Thule Island - People of the March (Part 3)

NPCs from Adina

Adina is the largest settlement on the island by a long shot so naturally there are a lot more NPCs. Originally I'd broken them out by parts of the city but these are free-roaming NPC and that was a lot of work so I dropped it.

Thule Island - People of the March (Part 2)

NPCs from Bejtun

NPCs from Cuska

NPCs from Dagru

Thule Island - People of The March (Part 1)

Back to my Thule Island Sandbox for a bit. I'm a bit burned on converting my notes to Blogger but I think I can manage a couple more.

March Lord of Thule and his Leadership Team

The March Lord is a relaxed fellow and hardly the authoritarian his detractors claim. Unfortunately he's so lax that many of his underlings and the Templars of Lough get away with brutalities the March Lord would certainly not condone. The March Lord is bald but wears a fairly nice wig, the wig tends to slide back on his head at times exposing a large expanse of forehead but most courtiers are kind enough not to mention it.

Cult of Lough Leadership on Thule

The Cult of Lough, pronounced "Law" is a monotheistic religion akin to the worst of the Catholic Church during the Inquisition. They justify their harsh attitude with sermons about the dangers of Chaos and the use of Magic opening up rifts and destroying worlds. They 100% believe this threat is real.

Old Faith Leadership on Thule

The Old Faith leadership can also be found in any settlement on the island. The Old Faith is a polytheistic religion. The major deities have their own priesthoods that all report up to High Priestess Gwenda.

Rebel Leaders on Thule

The Rebel leaders can be found in any settlement on the island. They are more involved in criminal enterprises and money-making than actual rebellion. Primarily this is because the Templar and March Lord's men could swiftly wipe them out if they put their minds to it. The people of Thule love the rebels and have an overly romanticized view of them.

Thule Island - [0202] Helpeak Fortress

Helpeak

Helpeak Fortress is the mountain home of the Church of Lough Order of the Sisters of the White Shield. The Castle defends the settled southern parts of Thule Island from the more rugged north. The castle is built up on a spur of limestone, there are said to be five levels beneath the fortress itself but if this is true someone else will have to document them.

View from the Residence looking South to Main
Bastion with Hospital on left and offices on the right

Ealfa Callouts

[1] Moat Wall - The first line of defense intended to protect the skywalk. The lower level of the wall contains barracks in the towers and stables.
[2] Skywalk - A walkway/drawbridge a hundred feet above the section ditch.
[3] Residence - The dorms where the Sisters live. The Residence building has kitchen facilities and remarkable views across most of Eastern Thule.

Cut-away of Bastion,
viewed from West

[4] Western Offices - The officers of the order do their work here, at least what work there is.

[5] Hospital - The Order is best known for their hospitals which care for the sick and injured of all religions (although non Lough Worshipers in need of medical attention are not encouraged). A large cistern appears in the East Tower near the center of the hospital.
[6] Main Bastion - This fortified section of the main complex. This area is always occupied, well provisioned, and the gates are usually locked.

Note - Ealfa castle is based on Burg Wildensteain (Leibertingen) I found so many images of that beautiful castle I couldn't help myself.

Thule Island - [0202] Gatefell Baths

The Gatefell Baths is a temple complex dedicated to Lustria the Goddess of Love. One of the few deities in the Old Faith that is known beyond the confines of Thule Island. Everyone loves the Priestesses of Lustria, well almost everyone. The Clerics of Lough (Reformed) are a bit prudish and generally religiously intolerant and have tried to shut down the temple on more than one occasion.

Four or five years ago the High Priestess of Lustria befriended the Church of Lough Order of the Sisters of the White Shield (providing free services at the complex). She agreed to allow the Sisters of the White Shield to enjoy the baths and other treatment in exchange for keeping their main order from shutting down the complex. Since then more than a few male Templars have also discovered the joys of a hot bath and treatments at the Gatefell complex and Lustra Priestesses have become so popular the Templars  have practically rebranded Lustria as a Saint of Lough

The complex is atop a mountain escarpment. There are five thousand steps to get to the top. Most people ride in one of the mule caravans as horses are uncomfortable on the thin path. The complex is overflowing with flowers and lush plants provided by Lough worshipers who are unable to donate to the temple.

How the Baths Work

A cut-away of a bath. Note there would typically be a wall
between the bather and the fire which retains the water.

The temple is famous for its hot and cold baths, steam baths, private pools, but mostly the personal attention from the Priestesses (and a few Priests) on staff. The baths have been called a man-made wonder of the world.

Most of the baths are built with a chamber beneath that allows for temperature controlled air to heat or cool the water. In order to cool, there is a shaft down deep into the limestone which provides natural chilly air. For the heat roaring fires are provided.

Gatefell Callouts

[A1] Caldarium - This room pair of rooms is heated using a furnace in the floor below. The room to the West is the steam room. This room has a lewd statue of Lustria and benches along the edges. The Eastern room has a very hot pool. 

[A2] Frigidarium - This room is cooled by a shaft down into the limestone that naturally produces a 60 degree airflow that is further chilled by storing ice in the shaft during the winter. The constant cold air reduces the temperature in the frigidarium pool to uncomfortable levels.

[A3] Tepidarium - This pair of rooms is kept at a very comfortable temperature. The room to the Eest is the contemplation room. This room has a conservative statue of Lustria, plants and flowers everywhere, and lounge chairs for relaxing. The Eastern room has a nice temperature pool. 

[A4] Bathing and changing rooms. The priestesses of Lustria provide sponge baths to worshipers in these rooms, removing dirt and grime before worshipers enter and otherwise pollute the pools.

[A5] Kitchen and restooms. The kitchen is on the West side, a pantry and supplies in the center, and restrooms on the East.

[A6] Living area and hospital. The long North/South room is the hospital. Unlike a modern hospital this one is simply beds for patients. The other rooms are for guests. The Priestess live on the floor below.

I really need to make the map bigger and more detailed

Thule Islands - [0203] Ealfa Castle

Ealfa Castle is the home of the Church of Lough Order of the Sisters of the White Shield. The castle is built up on a spur of limestone known as the white ridge, and is well positioned to defend the settled southern parts of Thule Island from the more rugged north. There are said to be five levels beneath the fortress itself but if this is true someone else will have to document them.

The temple and settlement around it is basically an armed camp. Templers patrol the coast road all the way to Alesford. They also make regular forays into the wilds looking for trouble. 

The templars have developed a working relationship with the Priestesses of Lustria at the nearby Gatefell baths, a relationship that has eased tensions between the Imperials and Keltoi on Eastern Thule. The Templars of the White Shield are known unofficially as the Defenders of Lustria.

White Peak

The top of the white ridge is known as the White Peak because of the two major buildings, the White Castle and the White Cathedral were built out of the brightest limestone that could be mined from the ridge. The White Peak is filled with worshipers on Saturday when the gates are opened to all who want to enter the White Temple, other days only the Sisters of the White Shield and employees are found.

[A1] The White Castle - The castle headquarters of the Order of the Sisters of the White Shield. The castle has a number of offices and a long dorm and houses 50-100 sisters at any time. There are also over a dozen support staff (cooks, cleaning staff, etc). The Sisters are well known for over-indulging in drink.

[A2] The White Temple - Temple of Lough built from the white limestone and can be seen from miles away. The top of the tower has a prayer room with no roof that is used for personal prayer to get closer to Lough. On Saturdays the Temple is filled with the Sisters of the White Shield who occasionally get so worked up they flagellate themselves.

White Castle and White Temple

The Ledge

Most visitors to the Ealfa settlement stay int eh Dorms or at Hakkon's house waiting for their chance to visit the White Temple on Saturday.

[B1] Pilgrim's Dorms - A set of Dormitories built to house Clergy of Lough visiting the White Temple. 

[B2] Hakkon's House - Hakkon was a rancher who has retired and converted his home to a semi-temple to handle Priestess of Lustria who have set up a temporary temple and bath house of Lustria. He also brews a reasonable ale and supplements the Dorm kitchen with vegetable dishes cooked up by the Priestesses of Lustria.

[B3] Lough's Overview - This open platform has an amazing view of the forests to the East.

The Area known as the ledge

Lower Ealfa

Lower Ealfa is filled with Keltoi craftsmen that do all the things a settlement of this size needs. The area is remarkably free of the criminal element that would normally prey upon pilgrims because the Sisters of the White Shield treat criminals very, very harshly.

[C1] Farmers Market - The market takes place in the white cobblestone street. The market is open every Saturday. 

[C2] Horse & Hound Inn - The inn has a stable in back and five rooms for visitors. It Haakan makes an amazing ale that he primarily sells to the Sisters of the White Shield. He makes enough to keep his common room filled with locals and travelers.

[C3] Public House, Godwins - A public house favored by pilgrims and locals.

Lower Ealfa

Thule Island - [0101] Dagru Castle

Dagru Castle

Dagru has a Keltoi population with a number of Imperial rogues and seamen. The town is run by a Keltoi noble who keeps the place from becoming too rebellious. The town has market three days a week and on special occasions and must be renewed by the March Lord every year.  Dagru is known for the pale white dolmans on the Hills to the East. The dolmans were once a major pilgrimage destination for those of the Old Faith but not so much anymore.

Dagru, The Keltoi Town

Dagru with Callouts

[1] Dagru Castle - A free-standing keep with connecting gateshouse (hidden by the keep). The keep dates back prior to the crusade and is embarrassingly old.

[2]  Temple of Pallas Regina - The largest temple of the Old Faith on Thule Island. The complex includes a dorm for the Priestesses.

[3] Temple of Lough - A relatively small one as far as those things go. This is considered a punishment post among the Lough Clergy on Thule Island. The staff is made up primarily of those that have offended their superiors in the Church in some way. They bend over backwards to avoid offending the Old Faith because they are so vastly outnumbered in Dagru.

[4]  Mill - The mill grinds grain in exchange for 10% of the grain. The miller works with one of the large merchant houses in Cambria to sell the excess grain. The mill is built within the old Temple of Pallas Regina that has been refurbished. The mill works using a donkey to turn the mill wheel. The system is antiquated but the miller says the mill was blessed by the previous High Priestess of the Old Faith when she sold the temple to him. This is a lie to justify his thrift but one nobody is willing to challenge the lie, instead it has filled the locals with great pride.

[5]  Dagru Inn - An inn that caters to sailors and travelers. The inn is built inside an old warehouse so that it is excessively spacious and often houses dances, weddings, and other events. The inn is the center of town society the way a Church would be in other areas. Dagru Inn tolerates Imperials and foreigners.

[6]  Wulfric Public House - A public house favored by locals who don't want to see or hear Imperials or foriengers.

Dagru Castle