Hotpools
A small settlement in the southern foothills of the Hellsgate Peaks near a sheltered natural harbor, Hotpools was built on the site of a destroyed stone temple to some forgotten deity. The great stone head of the deity, much worn by time, sits forlornly beside the long-shattered remains of the rest of the statue, and near an altar carved with weathered runes in a forgotten tongue. These mysterious remnants lie covered in moss and vines, only a few of them recognizable for what they are. Beside them is a cluster of five hotsprings, three of which have been surrounded and covered by columns and roofs of forest marble, open to the air on all sides.
The marble shelters were built during the reign of King Lertis Tevoy of Castorhage, as were a few surviving marble buildings in the nearby town. Some have said that Hotpools was King Lertis’ primary reason for his bizarre fixation on building the Great Road. In one version of the tale, a courtier visited the Hotpools’ baths and brought back a piece of the deity’s statue as a souvenir for Lertis. The young man developed an obsession with the eldritch writing on the stone until he became possessed by the forgotten deity of Hotpools and was thus driven to carve a road into the forest — perhaps to recover some ancient treasure of the destroyed temple, or perhaps to specifically provoke a war as vengeance on the forgotten deity’s enemies.
Most historians agree that Castorhagi rulers do not need forgotten deities and mysterious writings to inspire them to make bad decisions, but what is interesting about Hotpools is that all contact with the work crews building the settlement ceased sometime during the Forest Coast War. By the time the place was investigated by Castorhagi soldiers, it was deserted. The building project was put aside for after the war, and ultimately abandoned. The Castorhagers never again attempted an official settlement there.
The history of Hotpools is lost for centuries after that, though evidence suggests that several groups at least attempted to form communities there before the current city arose. Missives back and forth between would-be settlers and their sponsors or loved ones in the Tycho Free States also support the assumption that attempts were made. Oddly little is known about the relative success of such ventures or why they failed.
The current community at Hotpools is less than a century old. Its buildings are constructed mostly of mud-brick and thatch save where they repurposed marble scavenged from the Castorhagi ruins. It is a small but bustling place, and its economy revolves around the pools themselves and the nearby Hellsgate Peaks. Visitors can purchase simply-crafted jewelry made of local volcanic stones, souvenirs — both real and fake — from (allegedly) deeper inside the Hellsgate Peaks, medicines and potions that at least claim to be made using rare volcanic ingredients, and other such marvels. Services available include two surprisingly nice inns for a town this size, both dedicated to the peace and relaxation of the pools, with a skilled herbalist on staff at one and two skilled masseurs at the other.
Whatever mysterious force led to the disappearance of the previous Hotpools communities has yet to make its presence known in this one. Some suggest this may be because the current leadership of the hidden city of devils within the Hellsgate Peaks is clever enough to realize that Hotpools makes good bait to lure travelers into the deadly mountains. It is true — and most decent guides will say so — that the majority of travelers who venture more than a day into the Hellsgate Peaks do not return. Hotpools’ residents recommend that travelers simply stay and enjoy the pools, and then go. But if one insists upon entering the mountains, guides are available here, at varying levels of ability and honesty. The best guides turn back before things get too interesting. The worst guides are those who turn out to be literal devils in disguise.
Settlement
Hotpools, Village of
Type
Village
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