This small village of about 100 folk is located on the south side of the Flumonus River, just outside the official boundaries of the Empire of Miran, but actually well within its sphere of protection and legal control.
Stats:
Power Center: conventional
Size 100 (hamlet)
Alignment: lawful evil
Important People: 1 L1 aristocrat (Androcles Domitian), 1 L3 warrior (“the Centurion” Timothus Rupillius), 4 L1 warriors (the watch; Petrus, Marius, Giton and Salvio), 4 expert crafters and professionals (Lichaeus the Baker, Italus the Carpenter, Sextus the Blacksmith and Odovacar the Steward), 1 L3 commoner barkeep (Euric), 1 L1 cleric of Centarius (Sempronius), 1 L3 wizard (Victorius), 1 L1 wizard (apprentice Nepos), 1 L1 rogue (Agrippa), and 65 1st and 2nd level commoner farmers and herders. There are 20 slaves, half of whom are owned by Domitian, the others by various villagers.
This village is controlled by Androcles Domitian, an out-of-favor younger son of a patrician family in Miran. Having run afoul of the laws in the nation, he has retreated here, established a snug little manor house, and set up his own realm. So far he has not been bothered by the wild monsters he initially feared would be a problem. He runs the village with an iron hand, and can often be found riding through the village and the plains nearby on his white gelding. He is an evil man of about 30 years. He treats all the villagers like slaves, except for his muscle-men (the ex-centurian Timothus and his 4 watchmen). His household consists of 10 slaves, 2 commoners and 1 expert butler/steward (Odovacar). Domitian has a concubine who lives with him permanently (Nuna), but he also claims the right to have use of one female from the village each week for one night.
The villagers all despise Domitian, but because most of them work on his estate or his sawmill, and he has them in his debt, they are helpless to resist him. He built the houses they dwell in, and purchased the equipment they farm with, as well as having been the one who originally provided the seed crops and the cows they now herd.
The tavern: an open structure that serves as the gathering place for many folk each evening. Here and on the common ground before it holy days, funerals, weddings and other celebrations are held. The village barkeep, Euric and his brother Agrippa run the tavern, brew beer from the local grain, and know the community’s moods inside out. Above the tavern a small loft is divided into two chambers; one can sleep up to four women in two beds, the other up to eight men in four beds.
The temple: across the commons from the tavern is this small temple. It is served by a single priest (L4 cleric) of Centarius (Sempronius), his two commoner (L1 each) assistants (Vigo and Mundo), and his body-slave (Dacius, also L1 commoner). The villagers respect their priest, but are also wary of him, because he espouses the “no-magic” views of Miran.
The apothecary shop: Victorius (L3 wizard) and his apprentice Nepos (L1) make potions and salves, treat minor illnesses, and occasionally make potions. Victorius is aware that Sempronius fears and dislikes him, so he steers clear of him whenever possible. He also knows that Mirani travelers will have the same views, so he is very careful what he does in front of outsiders.
The smithy: Sextus is a big hulk of a man, the prototypical blacksmith and toolmaker. He’s slow to speak, slower to anger, but when he does, everyone stands aside. He’s married and has seven children ranging in age from 8 to 20. He has two sons working with him, and also has an apprentice boy. Sextus is an expert L4, his two oldest sons are experts L3, and his apprentice is an expert L1.
The bakery: this is also the village oven, where people bring pies and roasts to cook. The village does not have a mill, so the baker grinds a lot of grain in his slave-cranked stone gristmill out behind the bakery. Lichaeus is a widower, but his daughters work with him, and their husbands own a small herd of milk cows. The daughters are commoners L3 and L2.
The carpentry and woodlot: Italus, his wife Victorine and her brother Germanus all three work in wood. Italus is the most skilled of the three in building, but Victorine is a very good fine carver and makes beautiful leaf and vine patterned furniture. Germanus specializes in rough carpentry, barrels, wagon wheels and other large objects. Their slave powers the small saw they use.
The Sawmill: raw logs from the cypress swamps are dragged up here via the canal and sawn into rough lumber before being shipped into Rostochi. Over twenty of the villagers work here, cranking the saws and cutting the timber. This is the major income source for the village. Owned by Domitian, the sawmill is run by Gaius Cattulus, and overseen by Odovacar as part of his duties as Steward. Note that between them they are cutting out about 3 sp/day into their own pockets. The smugglers use the sawmill as a major point of entry for their goods into Rostochi. About 3 of the millworkers are working with Cattulus in removing the drugs from the logs shipped up from the swamps, and then concealing them again in the timber that is sent first downriver to the sea and then north to Rostochi. There are three crews of six men each who do nothing but transport the sawn timber in large rafts to the city.
Lord Androcles Domitian (L8 aristocrat)
CR 7; Size M (5 ft., 10 in. tall); HD 8d8; hp 34; Init +2 (+2 Dex); Spd 30 ft.; AC 12 (+2 Dex); Attack +7/+2 melee, or +8/+3 ranged; SV Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +9; AL LE; Str 13, Dex 15, Con 11, Int 14, Wis 16, Cha 17.
Languages Spoken: Common, Elven, Terran.
Skill points: Nob 77
Skills and feats: Diplomacy +16, Handle animal +12, Hide +2, Innuendo +10, Intimidate +11, Intuit direction +4, Knowledge (religion) +11, Listen +3, Move silently +2, Read lips +11, Ride +7, Spot +14, Swim +7; Leadership, Point blank shot, Skill focus (diplomacy), Track.
Troublemakers who arrive in Whistlewater from Rostochi
3 mid-level rogues
Alexei, male human Rog7: CR 7; Size M (6 ft., 4 in. tall); HD 7d6; hp 26; Init +3 (+3 Dex); Spd 30 ft.; AC 13 (+3 Dex); Attack +5 melee, or +8 ranged; SV Fort +2, Ref +8, Will +4; AL CE; Str 11, Dex 16, Con 10, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 14.
Skill points: Rog 100
Skills and feats: Balance +12, Bluff +10, Craft +7, Disable device +3, Disguise +11, Escape artist +13, Gather information +9, Hide +3, Intimidate +12, Jump +9, Listen +2, Move silently +3, Pick pocket +9, Profession +12, Sense motive +8, Spot +4, Use magic device +8; Dodge, Run, Shield proficiency, Weapon finesse (sap).
Possessions: 7,200 gp in gear.
Holgi, male human Rog7: CR 7; Size M (5 ft., 10 in. tall); HD 7d6; hp 30; Init +3 (+3 Dex); Spd 30 ft.; AC 13 (+3 Dex); Attack +5 melee, or +8 ranged; SV Fort +2, Ref +8, Will +5; AL NE; Str 11, Dex 17, Con 11, Int 13, Wis 13, Cha 10.
Skill points: Rog 100
Skills and feats: Bluff +11, Decipher script +9, Disable device +10, Hide +3, Intimidate +7, Intuit direction +11, Jump +8, Listen +1, Move silently +7, Open lock +11, Perform +10, Pick pocket +9, Sense motive +11, Spot +1, Use magic device +5, Use rope +10; Dodge, Iron will, Point blank shot, Skill focus (bluff).
Possessions: 7,200 gp in gear.
Stephanus, male human Rog7: CR 7; Size M (6 ft., 0 in. tall); HD 7d6+7; hp 35; Init +2 (+2 Dex); Spd 30 ft.; AC 12 (+2 Dex); Attack +4 melee, or +7 ranged; SV Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +5; AL CN; Str 9, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 11, Wis 12, Cha 10.
Skill points: Rog 90
Skills and feats: Climb +9, Forgery +10, Gather information +10, Hide +2, Innuendo +11, Knowledge (nature) +2, Listen +1, Move silently +2, Open lock +12, Pick pocket +10, Profession +11, Read lips +9, Spot +10; Endurance, Iron will, Two-weapon fighting, Weapon finesse (dagger, punching).
The Local Druid
Cavrael;
male half-elf Drd8/Sor11: CR 19; Size M (5 ft., 5 in. tall); HD 8d8-8 + 11d4-11; hp 42; Init +0; Spd 30 ft.; AC 10; Attack +13/+8/+3 melee, or +11/+6/+1 ranged; SV Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +16; AL CN; Str 15, Dex 10, Con 8, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 14.
Languages Spoken: Mirani, ‘Valer, Mistlander, Elvish, Faerie and Szathair
Skill points: Drd 55, Sor 33
Skills and feats: Alchemy +11, Craft +14, Forgery +6.5, Handle animal +8, Hide +0, Intuit direction +10, Knowledge (nature) +11, Listen +4, Move silently +0, Profession +14, Scry +15, Search +2, Speak language +5, Spot +4; Blind-fight, Brew potion, Craft magic arms and armor, Craft rod, Lightning reflexes, Maximize spell, Run.
Possessions: 170,000 gp in gear.
Druid Spells Per Day: 6/5/4/4/2.
Sorcerer Spells Known (6/7/7/6/6): 0th -- Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Ghost Sound, Light, Mage Hand, Mending, Prestidigitation, Ray of Frost, Read Magic. 1st -- Charm Person, Comprehend Languages, Shield, Shocking Grasp, Sleep. 2nd -- Blur, Invisibility, Knock, See Invisibility, Summon Monster II. 3rd -- Fireball, Fly, Haste, Keen Edge. 4th -- Lesser Geas, Minor Globe of Invulnerability, Summon Monster IV.
His Creatures:
Cavrael has two swamp cats, an owl and a variety of other minor animals in his sway at any given time. He also has a trio of ver y large but not monstrous crocodiles in his grove.
Cavrael lives in the “no man’s land” between Miran and the cypress forest. He is reputed to be insane; in truth he is simply so used to being alone that he is rough-voiced and rude. He views humans as short-lived troublemakers, but will take the time to help if spoken to respecfully.
He can usually be found in his Grove about a half-hour’s walk south of the village of Whistlewater. He despises the villagers because they cut the cypress, but if there is serious trouble he would warn them, simply because he cannot be responsible for suffering and death. Because Cavrael is as much sorcerer as druid, he has no fellow-worshippers in this grove. When he wishes to attend group celebrations, which happens very rarely, he goes to Rostochi’s grove.