Shenadun
Location: Kingdom of Chybisa
Holder: Sir Lardis Ceselryd
Liege: Baron of Caermel, Sir Jebril Rythal
Population: Village 155; Manor 24
Shenadun is a manor northeast of the town of Burzyn in the kingdom of Chybisa. The settlement lies in the fertile Ulmerien Valley. It is one of the largest manors in the kingdom, numbers thirty-three households to date and is growing steadily. Being a frontier settlement adjacent to the territory of the dangerous Pagaelin barbarians, it is heavily fortified and everyday life is largely concerned with security measures.
History
The first humans in the region were Jarin settlers who arrived around 1200 BT. They cleared large portions of the thick forests to practice agriculture on the rich fertile ground of the Ulmerien valley. These early inhabitants fought alongside the Sindarin King, Daelda, in the Atani wars against Lythian invaders. Due to its position north of the Ulmerien river, the settlement escaped the ravages of the first years of conflict.
This changed in 683 BT when the barbarians crossed the Ulmerien and occupied the area between the river and the Anadel Mountains. The savage hordes plundered and pillaged the settlements in the region, driving out or killing all Jarin who had remained, before they were defeated by the army of King Daelda in the Battle of Sorrows several leagues further north.
The scattered and disorganized barbarians moved south, burning anything in their path as they left. When the Sindarin renounced their sovereignty over Hârn after the death of king Daelda, the Ulmerien valley was lost. The resistance of the remaining Jarin proved futile and they were overrun and assimilated by the Lythians who settled in the Ulmerien valley.
Shenadun was part of several petty kingdoms which rose and fell during
the next several centuries. It quickly succumbed to the Melderyni knight
Shobald, who arrived in 160 TR.
After several years of good weather, an increased barbarian population
went on the rampage when a return to more normal weather led to food
shortages even as an expanded Gargun population pushed them from their
traditional hunting areas.
Chybisa, with its rich soil and full granaries was the natural target of
the hungry tribes. Only its position near the center of the kingdom
allowed Shenadun to escape the worst havoc of the Pagaelin. Chybisa lost
nearly two thirds of its territory. Shenadun, once close to the center of
the kingdom, now became a frontier settlement. Fortunately, the next
centuries were relatively peaceful. To avoid provoking the tribes, the
kings of Chybisa refrained from attempting to regain the lost territory
so the new frontier stayed calm.
The next crisis arose when Chybisa became involved in the Treasure War
in 675 TR. The lord of Shenadun perished in the first major battle, when
the Chybisan forces north of the Ulmerien were routed by the Kaldoric
army. The Chybisan King Balesir withstood a siege in Burzyn for three
years before surrendering and being exiled to Melderyn.
During the occupation, the manor came under the control of a Kaldoric
mercenary knight, Raelf Gwantir, who began the first stone fortification
in Shenadun. The stone tower was nearly completed when King Balesir
returned from Melderyn with an army and defeated the Kaldorians in the
Battle of Geda.
Barian Ceselryd was made the new lord of Shenadun after Balesir's
victory in 687. He rebuilt the village and the manor and completed the
tower in 692. When the havoc of the war was finally overcome, he tried to
expand his holdings further east, founding a satellite village in
714. This proved to be a fatal decision as it provoked conflict with the
local tribes. Barian was killed by the Pagaelin in 716, and succeeded by
his son Lardis, who now governs the fief. Sir Lardis improved the
fortification by building a wooden palisade and a moat.
Government & Law
Sir Lardis rules with a firm but reasonable hand. He holds a monthly
court and hallmoot. He occasionally takes advice from his mother, and
usually consults the priests on religious matters, but ultimately follows
his own judgment.
Justice is harsh but mostly fair and tends to favor villagers over
outsiders. Laws are vigorously enforced. Punishments for residents mostly
consist of fines or extra work days. Corporal punishment, carried out by
Sir Lardis' man-at-arms, is relatively rare and generally reserved for
outsiders. Sir Lardis is exceptionally wary of anything that threatens
his villagers or questions his authority. Trespassing on the fief is
unwise, especially for armed travelers. Any stranger is likely to be
stopped and questioned by the frequent mounted patrols. Pagaelin raiders
or brigands can expect to be hunted down and butchered mercilessly.
Since the great majority of tenants are serfs the lord is the only
authority over most of the population. While the few freemen could
theoretically call upon the king for justice, no one has disputed Sir
Lardis' judgment so far, and no one seems to be keen to be the first one
to try.
Economics
The Ulmerien valley is one of the most fertile regions on Hârn. The
villagers grow wheat, barley, rye and oats in the fields and all sorts of
vegetables and a number of herbs in the gardens. The large orchard yields
apples and cherries. Large herds of livestock are kept, including cows,
sheep and swine. Bees are kept for the honey. Wheat, oats and surplus
animals are sold on the market in Burzyn and generate considerable
income.
Shenadun is clearly a village on the rise. The fief is large and could
easily support a village of double the current size. Sir Lardis actively
and effectively supports local business, but the greatest problem to date
is a general shortage of labor.
The Miners' Guild
Shenadun is an important link between the miners in the Anadel Hills and
the trading center in Burzyn. The Shena Creek is usable for river barges
only between Shenadun and Burzyn, so the metal is brought from the mines
to Shenadun with mules and then shipped by barge or boat to Burzyn. The
village inn serves as a hostel, offering special prices for guildsmen.
The Trappers' Association
The eastern wilderness offers rich possibilities for trapping and
hunting but is dangerous due to the presence of the Pagaelin and the
Gargun tribes of the Chindra. The local trappers have banded together for
better cooperation and security. They pay an annual license, half of
which goes to the king, in addition to the obligation to sell all pelts
to the lord. The trappers also keep an eye on barbarian activities and
serve as scouts in the militia. In return the lord provides basic
security for their families and military support in times of need.
The trappers have built several fortified lodges in the Anadel Hills
which they use as sleeping places and to prepare their pelts before they
transport them back to Shenadun.
Several younger trappers, who don't have families, use Shenadun manly as
a place to cash in their pelts and buy supplies. The innkeeper provides a
reserved dormitory for them in which each trapper has his own sleeping
place and trunk.
Local Events
All holy days of Peoni and Larani are properly celebrated in
Shenadun. Additionally, there are three local feasts that are unique to
Shenadun, though several other settlements in northern Chybisa hold their
own variations of these festivities. The village festivals are among the
few occasions poorer peasants get the chance to eat meat.
The Shenafest
This festival is held in the spring, usually around the 1st of Peonu, to
celebrate the end of winter. It includes dancing, romancing and many
well-meant attempts to create or recitepoetry and a feast.
The Roundshield Tourney
Once every year on the 1st of Larane the village militia and yeomen
demonstrate their ability in local drills and competitions. This includes
a general alarm rehearsal, formation training and contests with lance and
spear for the horsemen and stick-fighting, wrestling, spear throwing and
archery for the yeomen and members of the militia. Winners of each
contest receive prizes from the lord and the day is ended with a common
feast.
The Pig Chase
This festival is held in the fall, when surplus pigs and livestock are
driven to the market of Burzyn to be sold. The village children are
allowed to select a young pig that is greased in fat and then driven
through the village, usually with much clamor, until it is caught and
finally ends in the hands of the manor cook, who then slaughters it and
prepares it for the evening feast.
Military
Being a frontier settlement on a potentially hostile border, Shenadun
has a large garrison, formed by the members of clan Ceselryd and the
yeoman clans Garwen and Ertgen. The lord himself and his cousin Sir
Torald are equipped as heavy horsemen. Backed up by Sir Lardis' squire, a
mounted man-at-arms and a mounted yeoman, this small cavalry force is
very well suited to patrol the even fields and meadows that comprise most
of the fief. Three yeomen light footmen, one medium foot and one yeoman
archer make up the remainder of the professional soldiers in the
settlement.
The militia musters 36 unarmored footmen and roughly two dozen archers,
several of whom are women. Training days for the militia are on the
Laranian holy days, the 5th and on the 15th every month. None of the
serfs is allowed to own any weapons. The arms and equipment are kept in
the lord's armory and handed out only on training days or with special
permission.
Sir Lardis' view on feudal law is that no privilege comes without a duty
and vice versa. Consequently, he expects all freemen, who wish to retain
their right to bear arms, to actively participate in the defense of the
fief. Staying out of trouble is the only privilege that serfs have, so
they can expect to be spared from dangerous duty unless the village
itself is attacked. The freemen, on the other hand, may be called upon at
need.
The Archers
Shenadun has a large force of reasonably trained archers, due to the
activities of Elfred of Velarsin. In the event of an
attack on the manor, these men and women will man the battlements of the
tower and the gatehouse while the militia mans the palisade.
Religion
The religious climate is typical for Chybisa. The nobles and soldiers
worship Larani, represented by the lord's chaplain. The lord visits the
main temple in Burzyn only during the feast of Saint Ambrathas, on the
17th of Larane. Normal services are generally held at the shrine in the
manor.
The village chapel is dedicated to Peoni and maintained by an Ebasethe
(priest) from the Irreproachable Order. Most peasants worship the Lady of
Labor and the services are generally well attended.
Several of the craftsmen worship Ilvir and meet regularly in the house of the woodcrafter. Sarajin is worshiped only by the
blacksmith, who travels to Geda every year to celebrate the Ilbengaad
Festival and the Bjarri's Feast there.
The worship of Agrik, Naveh or Morgath is proscribed and punishable by
death. Other churches are tolerated but frowned upon.
The Pagaelin
While the current king, Verlid VII, has followed a policy of both
appeasement and intimidation towards the Pagaelin tribes, the position of
the Ceselryds is quite clear: if Chybisa is to survive, the Pagaelin have
to go.
Individual barbarians who come to trade are allowed within the
settlement, although they are never left unguarded (a reasonable
precaution, given the unpredictable and treacherous nature of the
tribes). Armed groups of two or more tribesmen are considered raiders and
will be attacked without warning.
Given the fact that the only thing the Pagaelin recognize is display of
superior strength, this treatment has not failed to achieve the desired
effect. The last incursion occurred in 717, when a half a dozen
drug-frenzied tribal warriors attempted to rape a young serf woman. The
girl managed to get away and to raise the alarm. The barbarians were
caught in the open fields and slaughtered by the lord and his men. Their
bodies were hanged from the trees along the manor border to rot. The
Pagaelin obviously got the message and have not attempted any further
raids since then. Needless to say, the Ceselryds have made few friends
among the tribes, but friendship is an alien concept to Pagaelin society
anyway.
The situation is drawing towards an acute crisis in 720 again due to the
fact that the Oweor Ollinn tribe has moved its camp dangerously close to
Shenadun.
Clan Gwantir
The Kaldoric clan Gwantir have not forgotten their claim to Shenadun and
are determined to destroy the Ceselryds. Brenoir, the current head of
clan Gwantir, has sworn either to regain Shenadun or to raze it to the
ground. This is not necessarily an empty threat due to the fact that
several members of the Gwantirs are mercenary knights, leading an
ill-famed mercenary company called The Scarlet Gauntlet. Uthred Ceselryd,
the brother of Barian, was killed in a tavern brawl with Gwantir clansmen
in 697 TR while he was traveling to Tashal to buy horses. The Ceselryds
did not retaliate for fear of sparking another war with Kaldor and have
avoided traveling to Kaldor ever since Uthred's death was a painful
reminder that Kaldor and Chybisa are, technically, still at war. While
bad health and a lack of interest have prevented Kaldoric monarchs from
pressing their cause in Chybisa, Kaldoric courts are unlikely to give
justice to any Chybisan nobleman. So the Gwantirs could raid Shenadun
whenever they wished and then retreat safely to Kaldor.
The Trading Post
Adventurous traders have maintained a trading post in the eastern
wilderness since before the treasure war. Since Sir Lardis regards this
as a foothold of civilization in the wilderness region, he has supported
the outpost and permitted trade to flow through Shenadun. He would act
quite differently if he knew that in truth the outpost is run by Navehan
augurs. See details in the section about the augur lodge.
Local Map Notes
The residence of Sir Lardis Ceselryd.
This large barn is used to keep the lord's personal livestock. It has an
upper floor where hay and straw are stored for winter fodder. During the
summer months it is also used as a sleeping place for laborers hired by
Sir Lardis to work the harvest.
This ditch is an ambitious defense project of Sir Lardis, who heard
about the defenses of the Thardic Fort Taztos from Elfred of
Velarsin. The ditch is planned to surround the whole settlement,
eventually rejoining the river, allowing access to the village only
through the ford or over bridges. The earth dug from the ditch is used to
form a crude rampart. The progress is hampered severely by the general
shortage of labor. Sir Lardis is very fond of the idea and tries to
acquire the necessary workforce by any means. Wrongdoers who commit minor
offenses usually find themselves digging here for many hours.
The only regular worker at the moment is Estmund of Doiber, a country
rogue who got caught poaching in the lord's forest. Sir Lardis threatened
to hang him, but he offered to accept work on the ditch as restitution
instead. Estmund can be seen digging fervently during all working days,
since the lord hinted that any sloppiness, let alone any attempt to
escape, might be taken as proof that Estmund has changed his mind about
the punishment.
While there is no doubt that Sir Lardis is serious about his threat, he
is privately amused about the situation and will likely offer Estmund
some acres of unfree land once the ditch is finished.
1. Trapper (Aethelred of Meining)
Size: 3 Acres: 4
Aethelred is the spokesman of the local trappers. He spends much of his
time in the eastern wilderness, trapping and hunting animals for fur and
meat. His status is that of a village craftsman. He and the other
trappers are obliged to pay a license in the form of one pelt in five and
have to sell all their pelts to the lord.
A small chapel dedicated to the worship of Peoni. The village priest is
Ebasethe (temple priest) Meqon of Oppias. He is the good soul of the
village, being quite the ideal of a Peonian cleric - humble, good natured
and kind. Meqon is also a skilled physician and treats anyone for
free. Aside from the chapel, he cares for the Peonian cemetery that lies
half a mile north of the settlement [off map]. Whenever his spiritual
duties allow, he works in the fields with the rest of the villagers. He
is widely liked by the villagers and their lord alike and is also on very
good terms with the Laranian chaplain.
His greatest fear is a war with the Pagaelin tribes. Having heard many
rumors about the Solora Crusade and knowing the nature of the Pagaelin he
shudders to think how such a war is likely to be fought. Meqon's clan
name is due to the fact that he was left anonymously on the doorstep of
Bromeleon Abbey as a baby. He grew up in the abbey and became an acolyte,
eventually being ordained a Reslava (temple priest) in 714. He took the
clan name of the Pelnala (high priest) whom he regarded as his spiritual
father.
Meqon has never known his real parents. Since nothing is known about
them, he has considered it pointless to try to find them, since he does
not know where to start. During the recent months he has begun to wonder
whether he should try nevertheless.
Meqon is a down-to-earth character with little ambition for
adventures. He has, however, the humble bravery typical for Peonians and
will go through almost any ordeal to save the people in his parish. He
likes to be called "father" by the villagers and his attitude to them is
quite fatherly indeed.
Meqon quietly and patiently fights a constant battle against bad
harvests, disease and the hardships of peasant life to keep his flock
healthy and happy.
3. Miller (Caedmon of Helring)
Size: 2 Quality: *** Price: average
Caedmon makes and sells good quality hard baked bread, oat cakes and
biscuits. Caedmon's hard bread lasts up to two months if kept dry. He
sells a good deal of his products to the trappers and miners.
4. The Chestnut Stallion (Hergen of Lorn)
Size: 3 Quality: *** Price: average
Hergen opened this venture in 717. Plans and details on the inn are
given here. The small building next to
the inn is the brewery.
5. Blacksmith (Tjorge of Waarkens)
Size: 3 Quality: *** Price: average
Tjorge is a tall blond man of 36 years who hails from Orbaal. He came to
Chybisa as a companion of Kjal Forsetha in 708. After Kjal became the
baron of Geda in 713, Tjorge worked as his bonded metalsmith. He arrived
in Shenadun in 715, after he had to leave Geda due to a quarrel about a
woman with Kjal's bodyguard, Gaal Raldsyn. Tjorge lost the brawl but won
the woman in question, Elene of Losk, who married him in 716. The couple
still visit Geda on Sarajinian holy days, but try to avoid any
confrontation with Gaal.
In addition to his abilities as a blacksmith, Tjorge has some skill in
making and repairing weapons. He occasionally repairs weapons for the
garrison and the militia and makes arrowheads for the archers. He pays an
annual fee to the weaponcrafter's guild for compensation.
Tjorge owns several weapons himself from his viking days. Since he is a
freeman and an active member of the militia, the lord tolerates this.
6. Woodcrafter (Werning of Gremlen)
Size: 4 Quality: *** Price: average
Werning is a pious worshipper of Ilvir, believing the craven lord to be
the protector of craftsmen. He considers himself to be a lay priest and
conducts religious meetings on holy days for the few villagers who are
willing to attend. Travelers who express any affection for Ilvir may get
discounts in Werning's shop and are invited to attend his religious
services.
He plans to undertake a pilgrimage to Araka-Kalai and is looking for
companions. He hopes to find enough to form a group large enough to brave
the perils of the trail.
Acres: 4 Size: 4
Henni is a simple man of 35. He is not too bright and tends to keep to
himself and his family. He and his wife have four children. His land does
not provide enough to support the family, but the constant demand for
workers allows him to make a living by working other peoples'
land. Henni's wife used to be the village alewife before the
establishment of the inn. The enforcement of the inn's monopoly on
brewing has been quite a blow to the couple, but since the law is on the
side of the innkeeper, there is nothing they can do about it.
8. Villein/Reeve (Gernet of Doerges)
Acres: 35 Size: 4
Gernet is the village Reeve. He is a responsible tenant officer, but
sometimes has the feeling that the villagers don't support him
properly. This is mainly due to the great popularity and skill of Fnorrek of Ganze. While tradition is on Gernet's side (he
holds more unfree land than Fnorrek) he privately assumes that many
villagers would think Fnorrek to be the better man for the job. Although
Fnorrek has never shown any inclination to become the reeve, Gernet feels
constantly under pressure to justify his position. He tends to be nervous
and irritable in Fnorrek's presence and quickly becomes defensive. His
relations with the woodward are also strained, due to the fact that clan
Ertgen has collectively voted against Gernet at his election. Only the
determination of the other clans to keep the influence of the Ertgens in
check allowed Gernet to be elected in favor of Putur of
Ertgen; Putur became the woodward instead. Since their offices demand
cooperation from time to time, this has led to irritations on both
sides.
9. Half-Villein (Birwen of Fertels)
Acres: 7 Size: 5
Birwen is a widower of 52. He caught a fever last fall and has been in
bad health ever since. His two eldest sons do most of the work and care
for their father and the younger children. The eldest daughter, Lisea, is
15 years old and both naive and curious. She pays too much attention to
older men, preferably those married to other woman, and will likely get
herself into trouble before long.
10. Villein/Beadle (Kalan of Meng)
Acres: 32 Size: 5
Kalan, the village beadle, is a loudmouth who brags and boasts all the
time. He seems to be completely unaware of his unpopularity that his
arrogance and his job bring him. His wife, Willa, is pregnant with her
first child. This is currently Kalan's favorite topic to boast
about. Other family members living in his household are his mother,
sister and a halfwit brother named Dim.
Acres: 4 Size 3
Lewin is a young man of 22 who is very unhappy with his social
standing. Born into serfdom, he resents all nobles. He is quite careless
and tends to speak his mind freely when drunk. This might earn him a
flogging if the lord should hear about it. Lewin makes his living as a
farmhand and by fishing in the Shena Creek. He has petitioned Sir Lardis
more than once for some additional acres but has been turned down due to
his attitude.
12. Hideworker (Urle of Irvenis)
Size: 4 Quality: *** Price: average
Urle was hired by Sir Barian as bonded hideworker in 712. Urle used to
be pretty frustrated with his situation, since he had much more work than
he had expected. Sir Lardis altered their contract in 718, giving him a
franchise under the obligation to buy all pelts from him. This has been a
benefit to both due to the fact that Urle's enthusiasm has increased
greatly since he gets a share of the profits.
Acres: 15 Size: 3
Sheas, 38, is the head of the yeomen clan Garwen. His father and uncle
were companions of Barian Ceselryd and were rewarded with their holdings
for their service during the war with Kaldor. Sheas is a cautious man and
tries to calm his cousin Meltin's desire for a war with
the Pagaelin, assuming that his family has more to lose than to win in
such a conflict. Nevertheless, he is a spearman and will do his duty if
his lord calls upon him.
14. Half-Villein (Hedir of Fertede)
Acres: 15 Size: 2
Hedir is an escaped slave from Tharda. He is a friend of Elfred of Velarsin, whom he came to know on a joint caravan
venture. The two arrived in Shenadun together. Hedir is not a very good
farmer and is constantly having trouble meeting his feudal
obligations. Being a former domestic slave, he has experience in managing
a household and has petitioned the lord to give him more organizational
tasks.
15. Villein/Herder (Fnorrek of Ganze)
Acres: 34 Size: 5
Fnorrek is a wealthy peasant due to his great skill both as a farmer and
with animals. His wife, Fella, is pregnant with her fourth child. Fnorrek
has an outgoing personality and is widely liked. Many would like him to
take the office of the reeve, but Fnorrek is very happy with his work as
a herder.
He tries to get along well with the other tenant officers, but his
relationship with the boisterous Kalan of Meng and the
quarrelsome Gernet of Doerges tends to be cool
nevertheless. He is on good terms with the Ertgen clan and a close friend
of the .
16. Half-Villein (Piter of Ertgen)
Acres: 17 Size: 4
Piter has an enormous fear of weapons and combat noises due to a
disturbing experience. As a child, Piter and his family were attacked by
a gang of Pagaelin while working in the village's fields. Piter's father
lost an arm to a tribal axe while defending his children. Even having to
touch a weapon makes him sweat and shudder. Piter has begged to be
excused from militia training on frequent occasions, sometimes sending
his sixteen year old son to replace him. Sir Lardis has tolerated this on
condition that Piter spends the practice time digging at the ditch on
training days.
17. Villein (Joshua of Kandelg)
Acres: 28 Size: 8
Being a successful farmer, Joshua has no problem feeding his large
family. His wife is pregnant with her seventh child.
18. Yeoman (Elfred of Velarsin)
Acres: 27 Size: 3
Elfred hails from Moleryn in the Thardic Republic. Being a former
legionnaire, Elfred mustered out after eight years of service as an
archer in the Ramala legion. He spent several years as a mercenary,
hiring as caravan guard on the salt route and other expeditions. Being
tired of the life on the road, he convinced Sir Lardis to take him into
his service when the two met in Burzyn in 718 TR. While Sir Lardis would
have preferred a longbowman for the job, Elfred's experience in fighting
barbarians just as in drilling inexperienced recruits gave him an
advantage. He has a dozen men of the militia under his command, whom he
has trained to become archers. With the lord's permission, he has allowed
several of the women to participate in the training, with the result that
the village could muster about two dozen reasonably skilled archers.
Elfred, in the self-sufficient tradition of the legion, also has skills
as a fletcher and bowyer. The adjacent building next to his house is a
workshop where he makes bows and arrows.
19. Half-Villein (Niak of Ertgen)
Acres: 12 Size: 4
Niak is the brother of the woodward and the cousin of
Haran and Nuro. He is thoroughly
impressed by Nuro's change into a freeman and has started to dream of
freedom himself. He has greatly increased his participation in the
militia training, hoping to be offered a position among the yeomen if any
"vacancies" occur. His wife is currently working on a quilt gambeson for
him made from homespun cloth and straw.
Acres: 4 Size: 1
Beorn is a recent arrival in the village. He worked as a free farmhand
for a season before being offered some tenant acres by the lord. Sir
Lardis has promised to increase his status to half-villein if he wants to
marry. Beorn is currently looking for a suitable match.
Acres: 31 Size: 4
Haran is the younger brother of Nuro and has inherited
their father's land in his stead when Nuro became a yeoman. Haran is an
active member of the militia, but otherwise prefers to live a quiet life.
22. Half-Villein (Klort of Kandelg)
Acres: 13 Size: 5
Klort is a notorious gossiper. He and his wife seem to spend most of
their spare time spreading or picking up rumors. A saying goes that
nothing can happen between Meldun and Burzyn that the Kandelgs don't
know. Klort is a regular visitor of the inn, especially if visitors from
outside the village are present. He can be a useful source of information
if one has the patience to listen to him.
Acres: 13 Size: 2
Meltin, 23, is the younger cousin of Sheas. A restless
and aggressive man, he has a profound hatred for the Pagaelin and hopes
that open war is waged against them soon.
Acres: 7 Size: 5
Nial is an aging woodsman of 53. He is beginning to become less willing
to risk his neck in the wilderness and has petitioned Sir Lardis to give
him some more freehold acres. The lord has offered him 10 serf acres, but
Nial does not wish to give up his freedom so lightly. He hopes to
convince Sir Lardis to give him enough freehold acres to retain his
status.
25. Trapper (Bardek of Thelgan)
Acres: 4 Size: 6
Bardek, 23, has taken over the household from his father, who did not
return from a hunting trip to the northern Anadels in 718. After a year
his father was declared dead and Bardek became clanhead. Bardek believes
that his father was killed by Pagaelin and has developed a burning desire
for revenge. It is rumored that he has killed several tribesmen in the
wilderness.
Acres: 4 Size: 5
Jenas, 26, arrived in Shenadun in 716 as a free trapper. He took this
residence when he fell in love with a village girl. The two married in
717 and have three children. In truth, Jenas is an agent from the Navehan
temple in Bejist, who was sent to Shenadun when the expansionist
tendencies of the Ceselryds became apparent. For details on Navehan's
activities see the section on the Augur Lodge.
27. Cottar/Herbalist (Lise of Garwen)
Acres: 3 Size: 4
Lise is a widow of 37, who lost her husband to a fever in the winter of
717 and now lives here alone with her three daughters. She is the sister
of Sheas. A skilled midwife and herbalist, she got her
training from her grandmother. Most women come to her when they need
treatment for ailments which they don't wish to reveal to the village
priest. Lise also knows about several illegal recipes, among them
sleeping droughts, poisons and potions to achieve an abortion. She is
very reluctant to reveal, let alone use, any such knowledge, as she is
well aware of how quickly this might earn her an accusation of
witchcraft.
Acres: 22 Size: 5
Nuro, often called "Nu-hru" by his friends, is a huge bear of a man of
7'2'' with heavy frame and enormous strength. Being the son of a villein,
Nuro was promoted to freemen status by Sir Lardis in 719 after he
defeated all of the lord's yeomen in a mock battle during the Roundshield
Tourney. Nuro is a natural in staff and spear fighting, mostly wielding a
heavy glaive in combat. He is fanatically loyal to Sir Lardis.
29. Half-Villein (Mechel of Jonel)
Acres: 20 Size: 5
Mechel traveled the lands as a bard for many years, before a wasting
disease robbed him of his once beautiful voice. All it is now is an
unpleasant croaking, barely audible enough for normal conversation. He
still owns and plays several musical instruments. His wife, Selina, has
learned to sing quite well over the years and together the two give
occasional performances at the inn or at village festivals.
30. Villein (Tarston of Meller)
Acres: 27 Size: 5
For three generations the Meller's were yeoman farmers of Shenadun. In
676 TR, the Treasure War and annexation by Kaldor left them bereft of
their status. After they had lost several clan members in the fighting
and Shenadun was taken by Kaldor, the Mellers accepted serfdom to be
allowed to retain their lands.
While some of his kinsmen are determined to win back their freedom,
Tarston is not unhappy with his fate. He has witnessed the example of
Nuro of Ertgen with interest, but is not too keen on
fighting himself. He is perfectly happy to live a quiet farmer's life.
His wife, Lwilleth, is one of the female archers. Tarston is not too
happy about her engagement in the militia, fearing that they both might
be drawn into a possible conflict between the manorlord and the
Pagaelin. Lwilleth has not heeded his advice, arguing that she would
rather be prepared if such a conflict should arise.
31. Villein/Woodward (Putur of Ertgen)
Acres: 33 Size: 4
Putur is the head of clan Ertgen and the village Woodward. While his
duties would theoretically include guarding the woods against poachers,
this duty is placed upon Shenadun's yeomen due to the dangerous proximity
of the Pagaelin tribes.
He works closely with the woodcrafter to provide timber
for maintenance of the palisade and to supply building wood. He also
controls the collecting of firewood by villagers, making sure that only
dead wood is taken.
Shenadun has a relatively few timber resources, as most of the fief is
pasture. Consequently, some of the lumber for building and firewood has
to be taken from the eastern wilderness to avoid exhausting the fief's
forests.
Putur organizes the felling of trees and their transport. Fortunately,
the Shena Creek is deep enough to allow tree trunks to be rafted to the
village. Otherwise the transport through the wilderness would be
hazardous if not impossible.
32. Yeoman (Freng of Ceselryd)
Acres: 65 Size: 4
Freng, 24, is one of the lord's horsemen and is distantly related to Sir
Lardis. Freng's father was lord Barian's cousin, and his family got their
holdings as a reward for helping to take Shenadun during the Treasure
War. Freng owns a warhorse that he supports from his large acreage. He is
very proud of his position and considers himself to be something like a
petty knight.
His wife, Leandre, fears for his safety while he is on patrol and has
begun to work on a ringmail shirt for him, sewing small iron bezants on a
leather shirt in the evenings. Sir Lardis has supported this initiative
generously by paying for the metal, which is supplied and worked by the
blacksmith.
Acres: 23 Size: 4
Peul, 45, is the cousin of Tarston. Unlike his cousin,
Peul resents the decline of his clan. He is very jealous of the
Ceselryds, particularly due to the fact that the war brought a great rise
in status and power to the Ceselryds, while it was the downfall of the
Mellers.
34. Half-Villein (Cleon of Meller)
Acres: 15 Size: 5
Cleon, 37, is a widower and the brother of Peul. His
wife died in childbirth in 717 TR. His father died in the Treasure War
and Cleon saw enough of the fighting not to regret his serf status. Much
to his dismay, his oldest son Jarald, 13, is determined to win back
freeman status. Jarald frequently trains with his uncle.
35. Half-Villein (Jodin of Melbes)
Acres: 13 Size: 4
Jodin is 35 and a recent arrival in Shenadun. Being a former Villein
from Torret Manor in Kaldor, Jodin fled with his family to Shenadun in
719 after killing one of the bailiff's men-at-arms, who attempted to rape
his eldest daughter. Jodin found refuge in Shenadun due to the feud
between the Ceselryds and the bailiff of Torret, Brenoir of Gwantir. He
still fears the Gwantir's revenge and has accepted serfdom right away to
make sure that his family is under Sir Lardis' protection.
This ancient hill grave is a legacy from the Jarin settlers who lived in
the area prior to the Atani wars. The nearby stream changed its path over
the centuries and started to undermine the structure. A recent heavy
rainfall has caused a partial collapse of its chambers. A search by the
villagers, supervised by Sir Lardis and the yeomen, has revealed several
interesting findings. The mortal remains have been reburied on the
village cemetery (off map in the northern woods).