NENDA KEEP 1

© 1999, N. Robin Crossby (Patrick Nilsson & Andy Staples) HârnWorld

LOCATION: Grimruld HundredVemionshire, Kaldor

STATUS: Seat of the Baron of NendaGOVERNMENT: The Baron of Nenda (all)POPULATION: 350 (Approximately)

Vemionshire’s only port lies in Nenda, a normallysedate town filled with Jarin heritage and culture. Itis mostly known for its lord and his personality butalso for the ruins north of Selene River. Nenda lies inthe Hundred of Grimrul and is considered the mouthof all Vemionshire. Trade conducted by the river isfar more usual than the roads down at Athelren.Nenda is also the home of a strange order consistingof Ilvir worshippers called the Order of the LameAdder.

HISTORYThere have been fishing villages along the Selenesince the early days of the Jarin settlements. By thefirst century TR the river was at the heart of thekingdom of Tanor, and Nenda was just one of a scoreof similar settlements.

Tanor survived the Foulspawn Wars relatively well,but in 125TR the ambitious Hain Parlis of Arwnannexed the whole of the kingdom south of theSelene, and Nenda and neighbouring villageseventually became part of the Kingdom of Pagostra.

The nobles of northern Tanor eventuallyacknowledged Calsten of Serelind as their king,rather than accept Hain Parlis as overlord.

Northern Tanor collapsed in the face of Taeldaincursions during the Migration Wars, and the treeshave reclaimed the streets and fields of its villagesand duns. Taelda still live in the woods, and onlythey and the occasional hunter or trapper ever seethe old ruins which mark the passing of a once-proud kingdom.

Nenda grew in importance as a trade town after theunion of Pagostra and Serelind in 237TR, but it wasnot until 320TR, when Aidrik I granted a licence toits manorial lord, Amasin Hirnaen, that the firstkeep was built. It is said that the Hirnen clan haslobbied for permission to bridge the Selene since theHabta Tower was finished. "When there's a bridge atNenda" has become a local by-word for "never".

The Hirnen clan became Barons by default. Formany years they had been de facto spokesmen of theformer Tanoric villages on the Selene. The creationof the barony (at the same time as the building of thekeep) formalised their unofficial authority.

By the time of the Civil War, Habta Tower was fallinginto disrepair. Aidrik III, recognising the strategicimportance of the town, granted the Hirnens theright to build a tollhouse outside the town so theycould use the revenues to rebuild the keep. Most ofthe present day stonework dates from this era.

Nenda has continued its importance as a tradingtown to the present day. There is a ferry capable ofcarrying wagons across the river, and river boatsfrequently ply the river down to the Kald basin, oftento Kiban, but sometimes as far as Tashal.

GOVERNMENTBaron Erelar and his lieutenants effectively governNenda without interference from neighbouringmajor lords. Once before there was a council of localguildsmen helping the baron with economical affairsbut that is not the situation as of now. Three yearsago when trade was abnormally slow, the baron inone of his fits of anger, accidentally slew a memberof the Salters Guild. According to the baron, thesalter had insulted him with laughing ignorancewhen he had revealed his new plan to increase trade.It is true that the salter hadn’t been as polite with thelord of the town as he should have been, but slayinghim was overly harsh and the guild and the baronhas been on very poor terms since the incident. Tofurther complicate matters, it was not the baron whodissolved the council but the Mangai, who preferredthe health of its members instead of their corpses.

ECONOMICSAlthough Nenda is not producing much of its own,wealth derives from the trade between centralKaldor and Vemionshire. The raw wool and woollenproducts from the fairs at Minarsas is transported byriver, and since Nenda is the only town with a port inthe county, wealth flows smoothly. The tollhousealso increases the revenue for the baron whom maykeep half of the collection. There use to be sometrade in salt but after the violent act of the baron, nosalter exist in Nenda.

TAXESProperty: 6% per annum (residential)

Property: 6% per annum (business)

Hawking: 9% goods value

Bonding: 2% goods value per month

NENDA KEEP 2

© 1999, N. Robin Crossby (Patrick Nilsson & Andy Staples) HârnWorld

1. Caer NendaThe keep is probably the sturdiest fortification in allVemion after the castle in Minarsas. A low but stillvery defensible wall surrounds the keep and theouter buildings. Plans of the keep can be found onthe following pages. [a] bonded ostler Hebbert ofGwynar, [b] bonded weaponcrafter Aerych of Lagos,[c] animal dens.

2. Miller (Ollin of Fult)Size: 4 Quality: *** Prices: AveThe local miller is a quiet man who enjoys workingalone. His trade, however, force him to hire morepeople than he wants to. Ollin is very interested inmarrying the daughter of Bules (10) but her fatherseems to have other plans.

3. The Sword & Axe (Jyrin of Halver)Size: 6 Quality: **** Prices: HighThe finest inn in Nenda is also the only one withstables. Jyrin is tall but very thin and many refer tohim as “Broom”. He is very tolerant and he is wellliked by most of his customers, who come to his innto sample some of his dark potent ale. Quarin ofMelod is the ostler who owns a quarter of the inn.

4. The Crooked Finger (Wealan of Dwebin)Size: 3 Quality: *** Prices: LowWealan is influenced by Jarin culture and oftenspoils his customers with songs of great deeds andringing poetry. Wealan’s wife is considered thegreatest beauty of all Vemion and her black ravenhair, green eyes and broad smile has enchantedmore than one customer who often buys anadditional ale just to get a glimpse of her.

5. Bonding HouseThe Nenda clothier (17) manages the local buildingwhere all goods are stored. Kirlin is a very devoted tohis work and lets his son manage his own franchise.A soldier from the garrison guards the bondinghouse day and night. A bed is stationed in thebuilding for this purpose.

6. Seamans’ Guildhall/HostelMost rivermen who doesn’t pass out on the localtavern usually sleeps here. The guildhall functions asa meeting place as well as a hostel. Needless to say,the place is quite rowdy compared to the rest of thetown.

7. The Toad and the Wench (Ilriana of Dyre)Size: 7 Quality: ** Prices: AveIliriana is a notorious woman known for hermercantyle-like skills and shrewd business manner.Besides serving ale and cider, the tavern has avariety of prostitutes whom all may keep a third ofwhat they make. Should any of them, or thecustomers for that matter, have any objections, her

two younger brothers takes care of the problem.They once served as mercenaries in the Chelmarchand both are highly respected fighters. Brawlsbetween outsiders are allowed and they are quitecommon.

8. Mercantyler (Flabnol of Fhul)Size: 3 Quality: ***** Prices: HighThe richest guildsman in Nenda is the mercantylerwhose skills are formidable indeed. Flabnol is wellknown in the shire and he has several importantfriends all over the kingdom. He enforces a veryhealthy relationship with the mercantylers dealing inwool down south.

9. Litigant (Pendrec of Irion)Size: 1 Quality: *** Prices: HighThe local litigant supports more than the town ofNenda. His services are required all over the shireand he is often travelling on his mule to the variouslocations where he is needed. Pendrec is a devotedfollower of Ilvir and is a member of the cult calledthe Order of the Lame Adder.

10. Chandler (Bules of Doyn)Size: 4 Quality: **** Prices: AveBules is very good at candle-making and hespecialises in beeswax candles, known for theirdurability and smell. His daughter, Lodani, is in lovewith the metalsmith and she has received herfather’s blessing that she can marry him if heproposes.

11. Metalsmith (Chorlyn of Saward)Size: 2 Quality: *** Prices: AveChorlyn is a gentle and kind man who always seemsto be in the best of moods. He is neither beautifulnor charming character but many females in Nendastill like the man for his other traits. He has no wifebut is considering marrying the daughter of the localchandler. His apprentice is probably the best fed inthe whole kingdom.

12. Embalmer (Dyfudd of Geroln)Size: 3 Quality: **** Prices: HighElmbalmers don’t grow on trees in Vemion and oneof the few is a very competent man. Dyfudd seldomappears in public and prefers his cool and dampcellar where most of his work is done. If he hasduties outside his domain he prefers to send one ofhis two journeymen, who will receive detailedinstructions how to handle the assignment. Only thehighest of fees will persuade Dyfudd to leave hisprecious cellar and “emerge onto the surface”. Theembalmer is not evil or dangerous but most of thepopulation considers him to be a bit too spooky totheir liking.

NENDA KEEP 3

© 1999, N. Robin Crossby (Patrick Nilsson & Andy Staples) HârnWorld

13. Physician (Trostyll of Akhman)Size: 1 Quality: *** Prices: AveTrostyll hails from Azadmere where he was thesecond son of a bonded physician. Due to his father’slack of respect in other people, except those whopaid his salary, Trostyll decided to leave and travelsouth. He arrived in Nenda some thirteen years agoand he has been here ever since. His franchise waspurchased only two years ago and business has beenmore than adequate since then.

14. Potter (Steffen of Berel)Size: 4 Quality: *** Prices: LowThe local potter is a merry man, often seen at theCrooked Finger tagging along with the innkeeperwhen he is singing. Steffen is very good lute playerand has more than once been offered to perform formoney. Since he is not hoping for an enmity with theHarpers’ Guild he always rejects such offers, nomatter the price. Steffen is also a member of theOrder of the Lame Adder.

15. Timberwrights’ GuildThe hostel for all timberwrights in northern Vemionis a very crowded place. Fine timber is cut east ofNenda and many of the guildsmen are often workingtogether to reduce the dangers of brigands orgarguns. At least a dozen men use this building fromtime to time.

16. Tentmaker (Rathen of Edyrn)Size: 2 Quality: *** Prices: HighRathen is a very short man standing just over fivefeet in height. He is a very amusing person knownfor his quick wit and ability to turn any conversationto his advantage. Many who have made remarksabout his height have often afterwards felt that theyare the ones who are tall and not the other wayaround. Rathen specialises in pavilion tents made forthe lords in the region.

17. Clothier (Kilrin of Headyn)Size: 5 Quality: *** Prices: AveKirlin’s son, also a master clothier, manages theclothier business since his father is a devotedbonding master. It is seldom that the clothier leaveshis position at the bonding house, but when trade isslow in winter and early spring, he helps his onlychild with the duties that are required.

18. Hall of the MangaiAt the moment there is no Mangai Master butseveral of the guildsmen are considering voting forKirlin as head of the Mangai. Kirlin who is oftenpreoccupied with his other duties is flattered by thenomination. He has however not said if he willaccept the position or not.

19. Order of the Lame AdderThe strangest order of all Ilvir orders has it seat inNenda town. It is not a clerical order of such but acomposition of devoted followers who haveappointed themselves as servers of the serpent godin Vemionshire. The name derives from Ilvir himselfbut with a small humour twist to it. The membersexplain that while Ilvir is a god and the clergy are hisservants, they are only the third part of the cycle.They refer to themselves as lame adders while thegod and his followers are serpents of true worship.There is only one priest here who comes from thetemple of Tashal. Brunte of Anas is a young priestwho enjoys the relationship he has with thecommonality devoted to his god. He is alsoinfatuated by the strange way of worshipping and isconsidering making this a real clerical order. If anyof its members agrees to this, it will make Brunte thehigh priest.

RELIGIONThe religious climate of Nenda is a bit different fromthe rest of Kaldor. The faiths of Larani and Peoni arestill very dominant but since Jarin presence isconsiderable, a small cult of Ilvir worshipper hasbuilt a small temple in the town. Worship of anyother religion is discouraged and followers of any ofthe three dark churches are ruthlessly exposed andexecuted.

CURRENT POLITICAL SITUATIONErelar Hirnen, 45, is the current Baron of Nenda andhe is not a very popular man both within andwithout his court. The baron’s temper and bursts ofanger fuel much of his personality and that is why somany loathes him. Erelar has few friends and heseems to take no notice of the ones he has left. Evenhis brother, Tarkin 41, who is the skilled LordChancellor of Kaldor, seems reluctant to visit Nenda.He has many times seen his elderly brother make afool out of himself, and therefore rather see to it thatthe less he meet with his brother the better. The Earlof Vemion however, has formed an unofficialagreement with the baron and usually interveneswhen the hotheaded lord is in trouble. There havebeen several major lords in the kingdom that hasbeen insulted by Erelars behaviour, but the king,who is the baron’s uncle, has rebuked all reprisals.The baron has through his uncle a small distantclaim to the throne but has not yet taken a stand ifhe wishes to join the struggle for the crown or not.

NENDA KEEP 4

© 1999, N. Robin Crossby (Patrick Nilsson & Andy Staples) HârnWorld

INTERIOR OF KEEP

Ground FloorThe ground floor of the keep is the main storagewhere the baron has his precious wine cellar. Thebaron is fond of collecting the wine here in his dampcellar until he feels it is time to consume it. Thereused to be a well in the courtyard but for the purposeof defence it was moved her some thirty years ago.The prison is currently empty, but only a few weeksago it contained a poacher who had been caughtmore than once, so the baron hanged him. Thefamily crypt contains all the former lords and theleast decorative of them is the former baron.

First FloorThe baron’s table that looms a few feet over the otherbenches dominates the Great Hall. As feast are not acommon sight almost everyone in the keep dineshere. The guardroom in the south-east tower holdsnine men at arms. The castle cook who is helped bysix servants manages the kitchen. They all sleep inthe beds below.

Second FloorThe lady of the keep dines her with her chaperoneand the female servants. They are not allowed to eatin the great hall below, especially not during feasts.Lady Yrene Eresar, 39, is a very unhappy woman.She is often the target of her husband who mocks herfor her ugly appearance, and when he is the wrongmood, beats her endlessly. She has been close todeath once but survived miraculously. Only by thehope of her children and the support of Miama, herchaperone, does she willingly continue to live.

Third FloorThe baron seldom uses the council chamber, as heprefers the great hall where he has a better view ofhis vassals. The few meetings that are held here fromtime to time are often very noisy as the baron oftenloose his temper. Most of his vassals including manyfamily bailiffs, dislike their liege who they consideran ignorant and impossible man.

1. Knight Commander and Constable.Gorlas Enaged, 28, is the third son of a vassal lordand probably the only one in the vicinity who canendure the baron for a longer period of time. Theknight is appointed constable and commander ofNenda Keep, a service he performs with great skilland care. He is very loyal to the Hirnen clan andwould not betray them even if the opportunity arose.A squire, Heber Caldeth, who is a relative to the earlof Minarsas, currently occupies the smaller of thetwo beds. He is due to be knighted in the followingyear.

2. Daughter of the baron.Young Ithina, 15, is trained by her mother to becomea lady of great skills. She has not her mother’s uglylooks but is not considered a beauty. Ithina is veryafraid of her father who rarely pays any attention toher. She has fled her room several times in the pastwhen her mother was feeling the back of herhusband’s hand. Before entering the squirehoodyoung Arlbis, 18, lived here with his sister. Arlbis iscurrently stationed in Minarsas and only last yearmarried Lady Pretherela Sothina. The only son ofErelar, dislikes his father and hopes to return as amore powerful knight to protect his mother from hisfather’s wrath.

3. Lady of the Keep.Lady Yrene and her chaperone sleep in this part ofthe keep. Her personal gowns and jewellery arestuffed in two sturdy and locked chests. At winterthis tower is very cold and a brazier is brought upfrom below to heat it up.

4. The Baron’s QuarterErelar Hirnen sleeps all by himself in the other of thetwo towers of the keep. All his treasury, armour andclothing are contained in two locked metal boundedchests.

Erelar is perhaps the most hated man in the wholekingdom, and the reason for his sullen and arousingtemper is twofold.

When he was young, Erelar was rather clumsy andoften made a fool of himself and his family. Hisfather was a very stern man and often rebuked hisson with beatings and harsh punishments. Laterwhen Erelar was serving as a squire in Tashal he fellin love with a young lady who was the daughter of aknight in the royal guard. Although her father wasmore than interested in a union of the twoyoungsters, Arlin Hirnen, the late father of Erelar,had other plans. He rejected his son’s request andforced him to marry an ugly wench who heconsidered more appropriate.

Erelar has to the current day blamed his father forhis choice in marriage but since the former baron isnow dead, most of his anger is directed at his wife.His counterpart in the small romance he had inTashal later married a Chybisan knight and travelledsouth. The baron has not forgotten her and oftenstands on the roof dreaming that she returns.

NENDA

© Patrick Nilsson 1998

INTERIOR SCALE

FEET

0 10 20

30GROUND FLOOR

FIRST FLOOR SECOND FLOOR

THIRD FLOOR

1 9914+12

14

+12

+15

14+12

Great Hall

Kitchen

GuardRoom

+2612

+26

+26

10 10

1 50

GuardRoom

Ladies Gallery

Guests

4

+36

+36

+38

+38

1 1

1 1

+38

1 1

5

1 50

1 33

1 33

1

2

Council Chamber

5

12+0

5

+0

+0

12

12

12

Prison

Crypt

Storage

WineCellar

Servants

FOURTH FLOOR

6

6

5

5

9

1 1

+49

+49

3

Main Roof

+491 99

4

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