Dineval

The small castle of Dineval was built over four hundred years ago by the Dinev family, before Ozbiard existed as anything more than a few scattered camps of explorers living off the land. The Dinevs hoped to claim sovereignty over the unsettled lands of Ozbiard. When the castle, dubbed Caer Dineval, was completed, the workers and their families settled in the outbuildings they had constructed farther down the cliff, along with the families of the retainers the Dinevs had brought with them. Over the next few years, many explorers in the region came to see the Caer for themselves, and some built cottages in the shadow of its walls. No sooner had the small town taken hold than marauding orcs swept down from the tundra to put it to the torch. The town’s residents tried to take refuge in the castle, but the Dinevs, alarmed by the size of the orc horde, barred the gates and refused to open them. The orcs fell upon the stranded people and slaughtered them to the last one. The Dinevs survived the initial assault, but not the siege that followed. After three weeks of being confined in the Caer, the Dinevs were so weakened by hunger that they were unable to resist when the orcs scaled the castle walls. Thus, the Dinev family’s brief rule in Ozbiard came to a bloody end. The Caer remained in the orcs’ possession for several years, until they were driven out by a small army of human settlers from other parts of Ozbiard who banded together. The victors claimed the castle and its lands, and those with families brought them here to settle. Their descendants live here to this day and keep alive the memory of their ancestors’ deeds. Today, the keep is the residence of the town speaker, Crannoc Siever.

Points of interest

Dinev’s Rest: Inn (closed)

At the south end of town is Dineval’s inn, a drafty old building with boarded-up windows and a crooked weathervane shaped like a rearing dragon. The place has been out of business for almost a year.

The Uphill Climb: Tavern

Owner: Roark. It offers a spectacular view of the ocean and the frozen docks. The Climb serves hot chowder but is all out of beer and spirits, which might explain why locals don’t frequent the place as much as they used to. The tavern is timber framed with a small fenced yard and well-made wooden furniture.

Gerbo's: General Store (closed)

Closed for about six months.

Type

Village

Population

440

Owner/Ruler

Crannoc Siever

Owning Organization

Ozbiard

Characters in Location

• Crannoc Siever
• Roark