Map

Thorwal

Hjalding capital. Approx. 7000 inhabitants make it one of Arkania’s largest cities. Here you will find everything you could wish for — if you take the time to look and haggle for it.

Serske

A small village a few miles south of Thorwal. Its 220 inhabitants buy or sell almost nothing here. They go to the Thorwal market instead.

Breida

The center of Thorwalian cattle breeding where the low hills offer some excellent grazing ranges. Nevertheless, the approx. 400 inhabitants are true Thorwalians.

Peilinen

A market town right on the border to no man’s land. 240 inhabitants hardly qualify the place for town status, but the biweekly market here is an important event for the people of this area.

Rovamund

At 410 inhabitants, Rovamund is almost a small town. Many travelers from Nostria and Andergast stop by here, which usually leads to brawling.

Nordvest

The Nostrian flag proudly waves above this border hamlet, and every one of the almost 200 inhabitants gives the impression of being quite proficient at swordplay.

Kravik

Without the existence of Skelellen, this hamlet of some 75 souls could very well be called the absolute pits. If you long to die of boredom sometime, Kravik is the place to go.

Skelellen

Once you have reached Skelellen (240 inhabitants and falling), your journey is definitely at an end. From here on out there is nothing but wilderness.

Merske

A small fishing village with about 200 inhabitants, situated on the excellent road from Thorwal to Salza.

Efferdûn

One of the most important harbors on the Gulf of Prem. 720 inhabitants make this one of the largest Thorwalian settlements in existence, with a lot of other folks congregating here as well.

Tjoila

108 inhabitants, and that’s about all there is to say about it.

Rukian

A place forgotten by time and the gods, even though the approx. 80 inhabitants constantly invoke Travia. They make their living mostly from passing travelers.

Angbodirtal

A small stream called Arval enters the Bodir river near this village of 270 inhabitants. Besides a ferry there is nothing particularly interesting to find here.

Auplog

They say this is the sort place that makes watching the grass grow seem exciting. This despite the approx. 240 inhabitants. Mind you, Bodon is even worse.

Vilnhome

A center of Thorwalian Bodir rafters. The approx. 500 inhabitants are nearly all working in the trade or transport business — and making a nice buck at it.

Bodon

Pardon our Tuzakian, but Bodon definitely is the pits. Beyond the fields of this hamlet begin the Orcish Lands where only fools and madmen go.
Inhabitants: 123 and falling.

Upper Orcam

This is where you notice there’s more than just orcs and norsemen living in these parts. Among the approx. 930 inhabitants are a good 100 dwarves mining coal and ore, which they sell for a good profit to Thorwal.

Phexcaer

City of thieves. Stranger, when you enter this city of 2500 inhabitants, discard all preconceptions — and always keep your purse well guarded.

Groenvelden

Please disregard our previous statement about Bodon. Groenvelden is even more of a gods-forsaken, backwoods, boring hellhole than Bodon could ever be — but at least the 54 inhabitants aren’t orcs.

Felsteyn

The perilous mountain route to Orkanger starts here. Be sure to get all you need, as the 210 inhabitants of this village will be the last people you set eyes on for a long time.

Hermit’s Lake

Here resides a hermit in a weather-beaten cabin.

Orkanger

This is a border village on the northern edge of the Hjaldor mountains. The 180 inhabitants make their living from cutting down trees and offering escorts to travelers passing by.

Clanegh

The 620 inhabitants of Clanegh are known for being particularly fervent followers of the gods. Whether this is because they are attacked by orcs more than most remains a secret.

Liskor

A small village at the mouth of the Thossel river. The 394 inhabitants are well known for their hospitality.

Thoss

Tjanset

A smallish harbor on the Hjalding Gulf. Almost all of the 200 inhabitants were born in villages on the western coastline.

Ala

A gods-forsaken lumber hamlet, housing all in all a total of 80 souls.

Orvil

This harbor of 443 inhabitants at the innermost shore of Rovik’s Fjord is an important trade center and marks the beginning of a road deserving of the name.

Overthorn

Situated on top of a cliff, this village of 480 inhabitants is one of the most important stops between Thorwal and Olport. There are usually many ships in the harbor, as Overthorn can only be reached by sea.

Rovik

A classic example of an ottaskin, a Thorwalian border village. All of the approx. 180 inhabitants are part of the same ottajaskog trading with the outer isles.

Hjalsingor

Situated at the entrance of Hjalsingor Fjord and can be reached only by sea. The approx. 350 inhabitants make their living for the most part with Efferd’s blessing from the sea.

Guddasunden

A typical Thorwalian settlement high above Guddingar Fjord. Approximately three ottas, that is about 100 people, live here and make their living mostly with Swafnir’s blessing from the sea.

Kord

An important stop for ships sailing between Thorwal and Olport. The approx. 550 human inhabitants make their living mostly from fishing.

Treban

This hamlet of about 70 souls is as uninteresting as they come.

Aryn

A backwater hamlet on the Treban peninsula. The approx. 110 inhabitants rely on supplies received by boat from Runinshaven and Prem.

Runinshaven

The only seaport on Runin. The village has approx. 200 inhabitants and you can see right away that nothing much ever happens around here.

Ottarje

212 inhabitants and rising. A small and unimportant fishing village connected to a large number of settlements — above all Ljasdahl on Hjalland.

Skjal

This small harbor at the mouth of the Skjaval river offers a chance to reach diverse places on the Gulf of Prem. The approx. 350 inhabitants are true, rugged Thorwalians down to each man.

Prem

The men and women of Prem consider themselves the true heirs of the ancient Hjaldings. The approx. 2300 inhabitants are equally skilled with battle axe and ale horn.

Daspota

A place where you know you are unwelcome as soon as you arrive. This pirates’ den fairly radiates trouble.

Rybon

The approx. 80 inhabitants of Rybon are accustomed to being treated as an unwilling supply point by the Daspota pirates. Strangers are quite rare here and are treated with appropriate suspicion.

Ljasdahl

A small harbor town on the isle of Hjalland. The 440 inhabitants exist mostly on fishing — and on their location along the shipping route between Varnhome and Ottarje. Any reasonable seafarer trying to avoid Daspota is likely to stop in here which is nothing but good for business.

Varnhome

The last civilized settlement on this side of the Gulf of Prem. Beyond lies only Daspota and the almost 400 inhabitants go out of their way to avoid mentioning that pirates’ den.

Vaermhag

A hamlet of 160 souls on the great coastal road. All the fishermen living here are quite wealthy.

Tyldon

A very old settlement and quite well supplied because of its proximity to Waskir. 178 inhabitants, the lot of them a fairly rugged bunch, are primarily farmers and woodcutters.

Vidsand

All harbors on the Hjalding Gulf can be reached from here, and that is just about the only thing of value about this village of 350.

Brendhil

The smaller of the two settlements on Manrek island. The 120 inhabitants are primarily fishermen, with a bit of petty pirating thrown in.

Manrin

Approx. 450 inhabitants make this the larger of the two settlements on Manrek. A lot of seafarers on their way to Olport pick up supplies here and there is a fairly well stocked market held once a fortnight.

Tjoila Ferry Station

Anbodirtal Ferry Station

Hjalland Farm

Apart from Ljasdahl this farm is the largest settlement on Hjalland island. The farm is inhabited by approx. 20 people cultivating many miles of ground.

Runin Lighthouse

A small hamlet of maybe 20 people surrounds the lighthouse, which is the most important building of the lot.

Thorwalian Landmarks

Runin island and its large lighthouse are an important waymark for seafarers on the Gulf of Prem.

Hjalland is the largest island on the Gulf of Prem, settled mostly by peace loving fishermen and unadventurous farmers.

An uninhabited island.

Manrek is the southernmost of the islands lined up like pearls on a string up to the far north of the Sea of Seven Winds.

Gulf of Prem — the home of Thorwalian dragonships offers rather placid waters off the north of Arkania.

On the Hjalding Gulf can be found many fishing harbors, but also the hideouts of some notorious pirates. Apart from those though, shipping continues quite peacefully here.

The Sea of Seven Winds ranks as unexplored waters. Far to the west lies the legendary Golden Country.

These are the Hjaldor mountains, a majestic range neatly bisecting the Thorwalian lands. It is almost impossible to cross the steep valleys, where avalanches and raging white waters constantly endanger the life of any wanderer.

The Stony Oak Forest separates the Orcish Lands from those of humans. A lot of blood has been shed here over the centuries, and skirmishes between human and orcish forces are routine.

This forest is called Stony Oak Forest just like the mountain range, for it is here that the almost legendary trees offer the best wood available for the ship-building trade.

One of the worst corners of Thorwal country. Wild men, orcs and cave bears abound around here. This place is known to be hazardous to your health.

The Orc Skull Steppes are the lands of the Truanhai, a tribe of relatively civilized orcs accustomed to the proximity of humans. They mount only occasional raids and are barely tolerable as neighbors.

This is Hermit’s Lake, named after the many mystics, druids and other crazies who retreated there over the centuries to search for truth. Most of them found only death.

The northern Stony Oak Forest is a wilderness hardly ever touched by humans. It’s a wise idea to steer clear of this area.

The Bodir river valley is one of the most fertile regions of the Thorwalian lands. Here the wanderer can expect to spend every night beneath a roof, as the area is well settled.

The low hills around Breida echo with the mooing of cattle and the bleating of goats — for a real hero out to find adventure this area is too civilized by far.

Only woodcutters and strange eccentrics live here. No road nor path leads through this countryside which is unknown even to most Thorwalians.

Taking this route in winter is akin to suicide. You will have to choose a different way to reach your destination!

Travel

Your team is exhausted. As it is late at night by now, you decide to set up camp here and spend the night.

Do you want to turn back or carry on?

• Carry on
• Turn back
• Force a march?
• Circumvent
• Flee
• Address
• Fight

People on the road

You meet a lonesome wanderer.

A wanderer is eating his small lunch by the wayside.

A single traveler comes along.

A carter trundles towards you on his cart.

A heavy vehicle lumbers along in front of you. The wagon driver greets you absentmindedly.

You meet a heavily loaded ox cart. The driver speaks to you.

Animals

A small karen herd crosses your way.

You observe some karens at a watering hole.

Your way is blocked by karens.

You observe [N] wolverines.

There are dead animals hanging from the trees — must be the work of wolverines.

You appear to have disturbed [N] wolverines.

A sabre-toothed tiger attacks from ambush.

Right in front of you, a sabre-toothed tiger is devouring a sheep.

A sabre-toothed tiger appears from the brush in front of you.

You have disturbed [N] kvill adders.

There is rustling in the grass in front of your feet. Kvill adders.

Kvill adders are slithering through the grass before you.

A pack of off-white wolves has gathered in a clearing.

The howling of rime-wolves echoes all about you.

[N] rime-wolves start to surround you.

Wolves! [N] animals attack!

You are surrounded by wolves.

A large wolfpack is pursuing you.

Starving steppe dogs attack you.

You hear the barking of steppe dogs.

You see a small pack of steppe dogs.

Some steppe cattle are grazing in the distance.

A steppe-cattle bull is eyeing you malevolently.

[N] steppe cattle are moving about nervously.

A woolly rhinoceros has decided to lie down for a rest, right in the middle of the road.

There is a woolly rhinoceros drinking from the ford in front of you.

You have disturbed a woolly rhinoceros.

You have disturbed a wild pig and its piglets.

A furious wild boar attacks you. The rest of the troop is certain to be near.

A troop of wild pigs crosses your way.

Forest spiders’ webs cross the path.

You walked right into some spiderwebs.

You are considered prey by forest spiders.

A troop of hideous apes blocks your way — swamp rants!

A troop of swamp rants attacks!

You observe some swamp rants in the distance.

[N] auroxen break through the brush!

[N] auroxen are grazing in the middle of the road.

You observe [N] auroxen.

People

A trapper steps out onto the road in front of you.

A trapper is sitting on a stone by the wayside, cleaning his tools.

You observe a trapper busily setting out the tools of his trade.

Some farmers come by.

You pass a farmer eating his lunch.

A farmer walks towards you.

A skald is coming by. When he sees you, he sits down on a rock and starts to sing a complimentary ode.

A dreadful screeching assaults your ears. As you look around for its origin, you notice a skald (ahem) singing in a clearing up ahead… and in front of an angrily snorting wild pig of all things?!.

A skald approaches and starts to sing.