Darmshall
As much a fortress as a city, Darmshall is a bastion of security in the hostile land of Vaasa. Its usual population is only 600, but Darmshall has sheltered nearly ten times that number for extended periods in times of peril. A towering wall surrounds Darmshall, lined with weapons of war and grim-faced guards. Huge storerooms of food and supplies fill a secret tunnel complex beneath the city, stockpiled against times of need.
Darmshall was once a small village atop a bluff until the Tenblades decided to retire from their adventuring lifestyle. The Tenblades were a group active during the early explorations of Vaasa. After two members of Tenblades were murdered, the group's stubborn leader Romas Thunderclap wanted to get back at the vile inhabitants of the district. He turned Darmshall into a mighty fortress, to be a perpetual thorn in the side of those evil beings claiming dominion of the land.
Romas must have been smiling in his grave for the last decade. Although the Witch-King claimed all of Vaasa, he never conquered Darmshall, though 1,000 goblin corpses rotted on the fields surrounding the city.
Demographics
The population of Darmshall is predominantly human, with a scattering of dwarf and hin families, and a handful of individuals of other common races, including a couple of elves and more than a few half-orcs. Most live in farms and ranches around the base of the Keep.
Government
Emmanuel Darm is the current Lord of Darmshall. He has recently held this position as the last of the Tenblades in Vaasa. Darm has settled down from a long career as a ranger, sometimes traveling with the Mistmaster. He tells fanciful tales of the two of them traveling back in time to see the founding of Darmshall. He is a capable battle commander and has successfully led in the defense against numerous raids since taking the position. On the other hand, Darm doesn’t have absolute power. For instance, he has been unable to raise a force from among the villagers to deal with the humanoid problems on the road.
Defences
District Guard
Darm commands the Darmshall Regulars, a core group of forty soldiers who perform guard and police functions in and around the walled portion of the village. The Regulars patrol in pairs. To augment this force, Darm can muster a group of about two-hundred civilians, given a day’s notice. However, he can only do this if the village itself is threatened—the villagers have no desire to patrol the road beyond the farms. However, humanoids attempting to raid Darmshall have found that most adults are capable defenders, the rewards of living in the wilds of Vaasa. Attackers have also discovered that many of Darmshall's residents are retired adventurers and bring much more to bear that a typical militia member.Defenses
The defenses of Darmshall begin close to 100 yards away from the promontory on which the village sits. A ring of continual light torches rings the village, each placed so that they produce a ring of light around the village. Guardsmen are trained to spot and sound the alarm if any of the “flames” goes out. Small farms circle the village within the ring of continual flames. If an invading force gets within the walls, they would first have to contend with the maze-like outer bailey. All of the buildings of the outer bailey have flat roofs with small crenelations. Every able-bodied archer is expected to climb on their roof and start firing on the invaders. Although the roofs are not connected to each other, every roof is connected to a portcullis and iron-bound door leading into the outer walls. These can only be opened from within the wall cavities. If the invaders make it up to the roofs, the wall guards and the militia on the other roofs can still fire upon them. It is common knowledge that each building in the outer bailey also has access to the tunnels below the bailey, which lead to another portcullis and door leading into the inner bailey. The tunnels are narrow and winding to make it impossible for invaders to bring ramming devices, and also to limit the number of invaders that can attack the strong points at any one time. In case of an invasion, as the able-bodied men and women climb onto the roof areas, children and non-combatants head below, making their way to safety.Industry & Trade
Darmshall's economy is primarily based on small farms and trade. Most exchanges are done by barter and trade, though the steady stream of adventurers keeps a monetary system afloat with coin.
Guilds and Factions
Important People
- Emmanuel Darm, Castellan of Darmshall.
- Elessan, Seneschal and Advisor to the Castellan
- Sabine, Captain of the Outer Bailey
- Kendon Longstrider, Captain of the Inner Bailey
- Syradon, Scribe
- Cadreith, Cleric of the Triad and Keeper of the Outer Chapel
- Moervan the Darkmage, wizard-defender of Darmshall
- Chendera, cleric of Tymora
History
Darmshall was founded a hundred years ago by a successful adventuring band who, having reached the stage in their careers when they had begun to attract followers, decided to retire and build their own stronghold with the proceeds of their exploits. One of those adventurers was named Emmanuel Darm, the other was only known as Garath. Together with their adventuring band these two men founded two settlements in Vaasa, Moortown and Darmshall before disappearing from the history books.
They chose an area on the fringe of civilized lands where they could carve out their own little fief. Having chosen a readily defensible spot not claimed by any lord, they proceeded to build a stronghold atop a low flat hill, not too far from the Bloodstone Vale. Darm planned to drive all the monsters from the land, save for a few which he intended to allow to skulk in odd corners, feeling that the occasional monster-hunt might prove good sport when he began to miss the old days of dungeon delving and deeds of valor. Then, peasants and freemen attracted by the protection of his fortress would settle nearby, and within a few years he would have his own village at the heart of a region of well-defended farms and fields, the beginnings of his own barony.
Such, at any rate, was his plan. Darm and the wizard Garath disappeared soon after the stronghold's construction. One of the men they hired as Captain of the Guard was Mascen Weldig. Macsen devoted all his time to managing the affairs of his garrison and the Keep, leaving the region beyond untouched save for the occasional patrol, and even these grew less frequent as the years passed. It was left to others, themselves aspiring young adventurers to clean out the humanoids of the nearby Black Holes of Sunderland, raid the lizard men of the moors, and eliminate those threats to his little settlement. Eventually Mascen passed away, leaving Darmshall in the hands of a trusted elven advisor named Elessan. Elessan was there from the beginning, advising first Emmanuel Darm and the Mascen. Devereau never declared himself Lord of Darmshall, always acting a first advisor and Seneschal of the fortified village.
Years later in DR 1337, the Tenblades were a group active in the exploration and clearing of Vaasa. After two members of Tenblades were murdered, the group's stubborn leader Romas Thunderclap wanted to get back at the vile inhabitants of the district. He turned Darmshall into a mighty fortress, to be a perpetual thorn in the side of those evil beings claiming dominion of the land. Romas led the Tenblades and named himself Castellan of the Keep. In a strange twist of fate, the youngest member of the Tenblades, barely over 18 winters was named Emmanuel Darm
In the years since, the Keep has slowly rebuilt its strength. The profession garrison of the past has been replaced by a militia, with every farmer and craftsman (and -woman) serving a stint of guard duty in rotation. Much of the old barracks and parade ground have been transformed into vegetable plots (the better to feed the population in time of crisis) and living quarters for inhabitants of the Keep and their families. The wisdom of this policy has been tested and proven: Three times the Keep has been attacked or besieged by humanoids or bandits, and each time it has held out and overcome its foes. Today it is a small but thriving community once more, less populous than of old but warded by people who have invested years of hard work into making this their home and been willing to defend it to the bitter end.
Romas and the rest of the Tenblades have either passed or retired. Emmanuel Darm is now Castellan of Darmshall. It's said that if King Dragonsbane was ever able to claim Vaasa, he would name Emmanuel Darm Baron of Sunderland, which is the name of the region of southeast Vaasa.
Geography
Locations
The inhabitants of Darmshall live above their shops and businesses, with many living on the outlying farms. Apartments are available for rent to visitors who plan on staying long-term. Several merchants have rented apartments, living in the apartments and operating stalls in the market square, waiting for permission to build a shop and home in the outer bailey.Politics and Government
- 6. Gatekeeper's Tower
- 18. Inner Gatehouse
- 19. Water Tower (Cistern)
- 20. The Granary
- 22. Old Stables
- 23. Parapet
- 24. Prison Tower
- 25. Darm Keep
Temples and Institutions
- 17. Chapel
Guilds and Industry
- 4. Warehouse
- 16. The Merchant's Guild House
Inns, Taverns, and Entertainment
- 14. Silverhand's Inn
- 15. The One-Eyed Cat (Mother Aran's)
Shops and Services
- 5. Stables
- 8. Rafe's Smithy
- 9. Bosco's Outfitters (Adventuring Supplies)
- 10. The Quartermasters (Merchants' Goods)
- 11. Mouse the Locksmith
13. Market Square
- Reece the cobbler
- Quince Brakenbury the tailor
- Jocelyn the tanner
- Brother Martin the Baker
- Hobbin the Carpenter
- Asham the Cooper
- Jewel Merchant’s Apartment
Culture and Sites
- 21. The Common
Important Residences
- 12. Moervan's Tower
- 26. Jadale's Quarters
- 27. Devereau's Quarters
7. Family Homes
- 7b. Home of Reece the cobbler
- 7c. Home of Dubricus
- 7d. Home of Quince Brakenbury the tailor
- 7e. Home of Jocelyn the tanner
- 7f. Home of Neanne, Opal, and Chandry
- 7g. Home of Brother Martin the baker
- 7h. Home of Hobbin the carpenter
- 7i. Home of Asham the cooper
- Jewel Merchant’s Apartment
- Traveling Priest
Type
Village
Population
600
Location under
Included Locations
Owner/Ruler
Characters in Location
Related Reports (Secondary)
Comments