Difference between revisions of "Hârn Adventure Dead of Winter"

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A Hârnic Murder Mystery

A stormy day in early winter. Gusts of wind whip up the powdery snow cloaking Ternu Heath in a mantle of white. A lone group of travelers hurries to a remote Laranian abbey to escape the merciless weather. The powers of fate have chosen them to become involved with a series of violent murders at the abbey.

Chendy is an abbey of the Laranian Order of Hyvrik, held from the Bishop of Ternula. Someone is killing clerics of the abbey. But why isn’t there a corpse to be found after each murder? Are there in fact really any murders, or is someone playing a devious game? Why are the other noble guests of the abbey so chilly and remote? Has the time of the final battle between Larani, the shining guardian of Dolithor, and Agrik, the Lord of the Four Horsemen finally come, fulfilling an ancient dark prophecy? In an atmosphere of fear, mistrust, political intrigue, and religious hysteria, the characters must discover the answers to these questions if they hope to survive.

Dead of Winter contains detailed descriptions of a Laranian abbey and village situated on the southern edge of the Ternu Heath in Kandáy. The complicated political situation in Kanday and the kingdom’s difficult relations with its neighbors influence the plot. Gamemasters will find this module a valuable aid when designing further adventures in western Hârn.

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Dead of Winter COL5041

• HârnManor COL5660
• Hârn
  • Kingdoms
    • COL5660 Kingdom of Kandáy ~ Kingdom Module

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• Avonel

• Dead of Winter COL5041 38 Pages ~ details of CHENDY (a rural secular Abbey) including Saint Aedan of Chison (abbey’s patron saint), and complete writeup of the population Abbey (31) and village (205).

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Introduction

A stormy day in early winter. Gusts of wind whip up the powdery snow cloaking Ternu Heath in a mantle of white. A lone group of travelers hurries to a remote Laranian abbey to escape the merciless weather. The powers of fate have chosen them to become involved in a series of mysterious and bloody crimes soon to take place at the abbey.

Someone is killing the clerics of Chendy Abbey. But why isn’t there a corpse to be found after each murder, just a pool of blood? Are there in fact really any murders, or is someone playing a devious game? Why are the other guests of the abbey so chilly and remote? Has the time of the final battle between Larani, the shining guardian of Dolithor, and Agrik, the Lord of the Four Horsemen, finally come, fulfilling an ancient dark prophecy? In an atmosphere of fear, mistrust, political intrigue, and religious hysteria, the characters must discover the answers to these questions if they hope to survive.

Dead of Winter is the first HârnMaster adventure module written by German authors. It contains detailed descriptions of a Laranian abbey and village situated on the edge of the Ternu Heath in southern Kanday. The complex political situation in Kanday and the kingdom’s conflict-laden relations with its neighbors, Rethem and Tharda, influence the plot. Gamemasters will find this module an invaluable aid to designing further adventures in western Hârn. The year, as always, is 720.

STRUCTURE

Dead of Winter consists of three parts. The first part describes the village and abbey of Chendy and their inhabitants. The second part contains a mystery adventure and a description of the current political situation in western Hârn. The third part is a glossary that briefly explains all the Hârn-specific names and terms used in this module. More detailed descriptions of these and other terms can be found in our base HârnWorld module and religion is covered in much greater depth in our HârnMaster Religion publication.

Like all HârnWorld modules, this publication is divided into separate articles that can be taken apart, three-hole punched, and placed in your own Encyclopedia Hârnica binder.

CHENDY

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Chendy is a prosperous Laranian abbey held by the Order of Hyvrik from the Rekela of Ternula. The abbey has approximately 2670 acres, including an attached village of the same name. It is located on the southeastern edge of Ternu Heath, a moorland in southwestern Kanday.

Chendy is located in Asolena hundred, one of seven districts in the shire of Selion. Sheriff Jens Demilaen, assisted by his Bailiffs of the Hundred, is responsible for security and administering the king’s justice in Selionshire. Only four of the hundreds have bailiffs; the hundreds of Lakane, Raden, and Tamsen are sparsely settled and are administered directly by the sheriff.

The sheriff maintains his seat at Avertu, a small town four leagues south of Chendy. The bailiff of Asolena has his seat at Asolen, two leagues south of Chendy but six leagues by road. Courts are held at regular intervals: every three months at the shire moot of Avertu, and monthly in the hundred moot of Asolen.

Of the 41 peasant families living in Chendy, five are freemen and 36 are serfs. The main difference between them and the freeholders is their legal status. The shire courts are open only to freemen. Serfs have no access to the king’s justice, cannot leave the land, and cannot marry or inherit without their lord’s permission. But serfs are not slaves; the land they work cannot be taken without lawful reason. Judicial matters concerning serfs are resolved by customary law at a monthly court administered by the manorial lord, in this case by the Serolan of Chendy Abbey. The Serolan also protects the serfs and provides help in case of crop failures, cattle epidemics, and the like.

HISTORY

Note: ADD TO History Chronology (Timeline) & Kandáy Chronology (Timeline)

The beginning of the Church of Larani in the Kingdom of Kanday is inseparably tied to the name of Saint Talroc (364-421). In 392, Talroc left his home temple in the Corani Empire to spread Larani’s teachings in the rising Kingdom of Aleathia. The intelligent and charismatic preacher was graciously accepted at the court of King Elana (393-409), gained the king’s trust, and converted him to Laranianism. Talroc became Elana’s closest counselor and convinced the king to demonstrate his faith by founding a number of temples and abbeys further the conversion of the nobility of Aleathia.

King Elana granted land as well as the privilege to fortify an abbey at Chendy to a group of Laranian missionaries around the year 400. By 407, a wooden motte and bailey castle had been completed.

The Corani Empire

After the conquest of Aleathia by the Corani Empire in 453, Chendy remained a holding of the Church of Larani. By the emperor’s decree, however, its fortifications were dismantled. Being situated in a remote area, Chendy was almost completely unaffected by the turmoil that shook the empire over the next century. The abbey was expanded and the wooden buildings were eventually replaced by stonework.

The Theocracy of Tekhos

Beginning in 558, the corrupt and tottering Corani Empire suffered a series of internal revolts triggered by the martyrdom of Balsha, a Morgathian prophet who preached a heresy of that dour religion. These events, known to history as the Balshan Jihad, culminated with the impalement of the last Cornani emperor in 565. A brutal struggle for power ensued until Horahnam of Tekhos emerged as sole leader in 568 and established a Morgathian regime that terrorized most of western Hârn for 20 years.

Chendy regained political and military importance during this time. It became a center of opposition to Tekhosian rule for almost two years, but succumbed to the holy warriors of Morgath in 569 after a heroic defense organized by Aedan of Chison (see: Chendy 3).

Chendy then served as a regional temple and barracks for the Tekhosians until the Theocracy collapsed in 588, although the abbey remained Morgathian until liberated by Laranians in 590. The few surviving Morgathians were burned at the stake. The rebels then razed the desecrated abbey complex so nothing would remain of the Morgathian presence.

Rebuilding

Chendy’s ruins remained uninhabited until 621, when Brun Daltene founded the kingdom of Edern and ordered the rebuilding of the abbey. The reconstruction was completed by 630. At the consecration of the temple, Aedan of Chison was canonized for his deeds during the defense of the abbey against the Tekhosians.

After the nearby strongholds of Sarkum and Hebon fell to Rethem in 689 during Ezar's War, King Rogryn II of Edern swore an oath of fealty to King Andasin III of Kanday. The small kingdom of Edern became a barony of the kingdom of Kanday. The strong relationship between the crown of Kanday and the church of Larani has benefited Chendy ever since. It is a wealthy abbey, with ambitious plans for expansion.

The New Serolan

From the second founding of the abbey in 621, the office of Serolan of Chendy was held by six consecutive members of clan Demilaen. With the death of Gweran Demilaen, a relative of the current sheriff of Selionshire, this tradition came to an end. The Rekela of Ternula ignored qualified candidates from clan Demilaen and appointed his sister, Iblis Milaka, as Serolan in 718.

The matakea of Chendy greeted this appointment with a mixture of indignation and skepticism. The young, energetic Iblis soon succeeded, however, in winning the respect and affection of most of the clerics. She has now firmly established herself as head of the abbey and is building her influence with the local nobility, although her efforts have been undermined by clan Demilaen whenever possible. The Serolan’s relations with Sheriff Jens Demilaen, needless to say, have been strained.

ECONOMICS

Rural abbeys like Chendy are crucial to the economic welfare of the Laranian church. The upkeep of the church’s higher dignitaries, their courts, and the temple guards consume vast sums. In addition, urban temples, which usually don’t own estates, are dependent on the money made in the country. Of its total income, Chendy abbey must pay two-thirds to the Rekela of Ternula.

Land Use

The economic structure of Chendy is similar to that found on secular fiefs. Excluding wooded areas, streams, and the space occupied by the village and abbey, there are about 1800 acres of land available for cultivation, half farmed out to tenants, half kept by the abbey as a demesne. Each tenant family holds an average of 20 acres. Freehold tenants pay an annual rent of 6d per acre; serfs provide four days labor per acre, which is used to work the abbey’s demesne. Only half of the land is actually planted each year; half is left fallow to rest the soil but also used as pasture for livestock.

The peasants survive by cultivating grain, mainly oats, rye, or barley. They supplement their diet and earn income from livestock pastured on the fallow land. Every peasant family owns some animals, generally sheep, goats, or pigs. Sheep are coveted not only for their wool, but also for their milk (from which cheese is made). Goats are raised mainly for their milk, and pigs as food. Most families also have chickens. The peasants cannot afford to feed newborn animals over the winter, so they are sold in late autumn at the markets of Avertu and Gimon.

Chendy Linen

The local soil has proven to be excellent for growing flax, which the tenants’ wives weave into linen. Chendy linen is well noted among regional masters of the Clothiers’ Guild for its fine weave and fetches aboveaverage prices. This lucrative trade is exploited by the abbey, which plants half of its available cropland with flax and pays tenants 1d per yard to convert the crop into linen.

Abbey Revenues

Chendy Abbey has an average annual revenue of £150, or 36,000d, two-thirds of which is sent to the Rekela of Ternula. This revenue is raised as follows:

Poll Tax: For every adult resident, serf or free, a poll tax of 3d is paid to the abbey on the first of Kelen. The abbey considers everyone above age 12 to be an adult. This tax yields about 400d per year.

Crop Revenues: From its available demesne, the abbey can cultivate about 450 acres per year. Half of this is devoted to grain crops and half to flax. The grain fields produce about 2,000 bushels, one-third consumed by the clerics and two-thirds by the abbey’s livestock as winter fodder. The flax fields typically yield enough flax to produce 6,000 yards of linen, sold for 3d per yard (wholesale) to provide income of 18,000d. The sale of apples and pears from the abbey’s three-acre orchard raises an additional 300d.

Wool: The abbey also owns a herd of 60 sheep, pastured on fallow land in the summer and kept in sheep pens about a league north of the abbey in winter. The sheep are sheared at the end of Nuzyael. The sale of about 480 pounds of raw wool earns the abbey around 1,920d per year. Newborn lambs are mostly slaughtered in late autumn for the abbey’s consumption.

Tithe: A critical source of income for the abbey is the tithe. Followers of Larani (most of the feudal nobility and some peasants) donate a tenth part of their income to the church. Because Chendy is the only Laranian temple in the hundreds of Asolena and Gimonae, the annual tithe yields about 12,000d. In addition, extra donations are always made by the faithful when they worship in the abbey temple.

Tolls and Taxes: Chendy is strategically located on the only road between Aleath and the ports of Hebon and Sarkum. This ensures a steady flow of merchant traffic through Chendy. The abbey has a charter from the king granting it the right to collect a toll from all non-residents entering Chendy. The abbey also receives annual license fees from the local innkeeper, miller, metalsmith, and woodcrafter, and taxes them 5% of their gross income. These toll and business tax revenues average 3,000d.

Saint Aedan Tournament

The Serolan of Chendy has sought to improve traffic by hosting a new annual tourney in honor of the abbey’s patron saint. The first such “Saint Aedan Tournament” took place last summer (2nd–4th Nolus). Attendance was not as high as the Serolan hoped, largely because the Sheriff of Selion refused to attend, but she is hopeful for the second event since the King of Kanday has agreed to come.

RELIGION

The region’s nobles are followers of Larani and strive to take part in a lay mass at least once a month. Matakea visit the estates of the region at regular intervals. This cultivates relations between the church and its followers and educates the young. Most of the peasants worship Peoni, the Lady of Industrious Labors and the Ripe Harvest.

The religious climate in Chendy is fairly tolerant. The churches of Ilvir and Sarajin are not banned, but missionary work and open displays of faith are widely suppressed. The churches of Halea and Save-K’nor are not very attractive to the rural population and have very few adherents. Worship of Agrik, Morgath, or Naveh is punishable by death, though banishment is more common if no other crimes are involved.

Saint Aedan of Chison (527–569)

The abbey’s patron saint, Aedan of Chison, came from one of the most distinguished noble families of the Corani Empire. At 16 years of age, he joined the imperial army. When the Balshan Jihad broke out in 558, he was a cohort commander, befitting his family’s rank. Although he led his men in many successful battles, it was a hopeless struggle. After the fall of the city of Coranan to the followers of Balsha in 565, the success of the Jihad could no longer be prevented. Aedan retreated to the southern province of Aleathia with the remnants of his cohort.

Aedan was present when Chendy fell into the hands of the Tekhosians in 569. He had lost all but a few trusted retainers in the ongoing struggle, and then retreated to the abbey, weary of bloodshed. In spite of this, he organized and led the defense when the abbey was attacked and made his name a legend. Driven by his heroism, the defenders, most of them matakea, fought and slew many of their foes.

Although their courage did not prevent the abbey from falling, the few who did escape owed their lives to the hero of Chendy. The Tekhosians took only one prisoner, Aedan of Chison, but it cost them dearly in lives to take him alive. Aedan was tortured and died a long and agonizing death in one of the Thirteen Degrees of Nyardath. Today, the holiest relic in the abbey is a battered and sword-scarred knight shield said to have been used by Saint Aedan in defense of the abbey.

Chendy GM MAP

CHENDY ABBEY

LOCAL MAP

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1 CHENDY ABBEY Church of Larani, Order of Hyvrik.

[A] Temple and Main House: See Chendy 6–8.

[B] Library: See Chendy 6–8.

[C] Guest House: See Chendy 9.

[D] Bathhouse: Three wooden tubs can be filled with heated water.

[E] Hospital: The hospital is situated apart from the other buildings. The healer, Torold Yisgaraen, and his assistant, Mirelael Travendy, work and live here.

[F] Graveyard: The graveyard is a typical Laranian gravesite. Here, inhabitants of the abbey and some local nobility are buried or entombed. The three-foot-high wall around the graveyard is built of unmortared stones. Each grave is marked by a memorial slab whose elegance depends on the deceased’s wealth and importance. They bear heraldic images that identify the clan, the name of the deceased, and the dates of birth and death. In the center of the graveyard is a stone chapel. In this 10’ by 30’ building, the dead are laid out before burial and the Ritual of Myrannon is conducted. On the far wall of the chapel, behind the altar, is a tapestry depicting scenes from the judgment of the dead. Beneath the chapel is the crypt of the six Serolani who have led the abbey since 621. The entrance is sealed by a 1600-pound stone slab.

[G] Ruined Mausoleum: The remains of what was, until 590, a Morgathian mausoleum lie just west of the graveyard. Today it is just a low mound, about two feet high, that resembles an ill-kept garden rockery, covered by weeds and bushes. For many years the site was considered holy by Laranians, serving as a memorial to their cherished victory over the Morgathians. This practice gradually ceased after all veterans had died. For details, see Chendy 10.

[H] Storerooms and Gardens: This cluster of three buildings is used for storage of garden and orchard produce, agricultural tools, and other assorted goods. The three vegetable plots are managed by matakea Gerin Haloren, the abbey chef.

[I] Stable and Barn: The larger building is a stable for horses, the other is a barn for oxen and goats. The abbey owns seven riding horses for the exclusive use of the masters. Two small coops for chickens and geese are shown just west of the stable, and a pig pen is southeast of the barn near the tall perimeter hedge. All livestock are managed by three matakea, assisted by ashesa.

[J] Keep: See Chendy 9.

2 MILLER (Restin of Morik) Size: 5 Quality: ✩✩✩ Prices: Average Restin operates a windmill. He grinds all Chendy grain in exchange for one tenth part. He sells this flour in the market at Avertu.

3 METALSMITH (Orhan of Lemra) Size: 5 Quality: ✩✩✩ Prices: High Orhan is a burly but gentle giant, almost seven feet tall, and well known as the strongest man in the village. His wife is near childbirth.

4 WOODCRAFTER (Bral of Kardy) Size: 4 Quality: ✩✩✩ Prices: Average Bral makes furniture, barrels, and the like, mostly for the abbey. He is competent when sober, but has not often been sober since the death of his wife last year.

5 THE RED HORSE (Nerthiad of Wisad) Size: 7 Quality: ✩✩✩ Prices: High Nerthiad runs the inn, assisted by his second wife, one daughter, and four sons. Two years ago, he married the miller’s daughter. This earned him the envy of all the village men, for she is the most beautiful woman in Chendy. Nerthiad’s eldest son, Graid, is considered the most eligible bachelor in the village. Nerthiad makes a decent living from merchant caravans and locals. Chendy has a charter to collect and receive the normal royal toll from all non-residents. This toll is 1d per man or animal. Carts and wagons are assessed according to the number of animals and riders involved. The tolls are collected by the innkeeper on behalf of the abbey. One of Nerthiad’s sons generally hangs about Aedan’s Ford to collect them.

6 CHAPEL OF PEONI Reslava Eudaf Lemra The chapel’s upkeep is provided by the villagers. Eudaf, the local priest, is disturbed by the conversion of some local peasants to Larani (especially his brother Orhan, the metalsmith) and his relations with the Serolan are strained. He regularly holds Lesser Sapelah for the faithful. Villagers are buried in a large graveyard that extends south to the woods.

GROUND FLOOR

[1] The Temple

(a) The Hall of Rituals

A three-nave basilica, divided into a central nave and aisles by two rows of pillars. The main entrance has a double door made of oak and reinforced by iron bands. The arch above the gate has an elaborate relief that shows saints gathered around Larani’s throne. In the west aisle is a winch to raise and lower the great chandelier.

The statues in the apse depict three important personalities of the abbey’s history. The statue on the right is of Saint Talroc, the one on the left is of King Elana of Aleathia, and the middle statue is of Saint Aedan of Chison. At the time the statues were made, the true appearances of these personalities were no longer known. The statues are therefore idealized depictions, recognizable only through symbols. Elana of Aleathia, for example, is shown to be a regent by his crown and scepter. His role as founder of the abbey is shown by the model of the temple held in his right hand. Saint Aedan of Chison bears a sword and shield. Saint Talroc can be recognized by his clerical robe and insignia. The statues beside the main entrance depict Larani in her two aspects: the “Lady of Paladins” (right) and the “Terrible Lady of the Flowing Red” (left).

(b) The Chapel of Saint Aedan

The temple’s chapel, consecrated to Saint Aedan, is entered through a bronze double door that is a masterpiece of craftsmanship and art. It is divided into six horizontal panels on which the chivalric virtues (generosity, honesty, modesty, courtly grace, bravery, and loyalty) are depicted with images of feudal knights.

On the altar is the reliquary. It was a gift from Queen Mirelael of Kanday to the church to thank Larani for victory in Ezar's War (682–697). The Serekela of Kanday brought the reliquary to Chendy to give Saint Aedan’s relic, his shield, a worthy home. The carved oaken shrine is trimmed with elaborate gold leaf ornamentation. The carvings show the best-known Knights of Tirith. The reliquary leaves the chapel only twice a year. It is displayed in the Hall of Rituals during the Chendy Tourney (2nd–4th Nolus), and on 13th Ilvin, the anniversary of Saint Aedan’s martyrdom.

Masses are rarely held in this chapel itself. It is primarily used for the Tirannon or for private prayers of the matakea. Worthy laymen (with the funds to make a suitable donation to abbey coffers) can get the Serolan’s permission to pray in the chapel.

(c) The Confessionals

The three confessionals are used by laymen for private prayers. In each, there is a small altar and a statue of the goddess Larani in her aspect of the Lady of Paladins. If a layman wishes to confess to a matakea, they retire to one of these rooms.

[2] The Council Hall

This hall is used for meetings of the Council of Five. Regular meetings take place once per tenday, on the 10th, 20th, and 30th of each month, and interim meetings are scheduled as needed. The hall is also used to teach ashesa classes on theology, canon law, and church history, most often during the winter months. On the east wall is a tapestry depicting the battle between Larani and Agrik in which Larani severed two claws from Agrik’s left hand. A portion of this tapestry is shown in the Introduction.

[3] The Refectory

All matakea of the abbey take their meals here, as do most guests. They are served by the ashesa, who then eat afterwards. The west wall is adorned with a tapestry depicting Valamin. The hall is heated by a large fireplace.

[4] The Kitchen

All meals for the abbey’s inhabitants are prepared here. The kitchen is operated by three matakea, all good cooks, assisted by ashesa, who do most of the washing and cleaning and who also serve the food. The chef is Gerin Haloren, a matakea at Chendy for more than 20 years. Delena Nesa is the abbey baker. She starts work three hours before the others so that fresh bread can be served for breakfast, but is excused from afternoon work. Oben Armis is mainly responsible for ensuring the larders are well stocked; he also brews ale, cider, mead, and fruit wines for abbey consumption. Duties in the kitchen tend to be unpopular with the ashesa, except in winter when it is the warmest place in the abbey. Several ashesa have been punished for sleeping in the kitchen on especially cold nights. Adjacent to the kitchen are two storage rooms that hold barrels of beer and wine as well as food for the everyday needs of the abbey. Oben often bemoans that the abbey does not have a proper wine cellar. So far, he has been unable to persuade Gerin, who dislikes all alcoholic beverages, to let him undertake its construction.

[5] The Library

The library is managed by Catlin Alean. He carries one of the two keys to the library door. The other key is kept by his immediate superior, Suloran Sedris Vontar. Catlin never leaves the library without making sure the door is locked. Only the masters of the abbey, the librarian, and his apprentice, Tokra Kandore, can freely enter and leave the library. A few experienced matakea have Catlin’s permission to browse for books on their own when he is present.

Catlin is preparing the young Tokra Kandore for his future office as librarian. Tokra is an introverted, highly intelligent, and very devoted priest who exhibited a strong interest in the library’s tomes early in his training. For this reason, he was selected by Catlin to one day become his successor. Catlin and Tokra can usually be found either in the library or in the upstairs scriptorium. They maintain the catalog, find books for matakea and ashesa, and return them to their proper places. They also help with difficult copy work and translations in the scriptorium.

The library contains mainly clerical works but also has treatises on moral philosophy, collections of bestiaries, and some romantic epics favored by noble adherents of Larani who can read. Many books in foreign languages can be found here, including books meant to teach those languages. The chronicles of the abbey are also stored in the library. These chronicles are without gaps from 621 to the present day. Even some volumes from before and during the Theocracy have survived, but these are all kept in the secret library.

[6] The Secret Library

The secret library, entered by a mechanical secret door, holds manuscripts of a sensitive and proscribed nature. These include theological writings of the churches of Agrik, Ilvir, Morgath, and even Naveh. This unique and exceptional collection has been assembled, mostly by librarian Catlin Alean, to study the doctrine and weaknesses of the dark churches, especially the church of Agrik. He spends many off-duty hours in this room, reading the works and writing reports of his research for the Serolan, who passes them to her brother and eventually to the Serekela of Kanday.

Only Catlin and the Council of Five know of this room, at least officially. They have been charged to preserve its secrets on pain of being charged with heresy, a temple crime nearly always punishable by burning at the stake. Tokra Kandore, Catlin’s assistant, also knows about the room, but not officially. Should he ever be found inside, his punishment would be quick and fatal.

General Information

Only a few rooms of the abbey are heated in winter and, even then, only during the day. This includes the kitchen and the refectory, which are both heated by their fireplaces. The council hall’s fireplace is only lit if a meeting or ashesa class is imminent.

The Hall of Rituals is not heated because it is simply too large, but portable braziers are usually placed in the chapel to keep the ritual nightwatch warm and to protect the reliquary from moisture. The library and the scriptorium are also heated by braziers on most winter days to protect the valuable manuscripts from dampness.

Should it become very cold, the beds of the abbey’s occupants are warmed by hot bricks. Rooms with glassless windows are sealed with cloth curtains in winter; this helps, but not much.

FIRST FLOOR

The ground floor nave is lit by three stained-glass windows shown on this floor. They were donated to the abbey by Iblis Milaka upon her appointment as Serolan, replacing normal glass panes. The middle window depicts Larani in front of Dolithor. The side windows show scenes from Tirithor, the Laranian heaven.

(d) The Gallery

On the gallery is the pulpit from which sermons are conducted. During Soratir and Alamirata, the Council of Five gather on the balcony to emphasize their status. Important nobles are also allowed to hear the Soratir from the gallery.

(e) The Sacristy

Items necessary for the rituals (ceremonial swords, incense, etc.) are kept here, as well as the expensive ceremonial robes for the matakea holding the mass.

[1] Serolan Quarters

The bedroom of Iblis Milaka. Besides her daily priestly garb, she keeps traveling clothes and ceremonial robes here. The latter are worn only for the most important masses of the year and for the new annual tourney in honor of Saint Aedan.

Adjacent to the bedroom is a study that houses Iblis’ personal library. While consisting mostly of administrative books, it has some lyrical, clerical, and historical works, including a family chronicle of clan Milaka. In her desk, she keeps about 600d belonging to the abbey, as well as several documents and seals. The desk’s lock has a complexity level of 5. A tapestry on the north wall depicts Saint Ambrathas of Alamire saving a maiden from a dozen brigands in spite of his numerous wounds.

[2] Matakea Chambers (men)

All male matakea reside on this floor. The more senior priests each have their own room, while the juniors share a six-bed dormitory at the east end of the floor.

[3] Obasaran Quarters

Peada Tralaer works and lives here. Fulfilling the duties of his office requires frequent travel, but rarely during winter months.

[4] Matakea Chambers (women)

The five female matakea of Chendy reside on this floor. Each has a private room.

[5] The Scriptorium

Matakea assigned to the scriptorium do all their work here, each at a separate desk. This includes the copying of books for Chendy’s library and sometimes for local nobles who can pay the high price demanded. Other duties include bookkeeping for the Suloran. When everyone leaves the scriptorium for the masses or meals, Catlin always makes sure to lock the library building.

[6] Librarian’s Quarters

Catlin, the librarian, lives in this room. Several of the more uncouth matakea joke that the scriptorium is really Catlin’s Harem, but he is celibate.

THE GUEST HOUSE

Ground Floor

Grouped around the great hall are a dormitory, two guest rooms, and a storeroom. Meals are sometimes brought from the main kitchen to feed guests in the great hall. Simple guests of the abbey are put up in the dormitory while the better rooms are saved for important guests. In the storeroom, less perishable foodstuffs and barrels of beer and wine are kept. The ground floor of the guest house is heated by the fireplace in the hall. Stairs lead up from the hall to the first floor.

First Floor

These three rooms are reserved for important visitors. The largest, known as the “Serekela Room,” is only given out to high-ranking church officials or nobles. The rooms have glass windows and, during the winter, are heated by braziers if guests are present.

THE KEEP

This is the oldest building of the abbey, built as a fortified church by Laranian missionaries at the beginning of the fifth century. By the end of that century, a separate temple building had been created and the keep was then only used as a storeroom and refuge during attack.

Ground Floor

This floor has two prison cells, both unused for many years. The east cell now serves as a small armoury. The key is kept by the Menoran. The cistern is gravity fed by rainwater, collected on the tower roof.

First Floor

The entire floor is a common dormitory for the ashesa. Each has a separate bed and trunk for personal possessions.

Second Floor

This floor houses three masters of the abbey. The windows of all rooms have glass panes. The Serolan has plans to build a new “Masters’ House” and convert this space, and perhaps the ground floor as well, into quarters to house more ashesa.

(A) Sedris Vontar, the Suloran.

(B) Arwyn Bakyth, the Valaran.

(C) Edric Dorayne, the Menoran. In his chest, he keeps his favorite memorabilia of Ezar's War: the mail byrnie and heavy mace of an Agrikan who failed to survive a religious “dispute” with Edric.

Top Floor

The keep is crowned by a battlemented defense platform. An open-sided roof (not shown) covers the staircase; it is lightly constructed of wood and can be easily dismantled.

THE CRYPT OF MORGATH

During excavation for the Morgathian mausoleum (Chendy map, 1g), a natural cave system was discovered under the hill. The Morgathian priests greatly expanded some caves into a place of worship and used the mausoleum as a secret entrance. Most of the work was done by local peasants and the few who survived this hard labor were sacrificed to the Lord of Chaos in a ceremony that consecrated the crypt. Hence, only the Morgathian clergy knew of the crypt and its secret died with them when the mausoleum was razed by fire in 590. However, a nolah has taken up residence.

[1] Entrance to the Caves

The scant remains of the mausoleum can only be discovered by close inspection. Many of the stones were removed for building the graveyard wall, and those left are now mostly covered by weeds and bushes. The entrance to the cave complex is a vertical shaft, six by four feet, covered by a thick stone slab weighing several tons, atop of which is a few more tons of rubble and dirt. The nolah has excavated a short tunnel, about two feet in diameter and six feet long, that bypasses the slab and connects the shaft to the surface. This entrance is open but well hidden by the bushes. The shaft itself descends 15 feet to a small cave that is seven feet high. A ladder was once used to descend the shaft, but is no longer present.

[2] The Collapsed Cave

Part of the roof of this cave collapsed decades ago, blocking the passage. Recently, the nolah cleared a path through the rubble to bring food into the crypt.

[3] The Crypt

The crypt remained undisturbed until the nolah adopted it as home six months ago. In the center of the cavern is a stone altar on a circular stepped dais. A Durangash is engraved on top of the altar, with eight blood channels running to the edges. There are also thirteen stone sarcophagi in the crypt, each richly adorned with detailed carvings of gruesome rituals. Eight of the sarcophagi are grouped around the dais and the other five are close to the southern wall. Near the southwest wall, three man-high oak stakes are set into the ground. At their bases are three skeletons still shackled to the poles, unfortunates scheduled to be sacrificed but entombed alive when the mausoleum was destroyed.

[4] Nolah’s Gate

This passage leads generally northwest for about a mile, connecting several large caverns. It eventually leads to a narrow surface opening, well hidden by bushes and rocks, in the woods (off map). The nolah discovered the caves via this entrance, but now prefers the abbey entrance.

IBLIS MILAKA (Serolan)

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Serolan Iblis Milaka, age 34, is an energetic and assertive cleric. She is used to others submitting to her commands and is intolerant of mistakes. She is also very status-conscious and dislikes asking for help from those beneath her rank.

Iblis was born the third child of the knight Osbern Milaka. Her mother died during her birth. Like her brother, Carlen Milaka, she was educated in the Laranian temple at Aleath, headquarters of the Order of Hyvrik. Because of family influence, both siblings rose quickly in the hierarchy.

Her brother was ordained in 700 and became Obasaran of the Aleathian temple in 710. When the Rekela’s seat of the diocese of Ternula became vacant in 716, Sir Ranald Milaka, Earl of Sarkum, and father of King Andasin IV, let it be known that the appointment of his nephew as Rekela would bring him great pleasure. This was a request that the Serekela of Kanday could not ignore. Carlen was promoted to Serolan of Korri Abbey, the traditional Rekela of Ternula.

Iblis Milaka was ordained in 704. She was her brother’s closest confidant in Aleath and replaced him as Obasaran when he became Rekela. In 718, Carlen had to find a new Serolan for Chendy Abbey. Clan Demilaen had always held this office, but the Rekela appointed his sister. It was a political decision made because he suspected Clan Demilaen of several intrigues against Clan Milaka.

Her appointment was initially greeted with skepticism by the abbey’s matakea. There had never been a female Serolan of Chendy before and Obasaran Maros Demilaen, who had expected her office, exploited this to foster dissent among the clergy and with local nobles. But he had underestimated the new Serolan. Three months after her appointment, Iblis summoned Maros and told him his brother (Sir Jens) was neglecting his religious duties. Because the path of virtue was narrow, and the fields of sin were large, she had chosen Maros to lead Sir Jens back into the bosom of the church. In helpless rage, Maros bowed to his appointment as chaplain to Clan Demilaen and left the abbey the next day. Iblis then applied great energy to her job and has won the respect of most matakea.

Iblis is a devoted worshipper of Larani and very ambitious. She expects her brother shall one day become Serekela of Kanday and she will succeed him as Rekela. To further that ambition, Iblis has plans to make Chendy as prominent and wealthy as possible. She has encouraged the lucrative linen trade, and last summer held a tournament in honor of Saint Aedan. Participation by the local nobility was poor since Sheriff Demilaen decided he was “too busy” to come. However, with the aid of her uncle, Ranald Milaka, she has convinced the king to attend the next tourney. This will enhance the tourney and, much to her pleasure, force the sheriff to attend.

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CLERICS OF CHENDY

The Council of Five (Abbey Masters)

• (f) Iblis Milaka, 33, Serolan (Chendy 11).
• Edric Dorayne, 63, Menoran (Chendy 14).
• Sedris Vontar, 65, Suloran (Chendy 13).
• Arwyn Bakyth, 35, Valaran (Chendy 13).
• Peada Tralaer, 38, Obasaran (Chendy 12).

The Matakea

Scriptorium:

• Tartis Gedela, 59, bookkeeper.
• (f) Ardis Polandyn, 54, illuminator.
• (f) Parla Scunaen, 52, scribe.
• Artoh Eljaven, 44, scribe.
• (f) Tamys Kabise, 31, scribe.
• Osric Nedor, 27, researcher (Chendy 15).

Library:

• Catlin Alean, 49, librarian (Chendy 15).
• Tokra Kandore, 25, assistant.

Hospital:

• Torold Yisgaraen, 55, physician (Chendy 14).
• (f) Mirelael Travendy, 26, assistant.

Kitchen:

• Gerin Haloren, 46, chef.
• (f) Delena Nesa, 39, baker.
• Oben Armis, 32, brewmaster.

Stable, Barn, Orchard, Pig Pen:

• Nerovens Travella, 38, ostler.
• Ganis Tobur, 30, butcher.
• Natan Delmantem, 27, swineherd.

Ashesa Training:

• Elgar Lomardaen, 44, theology.
• Arcava Ulfend, 30, military arts.

Absent from Chendy:

• (f) Runala Huldersyn, 48, bookkeeper.

The Ashesa

Assigned a variety of tasks to help the matakea, but generally menial work. There are no female ashesa at Chendy.

• Kordus Mezin, 21.
• Nemiral Mardyn, 20.
• Bulen Gimonae, 18.
• Cian Vilaker, 17.
• Karil Erden, 17.
• Bassa Minilas, 16.
• Raku Elgine, 15.

DAILY DUTIES

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6:00 AM Matakea and ashesa awakened by abbey bell. The ashesa prepare the temple for morning service (sweeping, lighting candles, etc.).

6:30 AM Morning service.

7:00 AM Breakfast, consisting of bread and milk, perhaps some cheese. The matakea are served by ashesa, who eat afterwards (the custom for all meals).

8:00 AM Morning work. The matakea and ashesa perform assigned tasks.

12:00 M Noon service.

12:30 PM Dinner, the main meal of the day, typically a meat stew, bread, cheese, and wine or ale. The menu on Alamirata (six days per month) has a meat roast, vegetables, and sweets.

1:00 PM Afternoon work.

5:00 PM Evening service.

6:00 PM Supper. A light meal, often just bread and cheese. After supper, the clerics are free to conduct personal devotions, study, etc.

8:00 PM Beginning of the ritual nightwatch in the chapel of Saint Aedan, a duty performed on rotation by most clerics. The nightwatch, one matakea and one ashesa, make periodic patrols and awaken the abbey in the morning by ringing the bell.

9:00 PM Candleset (lights out).

The times given are applicable during winter months. In summer the morning service and breakfast begin one hour earlier, giving an extra hour of morning work. The Soratir evening service, (5th, 15th, and 25th of each month), and Alamirata evening service (2nd, 7th, 12th, 17th, 22nd, and 27th of each month) delay supper by one hour.

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