Gosterwick

The closest safe haven for adventurers exploring the Halls of Arden Vul is the small town of Gosterwick, which has rapidly grown up at the foot of an ancient fortress, the Azure Keep. Lying only a few miles west of the Long Falls, Gosterwick and the Azure Keep occupy an advantageous site atop and around a semi-circular, granite ridge. Until recently, the Keep was a ruin, and the site of Gosterwick was inhabited only by a handful of husbandmen and their families. Twenty-five years ago, however, the mysterious Green Lady arrived at the Azure Keep with her companions, a sept of the Knights of the Azure Shield (see World of Archontos appendix). Lady Alexia and the knights claimed the tower as their own and began to restore it, swiftly making it their base of operations in Burdock’s Valley. Now known as the Azure Keep, it takes its name partly from the name of the knights’ order, and partly from the azure-blue tiles that define the Keep’s roof. In addition to the keep proper, the Knights sponsored the restoration of other buildings in two baileys located atop the ridgeline, including a grand fortified residence for Lady Alexia, stables, dwellings for craftsmen, a well, and stout walls. Only a few years later came the news that Lady Alexia was building a new town at the foot of the keep; this town, formally named Vetucaster in Cetandari, but known to most by its native name of Gosterwick, also profited from an ambitious, and swift, building program. Currently some 2,200 souls dwell in Gosterwick, including representatives of several of the Factors, a local chapter of the Benevolent Brotherhood, and numerous traders and craftspeople. Lady Alexia is actively recruiting merchants, factors, workers, and retired adventurers to her thriving community.

The Knights of the Azure Shield

A military order that spans the empire, the Knights of the Azure Shield are organized into septs of twenty knights (plus squires) led by a Sept Commander. The entire order is governed by the Grand Master from the Night Tower in Cetandar, although individual septs traditionally operate as distinct, largely-independent units. Founded 400 years ago by the great Paladin of Hetaradas, Keladon Gesedion (known as ‘the Wall’), the mission of the order is to aid the needy wherever they may be found, without regard to faith, alignment, or social rank. As a result, the order has a reputation as a motor of social mobility, as the stories of men and women from modest backgrounds who joined as grooms, lackeys, or servants and rose to become a squire and/or knight are legion. While not technically defined by alignment as a ‘good’ organization, the order has nevertheless acquired a reputation as a haven for naive do-gooders.   The sept that has restored the Azure Keep is unusual among the order, and for several reasons. First, it is obviously aligned to a political figure, Lady Alexia Basileon. This runs contrary to the usual ethos of the knights, who pride themselves for their neutrality in the game of the Five Families. Many thus sneeringly dismiss this sept as ‘mere mercenaries’ working for the Green Lady. Secondly, it is larger than a normal sept, with thirty knights and an equal number of squires. Finally, its goals and motives appear to most observers to be opaque, and certainly not typical of the order. While the knights living in Burdock’s Valley have been known to assist travelers on rare occasions, they do not seem to seek out the needy and downtrodden; instead, they seem more inclined to keep to themselves. Some wags claim that the knights literally have been bewitched by the ‘Green Witch’ (Alexia).

Population

Gosterwick has 2,211 inhabitants, of whom 40% are Cetandari, 40% are natives, 15% are Fahrytes, and 5% are demi-human (primarily halflings and imperial goblins, although there are a few elves and dwarves).

Rulers

Unlike Newmarket, a free town whose elites elect their own mayor, Gosterwick is governed by a thesmothete appointed by Lady Alexia. Currently, the thesmothete is Eusebia Phokas. As Eusebia’s jurisdiction extends only over the town proper, the Azure Keep is governed separately, by Sept Commander Horatius Gesellion (AK-1). Of course, true authority over both town and keep lies with Lady Alexia Basileon, who dwells in the Residence lying on the ridge just north of the Keep.

Government

The Thesmothete: Eusebia Phokas holds the executive power in Gosterwick, as she supervises the other imperial agencies from her town house. She is aided in her bureaucratic work by three proedroi, and seven chartoularii. Eusebia is a capable and experienced administrator, and only kicks decisions up to Lady Alexia when they concern unusual problems.   Imperial Bureaucracy: As an imperial town, albeit one started quasi-illegally by a renegade aristocrat, Gosterwick possesses the three familiar agencies of all imperial communities, namely the House of Sight, the House of Coins, and the Private House. In a brazen break with authority, Lady Alexia has simply appointed her own candidates to run the three bureaucratic offices, granting each of them the title of logothete regardless of their previous postings or experience. The House of Coins, responsible for general taxation and public expenditures, is the largest of the three in Gosterwick; Lady Alexia has conferred its administration to an old friend, Theron Glesteon. The Private House, which traditionally administers the estates and possessions of the imperial family in a given jurisdiction, is significantly smaller than usual in Gosterwick, since as of yet the emperor has claimed no territory here for his own. Its logothete is Aedelwine the Fair. The House of Sight, responsible for postal service, diplomacy, and imperial intelligence-gathering, is also small in Gosterwick; indeed, its logothete, Audun Yellow-Eyes, has not yet been recognized in his office by his alleged superiors in Narsileon.

Justice

The four normal categories of Cetandari justice are operative in Gosterwick. High Justice: Crimes against the Emperor and/or against the State. Typically, this means treason, murder, arson, rape, criminal conspiracy, and any type of crime committed against a member of the imperial family or against imperial property. Punishment: fines followed by death, by inventive, public, and slow means. Judge: Lady Alexia Basileon Procedure: accusations are initiated by Lady Alexia or her agents; hearings are held on an ad-hoc basis.   Justice of the Body: Offenses against the persons of imperial citizens, or of those granted judicial protection by the Empire. Typically, this means assault, insult, slander, wounding, sexual assault (other than rape). Punishment: varies, ranging from fines, to amputation, to death. Judge: Eusebia Phokas, the thesmothete. Procedure: citizens file a complaint (for a fee) with the thesmothete’s office. Eusebia holds sessions once per quarter to settle these cases.   Justice of the Domus: Crimes against the property of imperial citizens. Typically, this means burglary; theft; damage of 50 gp or more to movables or immovables; disputes over marriage, divorce, or inheritance; disputes over ownership of property worth 50 gp or more. Punishment: fines, or amputation, or blinding, or castration, or a combination. Judge: one of the three proedroi serving the thesmothete. Procedure: citizens file a formal complaint with the thesmothete’s office. The complainant pays for a writ of summons, executed by thesmothete’s office in order to enforce attendance at court. Both parties are expected to produce their own witnesses, evidence, and/or advocates for their cases. Each proedros holds court once per quarter.   Low Justice: Crimes against non-citizens, and petty crimes. Typically, this means all crimes involving non-citizens; disputes over damages to, or ownership of, goods worth less than 50 gp. Punishments: varies widely, ranging from fines to death. Judge: one of the seven chartoularii. Procedure: The chartoularii hear such cases on a bi-monthly basis in a public square. Complainants register before dawn for a hearing time. Cases are heard orally, and the chartoularios makes a summary judgment.

Town Guards

A contingent of 40 guardsmen enforce the peace and the orders of Eusebia Phocas. They reside in two fortified wooden towers, known colloquially as the ‘kettles’.

The Wardens of Vetucaster

Lady Alexia has initiated a new program designed to attract well-to-do merchants and adventurers to Gosterwick. She calls it the ‘wardens’ program, for anyone who takes up the offer is given an impressive diploma naming him- or herself as a ‘Warden of Vetucaster’. Wardens are granted the rights of citizenship and the opportunity to buy land within the town at a 50% discount; in addition, for every prosperous merchant or craftsman that a Warden convinces to settle in Gosterwick, she pays a 750 gp bounty (similarly with aristocrats) to the Warden. In return, the Warden must commit to remaining in residence at Gosterwick for at least 80 days per year (20 days per season), must contribute to the town defense, and must obey the lawful orders of the thesmothete or the knight commander. Alexia is explicitly targeting mid- and high-level adventurers who might be interested in retirement, but who are still active and useful.

Training for Level Advancement (Optional Rule)

As a frontier outpost and haven for adventurers, Gosterwick and/or the Azure Keep provide suitable opportunities for PCs to train for level advancement, at least up to levels 5 or 6 (depending on the class). Training costs are slightly higher here than elsewhere: PCs can expect to pay 1,650 gp per week to train. The identity of trainers, and their locations within the community, are listed below by class. Fighters: Fighters may train with the knights of the Azure Shield, under the supervision of their arms master, Martin Hadellor (7th-level fighter).   Rangers: The chief huntswoman of the Lady Alexia, Teodora Balcingor (7th-level ranger), is willing to train rangers.   Paladins: The primary guardian of the temple of Mitra is one Gesteon Probus (6th-level paladin). He will train paladins but will attempt to convert them to Hetaradas in the process.   Arcane Spellcasters: The ability of mages to train is more complicated, as the expectation within the Cetandari Empire is that magic users will train in the facilities of the collegium to which they belong. As none of the collegia has established an outpost in Gosterwick yet, this poses a problem. Happily, an enterprising and venal young wizard has attempted to solve this problem. Recognizing that she could not open a ‘school’ of magic, since this would compete with the collegia, Lyssandra Astorion (7th-level magic user) has instead opened an ‘Arcane Practitioners Club’ on the outskirts of Gosterwick. Members pay heavy weekly rates (equivalent to training rates) for the opportunity to come and use the club’s small library, alchemical laboratory, and practice grounds. Of course, members are free to seek guidance from other members, and Lyssandra and her assistant, Pelteon Greywand (6th-level illusionist) spend most of their time providing such ‘guidance’.   Clerics: Several of the temples are staffed by priests experienced enough (and willing) to train clerics. Good clerics could seek out Jador the Just (9th-level female Fahryte cleric), chief priestess of the temple of Hetaradas, or Vivian (9th-level male Cetandari cleric), chief priest of the temple of Demma (AK-9). Neutral clerics should probably look for Halidor the Observant (7th-level male Cetandari cleric), chief priest of the temple of Lucreon. Those aligned with evil are best advised to seek training from Urdenna Belst (8th-level female Cetandari cleric), chief priest of the temple of Heschius Ban.   Druids: Even though the nearest Druid’s Circle is some distance away (50 miles to the east, in the Old Forest), the Circle has dispatched a representative to watch affairs in Gosterwick. Fael Valdorsdot is the representative (6th-level female half-high elf druid). Unsurprisingly, Fael spends a lot of time wandering in the woods and streams around Gosterwick, but she can be reached through a contact at the Grain Hall. It may take 2-6 days for her to be available.   Thieves: Thief characters should approach the local chapter of the Benevolent Brotherhood. This can be accomplished by making the appropriate signs and uttering the appropriate code phrases in the public spaces of Gosterwick. The public chapter house of the Benevolent Brotherhood is located near the docks. If asked, the receptionist, Shirley, will advise those seeking training to leave a message for Anders the Snake. The Brotherhood will then contact the Thief PCs to arrange training. Thief PCs of levels 1-3 will be trained by Reesa the Hammer, who works as a bartender at the Muddy Puddle. Those of levels 4-5 will be trained by Anders the Snake. For thieves of levels 6-9, however, a meeting must first be arranged with Anders or Reesa; if either of these two can be convinced of the good intentions (sic) and bona fides of the PCs, he/she will arrange a meeting with Wicktrimmer, the Elder Brother of Gosterwick (10th-level imperial goblin thief). Wicktrimmer meets such PCs incognito in the cemetery for an initial interview; training will then take place in a warehouse near the docks. Wicktrimmer usually only trains those who tithe appropriately and perform a special ‘job’ for him.   Assassins: As yet there is no chapter of the Vengeance Factor in Gosterwick, so training with the official order of assassins (the Vengeance Factor) is impossible. Still, a freelance assassin, Revet Faidelsson (7th-level male half-high elf assassin) has taken up quiet residence at the Yellow Cloak. Revet will train those she finds worthy. Anders the Snake and Wicktrimmer know of Revet’s line of work and can direct assassin PCs to Revet.

Locations in Gosterwick

The inhabitants of Gosterwick informally divide the town into five districts. These districts are in addition to the Keep and Residence, which form their own micro-communities. The first district is the Upper Market, which occupies the southern bailey of the Azure Keep. It is known for expensive shops and snobby citizens. The Under Keep district comprises the structures at the eastern end of the town, between the two lobes of the ridge; its main street is Keep Row. This district is relatively poor and seedy, with mostly wooden houses and structures. The Market District comprises the structures around the Central Market and is marked by larger buildings and more general prosperity. The Incense District (so named from the incense produced by the temples on the neighboring hill) is the northernmost district and has a divided identity. The areas of the Incense District around the Golden Road are wealthy and prestigious, with free-standing town homes of the wealthier burgesses; the areas to the east, however, by Totey Lake and the Water Gate, are poorer, with smaller, multi-family structures. The fifth district is known as the Outs and is used contemptuously to describe the multitude of cheap, quickly-built structures on the west side of town.

The Walls to Come

As yet, only the hill and ridge where the Azure Keep, the Residence, and the Upper Market are located have been fortified. The bulk of the town currently lacks walls. Yet Lady Alexia’s ambitions are quite grand, and she hopes to enclose the town with impressive walls that will allow plenty of population growth. To this end she has had her men dig a small ditch and mound (only 3’ tall) to indicate the course of the walls to come. It is transparent to all who view the mound that it will take many years and much treasure to build the projected walls.

The Three City Gates

Alexia envisions three mighty gates to her fully-developed town. All three have been built, even though only one currently serves any function. To the east, by the lake, is the Water Gate. A gatehouse anchored by two 15’-diameter stone towers blocks the narrow strand between the ridge and the lake. This is the only gate that is currently incorporated into the actual structure of the town. The Imperial Gate, which naturally lies at the foot of Imperial Row, stands proudly amid empty meadows. The towers of its gatehouse are 20’ in diameter; as of yet it lacks a door. The Stone Gate lies to the west, at the foot of Stone Street. This is the least developed of the gates; as yet it is only a wooden structure, without grandeur or defensive value.

The Waters

Gosterwick and the Keep abut a tributary of the Swift River that locals call The Long Run. The Long Run runs along the foothills west of Arden Vul before forming a small lake just north of the town. The lake has been called Totey Lake by the native peoples for centuries; few recall that its original name was Tok’s Eye, and none recall that the priests of Tok had an interest in the lake. The lake is fairly shallow, except in its center; it is home to numerous species of edible fish.

Other Businesses in Gosterwick

In addition to the shops, craftsmen, and enterprises of note listed below, Gosterwick is home to the following: 3 bakers, a brewer, 3 butchers, 3 carpenters, 1 wheel/cartwright, another moneylender, 2 fishmongers, 3 general stores, a salter/spice merchant, 6 more neighborhood taverns, 2 general leatherworkers,1 specialized leatherworker who can make leather armor, 2 stonecutters, 2 masons, 3 millers, a sawmill, 4 potteries, 9 simple scribes, 3 other notaries, 2 lawyers, 2 blacksmiths, 15 weavers/spinners/carders, 5 tailors, 5 furriers, an additional brothel, 1 herbalist/apothecary, 2 barbers, a thatcher, a bowyer/fletcher, a candlemaker, another jeweler, and a ropemaker.

The Azure Keep

The keep is sited atop a curved ridge that rises 45’ above the flatlands surrounding it. The central tower of the keep is 50’ square, with four above-ground floors (plus the roof level) and two below-ground cellars. The cylindrical roof reaches nearly 65’ above the ridge and is sheathed with sky-blue porcelain tiles. Access to the keep is via wooden stairs rising to doors set into the keep walls at the level of the first floor (in other words, there is no ground-floor access). Numerous arrow slits, or windows, dot the walls of the first, second and third floors; each window can be shuttered from within the keep. The roof level has four larger openings in its walls that allow ballistae to fire at attackers from all directions. Although the square tower is the oldest and most recognizable element of the keep, the keep also comprises two walled baileys lying to the north and south of the tower. In the northern bailey may be found the stables of the Order, as well as a stone barracks and residence for the knights and their guests.   The keep is governed by Sept Commander Horatius Gesellion. Three Knight Commanders assist him: Gaius Christopher Relleion, Martin Hadellor, and Lucia Nemead. The remaining 27 knights are divided into 3 conrois, or troops, of nine knights, each led by one of the Knight Commanders. Each of the knights hand-picks his/her own squire.   The Azure Keep is home to 31 knights, 31 squires, and approximately 65 grooms, lackeys, servants, cooks, and various support staff.

Services and Personalities

The knights have their own stable, smith, farrier, leather-worker, and bowyer and fletcher. Only knights or their very close friends can make use of these services.

• Horatius Gesellion, 9th-level male Archontean fighter and Sept Commander of the Knights of the Azure Shield.
• Gaius Christopher Relleion, 6th-level male Archontean fighter, leader of First Conroi
• Martin Hadellor, 7th-level male Archontean fighter, arms master for the Knights, leader of the Second Conroi
• Lucia Nemead, 6th-level female Archontean fighter, leader of the Third Conroi