Efra

Settlement Type: Outpost

Region: Island

Population: 76

Description:

Efra is the name of an outpost in the Barrier Islands. The settlement is the home to several dwarven families that live on the island year-round, surviving as fishermen. The islanders swear no oaths to any kingdom or monarch, and generally keep to themselves.  They have little contact with outsiders, and produce nothing of any particular interest to anyone.

The only thing of interest in Efra are the large stone totems that dot the island. Although similar totems are found throughout the Barrier Islands, the largest number of the objects can be found on Efra. Their origins and purpose are unknown, lost to history, but there are several local superstitions surrounding them.

On Efra, families adopt a totem as a guardian and leave offerings to it throughout the year. Childless couples will leave special offerings, asking the totems for help in contreception. On moonless nights, it is believed the totems wander the island, visiting each other. Because of this, islanders will seldom venture forth on dark nights.

Berda

Settlement Type: Town

Region: Grasslands

Population:7009

Description:

The town of Berda lies in the Kingdom of Kalada. It lies along a popular trade route and is, itself, a popular tourist destination.  Just a few miles south of Berda are the Pools of Radiance, a series of freshwater pools with magical properties; the waters store and refract light, slowly releasing it over time as a continuous display of rainbow lights that can be seen for miles during the day and even further away after sunset.  Priests and sages have stated that the affect is purely arcane, not divine, but that doesn't stop unscrupulous hucksters from claiming that the waters have healing abilities. 

Berda has a large market and several trade caravans pass through the town every week. It has a thriving hospitality industry, but everyone agrees that the best place to stay in Berda is (2)The Golden Swan.

The Golden Swan is a three story stone inn run by Pekav Zatophie, a dwarven adventurer who wisely retired after a particularly lucrative mission.  The Golden Swan is famous, not only for its hospitality, but for its namesake, a golden swan on display in the common room, a trophy from Zatophie's last adventure.

Berda is also the site of a large temple to the Devourer, the God of Death. It stands on the north side of town, in an area inhabited primarily by ghouls. The Berda Temple(01) is of some religious significance to the ghouls, and is a popular destination with ghoul pilgrims and devotees of the Devourer.  Every autumn, there is a huge celebration held in the Berda Temple, honoring the Devourer, and the town fills to overflowing with ghouls. Many other visitors find the celebrations offputting, but locals are used to it and, indeed, the Autumn Death-Fair contributes significantly to the town's financial success.

Caine

Settlement Type: Ruins

Region: Arctic

Population: Inapplicable

Description: 

Located in the Far North are the ruins of an ancient city now known as Caine. Caine's history is shrouded in secrecy. It's builders are unknown and its original residents are unknown as well. Even the reasons for its abandonment are unknown. Adventurers and scholars from the other regions of Hura seldom think of Caine, regarding it as simply a failed city. The natives of Tigal avoid Caine, believing the place to be cursed by the Warmother, but no one seems to know why. 

This belief has been deliberately cultivated by the Warmother's priesthood.  Every three to seven years, champions of the Warmother gather in the ruins of Caine. Some arrive by accident, others by deliberate intent. Once assembled, these champions battle each other for possession of the Warmother's Heart, a sacred relic that is believed to make its possessor unbeatable in combat. 

The relic remains with the victor for a time before magically returning to Caine, triggering the start of the next contest of champions.

Participants in the contest are forbidden from speaking about it by fierce and bloody oaths. Anyone who breaks the oath of silence earns the ire of the Warmother, her priests and her champions. They usually come to a very messy end.

Ja'Aher

 Settlement Type: Ruins

Region: Desert

Population: Inapplicable

Description:

The Ruins of Ja'Aher lie at the heart of the Suntouched Desert. Surrounded by a blasted wasteland of sand and rock, Ja'Aher has been abandoned for thousands of years. Nevertheless, the city's reputation still draws some scholars and adventurers to it, to crawl through its dry, dessicated remains.

According to historical accounts, Ja'Aher was once a thriving human city, surrounded by lush, green farmlands and gently flowing rivers. Then, something happened to incur the Wrath of the gods and the city and surrounding region was destroyed. Overnight, Ja'Aher was abandoned and then, over time, reduced to ruins.

Two points of interest remain in Ja'Aher for scholars and adventurers. The first is an Ancient Temple to the Oracle(01), which still stands, remarkably intact among the ruins.  The second is the ruins of the Ancient Library of Ja'Aher(02), which once held a comprehensive record of all of Hura's history.

Most academics consider Ja'Aher of little interest, its treasures and secrets all revealed over the course of millennia. However, some sages still believe the ruins hold clues to what incited the Wrath.

Ja'Aher is uninhabited. Animals will not enter the city. Ghouls will not go within a dozen miles of the place, meaning that there are many undead haunting the ruined metropolis. Few who enter Ja'Aher emerge from it unscathed.