Erone Abbey
Location: Tuselion Hundred, Semethshire,
Kingdom of Kaldor
Holder: Church of Peoni, Pelnala Velira Siwen
Liege: Secular: King of Kaldor
Religious: Sulaplyn Brygyne of Kynge
Population: Village: 407 people (79 households)
Abbey: 15 priestesses, 61 acolytes,
approx. 65 patients and 40+ guests
Gross Acres: 2960
Land Quality: 1.19
Erone Abbey, built in 335, is held by the female, celibate, Order of the Balm of Joy. Located on the Genin Trail, the main road to Tashal, the nunnery has a reputation for excellence in the healing arts. No wounded or sickly folk are turned away.
Erone includes a large temple, a nunnery, a manor house, and an overburdened hospital.
The famous Erone hospital is built upon natural mineral springs long considered therapeutic. The hospital produces a variety of oils, unguents, salves, balms, elixirs and potions, extracted and blended from all manner of efficacious herbs and fungi. The clerics gather these themselves or acquire them through trade. Sale of medicines brings much-needed silver to the abbey.
The abbey enjoys the patronage of many noble benefactors, including King Miginath, the Baron of Ternua, and the Lady Thilisa of Qualdris.
Despite this support, Erone is constantly on the verge of financial collapse. It is in debt to the Qualdris usurer Tommas of Cuke for the funds needed to replace the hospital roof damaged in a storm.
The manor consists of the village, mill, guesthouse and Holy Enclosure. Encircled by a thick hedge, the Holy Enclosure is consecrated as Peonian sacred ground, protected by both religious and secular law.
The hedge encloses the Peonian temple, nunnery, hospital and some of the domestic buildings of the demesne farm. Although some consider them separate, the four areas function as one unit.
There are stone and timber buildings within the Holy Enclosure. More expensive, stone is reserved for the most important buildings.
Fittingly, the most prominent building is the large, very tall, single storey main temple with its shingled roof.
The second most important building in the abbey, the hospital is considerably shorter. Its roof was recently replaced (at considerable expense) after being badly damaged in a storm.
There are also four smaller chapels devoted to healing, marriage, private worship and funerals.
The remaining two stone buildings are the manor house (which doubles as a guest house for visiting nobles) and the scriptorium / library.
The timber buildings are far more numerous. Cruckframed with wattle and daub between the timbers, the wooden buildings are whitewashed and have thatched roofs. They range in size from the massive aisled tithe barn to a petit house for the abbess.
Built by the local villagers as part of their tithes, they show considerable skill and attention to detail. Of note, many of the buildings inside the Holy Enclosure are round or have rounded ends, a style characteristic of Peonian timber architecture.
Astride the Genin Trail, on the main road to Tashal, Erone Abbey sees a great deal of traffic. The abbey has set aside the north common for use as a campsite.
It is frequently filled with the wagons and pavilions of nobles, merchants, pilgrims and commoners.
The road crosses the shallow, hard packed gravel ford across Lyben Creek, then up and over a stone culvert across the mill’s tailrace.
Approaches to the ford are conscientiously maintained by the lay brothers of the abbey and are easily negotiated by even the most heavily loaded wagon.
During the summer, the water over the ford drops to just a few inches and even during the spring runoff, it is rarely more than two feet deep.
It remains passable in all but the most extreme storms, and even then, the stream reverts to its normal tranquil self within a day or two.
Lyben Creek is broad, shallow and slow.
To generate a sufficient head of water to turn the mill’s breast wheel, a sturdy four-foot high stone and timber weir was constructed.
It redirects much of the stream’s flow into a stone-lined millrace.
Several years ago, a wooden grill was installed at the end of the race, just before the mill wheel, after a young boy was killed when he fell into the channel and was swept into the wheel.
The village miller is a bonded master who works for the abbey.
He operates the mill and bakery on their behalf and also oversees their bakery.
The abbey makes a good profit selling fresh bread to wealthy travellers.
Across the road, a stout wooden palisade encloses the manor’s grain storage. It is controlled by the Beadle, who lives just behind the compound.
The tailrace, below the mill, is a popular place for the women of the village to do laundry. The bushes on either side of the road are frequently covered with drying clothes.
This small cluster of buildings (including a pig sty, cow barn and bull shed) combined with the tithe barn and stable inside the abbey gates, comprise the working buildings of the abbey’s 800-acre demesne farm.
The farm duties are mainly the responsibility of the lay brothers and sisters, assisted by the familia.
Across the Genin Trail from the abbey is a small, but lovingly tended apple orchard. The trees are healthy and mature. In autumn, they are heavy with ripe, red apples.
At the center of the orchard are a number of beehives. The abbey produces excellent cider and mead, mostly for local consumption.
Located in the lush green, rich and fertile valley bottomland, on the banks of Lyben Creek, the abbey is enclosed by a tall, thick hedge.
Erone Abbey is famous throughout Kaldor (and beyond) for its temple, hospital and healing spring.
A simple, but elegant Peonian church sits atop a small hill overlooking the main road.
The vast majority of Peonian travellers (and some Laranians) stop to pray at the temple and leave an offering.
The abbey relies on the generosity of travellers and the donations pay for the support of many patients and guests.
The heart and soul of the abbey is its large hospital and Tirrala’s Chapel.
The nuns are known for their healing skills and the chapel has been the scene of many miracles.
The abbey also provides shelter for needy travellers and generous alms for the poor.
Renowned for its large hospital, many extremely sick people travel great distances to seek healing at the abbey.
Sadly, Peoni does not grant healing to all. Those that do not survive are buried in the abbey’s large cemetery. Their numbers have exceeded the capacity of the original enclosure and the new cemetery has already begun to fill.
The southern common is smaller and normally filled with the wagons and carts of faithful Peonians who stop to pray at the temple.
It is well shaded by a clump of oak trees and is also a popular rest stop. Several of the cottar women do a brisk business selling hot food to passing merchants and nobles.
The large open area in the center of the village is used for small markets and celebrations. The village well is a popular gathering spot and children can be seen playing games after their chores are done.
Located above a sinkhole, this pond is much deeper and colder than it appears.
Kept fresh by an underground stream, it is a popular place for the children to swim. Their laughter and yells can be heard as far as the road, as they swing from a threadbare old rope tied to the sturdy branch of a massive weeping willow tree.
Each summer, usually in the month of Nolus, the pond is the scene of the annual Angyla Festival.
At the entrance to the village is an ancient weathered hunk of granite.
Carved into its face is a simple, but elegant Peonian holy symbol, a daisy (see page 1). It is a well-known and beloved landmark and quietly marks this as a place of peace and worship.
Kingdom of Kaldor
Holder: Church of Peoni, Pelnala Velira Siwen
Liege: Secular: King of Kaldor
Religious: Sulaplyn Brygyne of Kynge
Population: Village: 407 people (79 households)
Abbey: 15 priestesses, 61 acolytes,
approx. 65 patients and 40+ guests
Gross Acres: 2960
Land Quality: 1.19
Erone Abbey, built in 335, is held by the female, celibate, Order of the Balm of Joy. Located on the Genin Trail, the main road to Tashal, the nunnery has a reputation for excellence in the healing arts. No wounded or sickly folk are turned away.
Erone includes a large temple, a nunnery, a manor house, and an overburdened hospital.
The famous Erone hospital is built upon natural mineral springs long considered therapeutic. The hospital produces a variety of oils, unguents, salves, balms, elixirs and potions, extracted and blended from all manner of efficacious herbs and fungi. The clerics gather these themselves or acquire them through trade. Sale of medicines brings much-needed silver to the abbey.
The abbey enjoys the patronage of many noble benefactors, including King Miginath, the Baron of Ternua, and the Lady Thilisa of Qualdris.
Despite this support, Erone is constantly on the verge of financial collapse. It is in debt to the Qualdris usurer Tommas of Cuke for the funds needed to replace the hospital roof damaged in a storm.
The manor consists of the village, mill, guesthouse and Holy Enclosure. Encircled by a thick hedge, the Holy Enclosure is consecrated as Peonian sacred ground, protected by both religious and secular law.
The hedge encloses the Peonian temple, nunnery, hospital and some of the domestic buildings of the demesne farm. Although some consider them separate, the four areas function as one unit.
There are stone and timber buildings within the Holy Enclosure. More expensive, stone is reserved for the most important buildings.
Fittingly, the most prominent building is the large, very tall, single storey main temple with its shingled roof.
The second most important building in the abbey, the hospital is considerably shorter. Its roof was recently replaced (at considerable expense) after being badly damaged in a storm.
There are also four smaller chapels devoted to healing, marriage, private worship and funerals.
The remaining two stone buildings are the manor house (which doubles as a guest house for visiting nobles) and the scriptorium / library.
The timber buildings are far more numerous. Cruckframed with wattle and daub between the timbers, the wooden buildings are whitewashed and have thatched roofs. They range in size from the massive aisled tithe barn to a petit house for the abbess.
Built by the local villagers as part of their tithes, they show considerable skill and attention to detail. Of note, many of the buildings inside the Holy Enclosure are round or have rounded ends, a style characteristic of Peonian timber architecture.
A. North Common.
Astride the Genin Trail, on the main road to Tashal, Erone Abbey sees a great deal of traffic. The abbey has set aside the north common for use as a campsite.
It is frequently filled with the wagons and pavilions of nobles, merchants, pilgrims and commoners.
B. Lyben Crossing.
The road crosses the shallow, hard packed gravel ford across Lyben Creek, then up and over a stone culvert across the mill’s tailrace.
Approaches to the ford are conscientiously maintained by the lay brothers of the abbey and are easily negotiated by even the most heavily loaded wagon.
During the summer, the water over the ford drops to just a few inches and even during the spring runoff, it is rarely more than two feet deep.
It remains passable in all but the most extreme storms, and even then, the stream reverts to its normal tranquil self within a day or two.
C. Weir.
Lyben Creek is broad, shallow and slow.
To generate a sufficient head of water to turn the mill’s breast wheel, a sturdy four-foot high stone and timber weir was constructed.
It redirects much of the stream’s flow into a stone-lined millrace.
Several years ago, a wooden grill was installed at the end of the race, just before the mill wheel, after a young boy was killed when he fell into the channel and was swept into the wheel.
D. Granary and Mill.
The village miller is a bonded master who works for the abbey.
He operates the mill and bakery on their behalf and also oversees their bakery.
The abbey makes a good profit selling fresh bread to wealthy travellers.
Across the road, a stout wooden palisade encloses the manor’s grain storage. It is controlled by the Beadle, who lives just behind the compound.
The tailrace, below the mill, is a popular place for the women of the village to do laundry. The bushes on either side of the road are frequently covered with drying clothes.
E. Demesne Farm.
This small cluster of buildings (including a pig sty, cow barn and bull shed) combined with the tithe barn and stable inside the abbey gates, comprise the working buildings of the abbey’s 800-acre demesne farm.
The farm duties are mainly the responsibility of the lay brothers and sisters, assisted by the familia.
F. Orchard.
Across the Genin Trail from the abbey is a small, but lovingly tended apple orchard. The trees are healthy and mature. In autumn, they are heavy with ripe, red apples.
At the center of the orchard are a number of beehives. The abbey produces excellent cider and mead, mostly for local consumption.
G. Abbey.
Located in the lush green, rich and fertile valley bottomland, on the banks of Lyben Creek, the abbey is enclosed by a tall, thick hedge.
Erone Abbey is famous throughout Kaldor (and beyond) for its temple, hospital and healing spring.
A simple, but elegant Peonian church sits atop a small hill overlooking the main road.
The vast majority of Peonian travellers (and some Laranians) stop to pray at the temple and leave an offering.
The abbey relies on the generosity of travellers and the donations pay for the support of many patients and guests.
The heart and soul of the abbey is its large hospital and Tirrala’s Chapel.
The nuns are known for their healing skills and the chapel has been the scene of many miracles.
The abbey also provides shelter for needy travellers and generous alms for the poor.
H. Cemetery.
Renowned for its large hospital, many extremely sick people travel great distances to seek healing at the abbey.
Sadly, Peoni does not grant healing to all. Those that do not survive are buried in the abbey’s large cemetery. Their numbers have exceeded the capacity of the original enclosure and the new cemetery has already begun to fill.
I. Small Common.
The southern common is smaller and normally filled with the wagons and carts of faithful Peonians who stop to pray at the temple.
It is well shaded by a clump of oak trees and is also a popular rest stop. Several of the cottar women do a brisk business selling hot food to passing merchants and nobles.
J. Village Common.
The large open area in the center of the village is used for small markets and celebrations. The village well is a popular gathering spot and children can be seen playing games after their chores are done.
K. Pond.
Located above a sinkhole, this pond is much deeper and colder than it appears.
Kept fresh by an underground stream, it is a popular place for the children to swim. Their laughter and yells can be heard as far as the road, as they swing from a threadbare old rope tied to the sturdy branch of a massive weeping willow tree.
Each summer, usually in the month of Nolus, the pond is the scene of the annual Angyla Festival.
L. Holy Symbol.
At the entrance to the village is an ancient weathered hunk of granite.
Carved into its face is a simple, but elegant Peonian holy symbol, a daisy (see page 1). It is a well-known and beloved landmark and quietly marks this as a place of peace and worship.
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