Hulgnoria
Public Amphitheater
The circular stage of the open air theater has been built into the bottom of a hill away from the center of town. Rows of seats taking the form of inlaid stone blocks spread up the slope of the hill, giving onlookers a clear view of any performers below.
This is a small open air local theater. It is used for festivals, plays, and major public announcements. Most famously, the annual wine festival takes place here.
Whenever the wine festival is active, priests of Lutheria come to town, often with fey performers. The wine festival might happen when the heroes return to Estoria after finishing one of the Labors. Otherwise, it might take place in the city of Mytros, later on.
North Gate
This gate includes a fortified stone bridge that crosses the Arkelon River. The atmosphere at the gate is tense, as disciplined soldiers stand off against jeering bands of centaurs on the steppes just beyond the river. The heavy wooden doors of the gate are apparently kept shut and barred at all times.
This gate leads to the northern steppes. The great wooden doors are kept shut and barred, opening twice daily for scouting parties that patrol the steppes. The towers are manned by soldiers.
South Gate
This gate is bustling with merchants and travelers, many of whom pull heavy carts behind them. The gate is guarded by two bored-looking soldiers.
This gate is where most merchants enter and leave the city, traveling along the main road through the Heartlands. The gate is guarded at all times by two soldiers , and the guard changes at sunrise and sunset.
East Gate
This gate is quiet, though you can hear the sounds of the city echoing through the streets. The floral scents of gardens and sweet vineyards drift from the east.
This gate leads eastward into the vineyards and gardens that supply the city with much of its wine. The area is well-protected by the surrounding rocky cliffs, so there are seldom any guards here.
The Agora
Estoria’s well-trodden streets converge at the bustling central agora. A motley assortment of stalls litters the area, from canopies of fine silk to stacks of rotted wooden crates. Merchants at the stalls eagerly vie for your attention with a wide variety of quality wares, all of which seem very reasonably priced.
The center of activity in Estoria is the agora, the large open area that serves as the marketplace and public square for the town. Around the outside of the agora are long, open air buildings that have shops in the back.
Despite the variety of shops here, the selection of adventuring gear is rather limited. Basic tools, weapons, and armor are available for sale, but more advanced items, such as platemail and crossbows, cannot be found.
Living Quarters
Three distinct groups of buildings are walled off from the rest of the city. The simple stone houses in the first complex line the central courtyard in neat rows. The structures of the second group are covered with ornate statuettes and carvings. The third group is a rustic collection of humble brick homes.
This is the residential district of the city. The citizens of Estoria are divided into three neighborhoods. The soldiers live in the first area, the craftsmen in the second, and the farmers in the third. These homes are walled off from the outside, but each includes a spacious interior courtyard which provides an open view of the sky.
The Dragon Shrine
This shrine sits at the end of a quiet street that runs into the wall of the gorge. It’s a large stone building with a copper dome. The pediment above the door bears a marble engraving of the legendary dragon, Balmytria. Inside the building, there is a strong smell of incense. You can hear the muttering of prayers, as the priests of the shrine carry out their daily rituals.
The chief attendant of this shrine is a priest named Aesop (NG priest ). Aesop has heard the prophecy, and he has bad news for the party: the Horn of Balmytria has been stolen from the reliquary. Thieves broke into the shrine two nights ago and escaped with it. Aesop will answer any questions the heroes may have about the horn, and he welcomes an investigation for clues in the reliquary.
The Dragon's Tooth
A nondescript brick building with carved white stone accents, the popular public house distinguishes itself by the sheer amount of activity in and around it. Patrons regularly drift in and out in varying states of sobriety. The scent of food and sounds of raucous conversation emanate from the open door and windows.
This public house is frequented by merchants and soldiers staying at the thatched inns in the southern outskirts of town. Lodging at an inn can be arranged with the bartender, a wiry old white-haired man named Delphion. He is friendly and knowledgeable, but has little patience for small-talk or superstition. He knows of the party’s quest, and will help them however he can.
There are several dwarves who visit The Dragon’s Tooth every night. They work the local copper mine.
Volkan's Hall
Near the center of town is a large building with fortified stone walls and a shingle roof. A sign hangs from the building’s heavy, bronze-banded doors. It reads, Volkan’s Hall. Inside the hall, you are greeted by the warm glow of embers and blasts of hot air. The room is decorated with a variety of bronze armors, weapons, and farming tools. A weathered-looking dwarf works at an anvil near the blistering forge at the back of the hall. He wipes the sweat from his brow and greets you.
He provides blacksmithing services to Estoria and all the farming communities in the Heartlands. He can usually be found at his anvil, grumbling about all the work to be done. Volkan is assisted by a gangly teenaged boy named Theo, who minds the stables and runs errands in town. He has taken over the smithy since Volkan has left.
The King's Palace
The once-great Estorian Palace looms high over the city. Large windows let in copious amounts of sunlight, which fails to chase away the gloom that has settled in the palace. As you walk the halls, you notice evidence of the court’s past glory in the form of precious artifacts dating back to the First War. Extravagant tapestries show tales of Estoria’s history and King Pythor’s grand adventures, though more recent events are nowhere to be seen on the hangings.
The Estorian palace is simple in design. It boasts a single great hall flanked by side chambers for the kitchens, servant’s quarters, and bedrooms. At the back is a stairway that descends to the basements where storage chambers and dungeons are located. King Pythor (see appendix) can always be found in the great hall, accompanied by a half-dozen of his advisors.
The Rock of Estor
Jutting out of the shallows of the Arkelon River, the Rock of Estor is less impressive than its name would suggest. Its flat surface forms a natural altarpiece where numerous sacrifices have evidently taken place.
There is an iron pole stuck directly in the center of the rock, and white stones are scattered around its base. Strong rapids rush past the rock noisily.
This rock sits in the middle of the Arkelon River. It is 15 ft. in diameter and stands only a few feet out of the water. The rock sits in the middle of a ford across the river that is only 2-3 ft. deep across its entire width. The top of the rock is smooth with the iron pole sticking in the center, surrounded by chunks of white rock.
Sacrifices to Sydon are made at the rock. Almost every day, two members of the Order of Sydon lead a cow out to the rock. They tie the cow to the iron pole and then hurry away. A few minutes later, two basilisks emerge from the water and scuttle over to the cow. They turn the cow to stone and then devour the petrified remains. This takes a few minutes, and then they scuttle back into the river.
The Northern Steepes
Grassland stretches across the horizon as far as you can see. The sun shines down from a perfect, cloudless blue sky. A refreshing breeze blows across your skin and through the waves of green grass. The picturesque serenity of this vast, rolling landscape is at odds with the dangers that lurk in this untamed wilderness.
The Estorian Vineyards
This lonely vineyard is on the outskirts of the city. Wooden trellises erupt from the tilled soil in neat, symmetrical rows. Healthy green vines wind around these structures, bearing a bountiful crop of brilliant purple grapes. After some walking, you find a fit middle-aged man among the vines, pruning the plants with great care. Upon hearing your approach, the man turns to greet you. Although he appears friendly, his brow is deeply furrowed with apprehension.
Thericles (NG scout ) used to serve the King but has now retired to the outskirts of Estoria to tend to his vineyard with his husband. He is descended from the Phobas family line of the Dragonlords, and he is highly respected by the citizens of Estoria. He is currently in despair because his daughter Corinna has gone missing.
Thericles wanted someone to find out what has happened to his daughter. She disappeared into the Oldwood a week ago, and Thericles has been unable to track her.
Corinna is one of many teenagers who have been lured into the Mossy Temple by a tribe of goatlings who serve the corrupted dryad, Demetria. She slaughtered some goatlings & helped the Chosen find the Horn.
Woodhike
You follow a small trail away from the road and into the forested hills. After an hour of travel, the trees grow dense, and the canopy blocks most of the sky.
Eventually, you emerge into an expansive forest glade carpeted with golden leaves. Several dozen small huts and houses are scattered throughout the glade, along the banks of a clear stream. Gnomes and halflings bustle about the area, tending small sheep, foraging for berries, and collecting kindling for their fires.
The people of Woodhike are quite friendly, and the children are endlessly curious about adventurers. Two friendly sprites live in the nearby woods, and they love to play pranks on visitors.
Thobos is the mayor of Woodhike, and he travels to Mytros twice a year to represent the smallfolk.Estoria is the largest settlement along the Arkelon River. It is built into a rocky gorge, sprawling down from a stone-walled fortress that faces the steppes to the north. The Arkelon itself runs along the northern edge of the fortress, and forms a natural moat that can only be crossed by a bridge at the north gate or at the ford near the Rock of Estor. On the far side of the river from the city are grasslands where bands of centaurs patrol.
Maps
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Hulgnoria/Estoria
When I first came to Estoria, it was home to little more than goatherds and beleaguered soldiers. But now, we are the pride of the North! — Pythor, former King of Estoria
Estoria is an ancient stronghold that has resisted centuries of attacks by centaurs, cyclopes, manticores, and other dangers which thrive on the steppes beyond the Arkelon River. The king of Estoria is Pythor, the mightiest of the Five Gods. He rules from his palace at the highest vantage point in the city.
From his throne, Pythor can survey the sprawling farmlands of his kingdom to the south and watch vigilantly for any new threats that might emerge from the north. Although the Estorians are considered provincials by the people of Mytros, everyone knows that the greatest warriors and adventurers of this age are forged in the service of the Lord of Battle.
Pythor gave up his throne to his daughter Anora & is now wandering with the Chosen of the Oracle.
Founding Date
120
Alternative Name(s)
Estoria,
Type
Metropolis
Population
16,000
Inhabitant Demonym
Hulgnorians, Estorians
Location under
Included Locations
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
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