Rel'Taris

Large City; The population of 12,346 is mostly human (79%) with smaller numbers of other races. Nordic influences with dwarven innovations in the form of harnessed steam for heating.
The city is surrounded by a large forest that is constantly encroaching on the city with logging operations working to keep the forest at bay. The city is built along the shore of the ‘Ice-tooth River’ so called from the number of ice-covered rocks sticking out near the shores and the numerous creatures in its depths. The land around the city is flat for several miles before turning into hills and Deepwood. Frozen most of the year, snowfall is a common occurrence. On sunny days the temperature sits just above freezing. There is a prejudice against orcs, goblins, trolls, and werewolves. Beyond those they have a distaste for half-orcs and those who are too weak to survive in the harsh reality that is Ursand. Criminals are also a well hated group; crime is punished harshly as it endangers another person’s survival which can influence many other people’s survival. Stealing food is the most common occurrence and sees the offender going without food for at least a day depending on number of offences or severity. The worst punishment is exile, they are branded with an X shape with two points on the top and bottom and two small vertical lines on the side. This brand is meant to let anyone in Ursand know not to open their door to them.

Adventure hooks

Tier 1: Pest problems: An infestation of snow voles and goblins has been discovered in a cave where Ursandian’s grow mushrooms. This presents a danger to the town, the people, and the food stores. You have been hired to deal with pests and discover how they arrived.
Tier 2: Fey troubles: Relations with the fey are more strained than normal after several hunters have gone missing. Rumor has it that it is the dryad’s fault that they took and kept the hunters, others say that they were given to the deep wood spirits. You have been asked to find out their fate and find out why the fey are acting out.
Tier 3: A wolf in man’s clothing: There has been a murder in a major city, the body shows clear signs of being mauled by a wolf of massive size but not indications winter wolves got in. The locals believe it is one of the She-Wolf’s victims now hunting in the city. In a situation like this all hands are called in to help as the wolf can be anyone.