Situated in the northwesternmost portions of the peaks of the Glorioles and their foothills, the fief of Malfurt is the gateway into the Sud Graufult from the south-central lands of Aerdy and regions to the east along the Greyflood and Thelly rivers. Presented here is a gazetteer of the settlements and sites found within this fief, although more than one isolated valley and monastary has been left out.
Author: Taras Guarhoth
Fief of Malfurt
by Taras Guarhoth (montand@canonfire.com)
Used with Permission. Do not repost without obtaining prior permission from the author.
Note: Small villages and hamlets dot the Sud Graufult. Many
of these are quite small (40 people or less), and thus won't recieve
any detail unless there's something significant there. Only those
settlements with over 100 people, or some kind of fortification
or adventuring area will be detailed. Also, unless otherwise noted,
each of the following towns and villages (providing they're not
a ruin) are assumed to have at least chapel dedicated to Pholtus,
most being of the Orthodox Church of the South.
Malfurt
Located at the junction of the Thelly and the Greyflood rivers,
Malfurt serves as the terminus for most trade headed to and from
the east and northeast. A ferry links this town with the city
of Kalstrand, and serves to transport goods and travelers. In
addition, the town helps support trade along the Thelly river,
as well as those shallow barges that will make the trip up the
Greyflood river. As such, the town is well situated to act as
the eastern gateway into the Sud Graufult, and profits as such.
The keep of House Mallosh, dating back to before the Aerdi
control of the area, dominates the city. This ancient structure,
currently ruled over by Waldgraf Azubah Mallosh, stands at the
western end of the town, and all travelers coming from the west
must pass beneath it's battlements. Inside the town can be found
the largest Harashim "quarter" in the entire Sud Graufult,
containing slightly less than half of the roughly 2100 inhabitants
of this town. This district takes up the bulk of the western parts
of the town, and several temples to the Harashim gods can be found
within it. Outside of the Harashim district can be found a cathedral
devoted of the Orthodox Church of the South, and smaller chapels
of both the Orthodox Church of the South and the Imperial Orthodox
Church.
A large number of inns and taverns (many of surprisingly low
quality) can be found in the town, especially in the riverfront
areas, where they are patronized by those who ply the river for
a living. As such, the riverfront areas are typically avoided
by the watch at night, and they comprise the most lawless place
within the town. Rumors sometimes circulate about secret tunnels
that connect to the sewers, allowing smugglers to easily transport
their illicit wares, but no one has been able to prove this.
An enclave of dwarves exists within the southeastern part of
the town, with over 100 of them living there. A small chapel to
Moradin stands in the heart of their small district, acting as
the center of the lives of the dwarves. The dwarves typically
act as middlemen, transporting precious stones and metals from
their kin within the mountains and hills to the south of the city
to the Harashim jewelers and gemcutters, although some is sold
directly to merchants for transport to other parts of the Sud
Graufult and Aerdy.
Kirchfurt
This village sits where the Zalar runs into the Thelly. A stone
bridge crosses the Zalar, and is guarded by a small keep housing
40 soldiers, under the command of Lansgraf Yeshal Mallosh. The
bulk of trade to and from the Trans-Thelly Territories passes
through this village and then on to Malfurt, although some does
come by barge.
The village contains a handful of inns, taverns, and shops
of decent quality, mainly catering to the bargefolk and the few
travelers headed to the east, which have been becoming infrequent
as tensions in that area rise again. Rumors have been circulating
about a beast haunting the hills to the south lately, although
none claim to have actually seen it.
Effeldorf
This village serves as a stop on the roads leading to Malfurt
from the rest of the Sud Graufult, and to the south of the village
is where the roads to Olvanstaadt-am-Graufult and Dwurmarkt separate,
the first heading off to Buchbrunn, the latter heading on to Fuchsstaadt.
A small fortified tower, under the command of Lansgraf Sharar
Mallosh, houses 20 soldiers who watch over this village, keeping
it relatively safe. Two inns serve to house those traveling along
the roads, but the only shop to be found carries only the basic
necessities, and to purchase any more requires one to travel to
nearby Malfurt.
Several miles to the north of the village can be found a handful
of docks and some huts and small houses, mainly used by fishermen
who help to support the village. Generally, these people keep
to themselves, although there are rumors of smuggling taking place
from here.
Fuchsstaadt
This village marks the point where the road between Dwurmarkt
and Malfurt crosses the Hielearch river at a ford. The road is
less traveled by merchants than the other roads of the region,
as the southern reaches of the fief of Malfurt tend to be rocker
and less inhabited than the other parts of the Sud Graufult. A
single fortified tower, housing 15 soldiers led by Lansgraf Sihon
Valshar guards the village.
A single tavern can be found in the village, and functions
as the general shop and rents it's common room out to the infrequent
travelers upon the road. Very few bother to stop here if they
can help it, as the village has very little to offer.
Hielearch
This village once was a place of pilgrimage by the faithful
of both the Imperial Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church of
the South. Within the abandoned monastery in the mountains above
the village was kept one of the oldest copies of the Book of Arnd
known to exist (the only copy known to be older is kept within
the vaults of Mentray, held by the Holy Censor). Today, the village
stands half empty, with few desiring to visit the place. Even
the local lord, Abbot Zalkar Rax, refuses to spend his time here,
preferring to spend his days in the court of Malfurt, trying to
forget his fief.
The 10 soldiers stationed here rarely ever leave the village
itself, and refuse to go near the monastery which is believed
by most to be haunted. The rare traveler finds no accommodations
here, as the few inns which existed in the village were abandoned
after the pilgrims stopped coming. Most of them (as well as a
number of abandoned homes) have nearly collapsed, although one
still stands, and is in decent condition, and serves as the headquarters
for the soldiers.
Two cathedrals stand within the village, one devoted to the
Imperial Orthodox Church and one to the Orthodox Church of the
South. Either one of them is much larger than is needed by the
village, especially in it's current state. The cathedral to the
Orthodox Church of the South is often mostly empty, catering just
to those villagers remaining and the rare pilgrim who makes the
trip to the village. The cathedral to the Imperial Orthodox Church
is mostly abandoned, with a single aged and somewhat senile priest
attending to it. The building is consequently in a poor state
of repair.
More on Hielearch Monastery.
Gnodfeld
Situated on the eastern bank of the Teshan, this village serves
as a stop on the Malfurt-Dwurmarkt road. A single inn exists within
the village, and one shop carries only basic goods. A fortified
tower is home to 10 soldiers, led by Lansgraf Jakan Mallosh.
A handful of peasants from the fief of Noshirat, across the
Teshan, have fled to the village, seeking refuge here after bandits
raided their hamlets. The Lansgraf is worried that they'll try
to cross the river, and attack the village under his command,
and has been drilling some of the stronger and more able looking
villagers as a militia.
Darbreit
This village sits along the road from Malfurt to Dwurmarkt,
on the eastern bank of the Teshan. The road crosses the river
at a ford here, and then continues south to Darstaadt-am-Teshan.
Three inns, none of exceptional quality, grace this village, and
two shops which carry basic supplies (and the occasional luxury
good) can also be found here.
A well-worn road leads up into the hills to the east of the
town, leading to a series of small hamlets and fortified towers
which watch over a small grouping of silver mines. Most of that
precious metal is then shipped down to Darbreit, where it then
travels to either Noshirat, Dwurmarkt, or Malfurt. As such, a
small keep protects the village (and stores the silver), with
50 soldiers guarding it, under the command of Lansgraf Nedabiah
Cranden-Guarhoth.
Roughly once a week, a shipment of silver will arrive in the
village from one of the various mines (the exact schedule varies),
and is often accompanied by a number of the miners, who take the
opportunity to spend a few days in the village inns getting themselves
completely plastered. Brawls are frequent, but deaths usually
never occur.
Overview of the Sud Graufult
Aerdy, Ahlissa, Sud Graufult, Sunndi
