Burdock's Valley

The legendary lost city and dungeons of Arden Vul lie on a plateau overlooking the valley carved by the Swift River into the knees of the Emerald Mountains. The valley is about 90 miles wide and 80 miles long, and it features varried terrain: forest both ancient and new, cleared fields, swamp, mire, and rocky hills and ridges. In antiquity it marked the northern-most edge of Cavellan civilization; the important administrative and scholarly city of Arden Vul was the seat of an archonate and home to several legions. With the Cavellan retreat occasioned by the great War of the Sortians and Theosophs, Arden Vul was abandoned. Most of the Cavellan estate-owners in the valley fled as well, and the fields reverted to wood and mire.   For a variety of reasons, the Kuneiri that moved here never chose to settle the valley in great numbers. So, when the New Cetandari empire arrived, albeit in reduced numbers due to their war with the Cavellans, they found a mostly depopulated, dangerous fronteir region. The exarch in Narsileon assigned lordship of the valley to the Basileon family, and a new town (Newmarket) was chartered. More recently, a second new town, Gosterwick, has emerged under the aegis of Lady Alexia Basileon. The towns and villages of Burdock's Valley are thus islands of civilization in a still dangerous fronteir region. To the south lies Narsileon, some two weeks' walk along the imperial road. To the north are the Emerald Mountians, which are home to giants, monsters, and the occasional Fahryte steading.   The valley itself takes its name from the reigning thegn who ruled the valley in antiquity, before the Cavellans arrives to 'civilize' it. The scattered remnants of these people still know it as the Vale of Burgheat, although this has been rendered into Cavellan then into Cetandary as Burdoc-Vale or Burdock's Valley.

Towns

Newmarket: The largest community in Burdock's Valley, Newmarket lies on the Swift River and is home to over 4,000 people. It is a free town, exempt from the lordship of Lord Burdock and governed by a mayor and council of aldermen. Although at least three days walk from Arden Vul, it is a good site for adventurers to heal, train, resupply, and trade. The major Factors and temples all have a presence in Newmarket. The local villages sell their surplus in Newmarket, and merchants from Newmarket trade downriver to Narsileon.   Gosterwick: A small town of 2,211 persons, lying close to the cliff of Arden Vul and under the shadow of the Azure Keep. Lady Alexia Basileon has sponsored this new town in an effort to oppose her half-brother, Lord Burdock. Although small, it is consciously organized to appeal to adventurers, who can pursue training, buy supplies, and dispose of their loot in the town. Due to its size, however, it cannot fully compete with Newmarket for such services.

Villages

Castleton: A small village of 600 persons lying at the foot of Castle Burdock. The few services not devoted to the needs of the local farmers are bureaucratic in nature, serving Lord Burdock’s growing need for soldiers, lawyers, and money. Morton the Steward, Lord Burdock’s loathed tax-collector, has his manor in the village.   Bilsham: A farming village east of Newmarket lying on the Bilstream. The villagers specialize in wheat and buckwheat, selling most of their surplus in Newmarket through the Farm Cooperative. Population: 790.   Ulfham: A farming village east of Newmarket, known for its vineyards. Also participates in the Newmarket Farm Cooperative. Population 520.   Thorham: A farming village lying on the old Imperial Road well to the north of Newmarket and close by the Paw and the Fenn. The villagers specialize in wheat, barley, and hops. A ruined moat-house lies nearby at the edge of the Fenn. Population 475.   Beretun: A farming village north of Newmarket along the old Imperial Road, close by the New Forest. The villagers specialize in legumes, but also grow barley and hops. Population 650.   Deepton: A mining village located in the foothills west of the New Forest. Half the villagers work the local iron mine under the supervision of some of Lord Burdock’s men; the mine is productive, even if Lord Burdock has been hoping (vainly) to strike gold or silver (which he knows was found here in antiquity). The other half of the villagers grow wheat, legumes, and barley. Population 900.

Fortifications

Castle Burdock: n imposing fortress built on a ridge at the southwest corner of the valley, overlooking Castleton. The castle is the seat of Lord Burdock, a title currently held by Iskander Basileon, who is a favorite of the exarch in Narsileon. His title is contested by his half-sister, Alexia. Lord Burdock employs a large force of men-at-arms as well as a force of better-trained ex-legionaries.   The Azure Keep: Until recently a ruined fortress lying close to the Swift River at the foot of the cliff of Arden Vul, it has been repaired by a sept of knights from the Order of the Azure Shield. This sept is unusual for being politically active, as it is acting in concert with Lady Alexia Basileon, who contests lordship over Burdock’s Valley with her half-brother, Iskander. The Keep’s roof is tiled with sky-blue tiles and it sits atop a low ridge; the new and growing town of Gosterwick lies below it. See separate entry for the Azure Keep and Gosterwick.

Watercourses

The Swift River: This river lives up to its name, as it runs swiftly and strongly from the waterfall at the cliff of Arden Vul through the center of Burdock’s Valley. The old Imperial Road runs alongside it through much of the valley. South of Newmarket the river is navigable to trading barges.   Bilstream: This minor watercourse waters the rich agricultural lands east of Newmarket. The Muddy River: Pouring down from the mountains to the west of Burdock’s Valley, this river gets lost in the Valtos Marshes before joining the Swift River at the mouth of the valley.   Gold River: This river gets its name from the flakes and small nuggets of gold sometimes found along its course within the New River. All assume the ore to have been swept down from the mountains near Deepton, where gold was mined in antiquity.   The Long Run: This vigorous stream runs east from the mountains to join the Swift River near the Azure Keep.

Woods

Old Forest: This old growth forest was never settled in anti-quity, and is thus still home to giant hornbeams, beaches, elms, and other deciduous specimens. The western borders are home to bold human settlements of charcoal-burners and woodcutters. These groups are frequent targets of attacks by humanoid tribes living further in the forest. A circle of druids is said to make its home within the forest; it is not clear whether the druids support the humans or the humanoids.   New Forest: Although more than 800 years old and substan-tial in its own right, this forest land is considered ‘new’ because in antiquity it was mostly farmland. The retraction of the Archontean Empire 1,200 years ago led to prolonged and successful reforest-ation. Spiders, humanoids, and even worse monsters are said to dwell there.

Named Hills, Ridges, Rock Projections

The Paw: A tall hill shaped like a giant cat’s-paw, lying at the north end of the New Forest and looking over the old Imperial Road. It is said that the ancient Thorcinga delved vertical tombs into the rock of the Paw.   The Fingers: An odd rock formation of four slender ridges of stone rising 200’ into the air, and thus appearing as fingers of a hand. Most give the Fingers a wide berth, as they are a notorious nesting spot for gargoyles. Careful observers have reported several openings in the rock high up the side of the Fingers; a few of these appear to be worked, not natural.   Rocky Ledges: A long system of forested hills and ridges lying at the center of the New Forest. The terrain is jagged and difficult to negotiate, which has made it a perfect home for the Lone Pine tribe of goblins.   The Spire: A steep hill located at the southern mouth of the valley, taking its name from the unusual spire of rock that extends another 75’ above the summit of the hill.   Bald Hill: An imposing, steep hill north of Newmarket. The hill rises 200’ above the plain. Strangely, the normal coniferous forest ends 50’ from the summit (hence the name).   Table Rock: A large, gently sloping formation at the southern end of the valley. Its summit is both long (6 miles) and remarkably flat. The ruins of several watchtowers stud the mesa.

Marshes, Swamps

The Fenn: A low-lying area between the Fingers and Thorham, through which the Swift River moves more slowly than usual. The Fenn is home to several ruins, including a decrepit Moat House. Old-timers claim that in their ‘great-great-grandmother’s day’ the area was prime farmland and that some vast catastrophe turned it into swamp.   Valtos Marshes: Extensive marshland lying along the Muddy River just south of Castleton. Although serving as an effective barrier to attacks on Castle Burdock from the south, the marshes have also ensured the relatively stagnant economic status of the region around Castleton.

Lakes

Hidden Lake: Deep within the Old Forest is a broad lake fed by mountain streams. An ancient stone tower rises from an island in the center of the lake. Humanoid activity in the forest has prevented exploration of the lake.

Adventure Sites

Arden Vul: Located atop a 1,500’ cliff at the north end of the valley, Arden Vul comprises both the ruins of an Archontean city and substantial dungeon levels below.   Bandit Camp: The Thorcin Recovery League has established a permanent encampment here, at the southern edge of the New Forest. The TRL bandits mostly attack imperial trading missions and have begun picking off the patrols of Lord Burdock’s men.   The Ibis’s Roost: An ancient shrine to Thoth is concealed in a fold in the hill known as the Spire. The existence of the shrine is not well known; still, those able to circumvent its powerful guardians may find that it contains useful information about Arden Vul (including maps).   The Thicket: A magically-enhanced thicket of thorn bushes surrounds a hill known as Broken Knob. The Broken Knob hosts the ruins of a watch-tower. The thorn bushes cover an area of 3-5 acres, and are remarkably hardy. The Thicket is home to a tribe of kobolds, who use the Thicket to defend themselves from more dangerous predators. Only the kobolds know that an ancient Thorcin burial mound lies within the Thicket.   Lost Shrine: Concealed on the east side of Bald Hill is a forgotten shrine to the heroes Arden and Vul. The shrine has recently been occupied by a band of doppelgangers posing as dwarves. The ‘dwarves’ claim to be outfitting themselves for an expedition to Arden Vul for two reasons: 1) discovery and restoration of the Forge of Zhorak, and 2) recovery of their lost comrade, Jasper Malachite.