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Roslar's Coffer is a small town located in southwestern Lastwall along the Tourondel River, near the border with the Hold of Belkzen. It has a population of approximately 500, mostly consisting of humans. It was constructed less than a mile from a fortified cathedral devoted to Sarenrae known as the Bastion of Light. The potential for logging in the Fangwood, the abundance of nearby fertile farmland, and the proximity of the Sarenite knights and priests—who could keep the burgeoning town safe from the nearby Belkzen orcs and provide spiritual guidance when needed—made the town’s location ideal, and it attracted many settlers from across the Inner Sea Region who were eager to help create the new nation of Lastwall.
Named for Ervin Roslar, a hero of the Shining Crusade, the town has survived over 800 years despite sharing a frontier with the orcs of Belkzen, even trading peacefully with several tribes who seasonally wander nearby. Lastwall considers the town, which helps establish the local borders and grows much of the flax used in Vigil, important enough to maintain a small garrison of knights there. While its existence has been challenging, Roslar’s Coffer persisted largely without issue for centuries until the more violent Twisted Nail tribe pushed the less aggressive orc tribes out of the region and began launching raids against outlying farms. These attacks eventually escalated until the Twisted Nails assaulted Roslar’s Coffer itself in 4707 ar (12 years ago), burning its historic buildings, wiping out over a quarter of the population, and scattering the remaining residents. About half the survivors returned the next season to rebuild, only to discover a territorial creature called a red reaver had moved into the Sarenite monastery a mile outside of town, forcing the church to relocate into the newly rebuilt town itself.
Lastwall deployed additional knights to patrol the border regions as Roslar’s Coffer rebuilt. These warriors turned back several new raids by the Twisted Nail, who eventually turned their frustrations inward toward Belkzen. None of the knights’ efforts managed to dislodge the red reaver from its new lair, however. It continued to plunder nearby farms and assault travelers, and locals quickly learned to simply avoid the grounds and orchards once managed by the church and otherwise went on with their lives. Agents of the prestigious Pathfinder Society arrived last year to investigate the temple, and after a daring battle, finally felled the beast! The church of Sarenrae has made only brief surveys of the damage caused by the monster in its 10-year stay, and they still operate from town. This sudden burst of excitement nonetheless inspired many of the town’s youth to spin fantasies about becoming adventurers and Pathfinders themselves.
In addition to the Sarenite temple, Roslar’s Coffer enjoys minor fame for Roslar’s Tomb, a sizable crypt in the town cemetery that houses the earthly remains of several heroes from the Shining Crusade (although, ironically, not Roslar himself, after rumors of a scandal arose upon his death). Faithful of both Iomedae and Gorum occasionally visit on pilgrimage to pay their respects to these fallen heroes of the past, and the town is all too happy to provide accommodations in exchange for newcomers’ coin. Thanks to its location along the Tourondel River, the town also sees some traffic in the form of crusaders, messengers, pilgrims, and traders from both Lastwall and Nirmathas.
Player characters might be stubborn residents of Roslar’s Coffer, members of the militia dispatched by Lastwall to guard the border, part of the displaced church of Sarenrae, pilgrims visiting the crypt, Pathfinders surveying the temple after their superiors departed, traders, or officials from Vigil. Ideally at least one character is a local—either a lifelong resident or someone who settled in the area as part of the post–Twisted Nail reconstruction. Those PCs who do not hail directly from Roslar’s Coffer or Lastwall should at least have a strong interest in the legacy of the Whispering Tyrant and the Whispering Way and hope to minimize the damage these vile forces can inflict on the world.
D. Cemetary Gate
The only entrance to the carefully tended and fenced-in cemetery. Roslar's Coffer has many dead buried in the cemetery, what with the orc attack twelve years ago and the sacrifices of the Ozzem Knights over the centuries. Once a year these gates are swung open for the festival of Remembrance Moon, and Roslanders break bread and eat meals in front of the graves of their loved ones or in and around the monument dedicated to those who fell during the Shining Crusade.
E. School House
A one-room schoolhouse stands on the northeastern edge of Roslar's Coffer. Two teachers from Vigil were sent to make sure the youth of Rosland's Coffer where educated a year ago and they've been running rotating classes trying to keep up with the far larger pool of children than the little schoolhouse can support.
F. Town Square
A larger than life statue of Ervin Roslar himself stands tall and proud surrounded by a still-standing little pool. The figure stands tall with shield and sword in hand, and magnificent mustache almost obscuring his exaggeratedly handsome features. Civil meetings are held in this square and the Lady Mayor Mullana Grive makes sure one is held at least once every fortnight. No business is allowed to set up shop at the town square, keeping the location nice and peaceful during the non-meeting hours. Local custom calls for casting copper and silver coins into the pool now and again for good luck and every night someone gathers the coins for use to help the less fortunate.
G. Jeweler's Shop
An elegantly fashioned small jeweler's shop is run by a rather odd couple. Dravit and Amelia Stonewright, a dwarf and gnome respectively. Now both nearing a century, the couple fled during the orc attack twelve years ago only to come back and rebuild within the last year. In addition to being the only reliable source for wedding bands, the jeweler's shop also boasts small shrines to both Abadar and Torag that are available for public use - for a few coins of course.
H. Oakheart Tavern
Another old business, this tavern is run by an elven former adventurer by the name of Tessaraea Oakheart. Tessaraea settled down in Roslar's Coffer twenty-five years ago, giving up a life of adventuring. She sometimes tells stories when she dips into her own cups but is otherwise quiet and somber, and most of the villagers believe she suffered some great tragedy in her past, such as the loss of her one true love. She lacks the personality for a tavern-owner but apparently bought the place for some pretty coin from its original owner back in the day and mostly relies on the flood of young barmaids and waiters to do the 'sweet-talking' for her. She is also an incredible shot with the bow and has been politely asked not to compete in the festival tourneys 'so as not to upstage the youngins'.
I. Shining Crusade Memorial
Near the back of the graveyard, in front of Roslar's Tomb lies a 10 foot tall obelisk with the names of ancient dead cruaders from the great battles against Tar Baphalon. An exact copy of the same memorial in every town and city of Lastwall, this object requires a magnifying glass and good light to read the worn and tiny script, yet it serves as a focal point for those visiting the graveyard.
J. Roslar's Tomb
The age-worn and long-neglected tomb of town-founder Ervin Roslar dominates the graveyard and its high-peaked roof and weathervane can be seen even from the town square. While impressively sized, the tomb has been neglected after the rumors of scandal after Roslar's death and the tomb has been sealed shut for centuries. Stories go that the tomb extends down into the earth and as such few gravestones are dug anywhere near the tomb, for fear of breaking into one of the old chambers.
K. The Bastion of Light
Down the east road up on a bluff lies the abandoned temple to Sarenrae, the somewhat pretentiously named 'Bastion of Light'. This structure is avoided by Roslarites, less out of superstition and more out of habit. The orc invaders and the red reaver demolished most of the interior and though carpenters and masoners were brought in to clear the debris, restoration work was stopped three months ago on order of the Mayor. Apparently discussions on which deity to dedicate the refurbished church to dragged council sessions for hours and the funds were directed elsewhere. Occasionally children will dare one another to sneak in but the work that has been done on the place leaves many of them disappointed at the lack of 'spooky stuff' inside its walls.
C. The Wood of the Gray Lady
Little more than a copse of trees that likely grew out from the Northern Fangwood, the gathering of trees north of Roslar's Coffer is the source of all manner of local folklore. Tales of witchlights, fey portals, and the like come and go but the tale of the Gray Lady has existed for as long as the town has. The legend goes that Roslar had an secret lover and upon his death she went to his tomb looking for his body. Finding the tomb sealed and not knowing his body had been buried elsewhere, she gathered her gray shawl about herself and waited. And waited. Eventually she passed but stories say her ghost still haunts Roslar’s Coffer. The presence of the Church of Sarenrae pushed the spirit north into the wood but with the death of its priests, sightings have cropped up of a Gray Figure watching the town at the forest's edge, as still as a corpse.
B. Farmer's Market
This three-way intersection serves as the meeting spot for agrarian commerce, with the butcher's shop receiving livestock brought in from the fields. Coin is rarely exchanged hands as the various shops have set the values for bushels of grain and shanks of lamb.
A. Freemark's LiveryRun by relative newcomers from Nirmathas to the south, these lively stables cater to the needs of farmers, messengers, and the local Ossem Knights. Osric and Gabrielle Freemark are a couple getting on in years but their youngest, Osric Jr., is of marriageable age and is set to inherit the stables as their eldest didn't make the move with them.
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