Turtleback Ferry

Rise of the Runelords

Turtleback Ferry

Turtleback Ferry is a small township perched on the rain-drenched west shore of Claybottom Lake. Three distinctive ferries crafted from the shells of giant turtles slain by Autek Lavendy, one of the town’s founders, make Turtleback Ferry the central trading town for the region.

Nearly 80 miles from the next town of equitable size (Ilsurian), Turtleback Ferry has nominally been under Magnimarian rule for 45 years, an arrangement the settlement agreed to in return for protection from the region’s ogres and ogrekin. Yet Turtleback Ferry remains independent in many ways, for its remote location ensures that official visits from Magnimar are few and far between. Turtleback Ferry’s current mayor is an aged cleric of Pelor named Father Maelin Shreed, a selfless soul who tends to the village church as both a safe haven for travelers and a hospital wherein he tends the village’s sick. Turtleback Ferry also boasts a trading post (The Turtleback General Store), an inn (The Turtle’s Parlor), a tavern (Bottoms Up), and a smith (Irontooth’s Metal Goods).

Most of the village’s other buildings are the homes of farmers, hunters, fishers, and trappers. Visitors to Turtleback Ferry find the locals friendly enough, although many of them seem nervous and skittish, quick to lock their doors at night and often overreacting to the sound of dogs barking or other unexpected noises.

The wilds nearby (particularly Kreegwood) have grown more dangerous. Wild animals like bears, firepelt cougars, and boars are becoming increasingly common along the edges of these woodlands, and several of Turtleback’s hunters and trappers believe these predators are being forced from the depths of the woodlands by the increased activity of local monsters like ogres, trolls, and worse.

Turtleback Ferry

Village conventional (mayor); AL LN
GP Limit 200 gp; Assets 4,300 gp
Demographics
Population 430
Type isolated (91% human, 5% gnome, 4% halfling)

AUTHORITY FIGURE Maelin Shreed, mayor (LG male human cleric of Pelor 5)

Locations

1. Foxglove Manor

A surprisingly big house for such a small town, this is the manor where the Baroness Sandeli Foxglove lives. There is an outhouse and a small cabin for the gardener. The garden doesn't looked after though. Big bushes of foxglove grow outside.

4. Bottoms Up

This tavern is often visited by visiting hunters, trappers and visiting scoundrels looking for drinks. Bar fights are not uncommon, but are usually broken up by XXX, the well grown owner.

5. Turtleback Ferry Church

Father Maelin Shreed, an aged cleric of Pelor and a selfless soul, tends to the village church that is also used as both a safe haven for travelers and a hospital wherein he tends the village’s sick.

6. Turtleback Ferry Market

The square is often filled with stands where fishermen and trappers sell their catch, but you can also find halflings selling freshly baked pies and gnomes with perfumes and other more exotic items brought in from Sanos Forest.

8. The Turtle’s Parlor

This inn also serves drinks, but keeps a much calmer atmosphere than Bottoms Up. It's owner XXX thinks of himself as better than most and has a superior attitude, that most visitors don't even notice. There are often music played by visiting bards unless the nearby smithy disturbs the peace.

10. Turtleback General Store

Turtleback Ferry also boasts a trading post that is well equipped to handle most needs that arise from farming, fishing and hunting.

11. Turtleback Ferry

The very ferry that gave the small town its name.

12.

There are several brothels in Turtleback Ferry, serving the needs of the men and women of the frontiers, but this is the most renown since The Paradise's Gate burned.

See also

• Hook Mountain Barony