous League recently incited a mob to lynch four hapless visiting merchants. The townspeople feel very guilty about this now, but their festering anger still builds.

Rumors have spread that the rich are in league with fiends, and that some local people who disappeared have been sold into slavery. Some angry townspeople have ignored the truth, which is that most of these people have fled to escape taxation or conscription into levies. Mass unrest is just one spark away from igniting here.