Thrubmorton Fens
From CWBP
A large wetland makes up the majority of this area. The few ridges spanning the area make for natural trade routes, offering some protection from the more dangerous low lands.
Stockades and other fortified points have been placed along the trade routes to provide protection to those willing to pay for it. Most do, considering the dangers one faces when camping in the open.
The fortifications themselves are quite basic but well financed. Most maintain a stock of supplies available for purchase,
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Agriculture
The region produces enough livestock and root vegetables to support the forts and the few outlying towns. Less simple foods like grains and fruits are imported, thus increasing the prices of items such as beer and wine.
Ecology
The low lands are full of swamps and marshes, and creatures associated with such an environment. Lizardfolk are common throughout the area and frequently attack passing merchants.
The higher lands are home to a wide variety of racial mixes, mostly due to the heavy traffic in and out of the area.
Mapped Locations
Fentor Cross
Fentor Cross is the crossing point between the two Fentor Hills (West and East). Around the town are three forts and as such it is well protected and combined, it has the largest garrison of all the places in the fenlands.
Fentor Cross Old Town and Fentor Cross Church lie just to the North West of the new town. The smallish town resettled after being attacked. The Church was rebuilt however so stands in its original location and is less likely to be attacked now that it has the forts surrounding it.
The three forts are Westside, Eastside and Thrubview. The large town in the middle has a large spiked palisade containing all of the houses. It is the melting pot of the area full of merchants and travelers.
Adventure Opportunities
Mercenaries hired to ward off local predators
Ruins, caves, and disused mines long forgotten and buried in the wetlands
Battles between varieties of monstrous races affecting the civilized population
Description
Thrubmorton Fens is an area of approximately 600 miles square. It is mainly lowland swamps and marshes with a ridge line of limestone hills running through it. In the central region there are two upland regions called the East and West Fentor hills.
The North West area are called the borderlands which provide the main access to the Northern Lands.
Crazy Krulls Crossing.
For routes SW to NE there are two options. To go via Crazy Krulls crossing or via New Mere fort and north which is a longer route.
Long ago the route north would have gone through old Mere fort but the passage is now blocked from a large cave in and passage across the death chaser fen is a marsh. Old Mere fort was attacked more often until it became pointless maintaining it and a new fort and road was opened to the East.
A the shorter but dangerous merchant route was opened where the mercenary band known as The Hard Ones led by Crazy Krull protect and escort merchant trains from Hardy Point to Hawker Point via long ship ferry.
Snapgallows
Lies to the West of the West Fentor Hills. See main entry.
Thubmorton Pasty.
Also known as a Satch, these are pastry pasties about 12 inches by 8. They are divided into 8 squares where 6 of them are filled with a thick meaty paste filling and the other two are often fruit filled. They are usually accompanied by a dark loaf of similar size and about an inch thick. The pair are then wrapped in a waxy cloth and placed in a leather satchel with strap to be carried on the journeys between the towns. Sometimes you may find that there are double satchels with two pockets. You can buy just the food or you can usually purchase the satchel to go with them. The satchels are decorated with colours that represent the person or family to which they are owned. You can buy tourist satchels with more distinct colours. Regulars to the region know not to make use of these, as traders tend to discriminate to those who carry them. It is also customary in battle to down a foe and eat some of his pasty, so there are many sayings along the form 'He'll never be touchin' my pasty' to mean that the person believes he is stronger and 'He can buy his own [satch]' for lay off and go away. A Satch (the food) costs about 6sp but a Satch (the bag) is about a gold. You can usually trade in used ones, though, and get most of that back.
Thrubmorton Wyverns
Weather can be a distinct problem for travel in the region where traveling in heavy winds and rain can be hazardous as well as arduous. In times past pigeons were used to carry messages but they were very unreliable as the moorlands are home to numerous falcons. It was discovered however that the Lesser Wyvern could be trained and through the use of visiting empathic Druids it was found that they were just intelligent enough to command. A Lesser Wyvern is about the size of a very large dog but with a wingspan of some 12ft. It has just two hind legs ending in long claws - a feature of the Thrubmorton breed. Its head is like that of a lizard and tail is about 3-4ft long ending with a poisonous spike but unlike its larger cousins, rarely fatal to a grown man. They have the demeanor like that of a large dog too, mostly friendly but with the occasional vicious one. Handlers require a certain amount of special training. They are excellent fliers and can manage in high winds too. They have very few predators in the air. They have modest daytime eyesight though and for that reason all of the landing points for all of the forts have large Wyvern Flags flying. Each is white with a clear logo on it that is distinct to a wyvern. The Wyvern Master is responsible for the herd and the flags and are usually located in a coop, a hut like structure at the highest points of the forts. Wyverns are more vulnerable on the ground and dislike being there. They rest on Wyvern Spikes - poles protruding out of the sides of the coop. These wyverns have a particular fondness for chickens as food which are what keep them tame. The forts provide a chicken feed allowance to the Wyvern Master.
Wyvern Towers are placed in each fort. They are four posted pyramid structures but very tall compared to the base. At the base is the chicken coop which is about 25ft round and 10ft tall. On the outside is a ladder which ascends on the open frame pyramid up 30ft to a wooden crenelated platform for archers. Another ladder rises 20ft to the Wyvern Coop which is a hut about 10ft round and 10ft tall. Out of the roof it ascends another 10ft to the point which has a beam flag pole of 8ft before attaching the large white flag. At the tip of the flag tail is a small bell. When the wind blows the bell tingles. In strong winds and rain where visibility is not good a Wyvern may hear the bell and descend to the coop. Some people may say that when the wind and rain are torrential that "its really clangin' out there". Also next to the base of the flag pole is a sealed barrel filled with straw and oil and below the wyvern coop hangs a rope operated large brass bell. When the barrel is lit it means there is something seriously amiss at the fort or approaching it and the flame or smoke should be visible for miles. The bell is sounded for more general alerts.
Food and drink
Thrublander food is very heavy. Around towns farmers try to raise vegetables though the soil is quite poor. Sheep take to the land much better and the hills are covered in them. The farmers use one of the larger varieties with long shaggy wool and round them up with dogs. Cattle are common and rabbits are numerous. There are the occasional deer and game birds too. Trees are only common in the lower lands so the hunters of woodland creatures tend to go in large groups, often just ahead of a group of armoured lumberjacks. The main fruits that are had are small berry types rather than larger tree borne varieties. There are no apples or grapes (and few bees) so all wine and mead are imported.
Fresh water is a problem for upland enclaves. Though there is much rainfall, it must be collected and stored in large vats. Most surface water drains quickly and that which stays around is in thin peat lined pools making it quite unfit for drinking. Most of the time there is enough but on occasion water usage is controlled. There are numerous springs at the foot of the Fentor Hills though the land is more dangerous especially after dark.
People
The people of Thrubmorton are very down to earth and no nonsense. The harshness of life in the fens does not favour the pampered. They work hard and are strong of mind and body though rarely gifted intellectually. They are often tall and broad and make great warriors.
Thrixs' Oddling Bunglers
Not a lot is known as yet about this group except for the tales from the great bard SeerBlue... One such tale is told here.
