ANAD 1 - Anadastros Campaign

Upper Anadastros - Thoroughly absorbed into the Empire, high population of Sevastin nobility ruling over Anad peasants in bad conditions, lots of Perashdan villages in northern areas. Swamp on the eastern shore is dangerous and infested with monsters, western portions away from waterways are mostly wilderness and forests. Regions closest to Metrom are well-patrolled lots of villages. Earthen wall with rampart built across the ridgeline to enforce the peace of 185 VY, now used for control of population and taxation. Dangerous Stone and Wood Elf kingdom in northern mountains. 

Middle Anadastros - The heartland of Old Anadastros, both Jastra and Sarras were badly damaged in the war and have not yet fully recovered. Both cities are garrisoned but have not been granted Bone Citadels because the rulers of Metrom jealously guard their power. The region is relatively high population, mostly clustered along the waterways and around the two cities. Foothills and mountains tend to be wilderness, open country alternates between villages and farms. Some slave trade with the Dwarves of Kham-Dunzen. A second wall and rampart has been built between it and Lower Anadastros to control the movement of population and especially tribal groups. 

Lower Anadastros - Currently the scene of fighting at the city of Turmas, as the Alastinian Army assaults the city and the Bone Citadel there. 

Travel from Lake Hyros to the Nyra Turn region (home) will take several days... 5-6 days typically for a riverboat that will carry the PC's home. From there, they must decide how best to proceed. Yana's mother can provide the names of some of the old families (Matowyn and Kennalt) that may be able to provide assistance, as well as a map of the region. She does not know who still lives, or who would still answer the call. On the way across the border, the region ten miles or so on both sides is devastated by raids. Villages have been abandoned, fields are fallow, and the undead wander the roads and fields. Packs of ghouls are especially feared, as they roam the countryside seeking flesh. Ruined settlements have been occupied by goblins, and packs of orcs and ogres prowl freely. 

The earldom has been divided among several nobles, one each in the walled cities. The lord in Ostera claims the title of Earl, but does not actually rule the full territory.  The rival barons have conflicts with the earl, but all are loyal-ish to deRais, mostly out of fear of Imperial power. Count deRais is now a warlock of some power, with Fermas Vorokhoi's own deities as his patrons.

• "Ostera" is the seat of power, a walled town of about 7000 people. It is where Caratillus ancestors ruled from. It is the main trading town for the earldom. Earl Doran deRais rules here. He is a wight/warlock sort, and the city lives in terror of him. Earl Dorian has outlived nearly all of his mortal family, including most of his children, some of whom he killed himself as part of the sacrifice. There is a small garrison of quality Vorokhoi troops here serving to ensure his loyalty, but most are deRais house troops. Any truly difficult situation will be dealt with by the Vorks. Earl Dorian knows that he is subordinate to the true rulers in Metrom and beyond

• "Krosta" is another walled town, roughly 3000 people. Krosta was the seat for HOUSE MATOWYN, a vassal of the Caratillus family, and is the market town for the region north of it. It was also the site of some small silver mines of note. House Matowyn made a loyal fight, but lost. They have been driven into exile, and now reside in the mountains as bandit lords. It now belongs to Lord Enrik deRais, the mortal grandson to the Earl. Enrik is loyal to his grandfather, partly out of fear, but he resents the heavy hand of Metrom. He believes that his grandfather will eventually go mad, and that Enrik will be able to replace him. At that point, he will petition the Emperor for greater autonomy. If he can speed the process along, he is willing to covertly provide information. 

• "Sternberka" is also a walled town, population 4500. It was ruled by a second vassal clan, HOUSE KENNALT, responsible for guarding and patrolling the Hutberk River, which is the northern boundary to the earldom. House Kennalt still rules Sternberka as the lord of the clan was murdered by an ambitious brother who now rules with Vorokhoi support. Lord Wyklen Kennalt is an old, treacherous man, wily and cruel. He fears the Vorokhoi, but covets the earldom for his five sons. He will work with the PC's for as long as they are useful. One of the sons hates what the family has become, and regularly communes with a family ghost. 

Black Riders - AC15 (chain shirt), HP25, +4/weapon +2... sword or shield (1d8) and shield (+2AC), spear 1d8/1d10, longbow 1d8/150-600

pack tactics,