Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Antarctica Adventure Jam Lower Peninsula Part 3

Counting the weeks, it seems I am two posts down, which doesn't match up with my counter but whatever, I need to post these.

### 219-167 Junction of the Rivers

210 in 3 markets. The Elves here are well aware of how others see them, having frequent trade with the Sword Zephyr Clan 218-167 and all along the River Peter. They live in several well-fortified complexes instead of scattered manors. Each mansion interlinked and surrounded by a garden with hidden dangers. Including a secret and forbidden colony of kobolds.

For the growth of their black melons, they rely on the skills of a community of 80 gnomes, who brought them from their homes under the Traditional Elves 224-170. The gnomes have gladly all been sentenced to death for this decision.

Pilate, E4 has a Sword +1, +2 vs Spell Users and a Shield +1

In the community chest there are three gems worth 100gp and 2 x 500gp

### 220-167 Rolling Slopes

210 people in 3 markets. Here is perhaps the most archetypal Moon Elf land. Mansions rest amid horticulture and vineyard that blend seamlessly with the wood line and the from the river, one could think this was untamed forest. The people here spend their extended lives engaged in magical study, the growth of lizard-skinned red cantaloupes and practising sword-dancing. The only blight was the running battles with the denizens of the Spike Swamp 221-166. River traffic is still inspected thoroughly but the day roads are not as well guarded.

Herod E7 is the River Watcher and bears more scars than a normal elf. He possesses a Ring of X-Ray Vision, Wand of Magic Detection and Sword +1 (+3 vs Dragons),

His community chest holds 4,000gp and moon gem necklaces worth 1000gp and 1100gp, for elf-creation rites.

### 221-167 Elf Valley

40 people in 1 market. This land was never well populated and after the population fled the latest orc attack a hundred years ago, the returning survivors were met with elven gardeners and converted. They haven’t grown much since, due to the requirements to become elves. But the Duke of the Lower Valley still considers the lowering slops to be his domain. Should the area somehow suffer a crisis, soldiers would be arriving with a few days, precipitating a standoff.

Pontus E6 guards the border with vigilance, would be merchants are told to go via the river.
her community chest holds 3000ep, Wand of Fear Chainmail +2 and Shield +2

### 222-167 The Castle on the Valley Ridge

2000 people in 2 markets. Here is the capital of Duke Munkus F6, and the Duchy of the Lower Valley. The duke takes pride in the stability of his realm and its place as the last bastion of decorum with the breakup of the kingdom. The Duie having placed the traditions of feudal authority where the Elves, Sun and Moon Cardinals have placed faith. Otherwise, there is not much to say besides the petty intrigues and mercantile goings-on. The Duke is eager to regain territory lost to the elves 221-167 and 221-168 and should the instability in the lands of the Moon Cardinal spread or the Sun Cardinal suffer an unfortunate end, he would mobilise to secure more land for the “sake of stability”.

Besides the silver ducal ring and sceptre. Duke Munkus possesses a Medallion of ESP 30’ and a Wand of Secret Door Detection he can’t use and will gift for a powerful alliance. He got them from his deceased grandfather, a Magic User of some renown.

### 223-167 Hill Watch

200 people in 2 markets. Here strands the vital towers which watches for threats across the sea, the Flats 224-166 and from the Moon Cardinal. While vital to the Ducy of the Lower Valley, the garrison has become hereditary and sedentary. With a few recruits cycled in and out each year to bolster Border Warden Mungo F3 and his well-armed militia.

### 219-168 River Drop
90 people live in 1 market. This out of the way settlement farms red and white pumpkins. Victoria E5 is a recent admitting to the ranks of the Elves and feels she is not trusted with a prestigious position despite having not only undergone the rites but excelled in her growth since. She keeps her plate mail, shield and handaxe by her side to impress. She is open to selling Moon Elf luxuries in one-on-one dealings and pocketing the proceedings.

Her community chest contains 2000sp, a Potion of Heroism, Ring of Protection +1 (5’ radius), Ring of Delusion, Shield + 1, Flying Carpet an a Rod of Cancellation.
As well as two Spell scrolls on waxed paper gourd rinds: (floating disc, invisibility 10’ radius, detect evil, hallucinatory terrain, knock) and (neutralize poison, protection from evil 10’ radius (c), sticks to snakes, striking, locate object (mu))

### 220-168 The Moonglades

210 people in 2 markets. The capital of the Moon Elves, it seems like it is always at least twilight beneath the spreading boughs. The mansions here form a dense maze of paths between hedges. Drawing in the tithes of food and goods produced by other settlements and turning out prayers and prestige. In the central Moon-Lit tower rests the Elven Cardinal of the Moon Asura, Deuteronomy E7.

He is troubled by constant pressures on every border and keeps his ducal ring and sceptre under a tree in the courtyard in a sealed box.

His chest contains the finest gifts and the treasury of the duchy: 4000gp gems worth 2 x 10gp, 50gp, 2 x 500gp, 2 x 1000gp and jewellery worth 1000gp and 1300gp for special occasions.

There is also the old hermit, Moonface C12, his old companions (wife and son) C3 and C5 and his grandsons F5 and F4. While all are still human, his grandsons are children of the nobility and will soon go through the rites.

Full writeup in Appendix E.

### 221-168 Garden Rise

45 people in 1 market. Here is a watchtower built to defend the Moon Elves against those who neither care for the moon or for the fey. To demonstrate this, this tower and surrounding wall is decorated with lunar signs and surrounded by a riotous garden of herbs and poisons. Nevertheless, Simon E3 conducts quiet trading on the side to those who would rather not pay the dues on fairy goods in either duchy.

His community chest merely contains a Crystal Ball and a folio of spell scrolls. Half on waxed gourd rind and the other on vellum.

(growth of plants, hallucinatory terrain, mirror image, haste, levitate), (resist fire, dispel evil, continual light (continual darkness), resist fire, dispel evil), (web, protection from evil (mu), protection from evil (mu), locate object, teleport) and (mirror image, protection from normal missiles, water breathing, dispel magic, telekinesis)

His private chest contains 12000sp and 5000gp.

### 222-168 Orcsbane Castle

1000 people in 1 market. Generations ago, many orcs met their doom here on an ill-fated raid against the Duchy of the Lower Valley. The home of the cunning and ambitious Lord Bustopher F7. He has no time for his brother Duke Munkus’ obsession with courtly decorum and Elven border disputes. The Elves aren’t giving it back. What he has in mind is far greater. Hi cousin, the human Cardinal of the Moon Asura 221-173 is too blind to see his grip on his duchy is sliding away. Bustopher is secretly gathering mercenaries but knows his brother will react badly if found out.

He needs some likely people to steal the ducal ring and sceptre from the Cardinal and open the way for Lord Bustopher to sweep the orcs and the Cardinal out. He offers 2000gp per adventurer, from his hoard. If his Girdle of Giant Strength is stolen, he will pursue the thieves as far as his forces and money will reach.

Hoard: 1000cp of orc treasure, gems worth: 7 x 10gp, 4 x 100gp, 14 x 500gp and jewellery worth: 500gp, 600gp, 2 x 700gp, 1000gp, 4 x 1100gp, 1200gp, 1400gp and 1600gp.

### 223-168 Slope Tower

200 people in 2 markets. A watchtower is now the home of Border Warden Mungo the Younger F3 of the Duchy of the Lower Valley. Youngr brother of Mungo of Hill Watch 223-167. Named in case his brother died of a childhood disease, Mungo has stood in his brother’s shadow his whole life. Even his domain is the same size and suffers the same sedentarism. However, Mungo has a small community of 35 Halflings to farm the rolling slopes with horse gourds. Letting him believe that he is a better steward. He tries to pass them on to all visitors and merchants.

### 224-168 Goldwater

1000 people in 1 market. Here is where Sealand 224-269 of the Duchy of the Moon crosses the Opera River. The problems of the uplands are concerning, but until the levies are called, life will continue as normal. With ships in the dock and caravans in the inns. Lady Meg T8 has done a deal with the Hellions and their leader Munku MU10, to build a fort of 90 soldiers to help guard the river mouth. Hellion barges run up the Opera and caravan across the plains to reach Strap’s fort 218-169.

Full writeup in Appendix C.

### 218-169 Peterturn

45 people in 1 market. Here is the furthest flung outpost of the Moon Elves and is home to only the wildest of their kind. They don’t even have a proper leader, rotating between whoever can demonstrate the flashiest magic. They mostly defer to Strap F10 of the Hellions, as his fort of 150 is the stronghold for the land. Here is the principal trading post for those of the upper peninsula.

Full writeup in Appendix C.

### 219-169 Podland

70 elves in 1 market. This borderland is devoid of the dense tree-cover the Moon Elves like, so the few fortified mansions cluster in a continuous wall of brick, earth and thorns against all commers. Though the rises look beautiful as they grow striped peas here. The elves are always armed against orcs and rovers.

Magdalene E6 keeps the community chest in her bedroom: 12000sp, Potion of Diminution, 2 x Crossbow bolts +2

### 220-169 The Moon Wights

200 people in 2 markets. Rovers who have aligned themselves with the Moon Elves. There is a constant exchange of candidates for the fey rites and worldly plains. Their current leader is Jenny F6, who pushes the Moon Elves to strike across the plains at visible foes.

### 221-169 The Biting Wind Clan

100 people in 2 markets. The elite of this Rover clan ride manticores (20) into battle. Promising either livestock of the bodies of the dead depending on if they fight men or orcs/goblins. Not very friendly except when they go to trade with others. Shunning traders who visit.

### 222-169 Corner of the Plains

100 people in 2 markets. Here is the nowhere place, a claim by the Duchy of the Lowr Valley, to establish a boundary. The people here are descendant of those who were sent away in lieu of a sentence, and happily serve as a centre for smuggling. To keep the raiders at bay, they live in earth-walled villages and subsist on long pod peas.

### 223-169 The Land of the Lion

400 people in 1 market. A surprisingly dense settlement, they live in fear. Not only of the discord upriver, but of the many prides of lions who live in the region. These peninsula lions are grey and once roamed far beyond the peninsula.

### 224-169 Insect Water

2000 in 2 markets. The lower part of the Opera’s mouth. This more urban landscape tries to avoid the brackish, insect marshes at the opening and lies more upriver. Under the authority of Ubaldo C5. It is concerning to visitors but not to locals, that all animals bow to the sea when they see and face it.

### 219-170 Basilisk Country

All avoid this land if they can, even the orcs unless they come in great numbers. A troop of 25 Basilisks (Bestiary) lair here. They must have come here during the Before times or in the cataclysmic beginnings of the new, dim sun. If they are an animal, it is of a kind from elsewhere.

Scattered in their lair as playthings and curios are the treasures of their victims: 9000sp, 4000ep, 3000pp in rods, gems worth: 2 x 10gp, 50gp, 4 x 100gp, 2 x 500gp and 2 x 1000gp.

### 220-170 Wild Folk
When one speaks of berserkers, one thinks of benighted coasts where the far ocean whispers and roving killers burn their own villages. But the life of an orc is much the same, promising freedom for those who come to a life of violence and hate. And so here stand a mass of tents and pit houses for 130 Berserkers. Some will become orcs, others will simply kill. No Red Wyrms of Rage.

If one was to empty every stinking shelter, they would find 3000cp in broaches and buttons and gems worth 10gp and 500gp.

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