Grenivic

GRENIVIC

The main stop for most visitors to Finnarland is Grenivic, a walled town perched atop a cold, lonely, wind-lashed hill. Bright lanterns suspended over narrow streets twist in the wind and add flecks of color to the town’s otherwise drab surroundings.
The friendliness in this settlement has dwindled of late. Although Rassilon’s harsher winter has not reduced the number of visitors to Grenivic, local trade is starting to suffer from it, eating away at the locals’ sense of humor and goodwill. Still, there is no safer place in Finnarland to spend coin or spend the night.
The walls of the town stand some 30 feet high and are defined by two concentric rings of upright wooden poles, the gap between them filled with dirt and rubble. The outer ring of poles rises above the top of the wall, providing a rampart for defenders stationed on the wood-planked walkway. The wall’s hinged gates are 15 feet tall and can be barred from the inside with iron-banded wood beams. These gates are closed when it’s dark outside—which is to say more often than not.

Grenivic in a Nutshell

Friendliness ❄❄❄ Services ❄❄❄ Comfort ❄❄❄
Population: 1,200.
Leaders: Jarl: Duvessa Shane (human/Thunor’s Eye (noble) speaks for the townsfolk. Though relatively young, Duvessa is the head of the Council of Speakers. Law Enforcer: Markham Southwell (human/Arctic Crow) commands the militia. Sacrifice to Hellfrost: Humanoid

Blackiron Blades

Smithy and outfitter
This combination shop and smithy stands just north of the main square. Garn the Hammer (Shield Dwarf ) manufactures the cheapest blades in Finnarland, while his sister Elza (shield dwarf) sells adventuring supplies—including rations, cold weather gear, ice picks, and snowshoes—to fortune-seekers.
Most of the veteran sellswords in Finnarland disdain Garn’s smithcraft, due to the uninspiring quality of his work. Jokes told about hapless newcomers to Finnarland often end with the line “an’ ’e was carrying a Blackiron blade, to boot!”

Temples of the Æsir (Northern Pantheon)

There are two temples dedicated to the Æsir.

Smalr Uppsala

Situated on the top of the main hill on which Grenivic is built stands the temple of Smalr Uppsala. Smalr Uppsala is a close replica of the Temple of Uppsala at a significantly smaller scale (about half the size).
The temple is protected and served by a variable number of Arctic Crows that try to replicate the rituals and customs of the original Temple in Uppsala.
The temple opens to a steep path down the hill to a large plaza where there's a sacrificial altar.
Sacrificial Altar
At the center of the plaza, there is a large rectangular stone similar, but smaller, to the one in the Temple of Uppsala. Most of the sacrificial rites take place on this altar and for this reason, its rock is stained red so that not even the strongest rain can wash it away. A hole in the stone collects the blood spilled during the sacrifices and channels it into vessels that are placed in front of the altar during the rituals.

Shrine of the Æsir

Located near Grenivic’s northeast market square, this modest converted house serves as a gathering place for worshipers of the Æsir. This was the first temple of Grenivic and the only one until the Smalr Uppsala was built. A retired Arctic Crow adventurer named Mishann (female human, Gjallarhorn Priest) runs the shrine and aspires to see the Shrine regain its rightful place in the city.
Mishann's shrine has the particularity that one of the altars in her shrine is dedicated to Hela. Mishann views Scaetha as a usurper of Hela and doesn’t like it when people refer to the former as the Goddess of Judgment and death.
Despite her unpopular views about Hela and Scaetha, she has been allowed to keep her Shrine without disruption.

Copper Knobberknocker. Mishann rents her attic to a pessimistic enro tinkerer named Copper Knobberknocker, who begrudgingly helps with services and chores. The two argue incessantly. Copper walks around in a fuzzy suit and hood that he made himself; although it’s quite warm, it makes him look like a teddy bear.

The Northlook

Inn and tavern
The Northlook is the establishment most frequented by mercenaries and adventurers, and as such it’s the rowdiest and most dangerous place to stay in Grenivic. At the same time, its taproom is the best spot in all of Finnarland to get leads on profitable ventures, along with the latest news and rumors.
The inn’s proprietor, a retired sellsword named Scramsax (human/Bear Clan), knows full well the cycles of an adventurer’s life. He often cuts a break for customers who are between jobs, allowing them to stay here on credit and then presenting them with a bill inflated by interest charges to be reckoned with as soon as they make their next payday. Those who don’t settle their accounts discover that the old mercenary still knows how to handle a blade, and that he doesn’t take “later” for an answer.
Ol’ Bitey Stuffed and mounted on a plaque above the hearth in the common room is a battle-scarred knucklehead trout named Ol’ Bitey, who pulled many a fisher into the icy depths of Frostlake before it was finally caught by a human rogue named Kintyre and her companion, a human druid who called Modrick. They hauled Ol’ Bitey to the Northlook in the hope of having it cooked for them, but Scramsax bought it from them and had it stuffed instead. Years later, some prankster wizard cast a spell on the stuffed fish so that it turns and snaps at any creature that comes within 5 feet of it. Occasionally, seemingly at random, Ol’ Bitey sings the following verse instead:
There’s a place I like to go Farther up the river’s flow; Where it is, I do not know; Must be under all that snow.