Scarstag

Ruler: a five-person town council, however, the word of the governor is law Economy: trade, merchant supplies, fine horses, but primarily agriculture Militia: many clergy and 200 lay-member militia Points of interest: Ruins of Olflyn’s School, Morningsong, Castor Stavros Ranch, The Burning Wizard Inn
Tired travelers on the Commonwealth Way between Citadel and the southwestern heartlands often stop in Scarstag. Scarstag is located just off the road about a day’s travel on horseback south of where the Way of the Lion that leads to Safehold branches off from the Commonwealth Way. It is within reach of the northern borders of Rhigolia. Merchants often use it as a rendezvous for caravan assembly before attempting the perilous overland runs north to Freehaven.
As a result, this small town gets very crowded at unpredictable intervals. Begun as a farming village under the protection of a school of wizardry, Scarstag is now dominated by Morningsong, a major temple to Anulil. The mage Olflyn, a conjurer of note, founded his school over 300 years ago but grew too successful in attracting would be wizards. Nydeisian mages came to fear the school’s power and destroyed it in spell battle; Olflyn himself disappeared during the fray and was never found. The school burned to an empty shell, which still stands on a hill east of the town. Local fear of the ruins, which are said to be haunted by phantoms that are able to cast spells, has caused Scarstag to be expanded to the west of the Commonwealth Way, leaving the hills east of it to the sheep.
Scarstag has only one tavern. It is called the Burning Wizard, of course. It has no signboard, but the traveler can easily find it. It’s the building with the crowded hitching rail that stands just north of where the small rivulet known as Wizards Doom Creek which rises on the hill where the ruins stand against the sky crosses the Commonwealth Way. That’s where the two chief dangers to curious and young magelings hoping to gain spells or items who approach the ruins too closely, and re-told to bold children as a cautionary nursery rhyme. There’s a wizshade who hurls random spells at folk, sometimes appearing as a thin, wraithlike, impossibly tall, bearded man and sometimes just as a battered wizard’s hat. There’s also another wizard wraith, a haunt, who tries to lure folk into the depths of the ruins cellars and possess their bodies. Old villagers also speak of magical traps deep in the ruins and at least one gate that leads to unknown destinations.
Scarstag’s governor strongly disapproves of explorations of the ruins. Although there is a five person town council, the word of the governor is law in Scarstag, and he is a tireless proponent of farming, starting up new businesses, and improving the place. He is also Most Radiant of Anulil, high priest of the temple. Tarul Gesaqiel and his temple troops police the town, keeping it safe so that trading, meetings, and spending at the shops are brisk. In this, he has two powerful allies: the wizard Flisoflyn, a conjurer of great repute, and the dwarven smith Vomdomora Hardbender. Tarul has also successfully encouraged several important Rhigolian merchants to establish estates around Scarstag notably the Stavros family, whose fine horses, now bred here, are highly prized throughout the Frontier, the Commonwealth, and the Borderlands.
The visitor today will find the Morningsong Church a local iconic feature of note. This large temple to Anulil consists of a fortified church surrounded by stables, refectories, guesthouses, and outbuildings. It rises up right beside the east side of the road in the center of town, and its distinctive rose-red spires can be seen for miles. Its many clergies and 200 lay-member militia assist local businesspeople and farmers, and in return, the temple receives regular and large offerings. The servants of the Morninglord also tend temple fields of potatoes and herb flowers east of the road and keep sheep on the slopes of the hill topped by the ruined school of wizardry. They keep them there ostensibly because these fields are more open to view than those of local farmers. The sheep are thus more easily watched, preventing theft and raiding beasts from ravaging them. The real reason that the sheep are kept here is that the servants of the Morninglord want to keep some control over expeditions into the ruins and to prevent uncontrolled expansion of Scarstag. Over the years, various merchants have shown a distressing tendency to lay claim to all land within easy reach of the Commonwealth Way that is not strongly defended. The folk of the temple are vigilant, and stand for no lawlessness or aggression, but are otherwise helpful to strangers. Those willing to give a sizeable tithe to the temple are welcomed to stay in its guesthouses for two nights. People may stay longer if they are sick or injured. Priests will tend them and won’t expect any more money, although most folks do give something. Temple fare is simple but good, and baths and stabling are available.

Type

Town

Location under

Ethigoviel