The City of Eversham
Introduction and Background
The main city where much of the first part of the campaign takes place is a sprawling metropolis. It is one of the oldest cities in Ticetia. It was established as a town by Royal Charter sometime between 575 and 600, and became a city in 896 when the castle was first commissioned.
The city sits upon the River Calund, which flows from the mountains in the east down towards Cellam in the south. There are two river crossings inside the city, the main one was established when the town was first established, and the second one dates from soon after, long before the town became a city. The westernmost bridge is the Calund Bridge, named after the river and believed to be the oldest crossing of this river that has been established by man. The eastern bridge is named the Hall Bridge, taking its name from the Callenhall Road which runs over it. This bridge was of wooden construction until 1397, when work began on a stone river crossing because the wooden one was becoming expensive to maintain.
The city wall was first built 967, and with only minor changes was maintained for two hundred years. Further works were undertaken in 1228 to extend parts of the overcrowded city. The work was only just completed before the plague hit in 1236, leaving the city somewhat empty. Now, however, the population has fully recovered, there is a bustling community both inside the wall and around it. There are a number of villages around the city, all reachable within a few hours walk at most, and there are buildings and developments appearing outside the walls, along the roads and in between the city wall and the castle. There has been some discussion about moving the city wall out some more, to provide protection to some of the new sprawl.
The City is the capital of the county of Nuneith, and is governed by Earl Reginald Browley, who took over his hereditary title when his father was killed in a hunting accident in 1405. Earl Browley is a young ruler, and has adapted well to the political games played by King James in his court in Cellam, to the south. The Earl's administration staff is made up of his chief scribe, Dominic Ewan and the Keeper of the Purse, Samuel Elineth.
Eversham sits among some of the most fertile plains of north Ticetia. It is a hub of farming activity, but also has an economy based on industrial processes, ores are smelted and metals worked on the output of the mines around Ireby to the east, and there is a healthy wood industry, with logging from the Hallow Wood to the west. A wide range of industrial and commercial business takes place, and this is further helped by being close to the seat of power for the feudal region.
Inside the wall, the city is divided into five administrational districts. North of the river, the western half of the city is the Calund district, which is north of the Calund Bridge, and the eastern half is the Hall district, north of the hall bridge. The houses in these districts can be very expensive to buy; both districts are domains of the wealthy. Between these two districts sits the City Square where the administration offices for the city are based, and where the big churches are located. Also on this square is the City Library, a privately owned venture which attracts the Earl's attention (and his favour).
South of the river there are three districts. To the west of the Ridstock Road is the Huldoth district; this is the poorest part of town, occupied mostly by labourers and the lowest classes. Also, to the north of this district is the main dwarf residence; that region has become known as the Dwarf Quarter. In the V formed by the Ridstock Road and the Callenhall Road, is the Vale district. This is the commercial heart of the city. There are several markets here, along with many shops and businesses, and the merchants seem to live in this region too. The last district is to the east/south of the Callenhall Road, this is the Woodend district, which used to be more up-market but seems to have become somewhat run-down over the last fifty or so years. Many peasants now live here.
The City has four main graveyards in the surrounding areas, but the main one (which is used by the rich) is off to the south-west of the city on top of a hill. This graveyard holds several large mausoleums, and has a gatekeeper living in the suburban village nearby.
Outline Map
Places of Interest
Where to Stay
The city has a range of inns and taverns for use by the general public, the main ones are:
The Man and a Half. Caters to all races (which is unusual) and is tidy, serves excellent beer, and is reasonably cheap. They are located on the Hallow Road, just north of the Calund Bridge, and have special rooms available for use by halflings and gnomes.
The Black Rabbit. An upmarket hotel, favoured by wine drinkers rather than beer drinkers, and hence appeals to the wealthier merchants, and is by the river in the Vale district, close to the commercial centre.
The Waters Edge. An inn aimed at water traders, being located near to western docks. It is mid priced, and is used by shipping captains and senior crew. It is also a commercial trading post; many a cargo has been bought and sold over a beer in The Waters Edge.
Molsons. Situated at the heart of the commercial section in the Vale district, the inn aims itself at wealthy commercial travellers. It has secure stabling for loads and prides itself on its cleanliness. It is more like a guard station than an inn with character, however. Its owner is Graham Molson, who at one time was a trader like many of his clients.
Brevins Hole. Dan Brevin runs a low-priced inn on the eastern side of the Huldoth district. This place is quite large, and caters for many lower-paid traders and travellers who move through the city on a daily basis. The inn specialises in twice weekly fights, despite the owner's attempts to keep a lid on things. This is also the place to find black-market contacts, and the occasional undercover Kings Guardsman.
Dovan Gravelly's Bar. "Dwarf drinking done the dwarf way" says the sign above the door. While it tries to be a truly ethnic experience, the bar falls short in the eyes of many dwarves. The bar does its best to perpetuate the heavy-drinking, axe-wielding, chainmail-wearing image of the dwarves in town, but as most dwarves will tell you, nobody does any of that in the delves. They might wear a the odd metal helmet while mining, but digging gets you hot, particularly when enclosed underground, so thin cotton or woollen clothes are required. And when at home, dwarves never drink till they fall over, in fact they drink very little. Still, the dwarf-beer served here is pale and refreshing, and is the only real ethnic experience in the bar. They do not serve wine.
Pale Mountain Inn. Designed especially for dwarves, with slightly lower ceilings and shorter beds, this is an up-market tavern aimed at the shorter races. They sell good enough beers, but they're located in the heart of the Vale district, quite a way from the dwarf quarter. The inn is aimed at the wealthier dwarfish traders that pass through the city daily, but it also finds itself handling many human traders who like to experience the ethnic dwarf charm. They are just round the corner from Molson's inn.
Primary Services in the City
The following Warrior Guilds have a base in Eversham:
Ticetias Warrior Guild: major centre just off the City Square, in the Hall District
The Guild of Warriors of Danethrae: in the training centre at the back of the church (that over looks the City Square in the Calund District).
Anbartaean Warriors Guild: still a part of the church buildings overlooking the City Square in the Calund District.
Fel-Khezran: new guild facility recently acquired in the Huldoth District, the northern part of this district is popular with dwarfs, and so this is the logical place to put their guild building.
Union of Hallow Wood Fighters: two buildings, one in the Vale district near the commercial centre, and a much more up-market institution in the Calund District close to the Hallow Wood Gate.
The Fighters of Eversham Guild: this has two locations in Eversham, the head office building is in the Hall district near the City Square, and it handles all the high level (15th level and upwards) fighter training, and it called the 'Advanced Academy'. The main guild facility is a large two-story building in the Vale district near the commercial centre.
The following popular Magic User Sects are also in town, but their locations are known only to wizards and sorcerers (and maybe the odd scribe). Also there may be other, unofficial groups.
Other services
Armour and Weaponry
Price's Armour. Stan Price makes standard armour at standard prices; his shop is at the south end of the vale district.
Varoncies Bespoke Armoury. Situated in the Hall district, just off the city square. Varoncies make bespoke, special armour, and work by appointment to the Earl.
Borghan Weaponry. Simon Borghan is the only weapon maker of any repute inside the city walls. Located in the Vale district, near to Price's Armour.
Grad McHammer's Armour Specialities. While supposedly a quality armour maker, Grad specialises in 'lightweight' armour for the discerning dwarf-about-town. These, he proposes, are 'fashion accessories', and generally offer little in the way of protection. The armour made here is only metal, mostly chainmail and the occasional suit of banded mail. Grad has also handled tailoring requests for one-off ornate platemail in the past. The armour itself is 1/3rd of the weight of normal armour, but is weak and so provides only 1/4 of the protection. Grad also supplies ultra-lightweight axes, which can be purchased for twice the price of a regular axe. These only do 1/2 the normal damage, but they weigh 1/2 as much as the real thing; they also break easily because of the lightweight materials used. This shop is located in the dwarf quarter at the north of the Huldoth district, near to the western docks.
Smithing and Transport
Buronwise Blacksmiths. Jake Buronwise's smithy is located in the Vale district near the river; he works in conjunction with Stober Cartwright, just around the corner.
Nelson Smithy. Situated in the Woodend district, along the Callenhall road, but Del Nelson spends most of his time 'in the field' helping out his customers beyond the city wall.
Stober Cartwright. Joe Stober's shop is on the Ridstock road in the vale district; he can supply blacksmithing services too, in conjunction with Buronwise, who are nearby.
Hungar's Husbandry. Robert Hungar trades mostly in ponies and horses, his shop is on the Ridstock road in the Vale district, but he also has animal pens outside the city wall.
Healing and Herbal Supplies
Coromis Apothecary. These are along the waterfront at the north of the Vale district. They provide all kinds of medicinal supplies.
Jenna's Herbal Supplies. Newly opened herbalist and apothecary, in the Huldoth district near the Ridstock Gate.
General Supplies and other services
Parkway Hardware. Sells everything from trail rations, to iron spikes; 10 foot poles to 50 foot ropes. While a general hardware store, they do sell much of what is considered 'general adventuring kit'. Located in the Vale district, on the Ridstock road 50 yards to the south of Murtharach's Scribe Supplies.
Murtharach's Scribe Supplies. Sell all kinds of inks, papers, parchments, and quills, with a wide range of qualities available for the discerning writer. On the Ridstock road, just south of the Calund Bridge, in the Vale district.
Joe Hewburt's Traditional Dwarf Delicatessen. With good supplies from the dwarves to the south, Joe keeps his shop well stocked with traditional dwarf food. He sells everything from edible lichens to dark mushrooms, and a wide range in underground-fed meats including poultry, venison and lamb. He also provides a wide range of fresh rats. The shop is located in the dwarf quarter, at the north of the Huldoth district, just off the Ridstock Road.
Sulo's Beard Platters. Joss Sulo is a hairdresser with a difference; he specialises in dwarf beards. While there is seldom any need to cut dwarfish hair, he provides an un-matting, de-tangling service, and can provide professional quality plaits. The fashion for dwarves to have unkempt hair in town seems to be changing, with a clean, well manicured look moving in among society dwarves. Joss Sulo is a human who has established a niche market; his shop is on the edge of the dwarf quarter at the north of the Huldoth district, on the Ridstock Road, opposite Murtharach's shop.
Library. Privately owned library, run by scribes from donations, and by membership. Upstairs is for members only. Popular with the Earl who also sponsors the enterprise from tax income. Located in the City Square.
Edgar Froggat's Hardware Repairs. This place claims to be capable of repairing anything, for the right price, of course. Edgar Froggat is clearly a jack-of-all-trades, and seems to have the knack of being able to get things going again, but seldom for long. His repairs are to a quality standard (that is never, ever, exceeded), and his prices are cheap. He has contracts with several of the city's traders to repair items for quick sale.
Surrounding Villages
Grigans Fen
South of the city, on the road to Ridstock is the small village of Grigans Fen, which nestles at the bottom of a slope. There is rolling countryside to the north of the village, and southwards is woodland. Around the village the ground is a little wet, with some marshlands to the north of the road leading off to the plains.
Places to stop:
- The Waggons Halt - once was a small private inn, not particularly clean, but sees a lot of use. The owners have extended the main building at least twice before, and a recent fire has brought another opportunity to expand further. Has a big stable and guarded storage for waggons.
- Single rooms: 4sp
- Shared rooms (for two people) 6sp
- Guarded waggon storage 6sp
- Stabling 3sp per beast
- Several suites available
- Guard Station - same as all guard stations, clean tidy but very basic. Rooms are expensive:
- Single Rooms: 6sp
- Shared rooms (for two people) 8sp
- Stabling 3sp per beast