Brugenia

Settlement Type: Village

Terraine: Grasslands

Population: 8,564 (80% Human, 10% Dwarf)

Background:

Brugenia is a thriving community that lies along the Western Road in the Kingdom of Kalada. It serves as the primary trade hub for the surrounding region, attracting visitors from all over Kalada and beyond.  The village is named after its founder, a talented bard, and has a small, but vibrant, musical community to this day.  It is governed by Dame Roseben Hilorie, a human noblewoman appointed to the position by the Kaladan crown. Dame Roseben is a veteran military campaigner, who finds governing Brugenia and its surroundings, a challenge.  Fortunately, she's wise enough to recognize her own shortcomings and seek counsel from locals when needed. Because of this, she is held in high regard by many of the villagers.

The only significant landmark in Brugenia is a Temple to the Kindly One(01). The Temple is fairly large and offers healing services for a small donation. 

Adventurers traveling along Kalada's Western Road might find themselves in Brugenia, staying for a night or longer. It is an excellent place to resupply, and there are a few inns around that cater to a wide range of tastes and financial limits.   Fighters looking for work, might find themselves employed by Dame Hilorie to handle a matter she doesn't trust the locals with, or as guards on one of the trade caravans that frequently pass through the town.  Bards and entertainers could be drawn into the village's small music scene, perhaps taking part in a friendly, or not so friendly, competition with a local favorite. And wounded or ill travelers might find rest and succor at the Temple, where they could repay the priests' kindness by performing some duty or other for them.

Koor

Settlement Type: Outpost

Terraine: Grasslands

Population: 37

Description:

The outpost of Koor lies in the northern central region of the Kingdom of Kalada.  It is several days travel via rough road to the next nearest communities.

Koor was established as a rest and resupply stop for the Kaladan military. Most of the personnel and structures at the outpost reflect them, with the majority of the residents being military themselves or working directly for the army.

The majority of Koor's population consists of humans, with a smattering of dwarves. Other races are rarely seen in this isolated locale, and will attract attention.

The only building of interest to travelers through Koor will probably be the Ja'alil Mansion. The house was once the home of a local lord, but when his bloodline died out the house and its properties reverted to the throne.  When Koor was initially established, the mansion was used as a base, with the idea that the rest of the outpost would grow up around it.

However, the mansion is home to restless ghosts who prowl the hallways at night, even to this day. After a second attempt to exorcise the ghosts failed, the military adapted; they moved out of the mansion and have let it fall into a state of extreme disrepair.

Visitors to Koor can stay in the mansion, free of charge, but few do once they learn that it is haunted. Most prefer to sleep rough in the stables, or rent out a bed in one of the small civilian homes (which are ridiculously expensive). 

Travelers who do stay in the mansion will probably have some kind of interaction with the ghosts. They are mostly harmless, bemoaning the state of the house and the ending of the family bloodline. Some may play tricks, though, hiding small objects of value or blowing out candles and laughing in the dark. Any attempt to exorcise the ghosts will fail, and the priest who attempts it will not gain any rest for the night.

Eliada

Settlement Type: Ruins

Terraine: Grasslands

Population: Varies

Description:

If you travel west through the Kingdom of Kalada, taking the Great Western Road, you will eventually pass through the abandoned village of Eliada.  The village lies in ruins. Its small houses have been worn away by time and elements, leaving moldering timbers and malformed stones dotting the place. Yards and the village common are overgrown.  Only the village graveyard is kept in a good state, maintained by troupes of ghouls that travel the area.

Eliada was abandoned over three hundred years ago. To this day, no one knows why the villagers left or what happened to them.  Investigative records from the time suggest the villagers vanished mid-activity. Tables still had breakfasts on them. Freshly washed laundry was left to moulder in baskets. There were tankards of undrunk ale sitting on the bar of the village pub.

Attempts were made to repopulate the village, but they never stuck. Prospective settlers reported feeling as if they were being watched all the time. Some went mad. Most left, moving as far away from Eliada as possible.

Today, most of the village lies neglected and forlorn, except for the graveyard, a small temple to the Devourer and a shrine to the Warmother.

An ancient, wizened barbarian lurks in the tall grasses around Eliada, warning travelers not to stop overnight in the village, not unless they want to vanish as well. Or possibly meet a worse fate.

Experienced travelers plan on passing through the ruins as quickly as possible, and making camp out of sight of the stony bones of its houses.

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.