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| The Twin
River Watchtowers |
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Verbobonc began as a gnomish settlement
along the banks of the Velverdyva River. It originally espoused a fort
of earth and wood which was manned to protect the region from occasional
forays by verbeeg from the Kron Hills. The fort was named Verboek and
is still a feature of the town today. The community grew steadily as
the climate was good and the land was perfect for the agricultural needs
of the gnomes. Over the years, Verbobonc has come to display the
best efforts of man and gnome. The architecture of the town has distinct
gnomish origins, based on the designs of master architect Snirthiglin,
who drafted the first plans for Verbobonc. Much of the town’s
defense has been handled by the human half since the early Suel invasion.
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Verbobonc rests on
a plain overlooking the Velverdyva River to the north. This waterway
is heavily traveled by traders bound for Dyvers and the other merchant
capitals of the Nyr Dyv. Within the Viscounty, watch towers have been
established along the river banks to discourage piracy. Heavy patrols
along the major roads, such as the Low Road leading to Dyvers, discourages
banditry and humanoid activity, but at a cost. The Viscount charges
a toll for travel on these highways to pay for their maintenance and
safety.
In the southern region of the Viscounty are the Kron Hills, which
form a natural border between Verbobonc and the lands of Queen Yolande,
Fey Majesty of Celene. The hills are rich in copper ore and mineral
wealth, and the wealthiest of Verbobonc's aristocracy sponsor mines
in these highlands. The grasslands and meadows, fed by clear river
water and seasonal rains, are rich and fruitful. Many farms are founded
beyond the town walls which enjoy the protection of Verbobonc. The foothills
to the south are better suited to |
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| The Pah
sisters of the Waking Bakery |
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| A haywagon
in the southern foothills |
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grazing, and many raise sheep and some small amounts
of cattle. The lands to the west are lightly wooded, growing dense in
the small Relgwood, which lies on the border of Veluna and Verbobonc.
There is not a soul in the Flanaess that does not know the story of
the Temple of Elemental Evil and the Battle of Emridy Meadows. It shall
not be dwelt on here except to say that the day was proclaimed a holiday
by the Viscount and is still celebrated with a night time festival.
Subsequent rumors about the temple and its cult
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continue to arise, and perhaps the place
has found more life in its destruction then it could have found otherwise.
Adventurers still come to Verbobonc with the season as a stop before
journeying on to the temple to witness it for themselves. Few find anything
of interest, satisfied to return with stories about what they have seen.
Despite this, in 578 CY, Viscount Wilfrick, who had been a hero at the
Battle of Emridy Meadows, commissioned the construction of a castle
in the nearby village of Hommlet, which lies only
a few short miles from the site of the ruined temple.
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| The esteemed
Adventurers' Guild |
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| Inside
the Trithereon Temple |
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As an independent
city, devoted to individuality and freedom, Verbobonc is teeming with
religious diversity. Most non-evil deities are worshipped openly in
the city, many being represented by established churches, temples or
shrines. Further, rumors sometimes speak of secretive cults practicing
all manner of foul deeds, although most agree they are just that, rumors.
The folk of Verbobonc are an independent lot, worshipping a variety
of Gods. |
Of the cities many churches, those of
Trithereon, Rao and St. Cuthbert are the most prominent, and religion
is very much a part of life in the Viscounty.
The main faith in Verbobonc is that of Trithereon, and He has been declared
the official patron of the city. His temple dominates the Civic Center,
and much of the religious life of the city revolves around it.
The Temple of Trithereon occupies a special place in the religious life
of the city. There is a particular mystique surrounding its
origins, and it has come to symbolize the
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| Temple
of St. Cuthbert in the High Quarter |
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| The artwork
inside the Trithereon Temple |
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independence of the city. Great
gnome, elven, and human architects, several mages, and the priesthood
of Trithereon all had a hand in itsconstruction, the like of which has
made it one of the true wonders of the Flanaess. Pilgrims
from across the Flanaess flock to Verbobonc just to see it, and none
have ever left disappointed.
The Viscounty is in a precarious situation, politically, as of
585 CY. Most of its leaders, including Viscount Wilfrick and the Lord
Mayor Tymak, are elderly. They rose to power in the embers of the Temple
of Elemental Evil and have held the Viscounty on a road of caution,
cautious to the point of stagnation many believe. Truth be told,
Viscount Wilfrick is only a fraction of his former self. Once a hero
of Emridy Meadows, he has become indecisive and feebleminded in his
age.
There is a dark shadow that looms over all the Viscounty. Over the
years the people of Verbobonc have been at the forefront of a
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| continual war against evil. The Temple
of Elemental Evil - now presumed abandoned after the Viscount's forces
and other strong and good hearted people rallied to destroy that fell
place at the Battle of Emridy Meadows - is a constant reminder to the
folk hereabouts that they must continually guard against the outsider.
It is not that they are paranoid - but they are cautious, a trait inherent
in most of their leaders. They are a fearful lot, given over to industry
and true social and economical advancement. |
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| Local merchants
of Verbobonc |
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| Plentiful
game roam outside the city |
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| Beleg Dorath,
the blacksmith |
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A shepherd of the countryside
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| The Bridgewalk
Tavern and Inn |
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| [top] [back]
[home] [map of Hommlet] [map of
surrounding area] |
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| Entering
Hommlet from the south |
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Once this area was simply
a wilderness. Growing out of a small collection of farmhouses and a
roadside shelter that had sprung since the end of the Hateful Wars,
Hommlet expanded quickly. Prosperity came naturally to the fertile
land, as herders, farmers, hunters, trappers, and woodcutters made the
growing hamlet their home. The town was built at the crossroads
between Verbobonc, Celene, the Kron gnomish communties, and the Gnarley
Forest, so visitors were frequent. Eventually, some of these visitors
brought trouble. |
| Bridgands and other evil humanoids have
been a bane to Hommlet for years. Eventually, thieves, cutthroats,
orc and even more sinister forces created a settlement of the own to
the east--Nulb. That hamlet was frequented not only by the most evil
of people, but also by monsters and beasts as well. A chapel dedicated
to vice and damnation grew nearby, with increasinlgy vile creatures
coming to workship foul deities there. In time, this chapel became
the Temple of Elemental Evil, filled with dark preiests and their wicked
servants. |
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| The Inn
of the Welcome Wench |
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