Shady Hollow

Ruler: High Rider Lord, Oddahn, a paladin of Maruuk, Member of Lords Alliance Economy: agriculture, livestock especially sheep and cattle, barges and trade Militia: 2,000 Hellriders Points of interest: Field of Bones, Maruuk’s Shieldhall, The High Harvest Home, Shiarra’s Market
This city is the farming center of the Field of Bones, and its Hellriders guard and police not only Shady Hollow but much of the farmed and settled portions of the Fields along the Dubglas River or Black Waters north to the Strathclyde River. The long patrols of the Hellriders, 30 riders strong, pass along the roads every four hours, night and day. The upkeep of the patrols is aided by lodges of stockade outposts placed strategically within their patrol area, where food, water, flammables, weapons, and fresh mounts are kept for them. These lodges are protected against arson and casual theft by strong wards, though rumors say there are tokens which can be used to gain access to them.
Shady Hollow is ruled wisely and well by High Rider Lord, currently Oddahn, a paladin of Helm who is ever vigilant when it comes to the defense of his city and to lawless elements who might skulk in to do business in it. A just, no-nonsense ruler who leads patrols on the road as often as any of his war captains, Oddahn keeps the city a clean, law-abiding place, a firm member of the Lords Alliance. His 2,000 Hellriders are superbly equipped and trained, a fearsome fighting force equaled by few realms in the world, Hellriders must be skilled at the use of horse bow, lance, and saber before they are allowed to ride the roads. Travelers can rejoice in the safety of Shady Hollow’s reach, which extends as far as Elletree Hills as far as Ebonbed upstream as far south toward Bardusk as Windstream Lodge, one of the Hellrider lodges, and as far downstream as Stone Eagle Lodge, another Hellrider lodge. It is easy to tell these boundaries. Sheep and cattle wander on all sides when you’re inside them, and the brush is cut back, with hedged and stone-walled farms here and there. Outside Shady Hollow’s sway, farms and livestock are gone, and scrub trees and shrubs are everywhere.
Shady Hollow thrives on trade. It is a city of folk passing through. Barge trade on The Black Waters meets overland trade in the city where a six-wagon ferry crosses the river. The heart of the city is a cliff-sided tor, a natural stronghold that was held by trolls and then orcneas before humans drove them out and first settled here. Its south or river end is capped by the soaring turrets of High Hall, the castle from which the High Rider rules. A long, wooded park runs along the ridge top of the heights, watered by a spring that rises in the cellars of High Hall and runs down the Winter Garden to cascade off the tor at the northern end in a spectacular series of falls known as Maiden’s Leap. On the slopes around are the tall, narrow, many-balconied homes of the nobles. Below this High District are the flatlands of the city, known as the Dock District. The Calm Crows Coster has a major waybase hard by the docks, and the caster’s organized presence and the watchful patrols of the Riders, assisted by a trained and loyal guild of handlers such as goods loaders and unloaders on the docks and wagons, keep this one of the safest dockside areas in the world.
To the east, warehouses and hovels crowd together around the docks and the crammed stalls of Shiarra’s Market. The more prosperous and orderly homes and shops west of the heights are still part of Dock District, but are increasingly referred to as Westerly, a separation used to imply cleanliness and prosperous success or to look at it from the other view, laziness, soft living, and pretentious arrogance. Whatever the sneers exchanged, no one denies that this city is wealthy
The traveler can wander about anywhere in Shady Hollow in perfect safety. The chief danger is from pickpockets, not knife-wielding thugs. No thieves’ guild is tolerated in this city and the best way to attract some hard questioning from a lot of eager-looking Riders with drawn swords is to whisper that so-and-so is a member of or such-and-such an incident is the work of a thief’s band.
The inns and taverns of the city are all fairly good. The lone exception is the poor but cheap Oar and Wagon Wheel Inn, and even it is always crowded with noisy patrons.
Shady Hollow is home to a shrine to Kthon and two important temples, one to Maruuk the other to Nirgaia. Both of the temples give temporary shelter and aid to the devout. Maruuk’s Shieldhall is a large holy fortress ruled over by High Watcher Beradruin Shandar, also known as Shandar the Just, a stern priest who leads as many Rider patrols as Lord Oddahn. The High Harvest Home, a temple to Nirgaia, is presided over by High Harvestmaster Ghaunn Llor, one of the most goddess-favored servants of Nirgaia in all the realms.

Type

City

Location under

Ethigoviel