[Map not to scale. May or may not be accurate. Beware the goblins.]The Kingdom Sometimes known as Einmal, but mostly just called "The Kingdom" because the locals are totally self centered, it stretches from the Sea to the Fire Mountains and down to the Unknown Lands. Or rather, to the Thorns that came from the Unknown Lands.
SchwanheimThe capital of the Kingdom, where the King resides. A simple but sizable town in a small valley, where the people are friendly and children play happily in the streets. You can comfortably make a home here to have somewhere to return to between epic quests. There is no shortage of shops here, though don't expect any of them to open their doors to you after dark, as the townspeople are very superstitious. And rumour has it they have very good reason to be...
Schwanheim CastleA lovely castle in the center of the town of the same name. Features a massive ballroom, great hall, and more bedrooms than one could count. The staff is attentive and helpful, but ask too many questions and you may find yourself getting your own supper. Though anyone is free to move about wherever they like in the castle, it has been said that whomever travels to the topmost floor of the central tower deserves whatever comes to them.
There are two throne rooms. One is the type you would expect in these settings, an insanely ornate, intricately decorated work of art with a huge throne and stained glass and shining floors that echo when you walk down them. It's designed to humble and amaze those who would come and seek an audience with the king. It's also the type that gets aired out and dusted once a week and before important dignitaries and other royalty come for official visits.
The throne room that the King actually uses is rather different. Rich wood paneling, a comfy cushioned throne, rugs that seem a shame to wear shoes on, well lit by windows, big enough to fit 200 people, but not so big that it feels empty when the king is sitting around with just his cloud of advisers and bodyguards, chatting conversationally with a small cluster of his subjects.
There is also a rather well stocked library, or at least so it seems so until one takes a closer look at the titles of the myriad books lining the walls. There's a lot of repetition of book titles with at least 40 copies of "Tales Past the Wall" with various different bindings, quite a few copies of "Three Sisters of Ill Fame," "How to Succeed in Kingship Without Really Trying," "The Catching of the Mole and other Bawdy Tales," and similar titles.
Drunk Duck Inn and TavernA tavern in the heart of Schwanheim, where the meals are warm and the beds are even warmer. Here the drink flows freely, as do the tongues of certain travelers if you’re lucky enough. Just don’t make any trouble, or the bartender will be more than happy to throw you out.
"Hero Headquarters"The old Totentanz mansion in the rich part of town was given to the Heroes so that they could have a central location to work together.
two floors and with grounds including it's very own bathhouse, the old Totentanz home was in it's time a great stately manor. Long since abandoned, it was left to fall prey to the elements and time until the King handed the keys to the summoned heroes and many locals say it would have been best to leave it abandoned, though they won't say why.
The Two-Faced ForestIn the daytime, the forest that surrounds the town is a lovely place, lush and full of berries and plenty of game. A perfect place for an afternoon ride. In the daytime, that is. After sunset, legend has it the forest grows over with thorns, and strange beast stalk its perimeters, searching for townspeople who’ve strayed. These are, however, different than the thorns that are destroying the kingdom and are far more easily defeated, something that has caused no end of confusion and false hope for would be heroes.
The White TowerA
tall white tower(source) in the woods not far from the monastery just outside of Schwanheim. Impossibly and almost arrogantly white, this tower puts out and air of dignity that seems to keep most of the lesser forest creatures away. The forest is however, slowly creeping closer and it looks as if it mounted an attack on the top floors...
Fire MountainsThe two tallest mountains in the range of that makes up the eastern border of the kingdom, are home to two equally wise, yet equally fearsome dragons. Rumoured to be sisters, these dragons have been in a sort of cold war for centuries. Now, with the thorns encroaching upon their homes, this war has broken out into violent conflict, which is bad news for the towns near by. Travelers are warned not to approach either mountain, for each dragon sister will think the other is the cause of the disturbance.
West Haven, the town that wasn't. And still isn't.About a half day's travel from Schwanheim, by all reports this was a quiet little hamlet even before all it's inhabitants
vanished. Rumours of it being cursed or besieged started flying once the town was found empty, and it has now been all but forgotten about now that it turns out it was all just an illusion.
The Old CapitalLong ago this place used to have a name. Dang it all if anyone can recall it, though, it's been The Old Capital since the King moved to Schwanheim. Not that anyone can blame him, even the stubborn natives of the Old Capital say Schwanheim's the nicer place to live. While not quite a ghost town, it's still rather sparsely populated and seems to mostly be a retirement and tourism town. The castle's outer wall crumbled days after the King left and plenty of adventurers have been bilked out of lots of money by the natives for the chance to explore it's ruins and that of the abandoned houses the depopulation has left behind.
On the surface, the Old Capital looks much like Schwanheim, only without the two rivers flanking the castle. It's much smaller, the houses father apart and older looking that the more crowded capital, and far more ordered. It has the feel of a city that was planned out. The semi-ruined castle stands in the center acting as gateway to the 4 wide streets that slice through the circular town like the spokes of a wheel, dividing it into sections. One quarter is the market and craftsman district, the road leading to the castle lined with stalls and merchants with goods on blankets, side streets winding down towards the less sightly businesses. Flanking it on both ends are two housing districts, the smaller homes closer to the market, getting larger as they head for the 4th district, full of large mansions and an impressive church.
There's a large clock tower in the market district that matches the one back in Schwanheim, and a bulletin board much the same.
Other KingdomsThe Kingdom of the GiantsThe Kingdom of the Giants is up in the clouds (yes, even on a clear day where there are non, shush) and can be accessed via the Fire Mountains. Or by beanstalk, but if you aren't careful, you'll punch a hole in some giant's floor.
The Kingdom of the Giants is full of giants, easily three or four times the height of a grown man. Other than their size, giants are are strange people, clad in polyester, the men traveling long distances to work at a mysterious place called "the office", the woman staying at home and watching small boxes that hold such magical things called "Soap Operas" and "Variety Shows" and instead of a King, they have a Mayor, who's replaceable. Even their dates are different, calling the year 1953. But they seem mostly harmless.
The Unknown LandsThe land to the south east of the Kingdom.
...what, you were expecting something more? It's called the Unknown Lands for good reason, you know! ... Oh fine.
Currently, the lands are thought to be utterly devoured by the Thorns, and to be the origin of where the Thorns themselves. Rumor has that more was known about these lands before the wall fell, but that was long ago and no one cares enough to bother keeping track of these things. Far more mysterious to just call them the Unknown Lands, right? Of course right.
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thequestgiver
