Iezensel, Isle of Icicles.
Capital: Iezensel Cross
Population: 20 Government: Communal Worship: Nordin, Nenya, Ven, Valianna. Imports: Wheat, Candles, Tools, Ale. Exports: Fur, Root Vegetables, Wild Berries, Darkwood. Alignment: TN, CN. Size: Thorp GP Limit: 40 gp Base Find Item DC: 2, (-3 if darkwood is involved) Common Languages: Azurite, Adonese, Aquan, Orc, Giant, Sylvan. |
History: While Iezensel isn't the most isolated, or farthest northern island, it is by no means a warm and fuzzy place. Despite, its severe weather, small size, and limited population, Iezensel has managed to have garnered a storied history. The first settlers on the island were Nordin worshipers in self-exile from the main land. They grew tired of the continuous persecution and so sought out a place where they could live in relative peace. So in a few hundred years before the new calender they settled the island. To this day there are devout Nordin worshipers on the island.
In the 5th century an enclave of ancient druids was discovered deep in the Darkwood forests of the island. How long the druids had been living on the island was never discovered, if it had not been for their regular generational kidnapping of a young woman they may have never been discovered. Apparently every couple of decades a girl would go missing. The townsfolk chalked it up to some beast, or the harsh winter, or any number of reasons. However, this time the woman's husband saw the druids stealing off with his wife in the night as he returned from a hunt. He gathered everyone together and they hunted the coven down and obliterated them. It was only later they realized that the enclave could very well have pre-dated the settlers arrival, and remained in force on the island by using the kidnapped girls for breeding. The Iezenselian peoples are still afraid to go too far into the Darkwoods for fear that not all evidence, or perhaps even the druids themselves have not disappeared.
In the 11th century, a plague took hold and devastated the population reducing it to mere 3 citizens. The couple and their small child lived on the far side of the island and thus were isolated from their neighbors. Incidentally, the majority of the islanders can to some extent trace their lineage back to this small family. The cabin that they lived in would later grow into Iezensel Cross as their children grew up, married foreign islanders and continued the line.
In the 16th century a small healing house was built on the southern shore to accommodate victims of the crimson death. For nearly forty years, Freman priestesses treated the plague victims who were shipped in on plague boats to keep them from infecting healthy populations in North Umbra. One day the the plague boats came in with a fresh bunch of patients only to discover that all the Freman priestesses had disappeared. there was no sign of struggle, or foul play of any kind, they were just gone. The villagers were blamed, but no proof that they had done anything was ever discovered.
In the 17th century the healing house was re-opened when the crimson death struck again in North Umbra. Freman Priestesses returned only this time they brought with them several guards, and a couple of paladins for protection. A barracks was constructed next to the healing house to house the soldiers. Again a day came where the Priestesses had disappeared. The boat came in with its patients only to find them gone. They awoke the soldiers who in the night had heard no noise, had not stirred from sleep, and had not witnessed the disappearance. The boat carried the sick, and the soldiers away from the island, having never discovered what happened. They did however burn the healing house and barracks to the ground before leaving claiming that it was an accursed place. They only evidence remaining of the healing house's existence is the neighboring graveyard where the plague victims were buried.
In the 23rd century, a Nenyan priestess visited the island, declared it a holy site for Nenya and established a coven. For the next two centuries the cult held power over the island and its people. All of the women were trained in the dark arts and for a short while the island was matriarchal in nature.
In the 25th century the cult attracted too much attention when they began sinking passing ships. A small contingent of Adonese paladins, and Azurian Barbarians were sent to deal with the coven. While the group never returned, the Nenyan witches were never heard from again either. It was assumed that the groups destroyed each other. This assumption was confirmed when a decade later many of the men had to search for new wives on the other islands. Shortly thereafter the island returned to a purely patriarchal society. However the Nenyan worship never entirely disappeared and is still a site of pilgrimage for high priestesses of her cult.
In the 32nd century, a boat was found floating near one of the nearby islands in the dead of winter. The crabbers who pulled the boat to shore discovered several children half-starved and near death. The children told them a horrible tale. In the dead of night their parents began walking around in a blizzard naked mumbling to themselves. They would only stop to howl and scream, sometimes for hours on end. The children attempted to confront their parents but when they did, their parents turned on them and attacked them like wild beasts. They ate some of the children. The rest ran to the docks, and jumped into the aforementioned boat, paddling away from their crazed parents. The next spring the boatmen returned to Iezensel, to discover that the children's tales where true. A couple of decades later a few of the braver children returned to the island and continued on where their parents left off.
In the 37th century, a second bout of cannibalism struck the island. This time it was in the midst of spring and the traders who had come to the island for darkwood were able to stop the insanity before it got out of hand and only a few injuries occurred. After chaining up the affected parties, a cleric was brought to the island to fix the problem. What he uncovered was that a blight that had affected the potato crops had been distilled and concentrated in the local vodka. The children never having had the vodka were unaffected while the parents had concentrated dosages of an insanity inducing fungus. The entire potato crop was burned, and all the vodka was destroyed. A new heartier breed of potato was introduced to the island and the fungus has never affected the people again.
In the 5th century an enclave of ancient druids was discovered deep in the Darkwood forests of the island. How long the druids had been living on the island was never discovered, if it had not been for their regular generational kidnapping of a young woman they may have never been discovered. Apparently every couple of decades a girl would go missing. The townsfolk chalked it up to some beast, or the harsh winter, or any number of reasons. However, this time the woman's husband saw the druids stealing off with his wife in the night as he returned from a hunt. He gathered everyone together and they hunted the coven down and obliterated them. It was only later they realized that the enclave could very well have pre-dated the settlers arrival, and remained in force on the island by using the kidnapped girls for breeding. The Iezenselian peoples are still afraid to go too far into the Darkwoods for fear that not all evidence, or perhaps even the druids themselves have not disappeared.
In the 11th century, a plague took hold and devastated the population reducing it to mere 3 citizens. The couple and their small child lived on the far side of the island and thus were isolated from their neighbors. Incidentally, the majority of the islanders can to some extent trace their lineage back to this small family. The cabin that they lived in would later grow into Iezensel Cross as their children grew up, married foreign islanders and continued the line.
In the 16th century a small healing house was built on the southern shore to accommodate victims of the crimson death. For nearly forty years, Freman priestesses treated the plague victims who were shipped in on plague boats to keep them from infecting healthy populations in North Umbra. One day the the plague boats came in with a fresh bunch of patients only to discover that all the Freman priestesses had disappeared. there was no sign of struggle, or foul play of any kind, they were just gone. The villagers were blamed, but no proof that they had done anything was ever discovered.
In the 17th century the healing house was re-opened when the crimson death struck again in North Umbra. Freman Priestesses returned only this time they brought with them several guards, and a couple of paladins for protection. A barracks was constructed next to the healing house to house the soldiers. Again a day came where the Priestesses had disappeared. The boat came in with its patients only to find them gone. They awoke the soldiers who in the night had heard no noise, had not stirred from sleep, and had not witnessed the disappearance. The boat carried the sick, and the soldiers away from the island, having never discovered what happened. They did however burn the healing house and barracks to the ground before leaving claiming that it was an accursed place. They only evidence remaining of the healing house's existence is the neighboring graveyard where the plague victims were buried.
In the 23rd century, a Nenyan priestess visited the island, declared it a holy site for Nenya and established a coven. For the next two centuries the cult held power over the island and its people. All of the women were trained in the dark arts and for a short while the island was matriarchal in nature.
In the 25th century the cult attracted too much attention when they began sinking passing ships. A small contingent of Adonese paladins, and Azurian Barbarians were sent to deal with the coven. While the group never returned, the Nenyan witches were never heard from again either. It was assumed that the groups destroyed each other. This assumption was confirmed when a decade later many of the men had to search for new wives on the other islands. Shortly thereafter the island returned to a purely patriarchal society. However the Nenyan worship never entirely disappeared and is still a site of pilgrimage for high priestesses of her cult.
In the 32nd century, a boat was found floating near one of the nearby islands in the dead of winter. The crabbers who pulled the boat to shore discovered several children half-starved and near death. The children told them a horrible tale. In the dead of night their parents began walking around in a blizzard naked mumbling to themselves. They would only stop to howl and scream, sometimes for hours on end. The children attempted to confront their parents but when they did, their parents turned on them and attacked them like wild beasts. They ate some of the children. The rest ran to the docks, and jumped into the aforementioned boat, paddling away from their crazed parents. The next spring the boatmen returned to Iezensel, to discover that the children's tales where true. A couple of decades later a few of the braver children returned to the island and continued on where their parents left off.
In the 37th century, a second bout of cannibalism struck the island. This time it was in the midst of spring and the traders who had come to the island for darkwood were able to stop the insanity before it got out of hand and only a few injuries occurred. After chaining up the affected parties, a cleric was brought to the island to fix the problem. What he uncovered was that a blight that had affected the potato crops had been distilled and concentrated in the local vodka. The children never having had the vodka were unaffected while the parents had concentrated dosages of an insanity inducing fungus. The entire potato crop was burned, and all the vodka was destroyed. A new heartier breed of potato was introduced to the island and the fungus has never affected the people again.
Modern Day: The island of Iezensel produces about 10% of the world's darkwood, which also happens to be the finest 10% produced. This is one of the main reasons the island remains populated at all. The profit from the darkwood trade allows the Iezenselians to import the few things they need that they cannot produce on the island, as well as, fresh blood to re-invigorate their few livestock herds, some luxury items, and candles. The island also exports fine pelts, from mink, deer, white foxes, beavers, wolves, and polar bear. They also produce and export small amounts of wild berries that are unique to the island, and various root vegetables when there is a sufficient surplus. While, the island is not the farthest north, it still receives about 3 months of solid night come winter time and 3 months of solid daylight come summer.
The People: The Iezenselians are a hearty though somewhat gloomy bunch of people. They are what is traditionally known as a hard lot. They are sneered at by other islanders for their continued worship of Nordin and Nenya (most of the other islanders offer Nordin lip service and appeasement at best) and thought of as uneducated, barbaric, primitive, dumb bumpkins by the rest of the world. They are not even welcome in the Augurian empire at all because of their religious practices. This outsider attitude is fine by most of the Iezenselians as they could care less about the rest of the world. They live a communal lifestyle, farming, herding, and sharing in profits together. Each person contributes in way or another, providing labor in the fields, means for profit, or required talents for the village. Only in the deep winter months do the villagers truly not see one another as the snow fall can render stepping outside impossible for weeks on end. Newcomers are brought to the island in one of three ways. They arrive looking to escape something from their former lives whether it be prison, religious persecution, or shame; They are a purchased spouse; or they come looking for profit. All of those situations is looked upon with suspicion, and it may take decades before a person is fully trusted on the island. Those that don't fit in or don't pull their weight are quickly and unceremoniously driven off the island (sometimes violently). It is said that in the old days a useless person was sacrificed at the shrine. Young men are taught fishing, crabbing, hunting, furring, woodcutting, planting, herding, berry gathering, boat building and basic craftsmanship of all kinds. Women are taught a similar homesteader curriculum with an emphasis on domestic arts like sewing, child rearing, cooking and cleaning. What is so unusual is that most men in the world learn a single profession, and even amongst the lower classes a farmer does not learn fishing, and herder does not learn planting. The Iezenselians however make sure that their children know all the survivalist arts and if they can they even teach them reading and math; the academics who have studied this strange phenomena amongst the Iezenselians attribute it to several factors. The villagers' isolated location requires them to do more with less, their continuous and semi-regular run-ins with supernatural phenomena has forced them to prepare for anything, and their communal living allows for children to apprentice under more than a single master unlike most other societies. All of this coupled with their persecution from the rest of the world makes it incredibly important for them to be able to survive on their own, even without one another if necessary.
The People: The Iezenselians are a hearty though somewhat gloomy bunch of people. They are what is traditionally known as a hard lot. They are sneered at by other islanders for their continued worship of Nordin and Nenya (most of the other islanders offer Nordin lip service and appeasement at best) and thought of as uneducated, barbaric, primitive, dumb bumpkins by the rest of the world. They are not even welcome in the Augurian empire at all because of their religious practices. This outsider attitude is fine by most of the Iezenselians as they could care less about the rest of the world. They live a communal lifestyle, farming, herding, and sharing in profits together. Each person contributes in way or another, providing labor in the fields, means for profit, or required talents for the village. Only in the deep winter months do the villagers truly not see one another as the snow fall can render stepping outside impossible for weeks on end. Newcomers are brought to the island in one of three ways. They arrive looking to escape something from their former lives whether it be prison, religious persecution, or shame; They are a purchased spouse; or they come looking for profit. All of those situations is looked upon with suspicion, and it may take decades before a person is fully trusted on the island. Those that don't fit in or don't pull their weight are quickly and unceremoniously driven off the island (sometimes violently). It is said that in the old days a useless person was sacrificed at the shrine. Young men are taught fishing, crabbing, hunting, furring, woodcutting, planting, herding, berry gathering, boat building and basic craftsmanship of all kinds. Women are taught a similar homesteader curriculum with an emphasis on domestic arts like sewing, child rearing, cooking and cleaning. What is so unusual is that most men in the world learn a single profession, and even amongst the lower classes a farmer does not learn fishing, and herder does not learn planting. The Iezenselians however make sure that their children know all the survivalist arts and if they can they even teach them reading and math; the academics who have studied this strange phenomena amongst the Iezenselians attribute it to several factors. The villagers' isolated location requires them to do more with less, their continuous and semi-regular run-ins with supernatural phenomena has forced them to prepare for anything, and their communal living allows for children to apprentice under more than a single master unlike most other societies. All of this coupled with their persecution from the rest of the world makes it incredibly important for them to be able to survive on their own, even without one another if necessary.
Iezensel Cross
![Picture](/uploads/4/2/5/3/4253218/7113673.jpg)
1. Shrine to Nordin and Nenya: The only shrine in known existence to the goddess Nenya and also one of the largest to the God Nordin. It was established in the 24 century by the High Nenyan Priestess Nebila Ackley. The Shrine was built over Devil's Rock and is only accessible via boat. The fishermen of Iezensel visit the shrine before going out to sea, as do other islanders before going out for long voyages.
2. Harbormaster and Docks: Alfred Walcot and his son Ardent Walcot take turns running the Docks, and making sure that ships and boats dock safely. They also impose a tariff on all foreign ships for the use of such services.
3. Deep Drake Tavern and Inn: The de facto meeting center for the whole of the island, The Deep Drake is made entirely of Darkwood harvested from the forests on the island. It is also the only building on the entirety of the island that still has planks from the first building built in Iezensel Cross. The Deep Drake primarily serves a severe Potato Vodka made from local produce. It also serves a red tinted gin that is distilled from the wild berries that grow on the island in the summer months. In recent decades it has imported several commercial ales much to the joy of Alfred Walcot, and Frederick Alwyn. During the summer months the Inn can have as many 10 to 15 guests. Often they are traders, seasonal crabbers, or visiting worshipers. In the Winter months there are rarely any visitors at all.
4. Stables: The stables serve the entirety of the island and all the horses, work oxen, and other large livestock are kept here year round.
5. Darkwood Loggers: For centuries the Darkwood Loggers' cabin has served as a timber mill. It is currently run by Fredrick Alwyn, his wife Gillian, and their four sons. The second that the final blizzard passes though the island and spring arrives, Mr. Alwyn and his four sons begin felling Darkwood trees for export. In the meantime Gillian does most of the planting and animal husbandry for her family's part in the communal growing. Incidentally, she really wishes her sons would start marrying so that maybe there would be more women around.
6. Darkwoods: The Darkwoods are made up primarily of evergreen and walnut trees. However thanks to proper cultivation over the centuries, there is strong and healthy population of some of the finest Darkwood trees in all the world. The Darkwoods exist all over the island but the finest trees have been cultivated and grown behind the Loggers' cabin.
7. Old Miller Pond: After melted snow, and rain water, Old Miller Pond is the only source of fresh water on the island. It use to have a small mill that made potato flour nearby but the entire mill was destroyed in a terrible storm nearly 60 years ago, killing the miller and his wife in the process.
8. House of Alchemy: Established 3 decades ago by the druid Parselus De Von Hohenheim, the house of alchemy is the newest building on the entire island. Parselus wanted to study the unique properties of the island's clay, minerals, and darkwood trees. In return for a quantity of foodstuff, and some supplies, Parselus has provided the island with medicinals, and the occasional helpful spell. He lives there, performing his experiments, and tutoring his apprentice.
9. Furrier Brothers: Like the other peoples of the island the Furrier brothers, Leighton, and Layton Lawflin, are jacks of all trades. They dabble in agriculture, animal husbandry, and fishing but, their primary source of income are the many fine furs that can be acquired on the island if one knows the many habits of it creatures. Year round the brothers hunt, trap, cull, and breed various animals and then trade the pelts come spring in the markets of Pantheros.
10. Main Street: The Main street in Iezensel Cross connects all of the homes and other paths on the island together. Its made up of pebbles, debris, and various planks of wood that have been abandoned over the years. The path is only large enough to accommodate a single cart and can be difficult to even find after a particularly large snow fall.
11. Cross Street: This street was created by loggers several centuries ago, and extended by the Furrier Brothers 10 years ago.
12. Crimson Path: The Crimson Path is a foot path that wraps around the island and leads to a few of the more isolated cabins on the southern side of the island. It dead ends at the small graveyard that was built by the Freman priestesses who treated Crimson Death Plague victims. Hence the name Crimson path.
2. Harbormaster and Docks: Alfred Walcot and his son Ardent Walcot take turns running the Docks, and making sure that ships and boats dock safely. They also impose a tariff on all foreign ships for the use of such services.
3. Deep Drake Tavern and Inn: The de facto meeting center for the whole of the island, The Deep Drake is made entirely of Darkwood harvested from the forests on the island. It is also the only building on the entirety of the island that still has planks from the first building built in Iezensel Cross. The Deep Drake primarily serves a severe Potato Vodka made from local produce. It also serves a red tinted gin that is distilled from the wild berries that grow on the island in the summer months. In recent decades it has imported several commercial ales much to the joy of Alfred Walcot, and Frederick Alwyn. During the summer months the Inn can have as many 10 to 15 guests. Often they are traders, seasonal crabbers, or visiting worshipers. In the Winter months there are rarely any visitors at all.
4. Stables: The stables serve the entirety of the island and all the horses, work oxen, and other large livestock are kept here year round.
5. Darkwood Loggers: For centuries the Darkwood Loggers' cabin has served as a timber mill. It is currently run by Fredrick Alwyn, his wife Gillian, and their four sons. The second that the final blizzard passes though the island and spring arrives, Mr. Alwyn and his four sons begin felling Darkwood trees for export. In the meantime Gillian does most of the planting and animal husbandry for her family's part in the communal growing. Incidentally, she really wishes her sons would start marrying so that maybe there would be more women around.
6. Darkwoods: The Darkwoods are made up primarily of evergreen and walnut trees. However thanks to proper cultivation over the centuries, there is strong and healthy population of some of the finest Darkwood trees in all the world. The Darkwoods exist all over the island but the finest trees have been cultivated and grown behind the Loggers' cabin.
7. Old Miller Pond: After melted snow, and rain water, Old Miller Pond is the only source of fresh water on the island. It use to have a small mill that made potato flour nearby but the entire mill was destroyed in a terrible storm nearly 60 years ago, killing the miller and his wife in the process.
8. House of Alchemy: Established 3 decades ago by the druid Parselus De Von Hohenheim, the house of alchemy is the newest building on the entire island. Parselus wanted to study the unique properties of the island's clay, minerals, and darkwood trees. In return for a quantity of foodstuff, and some supplies, Parselus has provided the island with medicinals, and the occasional helpful spell. He lives there, performing his experiments, and tutoring his apprentice.
9. Furrier Brothers: Like the other peoples of the island the Furrier brothers, Leighton, and Layton Lawflin, are jacks of all trades. They dabble in agriculture, animal husbandry, and fishing but, their primary source of income are the many fine furs that can be acquired on the island if one knows the many habits of it creatures. Year round the brothers hunt, trap, cull, and breed various animals and then trade the pelts come spring in the markets of Pantheros.
10. Main Street: The Main street in Iezensel Cross connects all of the homes and other paths on the island together. Its made up of pebbles, debris, and various planks of wood that have been abandoned over the years. The path is only large enough to accommodate a single cart and can be difficult to even find after a particularly large snow fall.
11. Cross Street: This street was created by loggers several centuries ago, and extended by the Furrier Brothers 10 years ago.
12. Crimson Path: The Crimson Path is a foot path that wraps around the island and leads to a few of the more isolated cabins on the southern side of the island. It dead ends at the small graveyard that was built by the Freman priestesses who treated Crimson Death Plague victims. Hence the name Crimson path.
![](http://www.weebly.com/weebly/images/file_icons/pdf.png)
Iezensel cross.pdf | |
File Size: | 156 kb |
File Type: |