Hearts of Darkness: Way of the Wicked

Game Master Celeador

Map of Matharyn

The Elder City
To understand the history of this great city, you must understand the history of Talingarde itself. Every major civilization on the island has claimed this place for its own at one time or another. Matharyn is the oldest human settlement in all of Talingarde. Located at the southernmost reaches of the island – it enjoys a mild climate. By the sea and the bay, the fishing is legendary. The promontory here commands entrance to the rich Cambrian Bay beyond. And the land upon the nearby peninsula is rich and arable. The only surprise about Matharyn would be if it were ever uninhabited.

The first civilized settlers here were dwarves and they likely took it from the bugbears that once spread across this entire island. The old dwarven fortress controlled access to the bay and guarded against threats to the wealthy dwarven mountain holds within the inner kingdom. The old dwarvish word for ‘gate’ is ‘maat’ and likely that is where this place first got its name.

When the Iraen came they settled here and in when the dwarves fell from prominence, the fortress fell into the hands of the barbarians. What name it bore then, none now know. Exact timelines become difficult throughout an age of illerate barbarian warlords. Exactly how many claimed lordship and how long they reigned is a matter of conjecture for scholars. However, the town was little more than a hill fort built from crumbling dwarven ruins surrounded by hovels when Cheliax arrived. Through the following years, what was once a single village had split into two, because of the squabbling of ancient chieftains. And so it was the Iraen who gave the city the second part of its name.

Ira Annoch Araen (Ear-ah An-knock Ae-rain) means roughly ‘the place of great lordship over all the people’. Of course foreigners could make little sense of such a complex and unpronouneable title, and so the second village was often simply called ‘Araen’.

The twin villages of Maath and Araen were amongst the Chelaxian first conquests. The Iraen were caught off guard by the foreign invaders and unable to defend against their superior military might and unity. Maath-Aryn (this being the invaders’ best attempt at pronouncing the old Iraen words) was born under the Barcan regents of old. It became their capital. Then they built the sister city of Aath-Aryn. Though Aath was lost in a disastrous earthquake and now lies at the bottom of the sea, legends of lost Aath persist to this day.

In time the Barcan regency unified after a grueling war of conquest and the Chelax vassal state of of Talingarde was born. By then, the name of Maath-Aryn had shifted to its modern spelling Matharyn and the city began to take on its more modern character. At first, it was a small city by the standards of the kingdoms of the mainland. The isle of Talingarde was always regarded as a remote backwater by more established nations and Matharyn was scarcely known outside of the realm.

It was only under the reign of the Victor that the city truly exploded in size and influence. The Victor, always a confident ruler, opened up additional trade with the mainland. Even though much of that trade ended up going through Ghastenhall, some went to Matharyn and the king taxed it all. The city grew rich and prosperous. From across the land, settlers moved to live near the shining court of the Victor. Matharyn doubled in size and doubled again. It became a true metropolis by the end of the Victor’s fourty-six year reign.

With the Victor’s much mourned death, his son Markadian II came to power. Though Markadian II was a poor and disinterested king who only lasted six years upon the throne, he did fancy himself an architect. Under his reign, many public works projects were commissioned and he founded several of Talingarde’s universities, libraries and places of learning. To this day the colleges of Talingarde still celebrate “the Scholar King”. Perhaps most famously, the great palace across the channel – the Adarium – was built at his command.

Markadian III called the Mad reigned far too briefly to have any true impact upon the city. He did leave one lasting legacy. He had the highest tower of the Castle Darian expanded upwards to he could fly about the city from this high perch. It was from this very tower where he ended his reign after several of his knights tossed him from it when he began plotting an invasion against hell itself. To this day, the high tower stands and is sometimes called “Angel Height” or even “the King’s Plunge”.

With the death of the mad Angel-King, Markadian IV called the Zealot came to power. This King would transform the city as well. The faith of Mitra has always been prominent under the Darian regime, but under the Zealot, it became the state religion. He destroyed every trace of the Asmodean faith by fire and inquest.

The other faiths he did not persecute directly, but they were sufficiently discouraged that they largely fell into obscurity. Now few even remember that under the Barcan regime, Matharyn was a nation of many gods. The Zealot reigned for twelve years and during that time, he build the great cathedral of Matharyn and innumerable other religious structures. He turned the city of Matharyn into a city of Mitra. His mark is still indelibly stamped across the polis and he has been canonized into the Mitra Faith as St. Markadian Pious.

By comparison the current king’s impact, though he has already reigned longer than his father, has been more negligible. He has allowed the city to grow of its own accord. He did expand the Adarium considerably to accommodate his daughter and her needs. There are also a few monuments about town of his deeds, but largely Markadian V called the Brave was happy with the city he had inherited – Matharyn, City of Light.

Still, there are those that whisper that hints of its past remain. There are stories of dwarven ghosts, ancient Iraen burial mounds connected by the sewers, bugbear artifacts and Barcan secret chambers in the old castles. The old ghosts still linger, the storytellers say. The elder Matharyn still bears its secrets and even today there are places where the light of Mitra has never shone.

The City of Light
In the entire world, there is perhaps no other city the size of Matharyn so dedicated to the concepts of law and good. Matharyn is not perfect by any means, but this is a city of more than a hundred thousand people where many citizens do not lock their doors at night. This is a thriving metropolis that once went five months without a single reported mugging. Matharyn is not paradise, but it may be as close to paradise as this mortal plane could produce without the direct intervention of the divine.

Within the city of Matharyn, it is the statues that are first noticed. Depictions of the Victor and the current king are everywhere. There are hundreds of marble monuments honoring the deeds of the Victor and the Brave. Markadian IV (the Zealot) has a few here and there (mostly connected with religious institutions).

Even the Princess Bellinda has a statue of her erected just last year in the Circus Virginius just south of Arynsill. These statues may be erected by state decree, but the care and attention they receive prove that the people of Matharyn truly love their royal family.

Likewise the Church of Mitra is beloved in this city of light. In places like Ghastenhall and Farholde with their malcontent remnant of Barcan nobility, it may be easy to convince oneself that the Mitran faith was forced on the Talireans. Here that is a hard sell. The faith of the Shining Lord is everywhere. Nary a home is without a wooden holy symbol hung over the gate. Churches and houses of faith are ubiquitous. Chandlers can barely keep sacred candles in stock and every night a thousand lights burn in defiance of the darkness.

Matharyn is also a city of charity. While there are places of excess like the mansion of the Golden Bow, there are also numerous hospitals and houses of healing. Healers are common profession in this town, and though they charge well-off citizens to make ends meet, almost all of them donate some part of their labor to ease the suffering of the poor and unfortunate. It is better to be poor here than any other city in the world.

Seven Hills and a River
The city of Matharyn consists geographically of seven hills that surround a single river, The river Danyth is small and runs a few miles up the pennisula before it breaks into a hundred little streams and largely disappears. Still, it brings gentle fresh water that rinses the inevitable filth of the city out into the endless ocean. Farmers also use the Danyth to barge in tons of grain and produce to the green markets of Carsburn. Around that gentle sustaining river rise seven hills, each covered with the city itself.

Kingsill
The tallest of the seven hills by far, this is where the Castle Darian and the old palace are located. This is also the only part of the city that is still walled. Two great walls encompass the hill. One surrounds Barsyndale, the oldest district in the city, and the other surrounds the castle and the old palace. Two gates lead to this hill – Victorsgate (on the west) and Ferrygate (on the east; pronounced Fair-a-gut). To get to Ferrygate, you must (unsurprisingly) take a ferry.

Kingsill is place of old wealth and ancient traditions. Not everyone who lives in this part of town is well off. In fact, some of the old neighborhoods are quite poor. Still there is a feeling among the people living here that they share in the city’s history more than most and that they are the heart of Matharyn, and indeed the whole kingdom. There are a few houses left in this district that still have traces of dwarven architecture. They tend to be very sturdy and well-built and fetch a high price. There are also lingering tales that most of them are haunted.

Norsill
The northernmost hill, this small broad rise is barely detectable anymore. It is completely covered by houses and shops, traders and artisans. Norsill (along with nearby Carsburn) is where the city-life of the metropolis begins to fade and the endless rural townships of the upper pennisula and Heartland begins. The houses here much more resemble the quaint country cottages of the farmlands than the tight row houses of the city. This is not accidental – a large number of retired farmers live here.

Distinguishing between Carsburn (detailled below) and Norsill is an artificial distinction. Their mutual business feeds the rest of Matharyn. Produce comes from all over the pennisula and ends up here, where it is sold to small green grocers throughout the entire city. If you are looking for something that once grew in the ground, this is where you look.

Haldynsill
Usually just called Haldyn, this is hill is dominated by artisans and their homes. Ten thousand craftsmen work ceaselessly to provide the city everything it needs. The endless noise of industry in Haldynsill has led to its perhaps more famous nickname of Hammerhill.

Though Matharyn’s dwarven population is small compared to Ghastenhall and other communities nearer the mountains, more than six thousand dwarves make this city their home. Virtually all of them live here.

The dwarves call their section of the hill Hamara. Hamara is an affectionate nickname in old dwarven for the smallest and most delicate of the forge-hammers that dwarves use in blacksmithing.

Arynsill
This is the only one of the seven hills that touches the sea and drops off suddenly into steep grey cliffs. Arnsill is also dominated by artisans and craftsmen. Once a great dwarven bridge connected Haldynsill to Arynsill but it collapsed long ago. The great stone blocks have since been hollowed out and a line of heavy stone buildings traces the route of the bridge.

Long ago, Arynsill was the site of the old Iraen capital and so residents are forever digging up small bits of pottery and stone arrow-heads in their gardens. Every once in a while someone will find something genuinely magical. These items can be quite dangerous as they have been buried for so long that the original magic has degraded. Still, there is a frequently repeated tale about a poor cooper who found an ancient magic ring of an Iraen warlord that turned out to be worth more than 50,000 gp! Tales like this keep the locals digging.

Cathsill
Pronounced Cassel (rhymes with tassel), this seaward rise is where the great Cathedral of the Shining Lord was built by Markadian IV so that every ship entering the Bay of Cambria could know that Mitra reigned in this city. The hill is covered with religious buildings of every sort and is truly the center of the Mitran church in Talingarde.

In addition to the Cathedral, the palace of the High Cardinal is here. High Cardinal Vitallian of Estyllis lives in a magnificent three-story estate that is said to contain more than a hundred rooms. It is said that only the Adarium is grander. From his palace, the High Cardinal conducts the business of the church.

Cathsill has one other prominent landmark. The great lighthouse built by the Barcan regent Accarius dominates the horizon. It is the second highest place in the city, overshadowed only by the Angel Height of the Castle Darian. This great lighthouse is truly a wonder of both magic and engineering. Hundreds of everburning lights shine through a great crystal producing a directed beam that shines across the water for miles.

Varsill
This is the smallest of the seven hills and is center of culture and learning. Theaters, colleges and pubs dominate this small ward. While there is nothing here to rival the great library of Ghastenhall, it is still an impressive center of education and scholarship.

Though small, Varsill is tall and steep. The phrase “Made the trek up to Varsill” is also another way of saying, took the time to become educated and cultured. Of course, the many carriages that run within the city provide a simple way to get up the hill if you have the means. Perhaps there is a lesson in that.

Regardless, Varsill is also the location of another quiet revolution. Varsill is the only place in Talingarde that has working printing presses. The technology was not developed here. Instead they were perfected in Absalom and shipped at a hideous expense to the crown. But there are now three working presses in Varsill. One of them does nothing but print copies of Mitran holy texts, while the other two are for hire. Printed books and pamphlets have started to appear throughout the city and though the Talireans do not yet recognize it, Talingarde stands on the precipice of a cultural renaissance.

Sorsill
The southernmost hill of the city, this is where the military might is concentrated (except for what is permanently stationed at the Castle and the Adarium). Weaponsmiths and armorers toil endlessly here to see that Matharyn is well defended.

Talingarde maintains little in the way of a permanent army, instead relying upon knightly orders, city watches, town sheriffs and conscripts in times of war. This was one of the reasons it takes so long to assemble the king’s grand army.

Still, what permanent military there is, is based out of Sorsill. The Knights of the Alerion have their grand chapterhall here where all the great deeds of previous members are chronicled and honored. This is where the ceremonies of induction are held for squires and knights of the order.

Five Burns and a Bow
Besides the seven hills, the town also consists of five lowland boroughs (called the burns) and the Golden Bow. The burns are the poorest parts of the city. The Golden Bow is by far the richest.

Bayburn
Sandwiched between Arynsill and Cathsill, this lowland region includes almost all the docks and warehouses of the city. Though Matharyn sits upon the sea, it is not a typical port city. Most of the foreign trade goes past this port to Ghastenhall. Instead, this port sees primarily domestic travel via local boats. Farmers and artisans from across Talingarde ship their produce and wares via barges across the Cambrian Bay to sell in mighty Matharyn.

It is a very cosmopolitan part of town and sights unusual to anywhere else in Talingarde are commonplace here. It is probably the best place for unusual races and folk to go unnoticed in all the city. It is also the easiest place to get news of the wider world away from Talingarde.

Carsburn
This westermost borough is where the great metropolis of Matharyn begins to fade away and the endless rural expanse of the upper peninsula begins. Carsburn takes its name from the endless lines of farmer’s carts that traverse the roads loaded with food into the markets and trading houses of the borough.

Carsburn is not a fancy place to live. It is a place in the city where one must best be ready to work hard and dirty their hands. The residents of this borough (the Carsters) are famous for their down-to-earth attitudes and their stubborness. The phrase “Yeah? Try and sell that it in Carsburn” is another way of saying, “what you are saying is outlandish and I don’t believe you.”

Millburn
Originally, this borough took its names from the mills that lined the river Danyth. But there hasn’t been an actual mill in Millburn in living memory. This ward is the poorest part of the city, and if you can’t get work in Carsburn or on any of the hills, you end up here.

Millburn is not a place of misery and squalor, though. Instead, it is a great expanse of quaint little neighborhoods where the local peasantry go about their simple business as best they can. It is a tribute to the charity of the church of Mitra and the wisdom of King Markadian how little suffering there is here, even amongst this city’s poorest.

Southburn
The southermost borough of the city, it is also amongst the most miserable, and not because the people here are poor. Indeed, there is plenty of work to go around. It just happens that the work done here is universally unpleasant and foul.

A city of Matharyn’s size needs several very odorous industries to support its population. This is where the tanneries the butchers and the slaughterhouses are kept. These industries, by royal decree, are clustered in Southburn. Here the great winds that sweep from the west can blow the stench east and out to sea. Still, every so often the wind shifts and comes in from the south. Then they can smell the funk all the way to Kingsill.

Wayburn
The northernmost borough, this is the traveler’s quarter. Visitors from all across Talingarde coming to visit the capital either on business or on a pilgrimage to see the great Cathedral can find ample inns and accommodations of all sorts. If any part of Matharyn can be said to have a crime problem, it is Wayburn. The pickpockets here are the best and busiest in the city.

The Golden Bow
This is not so much a district as a line of manors that cover the western edge of the broadest and deepest part of the River Danyth (sometimes called The Lake). The fine houses comprise the richest single district in the entire city. To own a part of the Golden Bow is to be part of city’s elite. There are only forty four separate lots along this part of the river and so the owners are often called the Forty Four Finest or simply the Forty Four.

To be part of the Forty Four is to be on the cusp of the Talirean social scene. The social season in Talingarde lasts from the Summer Solstice to the Vernal Equinox (roughly ninety days). Every other day, one of the Forty Four throw a party and the wealthy compete to see whose will be the grandest. The Forty Fifth party is always the Royal Gala at the Old Palace in Kingsill that occurs upon the Vernal Equinox. That marks the end of the season.

These parties are invitation only and most of the people in Matharyn (while they've certainly heard of them) have never actually been. As a result, the gossip about the decadent excesses of these gatherings is legendary. The typical citizen assumes they are orgies of vice and depravity. The truth is, most of the parties are fairly boring affairs with aging nobles sitting around sipping fine wine and talking about the weather.

Map of Ghastenhall

One of the three great cities of Talingarde, Ghastenhall is by the far the most cosmopolitan and liberal. Compared to the orthodoxy of Matharyn and the rigid legalisms of Daveryn, Ghastenhall is a hub of trade, art, theater, learning and culture.

Ghastenhall is a city with one foot in the past and one foot in the future. The duke is the last gasp of the old Barcan nobility that held the title of regent on the island. His grandfather marched to war against the Victor. Of course, the old duke was also wise enough that when defeated he swiftly swore fealty to the new king. Still there is a lingering wound there that has never entirely healed.

But at the same time, Ghastenhall is at the forefront of Talirean art and culture. Virtually every new book and play written in Talingarde comes from this city. Most new music and fashion are born here. Almost anything truly new in the kingdom likely originated here. If you know what’s happening in Ghastenhall, you know what’s happening in Talingarde.

The Domain of the Mad Duke
There is a persistent rumor that Duke Hadrian is mad. He does not stop these rumors and in fact subtly encourages them. There is an oft circulated story for example of how he once roamed the entire Castle Ghasten in nothing but his crown. He even had dinner and received foreign dignitaries this way, the tale insists

This story is not exactly true though it has a kernel of truth. The duke often dresses outlandishly wearing garments of vibrant colored silk. The royal tailor decided this was inappropriate and took it upon himself to replace the duke’s entire wardrobe with more fashionable and presentable attire. The tailor was certain that when the Duke saw the garments, he would recant from his eccentricities. Instead the duke strolled out in the buff in front of the tailor, tossed the tailor’s garments into his face and told him “I’d rather wear nothing than this rubbish” and stormed back into his private chambers.

The duke is actually a very shrewd and capable noble. Though he plays the part, he is not a devout Mitran. He cares little about the gods (though he would never admit that publicly) and prefers to leave praying to priests.

Over the last several years Duke Hadrian has begun to suspect that Cheliax has begun a slow infiltration of Talingarde. He has no evidence, but the Duke is nothing if not shrew and pragmatic. Regardless, should Talingarde be thrown into chaos the Duke intends to survive any coming upheavals and keep his title. He would aid the King in a time of war, but over the last few years he’s been stockpiling cash in his treasury. If ordered to muster an army he would do so. But he’s not going to personally lead them. He would remain in Ghastehall with large, politically unattached mercenary force safekeeping his family and himself. Come what may, he will be ready.

By playing a little crazy, he ensures that King Markadian V will excuse his absence from the front lines or calls to court. It also means that his enemys might underestimate him. It is in short a ruse. Ghastenhall is not ruled by a mad man. It is ruled by perhaps the most intelligent, ruthless man among the Talirean aristocracy today.

The Mitrans love their lost causes. They write parables about fighting to the last and giving all for their god and king. That is their choice. As for Duke Hadrian of Ghaster, he plans to stay in power come what may.

Lost causes are for fools. And the duke is not a fool.

City Upon The SCAR
The city of Ghastenhall sits upon one of the most prominent natural features of Talingarde – the great Godscar river. The Talireans consider the mighty Godscar to run from Cambrian Bay to Lake Tarik but in fact the same geologic feature actually divides Talingarde in twain running fom the bay to the northern sea. This flooded fault line slashes through two mountain ranges and hints at the violent prehistoric birth pangs of the Isle of Talingarde long ago. The dwarves, long accustomed to the havoc the earth can wreak have a saying “Father Mountain does not sleep forever”. The same could be said of the mighty Godscar. It will not sleep forever. But fortunately for Ghastenhall, it sleeps for now.

Today the Godscar river is the life blood of the city. The Godscar is a massive body of water. Though not that long it is wide and it routinely manages to be a mile across. At its widest it is over five. Some veteran river sailors remark that the Godscar is not a river. It is a long lake that connects Lake Tarik to the sea. This is not far from the truth.

The Godscar teems with fish and sea life. The scarpers (slang for freshwater fisherman) head out every morning with the dawn in their little boats and cast their nets into the thriving lake. Their hauls of trout, char, steelhead and river salmon quickly make their way into the fish markets alongside the southern docks and by lunch fill ten thousand cooking pots throughout the city.

Every once in a great while a monster comes down river from the northern seas – often a bunyip or a giant moray eel – and makes trouble on the lake. Old scarpers still wag about the time a sea serpent took up residence near the mouth of the Godscar. The so-called Sea Devil ate a dozen men before the duke hired some monster hunters to catch it. When it was dragged out of the sea it measured seventy two feet tip to tail. Its skull still decorates a famous eatery in the tenth quarter of town known as the Devil’s Diner. The food is excellent and, if you book in advance, you can actually sit in the booth with the head looming above known to local’s as the Devil’s Bite.

It is difficult to overestimate the importance of the Godscar to Ghastenhall. The reason the Castle Ghasten is here is to watch the entrance to the river. The reason there are so many people here is the bounty of the river. The reason the soil here is so rich here is ancient topsoil laid down by the river. The Cambrian Bay and the saltwater port have made the city rich, but the Godscar river is what allowed the city even to exist. Ghastenhall has been sometimes been called the Gift of the Godscar and this is undeniably true.

A City Without Loyalties
You need only glance at the Ghastenhall coat of arms to see that the city of Ghastenhall has shifted masters many times. In the center is the Mitran Sun. In the upper left quarter is the Darian blue and white. In the upper right is the Barcan Griffon. The Red and Green of the backgrounds are colors used by the old Iraen tribesmen who once owned this isle before the Talireans came. Yes, Ghastenhall has known many masters. The city is wise enough to bow before whoever holds the throne, but the truth is that most Ghastens (sometimes derogatorily called Ghastlies by outsiders) think of themselves as their own tribe. It is to themselves that their first loyalty will always lie.

Ghastenhall claims to be the oldest city in Talingarde. This might actually be true though no one can be certain. It has a certain sense to it. The rise overlooking the Godscar where the Castle Ghasten currently stands is a natural defensive position. The nearby river and sea are rich sources of food. And freshwater is available in the Godscar. Further, the surrounding foothills of the Eastern Ansgarian mountains are rich with strong stone. If you look carefully in some of the old quarries you can see evidence of crude stone blocks cut from the pits by tools not made of iron. Men have made this place their home for countless centuries.

But even if there is somewhere on the island an older settlement, it matters not. The Ghasten think of themselves as an old and established folk. They take the long view on politics and power struggles. Maybe House Darius and the Mitrans will reign for a hundred more years. Who can say? But will they reign forever? Certainly not.

There are Ghasten alive today who remember when the current duke’s grandfather marched to war against Darius to support the last Barcan king. Buy them an ale and they’ll tell you now what they said then. It was a mistake to get tangled up in such struggles. The city of Ghastenhall was not directly threatened. What did it matter whether the kingdom flew the colors of Darian Blue or Barcan Red and Green? Either regime would need their port and need their river.

The Fifteen Quarters
I. Lord’s Quarter
Lord’s Quarter is a small city unto itself and the nobles, diplomatic embassy's, upper class and wealthy population who dwell here need never leave if they so choose. It is the only part of town that is walled and it has but a single gate -- The Duke’s Gate (often simply the Gate since its the only gatehouse most city dwellers every encounter). Beyond the gate is King’s Hook Row which leads straight to the Castle Ghasten where the Duke lives and garrisons his personal guard. Technically the Duke’s Gate is supposed to be open to all citizens but in reality the guards there often turn back the obviously poor or vagrant.

The Lord’s Quarter has grown organically over the years and there is absolutely no order to its arrangement. Manor houses are right next to merchants and often a long row of businesses will have a few homes scattered amongst it. In fact, the larger, richer estates are ringed with luxury shops.

In every other part of the city, Lord’s Quarter is simply called “The Lorker” (sometimes spelled Lorquar). “He’s gone Lorkers” is a local saying that means “he struck it rich, probably through some dishonest means.”

II. Whitequarter
The single largest portion of the city, this crescentshaped quarter surrounds the Lord’s Quarter from the Cambrian Bay to Faithful Way. This is where the artisans work. In many ways when people speak broadly of Ghastenhall, they are actually talking about Whitequarter. Whitequarter is the most representative part of the city and almost half the population lives in this one quarter.

III. Priest’s Quarter
Somewhat misnamed, actually only a small percentage of this quarter is occupied by priests. However it is the location of the single largest church in Ghastenhall – the Cathedral of Mitra the Fire Undying (often simply called ‘the Cathy’ by less reverent locals) and is the seat of the Cardinal of Ghastenhall.

A better description of the Priest’s Quarter would be the Scholar’s Quarter as this one area houses almost all of Talingarde’s centers of higher learning. Besides a handful of academies in Matharyn and the Daveryn Conservatory, if you are going to university in Talingarde, you are going here. The Universities of Ghaster, Heldynhall, Tynebrucks, Fairchester, Canterly and True Ghaster all crowd this quarter. The Library of Ghaster serves them all and collects books from across the world.

The Universities of Ghastr and True Ghaster are famous rivals and compete in everything from track, rowing contests on the Wellspring River, and in acquiring the best researchers. Their names arose because two centuries ago when they were founded, the Barcan regent ordered the building of Ghaster University without notifying the duke. The duke, incensed at being cut out of the loop, commissioned his own university calling it True Ghaster. The two universities have been rivals ever since.

The priests and scholars who rub elbows also famously dislike each other. The priests wear blue robes and the scholar wear black so when there is a disagreement there is a famous saying “blue beats lack.” In other words, the Church remains more politically powerful than scholars.

IV. Saltsquarter
Saltsquarter is where the fisherman who cast their nets into the salt water of the Cambrian bay dock their boats. They have a stern rivalry with the freshwater fisherman of Scarpers (see below).

This is also where ocean-going vessels dock and is the busiest port in Talingarde. As a result, you can encounter peoples from all across Golarion here. It is not uncommon to see lizardfolk, minotaurs, ogres and even stranger creatures in this quarter. They are tolerated as long as they keep the peace but also seen with suspicion.

V. Goldquarter
Goldquarter is the banking and financial quarter of Ghastenhall. It is also home to a vast network of speculators in jewels and precious metals making it one of the finest places in all of Talingarde to sell treasure. Even better, the merchants of Goldquarter are as a rule completely unconcerned with where the precious metals they broker came from. These merchants will happily hawk a holy symbol or a church treasure.

Greedily Lane runs right through the middle of Goldquarter. Local legend has it that the road got this name after a bank tried to overcharge the then Duke for a loan. Regardless, virtually no one actually lives in Goldquarter. It almost entirely consists of businesses and trading houses. In many ways, the Goldquarter is wildly ahead of its time. This is a place where modern attitudes about money and wealth are common place and greed rules all.

VI. Kingspeace
Kingspeace has a reputation for being the most boring place in the city. This small quarter, largely populated by traders, artisans and farmers deserves that reputation.

VII. Wrightsbridge
This is Ghastenhall’s industrial heart. The sound of smithing and manufacturing never ceases here. This also means that Wrightsbridge is famous for something else -- its legendary terrible smell. “He smells Wrighty” is another way of saying “he smells indescribably awful.”

VIII. Tuebelow
Local lore states that Tuebelow got its name from a magistrate who pronounced of the quarter “For every one that goes to heaven, two below.” The name stuck and a duchy mapmaker couldn’t spell. Hence Tuebelow.

This is rather unfair. Tuebelow is not a bad part of the city. Instead this young quarter is the heart of Ghastenhall’s newly emergent middle class. Wide and spread out compared to most of the city, this is a comfortable place to live.

IX. Weatherby
Once Weatherby was a small farming community on the city’s outskirts. Now it has been thoroughly absorbed into the city itself. Still at its heart, this remains a quiet farming community. The townspeople of Weatherby take pride in being rural even though their quarter is completely surrounded by city. The worse thing they can say about a local is that “he’s gone Ghastly” – Ghastly being their pet name for Ghastenhall.

Still, Ghastenhall is eating Weatherby whether the old guard like it or not. Virtually the entire western part of Weatherby has been bought up by artists and theater owners. With the building of the new Barrington-in-the-Round Theater near the quarter’s edge, it seems certain that Weatherby’s days as a farming community are numbered. This dire state of affairs is discussed endlessly by old Weatherbians on their porches.

X. Scarpers
Scarpers takes its name from the old city slang for those who fish the Godscar River. ‘Scarpers’ and ‘Salties’ (those who fish the salt water Cambrian Bay) have long had a serious rivalry. Usually, this rivalry manifests only as quiet grumbling. But every once in a while, there is some isolated incident of violence.

Locals know that, despite the terrible smell near the river, that the absolute best places to eat in Ghastenhall (other than perhaps the rich and unafforable dining halls in the Lord’s Quarter) are the restaurants along Sothsby Way. Fresh river fish from Scarpers and farmer’s produce from Weatherby combine to create culinary delights.

XI. The Red Quarter
The Red Quarter is the bad part of town. Hardly a week goes by that the duke does not have the Cardinal urging him to raid this place and shut down its pits of depravity. And each week the duke promises that yes it will be done as soon as there are resources to do so. But that day never seems to come. Why? Why is such a pit tolerated?

The Red Quarter is Ghastenhall’s dirty secret. There is no reason that foreign ships shouldn’t stop at Matharyn instead of proceeding up the Cambrian Bay to do their business at Ghastenhall. But the truth is that most give Talingarde’s capitol a pass. Why?

After the great danger of crossing the open sea, where would rather take your liberty? Would you stop at the very religious and orthodox port of Matharyn or would you rather continue up the bay to Ghastenhall with its Red Quarter full of bars, brothels and betting parlors? The answer to that question for most sailors is obvious. And so the duke discovers once again that he has better things to do, the Church fumes and the city coffers swell.

XII. Downerly
Downerly used to be a farming community but when the port trade got too busy in Saltsquarter, traders came through and bought nearly the whole quarter. Now Downerly is almost nothing but warehouses. The Old Lighthouse is just inside this quarter and still operates helping ships to navigate the Cambrian Bay into Ghastenhall’s thriving ports.

XIII. Wrongside
Once this quarter was known by the rather bland name of Farmington. But no one calls it that anymore. Instead, with most of the farmers gone, this rough badland of farmed-out fields between Wrightsway and the three hills is universally called Wrongside. If you can’t afford to live anywhere else in Ghastenhall, you can afford to live here.

XIV. Barleybell
XV. Turnsborough
The exact borders of the farming towns of Barleybell and Turnsborough are uncertain. They are both claimed by two rural barons. Anything north of Ghastenhall that has farmland on it is either Barleybell if its to the west or Turnsborough if its more easterly. Exactly where the dividing line lies is uncertain. Regardless these two farming communities are Ghastenhall’s bread basket.

Ten Places of Interest in Ghastenhall
1. Castle Ghasten (Old Ghastenhall)
Properly the Castle Ghasten is Ghastenhall. The city that shares its name developed around the castle which was built to command control of the great Godscar river. These days to avoid confusion the castle is called the Castle Ghasten. This is the the palace of the duke and his family. It is also the seat of government in this region and where all official business is conducted.

Once a week from the noon bell till sunset the Duke holds an open court. Any who wish can come and speak to the Duke. Usually this consists of an endless parade of peasants venting some petty land complaint or minor nobility trying to bend the duke’s ear in hopes of receiving money. The current duke weathers it all with good humor and even sporadically decides to help some local in need of actual assistance.

2. Grand Cathedral of Mitra the Fire Undying
One of largest churches of Mitra in Talingarde, this is not just a center of worship. This is an institution and center of business. The Cathy is where the Cardinal of Ghastenhall conducts his court. The Cardinal is the second most important person in Ghastenhall (below the duke). The Church owns massive holdings both in and outside the city and it is in this court that the business of all those holdings is conducted.

3. The Old Barcan Cemetery
This is the oldest cemetery in Ghastenhall. It has a
reputation for being haunted but most ascribe the rumors to fantasy and fears. The Old Barcan Cemetery is the final resting ground for all of the previous regents of Talingarde from the Cheliaxan vassal-state period. Even today, it is not uncommon to see visitors tour the grounds to see the magnificent marble crypts and statues that decorate the grounds.

4. The Crowley Estate
This is one of the very few uninhabited estates in the Lord’s Quarter. The estate was first built in 4605 AR by a Talus Crowley, a rich merchant who retired after a life at sea. Due to mounting taxes and a turn in fortune the Estate has recently been put up for sale, but few are able or willing to pay the outrageous price that is being asked for it.

5. The Golden Palace
Located at the intersection of Crabtrap Row and Longshot Lane in the Red Quarter, the Golden Palace is Ghastenhall’s most infamous center of vice and violence. Owned by the enigmatic Mister Martigan Vex, it is hard to catalog just how many vices are catered to. Part brothel, part speak-easy, part opium den, part casino and part pit-fighting arena, there is little not for sale here.

6. The Grand Market
Once a season (save for winter), Ghastenhall hosts a great three day market located in the heart of Whitequarter. For those three days, the city goes wild with commerce. The base value and purchase limit both increase by 20% and 1d4 bonus medium and major magic items are available for sale for three days only!

7. The Library of Ghaster
The Library Ghaster is actually a wonder of Talingarde. This open library charges only a pittance (5 sp a day) for access to its stacks. Inside is the single greatest collection of books, tomes and scrolls in all of Talingarde. This is a fine place to do research. Spending a day here grants a +4 circumstance bonus to an Knowledge skill check.

There is however one great hole in the Library’s collections. The library has no books at all about Asmodeus, his worship or evil outsiders. That lore is forbidden by Church edict.

8. Victory Circle
This large open plaza has at its center a gigantic marble statue of King Marcadian I called the Victorious – the Victor himself. The Victor stands triumphant on a crest of white skyros holding aloft a sword in his right hand and the banner of Mitra in his left. The statue is surrounded by fountains and on clear days great throngs of city dwellers gather here to chat and stroll.

Victory Circle is also famous for something else – its mad men. Lines of prophets, crazies, cranks and crackpots gather here to regale the passing populace on a host of subjects. Most of them are simple homeless nuts ranting about the end of the world. But every once in a while a true oracle appears and speaks here. The Church of Mitra only barely tolerates this gathering of blasphemers.

9. Barrington-in-the-Round Theater
Ghastenhall’s nicest and newest theater. This theater has raised controversy by allowing women to join the cast. This is also the theater that made the reputation of famed thespian William Marcus Marlowe, the beloved bard of Barrington. It is also rumored that he is performing here for the upcomming summer arts festival.

According to the rumor he will be starring as the lead in “Five Against Fortune”. This play is supposed to be a rousing tale of five heroes who manage to outwit a vicious, ludicrously angry Asmodean king, woo his daughter and beat his pet devil. Its a big boisterous performance with Marlowe cast as that rapscallion with a heart of gold – Brandon of Braskerly. It will feature sword fights, singing, romance and a funny bit with a dog.

10. Lasthome
This old manor house sits on a rise overlooking Wrongside just past Snakerly Trail. No one lives in this house and by reputation this house is haunted. Multiple attempts to sell the house have failed over the years as new occupants report strange and disturbing events slowly growing worse over time.

Ten Interesting Facts About Ghastenhall
1. Ghastenhall food is famously spicy.
Thanks to an abundance of foreign merchants in this port town, spices are not rare in Ghastenhall. That means that many of the quintessentially Ghasterly foods are devilishly hot. The most famous local food of all “Scarper’s Stew” is a blend of river-caught seafood simmered in a broth made of onions, herbs, fish bones and crab shells then spiced to the point of being bright red and fiery hot.

2. Rowing is the favorite sport
River boat rowing is the favored sport of the upper crust. The teams often come from the various colleges but even the town watch has rowing teams. Watching a set of rowing is often a picnic-like affair and involves sitting on the banks of the Wellspring during the summer months watching the boats go by. Very genteel indeed.

3. The other favorite sport is Rugagug.
Rugagug is basically a gang fight with a few rules and if you’re lucky a referee. The goal in Rugagug is to get a rather strange shaped ball between two posts no matter who tries to stop you. There are a few other rules and subtleties, fans insist, but to outsiders it can be difficult to tell.

4. Ghastenhall is the only place in Talingarde to reliably get rum.
The “Salties”, the saltwater fisherman, have developed a taste for rum doubtless from hanging out with foreign sailors. Sugar cane does not grow in Talingarde so it must either be imported (expensive) or smuggled (dangerous). The alternative was to use local sugar beets. They make a passable rum substitute except that thanks to the beets the booze is blood red. The scarpers may like their beer, but the salties will take blood rum over it every time.

5. Many street names in Ghastenhall are quite silly
There is a law that anytime the city expands the new street is presented before the duke and he gets to name it. In the past a number of dukes have not taken this duty seriously. That is why Ghastenhall has a Leavemebe Lane, Fetchmeabrandy Street, Rubella’s Rosy Rump Road, and the most powerful wizard in town’s new tower is on Abracadabra Way. These silly names often gets shortened in day to day use. Ruby Road is far easier and quicker to say than Rubella’s Rosy Rump. Some of these silly names have become quite famous. Everyone knows you find the banks on Greedily Road.

6. Ghastenhall still honors Asmodeus’s main festival
Well, sort of. Everyone knows that the major festival of Asmodeus happens on the last day of the Harvest Month. It is said that then the barrier between this world and the realms of death and hell are the thinnest. In order to appease the wandering spirits and hunting devils, you must bribe them with treats and presents. Traditionally children dress up as monster and the adults give the treats (a kind of honey cookie being the usual present). When the worship of Asmodeus was banned by the Mitrans eighty years ago, this festival called the Asmodean Revel was also banned. But here in Ghastenhall, they didn’t stop doing it. They just changed the name. It is now called the Angelian Revel to honor St. Angelo patron saint of monster hunters. But it is still identical.

7. The color of the moment is burgundy
Ghastenhall actually has a modest fashion community that designs new clothing that is aped throughout the kingdom. This year they seem to have decided that the only color worth wearing is burgundy. The shops are full of rich reds both as dresses and men’s doublets. Burgundy is everywhere. Of course the cracks in this trend are already starting to show. Already a few designers are starting to whisper that burgundy is played out. What will next years color be? Who can say. Isn’t fashion exciting?

8. Ghastenhall mints its own money
Most of the currency used in Talingarde comes from Matharyn, but Ghastenhall actually does mint their own coins thanks to an ancient grant given to the duke’s family long ago. Therefore, you can find coins with the duke’s head right along the side the king’s head all over the city.

9. The Duke is unmarried and the city’s most eligible bachelor
Duke Hadrian is in his early thirties, handsome and quite the ladies man. Yet he remains unmarried. This must change soon. The duke needs an heir! But the question on everyone’s mind is who the lucky lady will be. The duke has already rejected the usual suspects amongst the aristocracy. Could it be the duke plans to marry a peasant? Such a scandal!

10. A Magical College?
Rumors fly that professor Tiberius Feign, a powerful and accomplished wizard may soon open Talingarde’s first magical college. It is doubtful the Church will approve but what does the duke think? No one is sure.

Benefit: You gain a +1 trait bonus on Diplomacy and Knowledge (nobility) checks. In addition, your starting money is increased by 100 gp— your “birthright,” such as it is.

The sword is possessed of an ambitious personality, subtly urging its wielder towards improving his skills, both martial and magical, and gaining more power for both himself and the blade. To that effect, Whisper forms an almost symbiotic bond with whomever wields it and feeds off of his arcane powers to fuel its own growing abilities, which in turn it uses for as much its own benefit as its wielder’s.

It has the following statistics:

Alignment Neutral Evil; Ego 5
Senses Sight, hearing
Communication Telepathy
Int 11, Wis 7, Cha 7
Skills None
Languages Common (Taldane)
Special Abilities Alertness (Ex), Arcane Pool (Su) (1 point), Black Blade Strike (Sp) +1, Telepathy (Su), Unbreakable (Ex)