Languard is a busy, noisy place. The administrative and mercantile heart of the Duchy of Ashlar it is, however, also a place of fear and gradual decay.

Sprawling over a series of rocky bluffs, and heavily fortified, the town defends Hard Bay’s narrow mouth and the settlements beyond. Many adventurers, sell-swords and mercenaries come to Languard. The closest settlement of note to Gloamhold, and the duchy’s largest port, here are found the greatest opportunities for fame, gold and advancement. Here also (for the unlucky or careless) are found the greatest opportunities for infamy, poverty and death.

Ruler: Duke Armas Nenonen
Government: Overlord
Population: 7,923 (6,614 humans, 287 dwarves, 189 elves, 236 half-elves, 264 half-orcs, 189 halflings, 144 gnomes)
Notable Folk: Atro Ahokas (leader of the Worshipful Company of Freetraders), Elmo Rekunen (First Protector), Hannele Auvuenen (High Priestess of Conn), Heimo Karppanen (High Priest of Abarin), Marja Pasanen (Chancellor), Taneli Eronen (Serat’s Stormlord), Taneli Laitnen (Guildmaster of the Shadow Masks), Varma Nikkonen (Lady Protector [of Darlen]), Veli Nikkonen (Captain of the Watch)
Alignments: LN, N, NG
Languages: Common
Resources & Industry: Fishing, commerce, general industry

Storied Languard—capital of Ashlar and its greatest city—stands hard against Hard Bay’s turbulent, stormy waters. To the north lies the Mottled Spire’s brooding spray-drenched mass, the curse-haunted ruins of Greystone and Gloamhold’s doom-wreathed halls. Ashlar’s greatest—indeed only—city, Languard is a noisy, dirty place. Here, amid broad, muddy streets teeming with life and shadow-mantled, danger-filled alleyways there is little beneath the sun that cannot be had somewhere—for a price. Few Languardians overly concern themselves with the brooding terrors lurking within Gloamhold’s halls, but for others, the legendary, benighted ruin draws them to Languard as a moth to a flame. For within Languard’s stout walls live, plot and scheme a surprising number of adventurers, freebooters and mercenaries all lured here by the treasures said to lie but a scant few miles to the north.

Lie of the Land

Visitors approaching Languard likely first spy the towers and battlements of Castle Languard towering above the city. Then, the spires and lofty roofs of various churches and abbeys come into view along with the city's impressive defences.

From each of Languard’s gates, a broad and muddy street leads into the city. The finest houses and inns flank these roads. Here, wealthy merchants live above their shops, sea captains rest when not voyaging and other rich folk —members of the clergy, adventurers (both retired and still active) and so on— enjoy life.

Narrower roads lead away from these bustling thoroughfares; along these, the houses are narrower, taller and in worse repair. From these streets, a warren of alleys and tiny lanes radiate away; here the poorest citizens live cheek to jowl. Perpetual gloom cloaks these alleys—the jetties of the ramshackle houses almost meeting those of the house opposite high above the street. Called the Shambles by visitors and locals alike, much not available in the nicer (and safer) parts of the city is on offer here. Respectable folk rarely visit the Shambles.

There are worse places to live, though, than the Shambles. Where the dilapidated houses run down toward the Svart’s southern bank, the Shambles becomes the Fishshambles. Here among the tangled, reeking labyrinth of narrow, tenebrous alleys dwell many of the fisherfolk and other ne’er-do-wells. However, the basest folk—the degenerate and debased Takolen—dwell in the Wrecks, a swath of waterfront dominated by rotting wharves and fetid, half-sunken boats. The whole forms a confused mishmash of homes, warehouses, whorehouses, taverns and other unsavoury businesses. A cancerous darkness lurks within the Takolen’s hearts; one day it might ooze forth to draw Languard and its folk into darkness.

Cartography Tommi Salama — **Cartography** Tommi Salama

Notable Locations at a Glance

Most of Languard comprises homes or businesses. A few locations, however, are of interest to adventurers. Such locales are tagged on the map with a letter followed by a number. The letter portion of each tag identifies either the part of the city in which the location can be found (L, S, F, W, H) or the location’s type (G, T). Thus:

F: A location in the Fishshambles.
G: One of Languard’s gate.
H: A location in High City.
L: A location in Low City.
S: A location in the Shambles.
T: One of Languard’s temples.
W: A location in the Wrecks.

Low City Locations

G1 Low Gate: Low Gate is always busy, choked with a multitude of carts piled high with trade goods.
G3 Traitor’s Gate: “Decorated” with the remains of traitors to the crown, Traitor’s Gate is well named.
L1 Low Market: A bustling market fills this muddy space.
L2 Vonya’s Span: Of dwarven craft—and reputedly haunted—Vonya’s Span is the only bridge spanning the Svart.
L3 The Scythe: The one-legged Arvo Outila runs this drinking den renown for live music.
T1 Fane of the Waves Eternal: Here Serat’s worshippers commune with the ocean’s eternal glory.

Fishshambles Locations

F1 The House of Sighs: Seeking shelter in this almshouse is little better than living on the streets.
F2 The Drunken Sailor: A popular dockside tavern.

Shambles Locations

S1 Raisa’s Curios: Idle adventurers often come here to browse the eclectic range of goods on offer.
S2 The Bloody Eagle: A seemingly destitute merchants runs this tavern, which is a Shadow Mask front.

Wrecks Locations

W1 Duranki’s: The Duranki family will ferry (unwary, too- trusting) adventurers to Gloamhold, for a fee.
W2 The Fallen Maid: Here dwells one of Ashlar’s pre-eminent assassins.

High City Locations

G2 River Gate: These two towers oversee all river traffic.
G4 Duke’s Gate: The least-used of Languard’s gates. Only those traveling northwards use this gate.
H1 Castle Languard: Family Nenonen’s seat.
H2 High Market: Those with a taste for the finer things in life come to High Market.
H3 Urmas’ House: The aged sage Urmas—one of Ashlar’s greatest authorities on Gloamhold—dwells here.
H4 The Dreaming Spires: Ashlar’s centre of learning, the library here is only matched by that held at the Black Tower.
T2 The Father’s Hall: A cathedral dedicated to Conn’s worship and the centre of his faith in Ashlar.
T3 The Great Forge: A clamour of noise and smoke perpetually rises above Abarin’s temple-forge.
T4 Watcher’s Spire: Darlen’s followers dwell in this fortified temple.

Inhabitants

Appearance: Languardians are a fair-skinned folk. Brown or sandy coloured hair and brown or hazel eyes predominate. Facial hair is worn mainly by the lower classes—being clean shaven (for men) or sporting elaborate and impractical, hairstyles (for women) are the marks of breeding, class and wealth.

Dress: Woollen tunics and breeches, along with heavy woollen cloaks in the winter, predominate. Clothes worn by the wealthy are of finer quality and more colourful.

Nomenclature: male Armas, Einar, Jani, Onni, Taisto, Veijo; female Aila, Elina, Kaari, Laina, Saini; family Ahokas, Eskola, Korpela, Ojanen, Rintala, Varala.

Daily Life

Although it is a city—and Ashlar’s largest and richest settlement—living in Languard still feels like living on the frontier. Although the city has not been attacked or overtly threatened in living memory, its proximity to Gloamhold’s doom- drenched halls throws a pall over its alleys and thoroughfares. The high proportion of adventurers, retired adventurers and other folk well used to magic and/or violence means the city is rarely truly peaceful.

Winter storms all but cut off the city and the duchy from the outside world. With travel by sea too perilous the populace turns inwards. Little of import or excitement is accomplished over the winter months.