Hevre Town is the heart of the area with the lands outside the walls heavily farmed and populated. There are numerous small thorpes and hamlets outside of the town up to one days walk away after which the influence of the Vidame ends. There are frequent country markets and numerous small shrines to the gods Phyton and Kord. Though protected and supported by the town the farmers are otherwise left to their own devices, which they seem to find agreeable.
It is illegal to kill or harm ravens within Hevre; those who do will loose a hand if they are lucky or be cast bound in to the river, if they are not.
The Town of Hevre
Hevre (Small City): Alignment: TN/CN, Population: 9,180, Isolated (85% human, 15% other). Authority figures: Vidame Hanlyn (human male, noble) and Lady Agnes (human, female, magic user).
Hevre is a small city on the banks of the Rayne River on the northern shores of the Kylma continent. Though the size of a small city it is forbidden to refer to itself as anything but a town by its feudal overlord the Duke of Epave. Still Hevre is a thriving trade centre and is the most prosperous settlement on the Crimson Coast after Epave and Cramois. The town and surrounding lands are ruled by the Vidame whose family stretches back to the original founding under Blood Isler Lord Hevre of Halderland. The current ruler is Vidame Hanlyn who is guided by his mother Lady Agnes, a magic user of some repute.
Hevre consist of three distinct areas of Kelmar Isle, New Town and the Masure District.
Kelmar Isle was the original island settlement and is the heart of Hevre. All the buildings are of stone and well maintained in this affluent and prosperous area. The streets are clean and many houses brightly decorated. Vidame Hanlyn and Lady Agnes live on Kelmar with the great and good of the town. It is also heavily fortified and patrolled by the garrison who take a harsh hand to vagrants.
On the west bank is the New Town which was built before the Second Blood War and is surrounded by a strong defensive wall with a keep built at the southern end. Within the New Town live the bulk of the populace with many craftsmen and traders based here. On the north shore are the main docks and warehouses with the large ornate temple to Xerbo, the god of Sea, Sailing, Money and Business. The area is generally lively and safe with the streets patrolled by the garrison.
On the east bank is the Masure District and the poorest area of Hevre. During the summer it is a thriving and bustling area full of foreign merchants and Hugond but during the colder winter months many off the foreign traders move back across the sea only to return in spring. It has the larger Petty Wharves docks which most of the foreign ships use. It is also home to the less honest elements of society who are too poor to live in Kelmar or New Town and like prey on gullible foreigners. Two gate towers guard access across the Rayne River to Kelmar with the garrison turning back any they disapprove of.
In the last twenty years the Flame Tower was built just south of Kelmar as a private fortress for the family but has never been used as such. The tower is by far the tallest building and the flame at the pinnacle can clearly be seen out to sea and inland. It is beautifully adorned inside, with art from across all the Lands of Warlderia, and once per year Lady Agnes holds a grand ball with dignitaries attending from a far.
History
Hevre was founded in the early days of the exploration of northern Kylma by Hevre and his followers from Halderland in the Blood Isles. They occupied an island at the mouth of the Rayne River which they named Kelmar after the great sword of their god Kord. The settlement grew and eventually spread on to the banks of the river but these areas were sacked and raised during the First Blood War. The original settlement on Kelmar Isle survived due to its defensive location and that it could easily be supplied from the sea.
At the end of the First Blood War Lord Raoul of Krester defeated the Hugond on the western coast and forced them back inland. On the north coast this led to the withdrawal of the besiegers of Kelmar though they were never directly aided by Lord Raoul himself due to inter-Blood Isle rivalries. Lord Hevre was from the Island of Halderland which had long been a rival of Krester Isle in the Blood Isles.
O
ver the following years Kelmar grew and expanded again, though this time the central Kelmar Isle was heavily fortified as protection against both landward and seaward dangers. Just over two centuries ago a wave of refugees from the northern empire came to Kylma and settled the north coast of Kylma spreading from Kelmar right across to the east. They started to farm and build with their new city of Nylarg at the centre of their new province. The Lord of Kelmar sent warnings to them regarding the Hugond but the arrogant northern lords and knights dismissed them as nonsense. Kelmar itself strengthened its defences and built a strong wall around the New Town on the west bank of the Rayne River.
When the Second Blood War started the Hugond attacked the northern settlers who were defeated, routed and hunted down. The northern coast was a flame and refugees flooded west in to the Crimson Coast with a good number arriving at Kelmar. When the men of the Crimson Coast attacked the Hugond and sacked the holy site of Kruan, the warriors of Kelmar rode with them. The Hugond were defeated and driven to the east and Kelmar greatly expanded its lands but without the druid-shamans of the Hugond winter returned with a vengeance. The Rayne River froze and the harbour was locked in ice throughout the winter crippling the settlement and leading to the near starvation of the populace.
In desperation the Lord of Kelmar was forced to pay homage to the Duke of Epave and lost its independence though did receive supplies and aid in return; where the swords and spears of the Hugond had failed to bring Kelmar to heel, the winter succeeded. When peace was made with the Hugond much of the seized land was returned to them on the Duke’s orders. This angered the men of Kelmar but they could do little save rename their settlement Hevre in honour of their founder. As a sop the Duke bestowed the title of Vidame on the ruler of Hevre which is still held today.
Merchant & Traders
Nello Moretti is the merchant who is most open to dealing with adventurers and their ilk. Moretti is originally from the Successor States but moved here years ago for his own private reasons. He has a heavily constructed business premises near the Petty Wharves in the Masure District in which he has some specialist employees who offer to identify items, lift curses and generally cure heroes for a fair price. He will purchase magical items and treasure from adventurers at reasonable rates but rarely sells any himself. He offers healing potions and poison cures along with spell components but is believed to send the best items north over the sea for a higher sale price. (Map location 15)
Gyls Bakker is a skilled jeweller that works especially, though not only, in religious iconography and is sought after across the Crimson Coast. She has created several pieces of religious art and icons for the Shrine of Wee Jas and will create unique symbols and items of jewellery for customers. Gyls is a young Halvras woman whose small workshop is on Matilda Street in the New Town.
Daimh Mauldirk is the best armourer and weapons smith in Hevre. He is a Dwarf from across the sea that saw a budding market for his martial wares and settled in the town over a hundred years ago. Weapons and armour from the Mauldirk forges sell for 110% of the basic cost due to his excellent reputation while he is able to create masterwork items or even blend with magical ores. Daimh lives with his family next to his forge in a solid and well-presented house in the Old Town. His son and three apprentices, all Dwarven, work under him while his old Gnomish friend, Soren Dolkor astutely handles financial matters. (Map location 16)
Bretvart the Hexmeister (pictured right) is a purveyor of potions, spells and hexes from his establishment of Raoul Lane. He was once an adventurer, so the rumour goes, but was injured and retired to live in Hevre. He has been a resident for many years and plies his magical wares for those with the correct amount of coin. No one is sure where he is from as Bretvart is also a very private person who keeps affairs hidden from general gossip. He is rumoured to keep his ear to the ground but does not meddle in the matters of the Vidame or his mother’s. Most of all he never mixes business and pleasure. He will gladly cast curses or inflict disease on individuals for payment but never for fun or personal spite. He is also clear in that he will not cast magics against other arcane spell casters, otherwise all is fair game. (Map location 18)
Handak Fleetwind is a half-elven horse trader born and bred in Hevre due to passing liaison between her mother and a ‘dashing stranger’. She is an excellent rider and very well travelled on both the plains and on the coasts. Handak has a home in the Masure District where she lives with her elderly human mother. (Map location 17)