Cities of the Theocracy of the Pale

The cities of the Theocracy of the Pale currently number ten in total. The cities are Wintershiven, Ogburg, Rakervale, Hawkburgh, Holdworthy, Eltison, Stradsett, Hatherleigh, and Landrigard. Atherstone is counted as a city of the Theocracy due to the massive buildup of troops in and around the town. The troops alone have swollen this former town of Tenh to city sizes, even though the actual population is rather low. The cities share several common elements. The first of these is the high church of the prelacy of which they are the capitols dominating the center of the city. The next common feature is they are all surrounded by a city wall of varying sizes. Another common feature is the market square or squares of each city, which vary in size depending on how much trade is actually done within the city. Each city, except Atherstone, is also home to one of the Prelatal Army's Dawn Commands. Every city also has a contingent of Church Militant and Pale Patrol associated with it. Most of the cities also house a guild hall of the Arcanist Guild.

Atherstone Back to Top Atherstone is the capital of Pale-occupied Tenh. The city is located in what was the eastern region of the former Duchy of Tenh, approximately 30 miles west of the Yol River and Wintershiven. Atherstone has a population of approximately 5400 people of which most are human. Atherstone is little more than a town. It was the first location of safety the Tenha could get to as they fled from the forces of Iuz and most recently the Ether Threat. It has remained a place of security by the Theocracy of the Pale since they first moved into the former Duchy of Tenh. Most of the residents of Atherstone are Tenha refugees who never got further than Atherstone. It is rumored there are also families of Faithful Flan, uselessly waiting for the day their husbands and sons will retake the Tenh for them under the Theocracy of the Pale. Atherstone and the rest of occupied Tenh are ruled by the Provisional Governor of Occupied Tenh, Knight Captain Louis Phillip Gastón II. His post is a military appointment and will remain so until the Prelatal Army has secured the Theocracy of the Pale's position in Tenh. An Archbishop has recently been assigned to Atherstone by the Church of the One True Path to guide Louis Phillip in religious decisions and to oversee the spiritual well being of Atherstone's residents. Many believe this is a precursor to the Theocracy of the Pale making Atherstone into the Pale's tenth archdiocese. At the core of Atherstone is the original town, which is laid out in a circular pattern originating with what was once the small trading village between the Pale and the Tenh territories. Atherstone is a place under occupation at the moment and there are several construction projects underway in and around the town. There is a temple of Pholtus under construction near the center of town in the old market square to replace the wooden structure that houses the current temple. On the western outskirts of the refugee town built up around the original town, the Prelatal Army is building a keep to house their forces and from which to proceed with the continued liberation of Tenh from the forces of Iuz. Many other buildings are under construction, both for private citizens and merchants as well as for the Theocracy. Structures in Atherstone are built using stone from the Griff Mountains and what little good wood can be harvested from the Phostwood. There is no defensive wall around Atherstone, but several defensive ramparts have been built around the town and its encampments and shanty town. There is a large construction project going on around the town and its outlying encampments, which may be the beginnings of a wall. The Arcanist Guild has recently completed construction of a guild house in the town of Atherstone. This guild house will house members of the Arcanist Guild visiting Atherstone as well as the large force of arcanists currently in Atherstone acting as Magic Corpsmen with the Prelatal Army. The most striking feature of Atherstone is the number of tents and makeshift buildings currently surrounding the original town. As previously stated, Atherstone is largely an occupied town with large amounts of construction taking place to accommodate the forces of the Prelatal Army and the followers who have come with these troops. Most of these people are currently in large encampments on the outside of the town proper or in make shift living arrangements. Atherstone has several farms located around it, which used to act as its primary source of food. The farms have not done well with the advent of the Ether Threat in the former Duchy of Tenh, so most food for Atherstone is being imported into Atherstone from farmland closer to the Yol River or from even farther away as necessary. Many farmers have begun to convert their farms into pastures for hardy breeds of goat and sheep, which they hope will allow them to continue their trade, although the conversion from agriculture to animal husbandry is taking time. The Atherstone garrison of the Prelatal Army, housed in a large military encampment on the western side of the town, is the largest garrison of troops gathered in one place throughout the Theocracy of the Pale. The troops here, numbering approximately 4000 including Prelatal Army Regulars as well as Faithful Flan, are generally considered the most experienced troops in the Prelatal Army. They have faced the forces of Iuz and Stonehold as well as the Ether Threat. They have been blooded in battle time and time again and have continued to hold Atherstone against all those who seek to dislodge the Pale from this region. Rumors say the massive buildup of troops in Atherstone is a precursor to the Theocracy of the Pale pushing westward again, into lands the Theocracy of the Pale held before the Ether Threat drove them back to Atherstone. Another encampment right next to that of the Prelatal Army houses a large contingent of Pholtan Knights Valorous. The Knights are here to support the Theocracy of the Pale's occupation of Tenh. These are battle-hardened warriors like the army troops here who have fought in many battles. They continued to make forays into the rest of formerly occupied Tenh to try and dislodge the Ether Threat throughout the last two years, changing their tactics from that of heavy cavalry to light cavalry over the years. They have perfected many desert tactics over the last two years and now are assisting in the retraining of the Prelatal Army stationed at Tenh for fighting in the barren wastelands of the former Duchy of Tenh. Known Persons of Atherstone: Knight Captain Louis Phillip Gastón II is the Military Governor of Pale Occupied Tenh. His official designation is Provisional Governor and Governor Gastón is also a Knight Captain of the Order of the Sun.

Eltison Back to Top Eltison is the capital of the Prelacy of Eltison. The city is located in the east central region of the Theocracy of the Pale, at the crossroads between Landrigard, Stradsett, and Ogburg. Despite its great size, Eltison still feels more like an overgrown provincial town. One of the newest cities of the Pale, it grew from an earlier farming town and reached city status only about a century ago. As of CY 594, Eltison has a population of approximately 18,400 people. Most of the residents are human, with some half-elf, halfling, and a few dwarves. The residents of Eltison are very conservative in their outlook, derived from their own opinions and reinforced by the views of Prelate Zacktinerim. She rules her Prelacy with the highest regard for the worship of Pholtus as the one true god of Oerth. Although the city incorporates older and less ordered districts at the periphery, the center is organized on a grid, originating at the Temple Square. Eltison's fine Temple of the Blinding Light is the highest church of the prelacy. The temple actually consists of a main church building and three other structures. Directly behind the church, to the east, is the Eltison headquarters of the Church Militant. North of the Church Militant Headquarters are the apartments of the lesser attendants and priests, while the apartments to the south house the prelate and higher-ranking attendants and priests of the temple. The city is constructed primarily of stone from the Rakers to the north and east, but a few buildings do use wood as their primary material. The city is surrounded by a 30-foot-tall stone wall. The headquarters of the Pale's prison system are also found in Eltison, since Zacktinerim serves as its chief administrator. The administrative offices of the prison system are located in a small keep within the walls of the city, near the temple. Also inside the walls is an Arcanist Guildhall. A small contingent of guild brothers stays at the Prelatal Army Garrison at all times, to serve as Magic Corpsmen. The most striking feature of Eltison is the large array of cattle-yards adjacent to the city, where the Pale Riders bring their cattle to market most often. The Pale Riders maintain a large guild house here, to provide lodging for members between cattle drives and to welcome prospective members. The city has large numbers of farms located around it as can be imagined for one of the cities of the Pale located on the huge open plain of central Pale. The farms are dedicated to hardy wheat grasses and other vegetables during the Pale's short growing season, but most of the farmers always plant back up crops of potatoes and onions which almost always grow in the Pale growing season. There are also large numbers of cattle ranches around Eltison hinted at by the large cattle yards adjacent to the city proper. Eltison is home of the Prelatal Army's Ninth Dawn Command. They maintain a large keep outside the city as well as a small outpost inside the city proper. This keep also houses the Pale Patrol units assigned to Eltison. The Pale Patrol covers the internal borders of the Pale around Eltison. These troops number around 500, as they maintain one of the largest patrol areas between Eltison and Holdworthy. The Pholtan Knights Valorous also maintains a presence in Eltison and share the Prelatal Army keep as well. The Church Militant maintains a large contingent in Eltison as well. Their complex is located adjacent to the Temple of the Blinding Light, as mentioned above. Known Persons of Eltison: Prelate Zacktinerim is one of the few female prelates, Zacktinerim is the chief administrator of the prison system of the Theocracy of the Pale. The prison system includes New Dawn Camps as well as typical prison camps. Zacktinerim is a member of the conservative faction of the Church of the One True Path and runs her city and Prelacy as such.

Hatherleigh Back to Top Hatherleigh is the capital of the Prelacy of the Phostwood. The city is located in the south of the western region of the Theocracy of the Pale, about twenty-five miles from the southeastern edge of the Phostwood. Hatherleigh has a population of approximately 29,400 people. Of these, most are human, with some half-elves, and a few elves. Despite its thousands of residents, Hatherleigh has maintained a rustic feel to it. This may be due to the influence of the Phostaldaron and the city's proximity to the Phostwood. The residents of Hatherleigh are very progressive in their outlook towards the worship of Pholtus but are still devout Pholtans. Prelate Filias Farsonol, himself a conservative, rules the Prelacy of the Phostwood from the city of Hatherleigh. The city of Hatherleigh is constructed primarily of wood and is laid out in a combination of grid and circular patterns. The city has some elven influence apparent in its architecture but overall it is a human city. The city streets seem to emanate from four circles squared in opposition to each other; this organization creates a strange jumble of streets seemingly going in random directions, but when viewed on a map shows a strong sense of order. The city is surrounded by a small stone wall, which is only around twenty feet tall. Hatherleigh's temple, at the center of the city, is the only completely wooden temple to Pholtus in all of the Theocracy. The Temple of Sunrise is a beautiful structure constructed with a combination of oak and darkwood; one would almost think it was an elven temple if not for the mural of Pholtus carved with care into the front of the structure. The temple is large enough to house all the priests and attendants of the city. The Prelate lives in a small home on the temple grounds. Directly across the street from the temple to the east is a keep, which serves as the home of the Pholtan Knights Valorous, Order of Celene. Also inside the walls is an Arcanist Guildhall. The Guildhall in Hatherleigh boasts the largest numbers of elves and half-elves in all of the Theocracy. It is also said the researchers of this hall have dedicated themselves to the study of the Phostwood and the strange phenomena which occur within its borders. The most striking feature of Hatherleigh is its large elven quarter. The elves and half-elves dwelling in Hatherleigh have constructed an elven city within the boundaries of the city for their homes. The quarter is a beautiful garden of trees to most of the residents and visitors to Hatherleigh, but in the boughs of the trees above is a small community of elves who call Hatherleigh home and tend to the numerous gardens scattered about the city. There are numerous farms around Hatherleigh, but most of the food for this city is provided by hunting the deer who roam the lands near the Phostwood. The Trailblazers once called this city home before they were incorporated into the Prelatal Army as their Scout Corps and their presence is still felt in the hunting industry of the city. The Scout Corps still maintains what they consider their headquarters here in Hatherleigh in the southeast quarter of the city. The city also boasts a large number of pig farms, where the pigs have been bred from the large boars found inside the Phostwood and the Nutherwood. The agricultural crops are mostly corn in this region of the Pale. Hatherleigh is home of the Prelatal Army's Sixth Dawn Command. They maintain a complex of buildings set up similar to an encampment but with permanent structures outside the city. The Pale Patrol has a similar complex attached to the Prelatal Army's complex. The Church Militant maintains a very small contingent in Hatherleigh. The Church of the One True Path believes it is better not to inflame relationships with the Phostaldaron by maintaining too large a force of the Church Militant so close to the Phostwood. Known Persons of Hatherleigh:Prelate Filias Farsonol is the only full-blood Flan prelate. He has been instrumental in guiding the Flan to come to the worship of Pholtus. He is a constant supporter of the Theocracy's occupation of the former Duchy of Tenh and some say once the Theocracy secures that region, he will be made Prelate of Tenh. He rules the Prelacy of the Phostwood with a conservative view, but seems to be determined to bring heathens to the worship of Pholtus. Colonel Kiana Gunnhild is one of only two half-elves who has risen this far in the ranks of the Pale's military forces (see Stradsett below for the other). She is the commander of the Prelatal Army's Sixth Dawn Command. She can most often be found in the Prelatal Army Encampment outside the city or the home she maintains in the elven quarter of the city.

Hawkburgh Back to Top Hawkburgh is the capital of the Prelacy of Hawkburgh. The city is located in the southeastern region of the Theocracy of the Pale, about 75 miles north of the Nyrond border. Hawkburgh has a population of approximately 14,800 people. Of these, most are human, with some half-elves, elves, and halflings. Hawkburgh is the primary entry point for persons traveling between Nyrond and the Theocracy of the Pale. As such, the city does a great deal of business in trading. Many merchant houses call Hawkburgh home. The residents of Eltison are stoic in their outlook as they know should Nyrond ever invade the Theocracy of the Pale again, they are the first city in line to have to throw off the invaders. The Prelate of Hawkburgh, Elias Etrason, shares his people's stoic point of view. Hawkburgh was obviously built with some kind of plan in mind, even though it is laid out in a circular pattern. The primary construction material for Hawkburgh is hardwood and though the buildings were built by hand, some of the more impressive ones appear to have been grown rather than built. The streets are organized in an arcing pattern similar to game trails through a forest and they all lead toward the center of the city, where the beautiful spires of the region's primary temple to Pholtus rise above the rooftops. Hawkburgh's Temple of Strength is the highest church of the Prelacy. The temple has huge spiraling steeples, hinting at the elven architects and builders who had a large hand in the construction of Hawkburgh. The temple consists of a main church building and two other structures. The main church is large enough that its upper levels are actually used as quarters by the lesser priests and attendants of the church as well as the quarters of Prelate Etrason. The higher-ranking attendants and priests occupy dormitory style structures, which are laid out to the north and south of the main church building; these structures are not considered part of the temple complex. The main church faces east and directly behind it is the keep of the Pholtan Knights Valorous, Order of the New Moon. The third building of the temple complex, located on the northern side, is the headquarters of the Church Militant. Also inside the walls is an Arcanist Guildhall. The Guildhall here at Hawkburgh is proactive in trying to aid arcanists traveling into the Theocracy to follow the laws of the Pale. The most striking feature of Hawkburgh is its three large market areas. With so many merchant houses from Nyrond and from the Theocracy of the Pale trading in the city, the three market areas have grown to encompass a third of the city proper. The South Market deals primarily in Nyrondese goods brought up from the south. The North Market deals primarily in Palish goods brought south from the rest of the Theocracy. The West Market has a large influence of elven merchants who come here to trade their goods with Nyrondese merchants. There are farmers' markets in all three market areas. Another major feature of Hawkburgh is its interior defence network. Hawkburgh has interior gates that can be used to seal off sections of the city as necessary during times of war. The outer walls of the city are forty feet tall and the interior gates are thirty feet tall, with arrow slits in them. The city walls are one of the few solid stone constructions of the city. The interior gates are all constructed from 2-foot-thick steel plates. Buildings on the interior side of gates on main streets normally have crenellations added to them by the Prelatal Army Corps of Engineers for use in defending the city during times of war. The last interior gates network is actually a 20-foot-tall wall which surrounds the Temple of Strength and its associated building complex one hundred feet from the outer edge of the temple complex. Hawkburgh is one of the more fertile farming regions of the Theocracy of the Pale. As the most southern city, it has the longest growing season and is thankfully removed from most of the strong winds sweeping out of the mountains in the northern and central regions of the Theocracy. The farmers can grow many of the same crops grown in northern Nyrond, even if not in the same quantities. The animal husbandry seen across most of the central region of the Theocracy is almost non-existent in the area surrounding Hawkburgh. Hawkburgh is home to the Prelatal Army's Fourth Dawn Command. The troops here are maintained in a large keep outside the eastern gates of the city. They constantly perform military training exercises outside the city and can often be seen as one approaches the city. Many of them can also be seen during the day and night training for urban combat inside the city itself. The Pale Patrol maintains a keep of their own outside the western gates of the city. Known Persons of Hawkburgh: Prelate Elias Etrason rules the Prelacy of Hawkburgh in the name of Pholtus. He is rumored to be fair and just, but with no patience for heretics and the worship of false gods in his city.

Holdworthy Back to Top Holdworthy is the capital of the Prelacy of Holdworthy. The city is located in the central region of the Theocracy of the Pale; the city is actually built at the geographical center of the Theocracy of the Pale or at least as close as possible to such. Holdworthy has a population of approximately 20,000 people. Of these, most are human, with a few half-elves, halflings, and dwarves intermixed. The human residents of Holdworthy are all devout Pholtans without exception, a fact reinforced two years ago when they actually burned heretics in this city. Even though not all of the citizenry agreed with the burning, they all agreed something had to be done with the heretics. The prelacy is ruled by Prelate Rakim Thundershard from this city. Holdworthy is one of the most majestic cities in all of the Theocracy, second only to the majesty of Wintershiven itself. Many of the buildings are constructed with granite and have marble in use frequently as ornamentation. The whole city is built on a series of rolling hills at the crossroads of the Theocracy and its city walls are only twenty feet tall. All of the original buildings of Holdworthy show signs of definite dwarven architecture in their construction. The chief temple of the prelacy is located here right off the Grand Pavilion (see below) and is called St. Ceril's Cathedral. The cathedral is built in granite and marble and has a gothic appearance for such a magnificent example of dwarven architecture. Two other churches share a somewhat lesser dominance with St. Ceril's: the Silver Cathedral and the Cathedral of the Glorious Light. St. Ceril's is the Prelate's church and is normally attended by more stoic worshippers of Pholtus. Those who prefer a more progressive service normally attend services at the Cathedral of Glorious Light. This cathedral is well known across the Pale for its spirited services and marvelous choir leading the congregation in beautiful Pholtan hymns. Those who prefer more conservative services attend the Silver Cathedral. The dominating feature of town is the Statue of Resolution. Created of massive granite carvings by expert dwarven stonemasons from the Rakers, it was completed nearly twenty years ago. The statue is a 100-foot-tall likeness of Pholtus looking over the city with arms proudly folded across his chest. A stone dais raises the statue another ten feet, with Pholtan scripture etched into it for reading and praying. Surrounding the dais is an open circular courtyard made from a special white brick that spirals outward around the statue. A beautiful area of well-maintained grasses, shrubs, and trees makes up Resolution Park. It is through the park that a single path of white brick leads up to the statue. The path is symbolic of the path of spirituality known as the One True Way. Walking along this path, one cannot help but feel the holiness of the area and the blessings of Pholtus. The white stones are perfectly aligned, with a precision not found anywhere else outside the Pale. The custom is for all to walk the path barefoot, which not only allows the walker to feel the path directly, but also helps it stay bright white. The Grand Pavilion connects to Resolution Park, and is located in the very heart of Holdworthy. The pavilion is quite large, and while still considered a spiritual place, does not have the awe-inspiring quality of Resolution Park. Nevertheless, it is filled with numerous statues, fountains, and open areas with intricate brick tiles forming various patterns defining sections of the pavilion. To the east and west of the Grand Pavilion are the large buildings which serve the people and the government. There are museums with historical relics, religious art, and even some non-religious art on display. Several small libraries are here along with a small monastery and a theatre. Other governmental and ecclesiastical buildings are located here as well, including the offices of the Prelate, the main City Watch, a Pholtan Knight's Valorous Hall, the Church Militant, and several guildhalls including a large Arcanist Guildhall. As one might expect, there are numerous places of worship. The city boasts over forty churches with nearly the entire populace being devoted to Pholtus. While most of these churches are well kept, none of them compare to the three previously mentioned Cathedrals located in Holdworthy. The market is located in the south of town and is an open area set aside for the selling of goods of all kinds. Two days each week are "high market" days, while three other days are "low market" days. On high market days, the markets are filled with vendors, who are all regulated by the town administrators. Most common goods are readily available on these days. Low market days have much less for sale, typically food and other very basic necessities. Surrounding the market are more permanent shops with artisans of various sorts. Not all shops are located near the market, but the best ones are. Taverns and inns of all types can be found in Holdworthy. Two taverns of note are the Pious Pilgrim (which has never really caught on here and is now up for sale) and Shelty's Bar (which is quite popular). Shelty's has a small stage on which bards frequently ply their trade. It's said the most renowned performers in the Pale today have graced Shelty's stage at least once. The city has large numbers of farms located around it, as can be imagined for one of the cities of the Pale located on the huge open plain of central Pale. The farms are dedicated to hardy wheat grasses and other vegetables during the Pale's short growing season, but most of the farmers always plant backup crops of potatoes and onions, which almost always yield well. There are also large numbers of cattle and horse ranches around Holdworthy and many regard the horses raised here to be the best steeds in the Theocracy. Holdworthy is home of the Prelatal Army's Third Dawn Command. They maintain a large keep outside the city as well as a small outpost inside the city. This keep also houses the primary training facility for all the military forces of the Theocracy. As such, the exact numbers in the keep at any time varies. The Pale Patrol maintains a keep next to that of the Prelatal Army. Both keeps are about a mile to the east of the city. The Church Militant has an uncommonly large contingent of troops in the city of Holdworthy. They maintain their own barracks and offices inside the city as previously stated. It is believed Holdworthy may be the actual headquarters of the Church Militant as Cardinal-Commander Reifus is often seen here. The presence of the Church Militant would also explain why Holdworthy is the only city in the Pale to have had a heretic burning in recent memory. Known Persons of Holdworthy: Prelate Rakim Thundershard rules his prelacy from Holdworthy with a progressive view towards the worship of Pholtus. He is as generous in his giving to the city as he is devout in his worship of Pholtus and many believe it is because of him the city is second only to Wintershiven in splendor. Bishop-General Halius Tarshal is a man of some controversy among the common people. He has many high ranking friends in the church and has also made a few enemies of those who would prefer kinder justice than he practices. Tarshal is not a kind man and would prefer he were given even more authority in destroying threats to the faith. He is elderly and has spent most of his days devoted to the Church Militant in Wintershiven. Upon his promotion to Bishop-General some five years ago, he was sent to Holdworthy to seek out blasphemers and heretics. It is rumored that Tarshal has a strained relationship with Prelate Thundershard. Priest-Captain Corinus Larensious is a skilled interrogator and runs the day-to-day operations of the Church Militant in Holdworthy with great efficiency. Although he now spends his time defending the local population from "threats from within" .

Landrigard Back to Top Landrigard is the capital of the Prelacy of Landrigard. The city is located in the northeastern region of the Theocracy of the Pale, near the Rakers and north of Eltison. Landrigard has a population of approximately 9,300 people. Of these, most are human, with some dwarves, halflings, and a very few other demi-humans. Landrigard is the smallest of the Pale's cities and the newest. It has only been acknowledged as a city in official documents within the last few months. The Prelacy of Landrigard is ruled by Prelate Anonsis, who has only recently returned to a Prelatal appointment after a tenure of penance as the Bishop of Wintershiven. The city is organized on a grid for the most part, although some of the more southwesterly portions of the city are more haphazard in their layout. The mining industry on which the city is built found it much easier to haul their loads of ore into the city if the streets were kept as straight as possible. The city is built of stone brought in from the nearby quarries in the Rakers. It is surrounded by a 30-foot-tall city wall constructed of granite. Landrigard's Mountain Dawn Cathedral is the highest church of the prelacy. The cathedral is built of marble primarily and accentuated with silver and gold. The cathedral houses the offices of the Church Militant in Landrigard as well as the lesser priests and attendants of the church. The Prelate lives in a home attached to the back of the Cathedral on its eastern side. Higher-ranking priests and attendants reside in dormitories along the sides of the cathedral to the north and south. The city has few agricultural farms located around it since it is built in a fairly rocky area. Most of the farms around Eltison raise sheep. The few actually raising crops primarily grow potatoes and onions for market. The primary trade products of Landrigard are granite, marble, and metal ores from the nearby Rakers. This is evident in the number of foundries and smithies throughout the city, especially along its northern and eastern sides. Landrigard is home of the Prelatal Army's Eighth Dawn Command. They maintain a mountain keep two miles east of the city. The Pale Patrol maintains its own complex of buildings inside the city. The contingent of the Church Militant in Landrigard maintains a barracks near the cathedral. Known Persons of Landrigard: Prelate Anonsis has only recently been appointed to the rank of Prelate of Landrigard. He is experienced in the position though, having previously served as the Prelate of Rakervale. Anonsis works very hard to fill the shoes of the former Prelate of Landrigard, now-Theocrat Theoman Baslett. Although he rules with a conservative view of the worship of Pholtus, many residents of Landrigard believe it to be more progressive than what they had become accustomed to. Major Audhild Mendelfirth is the commander of the Prelatal Army's Eighth Dawn Command. She is of obvious Oeridian descent with dark black hair and brown eyes. She has a gruff demeanor and many would swear her boast of having dwarven blood in her veins is true. She is a fair commander (or so her troops say), but she pushes all of her men to their limits and ensures they are prepared to go into the Rakers above or below ground to defend the Theocracy.

Ogburg Back to Top Ogburg is the capital of the Prelacy of Dawn. The city is located in the eastern region of the Theocracy of the Pale and is its most eastern city. Ogburg has a population of approximately 20,800 people. Of these, most are human, with some half-elves, dwarves, and a few halflings. The human residents of Ogburg have a progressive view about their religion and are generally the most tolerant residents of the Theocracy. This prelacy was ruled by Prelate Maximillian Thace until his recent death. The prelacy is now ruled by Prelate Sental Tekis from this city and her views on the worship of Pholtus are slowly finding their way into Ogburg. Ogburg is the oldest city in the Theocracy and actually predates the existence of the Theocracy of the Pale. Many of the buildings are constructed with stone from the quarries in the nearby Rakers. The city is built on a large plateau in the foothills of the Rakers and its city walls are thirty feet tall. Its streets and its layout are chaotic in nature, weaving in and out with no streets leading directly from one side or the other or even to the center of the city from the edges. Ogburg shows minor signs of dwarven architecture here and there, but for the most part is of human design. The chief temple of the prelacy is located here and is known as the Dawn Cathedral. All of the priests and attendants of the Cathedral are housed in dormitories surrounding the temple square. The Prelate lives in a manor home directly across from the church which faces east to meet the dawn. Located directly across from the Dawn Cathedral in the center of the city is the Garden of Hope. This garden was erected in CY 592 as a memorial to heroes who fell in service to the Theocracy of the Pale. The statues erected at the time of the initial completion of the garden were to the heroes Tristan (a paladin of Pholtus), Sara-Lindaniss (an elf woman), and Raechel Fingteel (a nature priestess of Pholtus). Many who knew these fallen heroes say the plaques are slightly wrong, but at least they have been honored by the Theocracy. The market square of Ogburg is located near the North Gate of Ogburg and on the busiest of market days, many stalls are also erected right outside the gates. Located along the fringes of the southern edge of the market square is the Three Sheets Tavern, where many adventurers have been known to gather when in the city. Near the eastern gates of the city is the Joyous Neblin Tavern, recognizable by its sign depicting four gnomes doing somersaults and flips. The Tavern has a reputation for catering to non-humans. It is well known for its raucous parties and riotous atmosphere. The Arcanist Guild maintains one of its largest guildhalls in the city of Ogburg. Only the guildhall in Wintershiven is larger then the one here. The guildhall is located in the southeast quarter of the city. Many arcanists dwell in the city of Ogburg due to its excessive number of libraries. The famed wizardess Bahira lives in the city near the guildhall where she performs much of her own research as well as research for the Church from time to time. The other notable features of the city are its large numbers of monasteries and gardens. Every home and establishment in Ogburg has at least a small garden associated with it and the city administrators maintain many large gardens throughout the city. The Disciples of Discipline, the primary order of Pholtan monks, maintain a large monastery in the city for ease of recruitment, even though their primary monastery is located in a remote location in the Rakers. The city has few farms located around it, as the hard ground around Ogburg makes agriculture difficult. Many farmers in the area actually dedicate their land to the raising of mountain sheep or cattle. Ogburg is home of the Prelatal Army's Second Dawn Command. They maintain a large keep attached to the walls of the city in the north western quarter. The Pale Patrol maintains its own facilities inside the walls of the city across from the gates of the Prelatal Army's city gates. Nearby is a small keep belonging to the Pholtan Knights Valorous, Order of Luna. These Knights consider this city to be their home. The Church Militant maintains a large contingent of troops in the city of Ogburg. Their facilities are located inside the Dawn Cathedral. The most well known member of the Church Militant, Bishop-General Amaris Viligant, was once assigned to this contingent. It was rumored she would become the commander of this contingent until recent events. Known Persons of Ogburg: Prelate Sental Tekis is one of the two newest Prelates in the Pale: the newest if you count the fact Prelate Anonsis was a prelate once before. Some believe the city will become less tolerant under her guidance due to her allegiances to the conservative faction of the church. General Theodoren Sendarak is the commander of the Prelatal Army's Second Dawn Command. He is a stern man with an eye toward discipline. His command had become somewhat relaxed in the security the city had held for years. All this is changing with the recent threat to the Theocracy from the Rakers. The Church Militant's Bishop-General Amaris Viligent took the lead against this threat, but General Malvern is seeking to recover his pride by calling in the hero of the Siege of Castle Arndulant, March Major Rhess, to deal with the threat. Bahira is an old Baklunish woman with long gray hair. Originally from Bissel, she has lived in many of the cities of the Flanaess, and was attracted to the Pale because of Ogburg's extensive library. She pays respect to Pholtus and has learned to deal with the intolerant nature of the Pale, finding the order and structure of the culture to be conducive to her learning. Bahira is a member of the Arcanist Guild and is greatly respected for her arcane skills. Her skills as a wizard (as well as her fame as such) have been increasing rapidly. Bishop-General Amaris Viligant is a tall woman of Flan descent. Her ice-blue eyes strikingly contrast with her short-cut brown hair and olive complexion. Her height gives her a lithe appearance, but her physical strength is significant. She has a very commanding presence. Vilgant served the Pale for many years within the Prelatal Army, defending her homeland against troll incursions and the invasion by Iuz in CY 587. After Iuz was driven back, she transferred into the Church Militant. Rising quickly to the rank of Priest-Captain, Viligant was assigned to Ogburg, her more tolerant outlook having been noticed by many within the Church Militant. There, she excelled in many ways. Most notably, she has uncovered several facets of a powerful threat to the Pale. She has established many productive relationships with a motley assortment of stout-hearted individuals willing to risk their lives for the best interests of the Pale. In CY 593, she was promoted to the rank of Bishop-General and given a special assignment shrouded in secrecy. Unfortunately, some few months after her promotion, Viligant disappeared. The Church Militant has not provided a detailed explanation and has responded to inquiries from friends that she has died in the line of duty.

Rakervale Back to Top Rakervale is the capital of the Prelacy of the Rakers. The city is the northernmost city of the Theocracy of the Pale. It is located at the point where the northeastern point of the Troll Fens meets the Rakers. Rakervale has its origins as a mining town in the early days of the Theocracy. Dwarves helped a great deal in its construction and there is evidence of dwarven architecture all over the city. As of CY 594, Rakervale has a population of approximately 16,400 people: most are human, with some dwarves and halflings and a very few other demi-humans. The residents of Rakervale are very progressive in their outlook, derived from their own opinions and reinforced by the views of Prelate Fenn. The people are also incredibly stoic in nature, no doubt due to their precarious position at a juncture between the Troll Fens and the Rakers. Rakervale was organized on a grid originally to make it easier for mining carts to come and go from the city. As it grew, the city became less organized and more haphazard in nature. Due to its location in the Theocracy, the city has always had a wall around it, no matter its size. Because of this, the city ends up being divided by walls at intervals as you go from the outside edge of the city to the gridded center. The latest city wall rises to a height of 50 feet and is made of solid granite taken from the Rakers. Rakervale's Shining Snow Cathedral is the highest church of the prelacy. The temple is a single large structure made out of granite from the Rakers and decorated with silver and gold from dwarven mines. The Cathedral is decorated with a statue of Pholtus on each side. Each one represents a different aspect of Pholtus: on the western side, above the entrance to the cathedral, is Pholtus the merciful (representing the good of Pholtus); on the eastern side is Pholtus the Bright (representing the sun); on the northern side is Pholtus the Inflexible (representing law); and on the southern side is All-Knowing Pholtus (representing knowledge). Directly across from the Cathedral is the headquarters of the Church Militant for Rakervale. To the sides of the Cathedral are the dormitories of the priests and attendants of the church. The Prelate dwells in a suite of apartments on the upper floors of the Cathedral. Just down the street from the Shining Snow Cathedral is a tavern famous throughout the Theocracy, the Pious Pilgrim. This is the original Pious Pilgrim and not one of the many imitations now open in many cities of the Theocracy. Willigent, the proprietor, has given up his dream of running a chain of taverns across the Pale, finding it is far easier to run a single tavern and make it the best in all the Theocracy. He has since sold off the majority of the Pious Pilgrim taverns in other cities to other proprietors who now license the name from Willigent for a small fee. Willigent found it hard to compete against local taverns when he was trying to run his own tavern here in Rakervale. Another notable establishment within the city of Rakervale is the Goodly Cup Inn located near the Wintershiven gate of the city. This small inn has good prices but is less comfortable than the Pious Pilgrim. It does a brisk business with adventurers, though, when the Pious Pilgrim is full. Right outside the Wintershiven gate is a New Dawn Camp. This is a small camp and most of its prisoners are religious in nature, although a few are guilty of minor crimes against the Theocracy. This is not a high-security camp like many New Dawn Camps and most of its prisoners are only sentenced to a few months of labor and penance within the camp. The Arcanist Guild maintains a large guildhall in Rakervale. There are lots of brothers of the Arcanist Guild in the city as they enjoy its more relaxed atmosphere. The city has large numbers of farms located around it despite its very harsh farming terrain. The farms are dedicated to hardy crops during the Pale's short growing season, but most of the farmers always plant backup crops of potatoes and onions which almost always yield well. The inventive farmers have also terraced the mountains near the city and at least one of these terraced farms has been flooded for the purpose of growing more crops for the Theocracy. There are large numbers of sheep ranches around Rakervale as well. The mountainous terrain is well suited to these animals and the Pale Riders are often called upon to drive the sheep to Holdworthy or other cities for sale. Rakervale is home of the Prelatal Army's Fifth Dawn Command. They maintain a large keep outside the city as well as a small outpost inside the city proper. The Pholtan Knights Valorous also maintains a keep of their own outside the city, while the Pale Patrol maintains an outpost inside the city.The Pale Patrol in Rakervale is responsible for patrolling the lands around the city and into the Troll Fens and nearby Rakers. Their patrol routes take them as far south as Northern Lights (the Brilliant Castle just south of it).

The Village of St. Jostema Back to Top The village of St. Jostema is known for The Church of St. Jostema, where the remains of that Saint lay. The valorous St. Jostema died on this very spot and his remains lie in the church. Once per year, citizens from the Theocracy make a pilgrimmage to St. Jostema for the "Feast of St. Jostema" on the 16th of Patchwall. It is a practice that has not been wildly popular, but its promotion by the church feeds it a bit more each year. Last year was the largest pilgrimmage yet, and the little village was completely overwhelmed by visitors, many of whom had to camp on the bare ground near the village. It is said that those who make the pilgrimmage become "Blessed of Pholtus" for the coming year, and it is rumored that last year's visitors were especially prosporous. The dominant population of the village is Oeridian. There are a few people of Flan decent in the village. There were once elves passing through fairly often, but the sudden economic change has shifted that to dwarves. The village is growing rapidly right now that a vein of silver has been discovered nearby. A big mineral deposit found recently has caused the Church of Pholtus to take a special interest and increase its presence in St. Jostema. 10 years ago, this was part of the Theocracy only on paper. Now the discovery of the vein has caused the church to sit up and take notice. The previous hamlet of perhaps 100 people was agrarian in nature and self-sufficient, making use of the occasional traveling peddlar to carry out what trading they needed. Perhaps another 250 lived in the country. Rare indeed were trips to central Pale, and most of those by Father Mulcahie and a few country gardeners such as Johann von Lydsund, who went for seed and to sell some prize flowers. Tulips and roses, in fact, were among the village’s few exports. However, a few prospectors also poked around the hills to the east, which were part of a chain famed for minerals. Only two had any regular success: the Calhoun twins puttered away quarrying iron ore; and a gnome by the name of Rengil Gullyspunk frequently turned up flakes of a soft, light pinkish stone that was somewhat bendable but still harder than expected. The gnome also found a bed of turquoise under an old riverbed, where large spiders were a constant threat. But when Gullyspunk decided to trace the origin of the stream in hopes of circumventing the spiders, he found a vein of silver, along with traces of copper and nickel. When he shifted his next supply order from sieves and polishing oil to pickaxes and forge bricks a year ago, his discovery came out. Immediately, many townspeople headed into the hills, and several gardeners abandoned their fields to dig up rock with garden implements. A group of Flan with a half-elven mage named Hamildor have since then started up a jewel mine yielding good quality gems (though rare), but no one from the village came across a strike. After a few months, they began to drift back to St.Jostema, only to find that newcomers had begun to set up shop to provide the services they once delivered: blacksmithing, shoeing, tailoring, and of course, bartending. Thus, there is some bitterness in the new “town” as the original inhabitants now vie with newcomers for business (even though there is now enough business for all). With the increase in need for fuel, the woodcutters are going double time (for fuel and houses), and former woodcutter Petten Pickersgill (Ol' Petie) has begun hauling blocks of peat from a marsh to the north. The wood supply is somewhat limited right near the village (the woodsmen avoid cutting down the trees of the town's only "park", and the estate east of town), though several mountain valleys are good sources, if distant. A group of Oeridians from the southwest have just showed up and are scouring the plains for signs of quarry stone (backed by a loan from the theocracy, which would like to find good building stone nearby aside from plain mountain granite). Oddly, Gullyspunk sold out all of his rights about a year ago to three Oeridian traders and left town. The Oeridians, led by Seamus Hudson, presently have two miners, 10 laborers and six guards working the claim, and one of the partners is always there as well. Hudson sends all of the silver through St. Jostema for inspection. Trade is carried out overland, as St. Jostema is not directly on a river large enough for reliable boat traffic, although it does have a creek. The Guard Lieutenant (Lieutenant William Bund) of St. Jostema is trying to swell the ranks of his garrison to keep pace. With all of the romance of true adventure and battle belonging to Atherstone, it has been difficult to get recruits. There have been posted advertisementa in several of the Theocracy's cities, ever since the initial recruitment attempts of former Captain of the Guard, Captain Lee Cohen. Lieutenant Bund has left these posters in place. The Garrison of St. Jostema houses 80 or so soldiers of the church of Pholtus. They are currently under the command of Captain Jaral Bereld. He has been commanding the garrison soldiers for about 6 months now, but recently the church has taken an interest in expanding the command post. Therefore the garrison buildings are being expanded and additional troopers are coming under his command. There is some tension between the older, more established soldiers, and the new, usually younger, troops. There is new construction as the wooden town wall is being expanded and reinforced. With the rapid growth of the town, the wall has to be reassessed and redesigned constantly, and looks to be a never-ending project. Luckily the troops have some free time, as the village is peaceful and has not seen any real excitement since the attempted theft of the bones of St. Jostema during the last pilgrimmage. There are also several new buildings under construction, and rumors run rampant as to what they may be. The church of St. Jostema is small by Pholtan standards, but still an impressive building for a town this size, acting not only as a place of worship (church) but also a place of judgement (court), of punishment (jail) and healing (acute care facility).

Stradsett Back to Top Stradsett is the capital of the Prelacy of Gamboge. The city is located in the southeast region of the Theocracy of the Pale, along the northern edge of the Gamboge Forest. Stradsett is built in a circular form spreading out from its small logging-town roots (so to speak). As of CY 594, Stradsett has a population of approximately 13,000 people: most are human, with some half-elves and elves, and with a very few other demi-humans. The residents of Stradsett are known as especially tolerant. They enjoy talking and bargaining with others, a trait they may get from their Prelate, Andon Kavelle, who is also the Circle of Nine's chief negotiator as well as the head of the Pale Diplomatic Corps. The city is organized in varying degrees of grids and more disorganized communities. The closer to the forest one gets, the more disorganized the city is, while northern portions are laid out in grids for easy movement and organization. The Cathedral of Law is located almost directly at the separation point of these two districts of the city. This temple of Pholtus is the highest church in the prelacy and is constructed from a mixture of marble from the Rakers and wood from the Gamboge. The headquarters of the Pale Diplomatic Corps is located in Stradsett and with so many diplomats wandering around the city, the people can't help but be more inclined to talk out their problems than fight. The large complex which the Diplomatic Corps is housed in is located in the eastern section of the "Law Quarter," as the citizens have dubbed the more organized half of the city. The area is filled with many sub-embassies of countries that negotiate with the Theocracy (aside from their chief embassies in Wintershiven), in order to be closer to Andon Kavelle's most dedicated diplomats. The city also houses a small guildhall of the Arcanist Guild. This small hall is capable of supporting many brothers and sisters of the guild, but is a simple structure, rather than the grand hall of most other cities. The "Jumble Quarter," as the more disorganized half of the city has come to be known, is dominated by a large lumber industry. The city does a fair amount of logging in the Gamboge Forest, although many loggers have become more cautious in recent years with the rumors coming up from Nyrond about the Green of the Gamboge, a terrible dragon. The city has large numbers of farms located around it due to its proximity to the huge open plain of central Pale. The farms are mostly dedicated to hardy wheat grasses and other vegetables during the Pale's short growing season, but a few are dedicated to fruit-bearing trees. Stradsett is home of the Prelatal Army's Seventh Dawn Command. They maintain a walled complex of buildings inside the city. The Pale Patrol maintains its own walled complex outside the city walls. The Church Militant maintains a small contingent in Stradsett as well. Their complex is located in the western section of the "Law Quarter." Known Persons of Stradsett: Prelate Andon Kavelle is a man of culture and learning. He is the prime organizer of the Pale Diplomatic Corps, maintaining the Pale's presence throughout the eastern Flanaess, in order to keep the Pale safe from its enemies. Colonel Eldarion Amanodel is the commander of the Prelatal Army's Seventh Dawn Command. He is the only other half-elf (besides Kiana Gunnhild) to have reached this rank in the Prelatal Army. He guides his forces with a stern but fair hand and has been instrumental in ensuring the troops of the Seventh Dawn Command are trained in the proper way to fight in the Gamboge Forest.

Wintershiven Back to Top Wintershiven is the capital of the Theocracy of the Pale as well as of the Prelacy of Light. The city is located in the western region of the Theocracy of the Pale, barely ten miles east of the Yol River. Although Wintershiven has been a city in the Theocracy of the Pale since its earliest days, the current city is much newer. The original city was put to the torch by Nyrondese soldiers 250 years ago, and the new city was built on its current site. Wintershiven has a population of approximately 47,800 people: most are human, with some half-elves and halflings and a very few dwarves. The residents of Wintershiven are some of the most devout Pholtans in all of the Flanaess. They feel incredibly blessed due to the visit of a Solar of Pholtus to their great city, even though it was for a sad occasion. The people still see this event as a huge blessing upon the city and know former Theocrat Ogon Tillit and Prelate Maximillan Thace have gone on to sit at the side of Pholtus. The Prelacy is ruled from Wintershiven by Prelate Sarynn Reddick, while His Worshipful Mercy, Supreme Prelate, Theocrat Theoman Baslett rules the whole of the Theocracy from this magnificent city. Wintershiven is the most organized city in all of the Theocracy. When the city was rebuilt it was laid out with a highly detailed plan. The city is laid out in a grid pattern with an eye towards allowing for the rapid movement of people from any point in the city to any other point of the city. To achieve this goal, the initial layout started with the sun of Pholtus, a series of four streets which cut across the city north to south, east to west, northeast to southwest, and northwest to southeast. Circular roads connect all of these roads at the outer edge of the city along the inside of the walls of the city and at a point halfway from the outer edge to the inner square of the city. The inner square of the city is dominated by the Basilica, the highest church of Pholtus in the entire Theocracy. Basilica Square is a complex of interconnected buildings covering the equivalent of sixteen city blocks. The complex is dominated by the magnificent Cathedral of Pholtus, the centerpiece of the Basilica. The Cathedral is made of granite from the Rakers and decorated with hardwoods from the Phostwood and the Gamboge Forest as well as silver and gold from mines in the Griffs and the Rakers. A massive statue of Pholtus rises in front of the door of the Cathedral, greeting all visitors to the Basilica. The Cathedral opens up to a courtyard on the eastern side for gatherings of paramount importance to the Pale and to the Basilica Courtyard on the western side. The Theocrat's home is directly across the western courtyard, while two other buildings to the north and south sides of the Basilica Courtyard house all the priests of the Basilica. The rest of the complex is dedicated to the Church Militant, the Pholtan Knights Valorous, and the Prelatal Army. The Disciples of Discipline maintain a monastery directly across the eastern courtyard and the Pale Diplomatic Corps has a small hall to the immediate south of this building. The Arcanist Guild has its main guildhall directly to the north of this building, where the highest-ranking brothers and sisters of the Guild direct the operations of the guild. Many of the other major organizations of the Theocracy of the Pale have headquarters located around the Basilica Square. The street surrounding the Basilica Square is at the center of the four main streets of the city. Any organization not having at least a hall maintained near Basilica Square does not maintain influence within the Theocracy of the Pale for very long. Just a few blocks south of Basilica Square along the Dawn Road is the Library of Antigua, the most comprehensive and well-funded library in the Theocracy of the Pale and perhaps the entire Flanaess. As the ruling city of the Theocracy of the Pale, the city of Wintershiven is full of temples and churches dedicated to the worship of Pholtus. One notable temple is the Pilgrim's Chapel near the Dawn Gate. With its Pillared Halls, it is one of the more magnificent of the lesser temples of Pholtus in Wintershiven. Opposite from the Pilgrim's Chapel near the Dawn Gate and running along the walls of the city north from the Dawn Gate is the Waters of Belief Park. This magnificent park is dedicated to the devout faith of all Pholtans. It is maintained constantly and readily patrolled by city guards to ensure those meditating in the park are allowed peace to reflect on their belief in Pholtus. Near the Even Gate on the western side of the city opposite the Dawn Gate is the Citadel Tavern. This fine tavern caters to the Prelatal Army on a regular basis and soldiers and officers of the Prelatal Army and other military organizations of the Theocracy can be found here at any time of the day. Adventurers sometimes frequent the tavern, but they know better than to cause trouble in this tavern. Another popular tavern is the Barrel and Board located near the South Gate, this small tavern is popular amongst the farmers around the city. They enjoy lounging in this tavern on weekends after working their fields and sharing stories with adventurers and others who drop by the tavern. The most popular inn in the city for those visiting on official business is the Resting Sun Inn, located a block south of Basilica Square. This spacious inn caters to the more wealthy members of Pale society as well as visiting dignitaries who do not have embassies maintained within the city. Around the corner and four blocks south of the Citadel Tavern is the Pious Pen, a scrivener's shop of some renown. This shop regularly contracts with the Church to copy large manuscripts and other documents of lesser importance. Another notable feature of Wintershiven is its sewer system. The sewers of Wintershiven run beneath the entire city before emptying into an outfall, which takes the waste away from the city and into a holding "lake" for later disposal. The sewers are so extensive as to form a network of "roadways" beneath the city. The Pale Patrol and the city guard regularly patrol the gates to these sewers and all gates are locked at all times to keep any one from using them for unscrupulous purposes. Wintershiven has many farms in the lands around it. These farms raise a variety of crops. There are also many cattle ranches outside the city, most owned by the older families of the Theocracy. These landowners contract with the Pale Riders to obtain ranch hands to tend their ranches. Wintershiven is home of the Prelatal Army's First Dawn Command. They maintain two keeps outside the city as well as a smaller keep inside the city near the Basilica. Wintershiven is also the home of Prelatal Army Command. Prelatal Army Command is housed within the Basilica. The Pale Patrol maintains facilities within the city near the North Gate. The Pholtan Knights Valorous, Order of the Sun, maintain their own keep outside the city as well and considers Wintershiven their home. Wintershiven is also the home and headquarters of the Pholtan Knights Valorous as a whole. Known Persons of Wintershiven: Theocrat Theoman Baslett is the Supreme Prelate of the Theocracy of the Pale. He had a change of opinion about the conservative faction upon his elevation to this post and converted to the progressive faction of the Church of the One True Path. Whether this conversion will hold or not, only time and Pholtus will be able to tell. Prelate Sarynn Reddick is the Prelate of Wintershiven and the Prelacy of Light. She believes in the progressive faction of the Church and is making inroads to becoming the next leader of the Progressive Faction of the Church beneath the Theocrat for now. She believes in the supreme power of Pholtus but also believes in mercy for heretics and heathens. In her opinion, they should be brought to the light and not burned by the light. Celestial General Sloan Burgos is the commander of the Prelatal Army and the Marshall-Protector of Tenh. General Burgos ensures his forces are ever ready for battle and does everything in his power to ensure they remain one of the most highly trained forces of all the Flanaess. General Amelia Corenthal is the Commander of the First Dawn Command. She is subject to the control of the Celestial General at all times and commands the First Dawn Command in his stead so he can deal with the business of running the Prelatal Army and serving the needs of the Theocracy and the Church at all times. Many believe this puts her in line to take over as the next Celestial General, but such a succession has never occurred in the past. Even when the Celestial General steps down, the common promotion order is for the commander of the Second or Fourth Dawn Command to be promoted to Celestial General and the commander of the First Dawn Command to assume command of one of these two commands.