Ravengro

The Ustalavic settlement of Ravengro is located in the west of the county of Canterwall, close to the contentious border with the Hold of Belkzen.

History

Ravengro was founded in 4594 AR to support Harrowstone, a prison built to answer the growing need for a centralized repository for criminals in the county of Tamrivena (now known as Canterwall). Count Eigen Lorres, one of the last counts to rule Tamrivena before the county switched to its current government, was not a well-liked ruler. In an attempt both to bolster his failing reputation and bring money into Tamrivena’s coffers, he announced the construction of Harrowstone, a prison that would not only house all of the county’s prisoners (thus removing them from being incarcerated locally), but that for a price, would house dangerous prisoners from all over Ustalav. Count Lorres’s plan worked perfectly—not only was the transfer of criminals out of local jails seen as a boon throughout the county, but other counties also responded well to the invitation, sending caravans of payments to Tamrivena and caravans of prisoners to Ravengro. The town of Ravengro itself was always intended to be little more than support for the prison. Not only would Ravengro provide a place for the prison’s employees to live, but it would also provide all of the supplies needed by the prison—food, water, tools, weapons for the guards, and anything else necessary. In 4661 AR, a prisoner uprising led to Harrowstone prison being burnt down and all the prisoners and many of the staff, including the warden and his wife, were killed. The prison was never rebuilt and shortly thereafter, in 4670 AR, a bloodless coup occurred in Tamrivena bringing a new democracy to the county and to Ravengro. Many political historians see the fire at Harrowstone and its immediate neglect as one of the catalysts of the move to democracy in the county. Since that time, while Harrowstone has remained a constant reminder of darker times, the town of Ravengro has recovered remarkably.

General

It was here after Professor Petros Lorrimor's murder that set the Fellowship on the trail of Auren Vrood and the Whispering Way and their attempt at freeing the Whispering Tyrant.

Demographics

281 humans, 12 halflings, 8 elves, 7 dwarves, 3 half-elves

Government

Council

Points of interest

Harrowstone Prison
Harrowstone Memorial
Jominda's Apothecary
Lorrimor Place
Restlands
Temple of Pharasma

Geography

A small river, the Ravengro Creek, runs through the town, while an even smaller rivulet meets the Ravengro Creek just north of the southernmost bridge in the town. There are three bridges in the town: two span the Creek, one to the north and one to the south, while a third small wooden bridge runs over the rivulet. To the north of the town lies the huge water of Lake Lias, locally called "The Great Blue Dot". To the south of the town is a hill upon which stands the ruins of the Harrowstone prison looming over the town.

Natural Resources

The town is a quite healthy farming community blessed with fertile fields and orchards. The town’s chief products are wheat, barley, and corn. Because the town is close to the shore of Lake Lias, Ravengrians can supplement their food stores with fish, but fishing is not sustainable as a commercial enterprise.