NERO INDIANA
OFFICIAL GUIDE TO:
 
 
  THE SOUTHLANDS

By Aaron Hauck and Corey T Kump

Updated October 22, 2010

The names and places contained within are completely fictional and represent no known persons, places, or institutions. There is no intended challenge to any trademark or copyright, all uses of any trademarked or copy written material is meant to fall under the fair use clause. Upon notification of any copyright or trademark infringement all effort will be made to correct the situation in a timely matter.

The Southlands

The unclaimed territory had been here for several hundred years without much disturbance. Historians believe it is an area that has seen many battles, and several kingdoms here have fallen and have been lost in time. In the 578th year The Southlands region became the ruling area of the Kingdom of Yahn. Under Yahn control they built an outpost simply referred to as the 138th Outpost of Yahn. They built this outpost to protect the local farms people that resided in these lands. These men live in the Braelen wastes, and are referred to as Braelishmen. The plans of this outpost were to protect the area and bring in trade and make the area prosperous. Several plans were being made to change this area.

Some years later the empire became involved with a military dispute to the north which required most of its troops to be stationed in the north, leaving the 138th outpost mostly unguarded. With it being unguarded many outlaws took refuge in these lands. Merchants and trade guilds halted their operations here. The plans to change the area into a prosperous city failed. The area eventually became less traveled and several passes into the region became too dangerous to travel. The only “safe” means of travel was by sea. This led to Dunland in the far south, becoming very prosperous. The Braelishmen stayed in the region, claiming it to be their home. The 138th outpost became a set of abandoned barracks and a small tavern known as the Rusty Tea Kettle. Travel all but stopped in the area and most forgot about the region.

In the spring of the year 610th, a small contingent of dwarves cleared the passages and opened up travel in the region. They moved into the mountains south of the 138th outpost. These mountains are called Silver Vein Mountains. Here the dwarves sought to set up a mining operation and pull the silver from the mountain, and eventually build a city and have a place to call home. Since then the area has been open to many travelers. There has been an influx of adventurers, explorers, mercenaries, and merchants. Many seek their own gain on this frontier land.

Places of Interest

Nightshade’s Rest

This area encompasses the center of the region. It includes the Braelen wastes and the 138th outpost. The outpost has been under construction in the past few months of this year, and adventurers have not had an easy stay, but it has recently finished up. Lord Hawthorne, the current owner of the 138th outpost, is reopening the area for travelers to visit and find their fame or fortune. The Rusty Tea Kettle has been modified slightly to better host more patrons and provide a friendlier atmosphere. The area is beginning to see tradesmen and merchants coming through the area. Work can easily be found within this area.

The Draken Bogs

The Draken Bogs are home to a number of undesirable creatures: swamp trolls, hags, goblins, troglodytes, muck beasts, unseelie fey, and a number of other creatures common to swamps. Nilbog's Corner is a fort inhabited almost entirely by swamp trolls. It was founded by humans associated with Yahn shortly after the 138th outpost was built, but was abandoned after about five years of use. Shortly after that time, it was occupied by goblins, who kept it until a group of Trolls took over it. Currently the town’s shaman is Bluginrocker who speaks for this town and has agreed to help protect the area in an agreement called the trade alliance.

Silver Vein

This area was once a dwarven home; however it has been abandoned and lost through time. The Silver Vein mines were recently opened by a small contingent of dwarves consisting of several small scattered clans forming together. They’ve been dealing with several assaults from goblins inhabiting the mountain. After establishing a foothold within the mountain the dwarves began to set up a stronghold. Help from adventurers in the area helped to clear the area enough for the dwarves to set up a small town, and bring in the rest of their families. The entrance to the city is located on the northern end of the mountains. The common area of the city is connected to the main entrance. This area of the city is commonly known as The Upper Halls. The dwarves here are always in need of help from adventurers to help clear out new areas of the mines, or to explore the underdark and report any strange findings.

Nekuratoshi & Angurakyofu

Nekuratoshi

This village is nestled right around the huge cavern leading down to the main city. Many people live in this Drae village, even some non-drae. This unusual drae village was created so the people of the underground could still trade with others nearby. When the soldiers of Yahn left the 138th Outpost, they still remained, taking part in the trade and other goods from the nearby towns and cities. The city is headed by Masuyo. She is the daughter of the General who rules Angurakyofu. She is acting spokesperson for her village involving the trade alliance.

Angurakyofu

Deep in the Underdark along the eastern side of the Silver Vein mountains is the drae village of Angurakyofu. Outsiders are not allowed here, and even some drae living in Nekuratoshi are not allowed down into the honored underground home. They have constant struggles with the creatures of the Underdark, and do occasionally have to call people from above to aid them, however they are never allowed within the city walls.

Shani

The city of Shani is located well to the south of the 138th Outpost, cradled between the Silver Vein Mountains and the Sea of Tears. It is a very well-defended, walled city, and it is unaffiliated with Yahn. The city itself is built into a mountainside and wooden walls encircle both the docks and the city. The city has stone paving leads from the outer wall of the city into its center, where it leads into the Forum. The Forum is a large stone structure where the nobility of the town can air their grievances to the consulate.

The city is ruled by a dual consulate entitled the Gemini. It has recently stopped trading outside its walls, due to dramatic reactions from outsiders to its having heavy involvement in the trade of scavenger slaves. Its self-sufficient nature has allowed it to continue to function, albeit less prosperously.

The Tai Shar

The hamlet of the Tai Shar is in the desert to the east of the forest. Its most unique feature is its arena, which holds tournaments and battles on a monthly basis.

The Braelen Wastes

The Braelen Wastes are named for their smell, not their state. The Wastes are home to the Braelishmen, the most prominent farmers of the area. The Braelishmen supply food to the entire region, excluding Shani, as well as the Empire of Yahn to the north.

Bardstown

Located to the northwest of the 138th Outpost, the easiest route to Bardstown is by staying on the road.

The closest area with even a semblance of Imperial activity, Bardstown rarely has even one of its four barracks filled. Most often the village has a single low-ranking officer, one petty officer, and two soldiers. Bardstown does, however, have several merchants –and since the road was cleared between it and the 138th Outpost, they have been visiting to sell their wares.

Though there are several family graveyards within Bardstown, the town has an official graveyard, honoring all the men that died in the battle against the trolls. The graveyard is typically guarded by shifts of two villagers at a time, due to fears that grave-robbers might steal some of the jewelry or magical items of the deceased - or worse, dig up their bodies and raise them as undead.

The Forest of Creation

Commonly just called the Forest, the Forest of Creation presses all the way up to the Draken Bogs and the Silver Vein mountains. Some efforts have been made to clear large portions of it for settlements, but thus far each of those attempts has been abandoned. Well-traveled trails can take a traveler from the 138th Outpost to Nekuratoshi, the desert, or the Braelen Wastes.

The Village of Letson

A peaceful fishing village by the coast, the people of this village came to Bardstown’s aid when it was attacked by Glorn. Every single person in this village is a bull or cow scavenger. The members of this village have been rumored to have disrupted some of Shani’s caravans in the past.

The Underdark

All sorts of beasts roam the Underdark, each more fearsome than the last. The Underdark is rumored to span from the swamp to the other side of the Forest, and none are certain how deep it goes. The cartographers of Nekuratoshi have thus far determined that there are at least two layers.

Common Beasts and Enemies

Owlbears

Ferocious beasts that roam the Forest, owlbears are – as you could infer from the name – a perverse cross between a bear and an owl. They are physically very strong creatures and are resistant to both magic and alchemy. They are very territorial and very aggressive, but no more intelligent than most animals.

Swamp Trolls

Unlike most trolls you may be familiar with, Swamp Trolls are large humanoids covered in brown, black, and green fur. They are not typically familiar with the common tongue, but they are generally friendly creatures and are protected by the trade agreement. They are constantly battling with goblins and will likely kill any goblin they see immediately.

Mountain Trolls

Mountain trolls are much more similar to trolls from other regions. They are aggressive, territorial, and dumb.

Glorn

Little is known about the Glorn, besides that they are capable of infecting and enslaving other creatures to do their will and that they are very weak when away from their hosts. Their most recent offensive action was against Bardstown, where they were bested by the combination of adventurers, and drae, troll, dwarf, and bull scavenger soldiers.

Goblins and Orcs

Goblins and orcs are a common nuisance in the area. Rumor has it that they are banding together to wage war on the Silver Vein dwarves.

Elementals

Elementals are very rarely seen in the area surrounding Nightshade’s Rest. It is rumored that even attempts at summoning them fail, and powerful elementals that have rifted into the area have crumbled upon their arrival.

Fey

Seelie fey, such as sprites, pixies, dryads, and brownies are common in the Forest of Creation. Unseelie fey also inhabit the Forest of Creation, but are much more common in the Draken Bog. The location – or presence – of a Seelie or Unseelie court is not known – and there may not actually be one in the area. For the most part, relations with the fey have been civil, though there have, of course, been exceptions.

Bandits

The road to Bardstown was, until recently, filled with bandits. Caravans of the Silver Vein dwarves nonetheless are constantly under attack, though the attacks have been by bandits with wildly varying skill levels. Some of the bandits seem to work together in cohesive, tactical teams, whereas others seem to be very inexperienced. Due to the troubles with Bardstown, there are rewards for the capture of several prominent bandits.