History <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Cruth</strong> <strong>Lowlands</strong> Political Map <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Cruth</strong> <strong>Lowlands</strong> 11
Atlas <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Lowlands</strong> Atlas <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Lowlands</strong> The <strong>Cruth</strong> <strong>Lowlands</strong> region is a sparsely settled borderland, with a total <strong>of</strong> circa 2000 humans (and demihumans) living in <strong>the</strong> area, most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m in <strong>the</strong> Riverfork area between <strong>the</strong> Achelos Woods and <strong>the</strong> <strong>Lowlands</strong> proper. Settlements and Lairs The main human settlements are <strong>the</strong> villages <strong>of</strong> Ganich, Petra, Vucevo, Gorica and Vostoi, as well as <strong>the</strong> Riverfork Keep. These village total no more than 350 civilian inhabitants, since most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> human population is spread among a number <strong>of</strong> large outposts and fortified farms. The larger outposts (depicted on <strong>the</strong> area map) have usually no more than 20 inhabitants each, while <strong>the</strong> smaller ones (circa two in each hex in <strong>the</strong> areas controlled by humans) only hold an enlarged family <strong>of</strong> 7 to 12 people. Descriptions <strong>of</strong> Gorica and Petra can be found in “River <strong>of</strong> Blood” and in “Petra: Community on <strong>the</strong> Borderlands” 1 respectively. Riverfork Keep and <strong>the</strong> surrounding village are described in “Riverfork Keep” 2 . Goblinoid Tribes There are several goblinoid tribes in <strong>the</strong> region. Orcs dominate <strong>the</strong> western and central <strong>Cruth</strong> <strong>Lowlands</strong>, while Ogres hold <strong>the</strong> eastern <strong>Lowlands</strong>. Some Hobgoblins and Gnolls from <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn Black Eagle Barony, <strong>the</strong> Roaring Fiends and Rashak’s Reavers, have been attempting an expansion towards Luln and <strong>the</strong> Achelos river. Orc tribes include <strong>the</strong> Jagged Claws, Rotten Snakes, Greyslayers, Blackstones, Broken Hammers. See “Goblinoid Tribes <strong>of</strong> Karameikos” for more details 3 . 1 http://www.pandius.com/petracom.html 2 http://www.pandius.com/rfrkkeep.html 3 http://www.pandius.com/karagobl.html Monster Lairs Many monsters hunt <strong>the</strong> <strong>Cruth</strong> <strong>Lowlands</strong>. There is a Large Black Dragon (with a small number <strong>of</strong> Small Black followers) in <strong>the</strong> Blight Swamp, a Small Green in <strong>the</strong> Achelos Woods, and a Small Red who is almost ready to become Large in <strong>the</strong> Black Peaks. The first two are vassals <strong>of</strong> Azemur, while <strong>the</strong> latter is independent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> major draconic kingdom, and is king <strong>of</strong> a small territory encompassing <strong>the</strong> Black Peaks. He's an <strong>of</strong>fspring <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Red Dragon <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Wufwolde hills. Lizardmen are present in <strong>the</strong> Blight Swamp. These small tribes are controlled by <strong>the</strong> Black Dragon Vulomar. Only <strong>the</strong> largest tribe has a permanent settlement, marked on <strong>the</strong> map. Trolls are also found in <strong>the</strong> Blight Swamp (occasionally, <strong>the</strong>y stray also into <strong>the</strong> Riverfork Woods). A frequently used hunting camp is marked on <strong>the</strong> map, but <strong>the</strong>se Trolls are generally nomadic. They hunt <strong>the</strong> lizardmen as well as anything else that lives in <strong>the</strong> swamp, but greatly fear <strong>the</strong> black dragons. Owlbears are solitary monsters that can roam quite a bit in search <strong>of</strong> food or in <strong>the</strong> mating season, but go into a slumber during winter. Toge<strong>the</strong>r with Manticores and Wyverns, Owlbears are among <strong>the</strong> most dangerous predators <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Cruth</strong> <strong>Lowlands</strong>. Sites and Landmarks Barrow <strong>of</strong> Uidar <strong>the</strong> Quick This is <strong>the</strong> tomb <strong>of</strong> Uidar <strong>the</strong> Quick 4 , Duke <strong>of</strong> Halag, who once wielded <strong>the</strong> Sword <strong>of</strong> Halav and faced <strong>the</strong> Beast <strong>of</strong> Radlebb in combat. He died suddenly during a hunting trip, and was temporarily buried in an old giantish barrow. However, his companions fell victims to a Ogre ambush on <strong>the</strong> return trip, and never reached Halag to report his death. Search parties found <strong>the</strong> 4 Uidar <strong>the</strong> Quick first appeared in <strong>the</strong> “DM's Survival Kit”. 12