Leaving the City State by the Gate of the Gods, one enters a narrow belt of heavily settled and farmed land. To the north rises the upland moor of the Troll Fen, while to the south the northern tongue of the Mermist Swamp, nicknamed the ‘Emerald Death’ for its many dangers, edges the Estuary of the Roglaroon.
Proceeding West on the Twilight Road, the farmland opens out into an expanse of small hamlets and noble manors, Alryan commercial farms known as Latifundia, each worked by dozens or hundreds of farm slaves. These Latifundia provide much wealth to their Lords, most of whom reside in the City State, and a good deal of food for the City’s hungry populace.
Thirty miles west of the City State, a good day’s journey on the Twilight Road, lies the market town of Darkfield, a common stopping point for travellers.
Proceeding some six miles north-west from Darkfield along the Twilight Road, one reaches a dirt track running north. Taking this track for three miles, the high towers and walls of the Twilight Coven soon come in view atop a small hill.
The Conclave of Twilight Anvil lies some nine miles’ travel from of Darkfield, on high ground overlooking the Troll Fens to the east and to the west the Vineries of the south-eastern Howling Hills, the south-facing slopes heavy with grape vines that produce some excellent wines as well as much cheap swill. The Coven itself is surrounded by cultivated Latifundia land to the west and south and produces a nice wine on the western hills, mostly for internal consumption though some is exported via the Darkfield merchants. The rich slave-tilled fields also produce enough food for the Coven’s own tables, and in good years a small amount is exported, again via Darkfield.
Reaching the Gate House of the Coven set in a 20’ curtain wall, one is greeted by well-equipped mercenary guards in band & mail, wielding stout halberds. Should all prove satisfactory, one can expect then to be escorted to the Mistress and Vice-Master of the Coven...
Composition of the Twilight Coven
The Coven Mistress is Dorvilla (Wizard 6), a beautiful and gracious half-elven woman with grey-blue eyes and platinum blonde hair. She wears the grey robes of the Coven, cut from the finest silks.
Vice-Master Langeril ‘the Great’ (Illusionist 5), named perhaps for the enormous size of his red nose is her practical equal, and he heads the Coven’s instruction in Illusionist magic.
The inhabitants of the Coven comprise:
40 ‘Magicians’, namely:
2 Leaders: The Mistress Dorvilla (Wizardry) & Vice-Master Langeril ‘the Great’ (Illusionism)
9 Junior Staff, 2 Wiz-4, I Ill 3, 2 M-U 3, 2 Ill 2, 2 M-U 2
5 Graduate Students, 2 Ill 1, 3 M-U 1 (Frendrel, Trelle, Gondar)
24 ‘0th level’ Student Apprentices in the Arts of Wizardry (17) and Illusionism (7).
50 well-paid Mercenaries, Warriors of the 1st-3rd rank (hd 1-3), who guard the Conclave and oversee the farm slaves as they work.
70 Slave Farmers, mostly male, who work the fields and live in Spartan barracks.
40 Slave House Servants, mostly female, who acts as cooks, maids etc and keep the Conclave running smoothly.
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CANTRIP MAGIC: All graduates of the School learn the Mage Hand cantrip: telekinetically manipulate 2 lbs weight, within 20’ for 1 round. Eg: Turn key in lock, unbutton a blouse, lift a small object. Graduates may employ it 3/day, Students from 0-3 times/day.
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Mages in Frendrel's graduating class included:
1. Tansir, a young mage Frendrel was friends with, who graduated 2nd in class. He recently left the Coven and joined with new adventuring colleagues Miklos Makanos, a Paladin of Mitra, and Sheri, a girl Thief, to explore the mysterious '5 Level Dungeon' beneath the City State.
3. Gondar Maltok, a lean and hawk-faced, well-muscled, handsome young man of 21. Gondar graduated 1st in class by a good margin and is very ambitious, he seems set to follow the classic Wizardly route to power, and talks often of his plans of amassing wealth, minions, and a harem of nubile slave girls in his impenetrable Tower of Sorcery.
3. Trelle Vernehzar, an attractive young brunette girl who graduated 4th, just behind Frendrel. Trelle is quite friendly and flirtatious with Frandrel, although at 22 she's young enough to be his daughter. She's the inquistive sort, maybe a bit naive, and often talks of joining an adventurer party as Tansir did.Trelle Vernehzar
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