Jeff's 20 for Belswick

From.

Updated version of map - merged a couple of baronies that I had no inspiration for

1. What is the deal with my cleric's religion?
They're probably part of the Church of the Authority, which means they joined one of eight Saintly Orders to learn the secrets of a clerical domain. The Authority created the world and ordered the hells and heavens. At first He trusted us* to live as we would, but we betrayed that trust and sank into sin. Thus came First Dawn and the Church of the Authority to teach us. And so we obey our Lords and our Priests who keep the Exile from our door.

* "us" being humans, the half-fae dwarfs, elfs and halflings, and a boatload of animal folk.

2. Where can we go to buy standard equipment?
Bog standard gear you can get in any peasant village. More specialized gear will require a trip to an alchemist or guildsman in town or even a sage in the city of Domesbury.

3. Where can we go to get platemail custom fitted for this monster I just befriended?
Any armorsmith who can craft platemail for Hedgehoglings, Fishlings or Swanlings will be able to hammer out mail for your new pet Ankheg. For truly marvelous work, you should seek out the armorsmith Lucan in Raddenshire, a rare Foxling who has golden hands instead of a silver tongue.

4. Who is the mightiest wizard in the land?
Of course the court mage of Duke Betram of Belswick is that worthy most puissant in power. Perhaps one of the Deans of the Ancient and Orthodox Order of the Unbroken Circle in Lord Bertram's city of Domesbury has access to more spells through the Order's library. Definitely not the Master of the Exquisite Lodge of Augurs and Diviners, who is definitely not one of the few mages with access to Seventh Circle spells.

5. Who is the greatest warrior in the land?
Baron Jasper of Nether Stowey rose to power in the past war with Arrayne and is the Duchy's finest swordsman. We will not speak of the dread knight Sir Ulric of the Broken Spear in his forsaken castle on Mount Gale.

6. Who is the richest person in the land?
The guilds associating with the Exquisite Lodge of Augurs and Diviners are excessively fortunate in their trading. If the Duke himself is not richest and most blessed, that position must go to the Mouseling Archbishop of Domesbury, Hector of Caerleon. Of course he only administers the wealth of the Church, so he does not benefit directly.

7. Where can we go to get some magical healing?
The Leaden Order of St. Vivione maintains hospital-monasteries. A Bard or Cleric of the Church might be willing to ease your wounds if you tithe well to the Authority.

8. Where can we go to get cures for the following conditions: poison, disease, curse, level drain, lycanthropy, polymorph, alignment change, death, undeath?
...and is that it, or do the other members in your party suffer from ailments of their own? Yes, yes, I know the moon is rising, I'll fetch the Abbot...

• Poison, disease, curses: go to the Leaden Order of St. Vivione.
• Level drain: not a thing. Except for certain modules the DM will unleash on you.
• Lycanthropy, polymorphing: a woodwose might be able to lift those curses. Or try to capture the Warlock who cursed you in the first place!
• Alignment change: as long as you worship the Authority and obey your lord, who cares?
• Undeath: nothing a visit from the Black Hand or Third Lantern can't fix.

They say that a sip of Golden Lotus Juice will banish any poison from the body. They say that a master alchemist of the Enlightened Order of the Silver Rose can cure curses, diseases, poisons and even death itself with a touch of their transmuter's stone.

9. Is there a magic guild my MU belongs to or that I can join in order to get more spells?
Is there ever. There are four respected Orders for the sanctioned schools of Abjuration, Divination, Evocation and Transmutation. Wizards without membership in an Order are suspect, as is anyone using Illusion, Enchantment or Conjuration because those are the signature spells of the criminal Violet Cloud. The Hollow Tree and its heretic necromancers must be rooted out and cleansed with fire.

10. Where can I find an alchemist, sage or other expert NPC?
Rando sages dot the countryside, but most demand for their services will come from local lords of state or church. Find the baron's personal wizard or a bardic lorekeeper in the Olmadician Order of the Scroll.

11. Where can I hire mercenaries?
If there's trouble, representatives of mercenary compagnies seek out the local lords. Find them at the castle. Or find the border camps where those ruffians lair. If you want a torchboy or shieldbearer, throw some coppers at the local youngsters. For magical support, the Fraternity of the Comet is non-pareil.

12. Is there any place on the map where swords are illegal, magic is outlawed or any other notable hassles from Johnny Law?
Swords are not illegal - how could they, as knight's weapons? If you're not a knight, though...better hide that weapon, peasant. And keep the crossbow out of sight as well. The nobility don't much care for armor piercing bolts.

13. Which way to the nearest tavern?

Why, head for the nearest crossroads village, stranger!

14. What monsters are terrorizing the countryside sufficiently that if I kill them I will become famous?

Apart from wild game and predators that the Lord and his knights will hunt down when they come around to it? Here's a brief list...

• the Giant Wolfstan of the Blue in the Snake Mountains
• the Hound of Bodmin Hills between Badlesmere, Belswick and Cromney
• the Bone Witch of the Eldermarsh in Valbonnais
• the Unicorn Abyss in Corsewall forest
• wolf packs in the Old Fulwood
• rumors of a werewolf in the Ozillac forest
• deep lights below the waves and wreckings on Lake Ful
• a persistent plague in the isolated village of Tilmarsh, barronetcy Martin
• faerie goblins haunt Walden forest

Not exactly mindless monsters, but steer clear nonetheless:

• the dread knight Sir Ulric of the Broken Spear in his forsaken castle on Mount Gale
• the mouseling Archbishop of Domesbury, Hector of Caerleon

15. Are there any wars brewing I could go fight?
Not now, but undoubtedly soon. The twin baronet sons of Emlyn still feud over the seat of their miniature baronetcy. The toadling barons of Old Fulwood and Ballumbie burble at an injustice in the past. It is disconcerting how many tradegoods the Principality of Stone is ordering. The increase in traders (or spies?) from Far Away cannot bode well. And the southern barons still think back fondly to their time as nobles of Arrayne.

16. How about gladiatorial arenas complete with hard-won glory and fabulous cash prizes?
We don't go into that kind of blood sport around here. (But find a place that sports a bright red in their shop sign and ask for special games...)

17. Are there any secret societies with sinister agendas I could join and/or fight?
The Violet Cloud sounds right up your alley - they have their tendrils in everything from smuggling and brigandry to spying and assasination. Most members are just very skilled. Beware the ones who can actually work magic.

18. What is there to eat around here?
Plenty - head for the inn down down the road. Buy something from the farmer. (mumblemumble or put in a day of honest work and earn your keep, you adventurer) Just don't poach the lord Knight's deer.

19. Any legendary lost treasures I could be looking for?
We remember with sadness when the Archpriest was attacked by followers of the nameless...never mind, there's a guy watching that I've seen speaking with the Order of the Third Lantern.  It is said the Tongue of Saint Dorbaine was lost that day. Who knows where it is? And for the lucky sort who retrieves the oak spear of our first king, well...

20. Where is the nearest dragon or other monster with Type H treasure?

This Type H treasure you speak of, I do not know it. I do know that the Order of the Gale is asking around for information about these:

• the Sea Serpent in the Bay of Denbigh
• the behir Fulmas on Mount Grey
• the hydra Coruscon of the Corsewall hills
• the first Basilisk in the depths of the earth

Same map with various monsters added