First game post is up. Feel free to post here now. I'll add more info here as I have time.


Current Player Characters in Alder Vale:
Asher, a Squirrel Scout, male (Bodkin)
Fenir Stonepaw, a Badger Warrior, male (Astrid)
Oltovian, an Otter Talespinner, male (Hammer)
Reginald Hibiscus, a Hare Rogue, male (Celeste)
Violet “Vi” Sciuridae, a Squirrel Scout, female (Reralae)


Current Non-Player Characters Adventuring with the Party:
Weldon, a middle-aged Mole Teamster, male
Aidyn, a young-adult Mole, Weldon's elder son, male
Dremmon, a young-adult mole, Weldon's younger son, male

Six common lizards named:
Dash, male, and Rascal, female (Aidyn's team);
Strider, male, and Whisper, male (Dremmon's team);
and Pogo, male and Tootsie, female (Weldon's team)


Current Party Treasure:
Small purse containing 25 gold coins


Current Season: Mid-Spring, 54 A.R.

THE ALDER VALE SETTING
Map of the Alder Vale! --> link


Stonewell Abbey
This is the starting place for our adventure.

Stonewell Abbey was founded by Abbess Ariella, a stout female hedgehog, about 50 years ago. It was built on the ruins of an old fort, believed to be hundreds of years old. The fort had long since fallen to the ravages of the elements but was the base for a small band of rat bandits that was driven off by Ariella and her followers. There are rumours that there were tunnels or dungeons underneath the building that Ariella had sealed up before building of the Abbey began.

The tales of Ariella are well known, with most recounting the hedgehog’s bravery and skill at arms. In the Abbey, there is a statue of her wielding a mace and shield. Pictures of her adorning the Abbey walls also show her bearing these weapons. It is believed that her mace and shield were of masterwork quality, some would even say magical. However, these artifacts were lost soon after her death and have yet to be found.

The Abbey is currently under repair to the northeast corner, which was destroyed by fire about a year ago in an attack by a horde of rats, under the Rat-Chief Glorbane. The repairs are nearly finished but you can still expect to see the odd mole stone mason clambering around the precarious scaffolding, adding a gargoyle here or chiseling a bit of stonework there.

Important Positions/Creatures in the Abbey
The Abbot, Camber: The venerable Abbot Camber (a scholarly Otter), is the head of the Abbey at present. He has been the Abbot for ten years, being promoted from his position as Prior after the death of Abbot Caddum (who followed Ariella). An elderly monk, Camber is more stern and studious than the typical otter. Still, he is considered wise and kind-hearted, respected good creatures of Alder Vale. He takes seriously both the spiritual and physical care of his flock. Having lived at the Abbey for some time now, you all would recognize the Abbot on sight.

The Prior, Prioress Noona: The current Prior (the Abbot’s second-in-command) is Prioress Noona, a female badger. She came into the position a few years ago when the previous Prior (now Abbot, Cindran) left to found the new Abbey at Mistmoor. Prioress Noona is fierce in her defense of the Abbey and is always ready to drive back vermin whenever they appear.

The Archivist, Machin: The Archivist (who is the chief scribe and librarian) is a mouse named Machin. A gentler mouse would be difficult to find. But don’t even think about bringing food or drink into the library or you will find yourself changed with many burdensome and mundane tasks around the Abbey as he has the Abbot’s ear.

The Cellarer, Olive: The cellarer is responsible for the food and drink at the Abbey. The current
Cellarer is a rather portly but kindly female vole called Olive. Some of you have heard her claim that she sometimes hears noises through the wall behind some of the shelves where the blackberry wine is stored. Most creatures think she has been drinking too much of her blackberry wine.

The Guardian, Bowser: The Guardian is in charge of training the warriors at the Abbey. His main job is the defence of the Abbey and its environs. Currently, Stonewell Abbey’s Guardian is a tough old hedgehog called Bowser who took over the position after Noona was promoted. He is a skilled tactician who is fond of giving stirring speeches on the honour and glory of defending the Abbey and its environs.

The Herbalist, Dunstable: A rat called Dunstable is the Abbey’s Herbalist. He is a quiet little rat that was found as a baby outside the Abbey and brought up within its walls. Dunstable quickly took to learning about plants and herbs and knows more than anyone else in the Abbey about the medicinal properties of the plants that grow around the area.

The Healer, Florence: A squirrel called Florence is in charge of the infirmary. She is an attractive, cheerful chatterbox who likes to pass the time with her patients with many stories.


Stonewell Abbey Environs
The Abbey lands cover a large portion of the Alder Vale, through the middle of which runs the River Alder. Heavily wooded, the vale is still a dangerous place, with some of the denser woods and marshes home to Vermin and The Wild.

However, the Vale has a lot to offer the Abbey, and the Environs now have three villages (Stonewell, Rumblewood and Stormhollow), and a number of farmsteads, mills, mines and quarries under its protection.


Fellmarsh The Fellmarsh lies to the south of the Abbey Environs. This is where lizards, serpents and the dreaded marsh dragons dwell. The Toad King Grubelly and his tribe of warty-skinned toads live here, banging their drums and warbling deep into the night.

Skalleren Woods These are dark woods of thorns and brambles, where the sun has difficulty penetrating. Evil things lurk deep within the woods and sometimes come out when the moon is out to carry off unwary prey. Well-armed parties of Hedgehogs sometimes go into the woods to hunt serpents and they have reported seeing ancient ruins deep in the interior.

Murkenhill Murkenhill is the northern border of the Stonewell Environs. It marks the point where hordes of rats sometimes come pouring down from the Northern Reaches, over the Murkenhill slopes into the Abbey Environs to pillage and plunder. There is also a large and important stone quarry at Murkenhill, run by
Foremole Tigwyn.


Murkenhill Fort Built by Lord Tredegar, a Badger of some reknown, Murkenhill Fort was meant as a first line defense for the Vale and the nearby quarry against the evil rats from the Northern Reaches. Lord Tredegar is tall, intimidating beast who is both honorable and just in his dealings with others.

Stonewell Village Stonewell is the nearest village to the Abbey; just within bowshot of its walls. There are about 250 Kind living here, a large number work directly or indirectly for Stonewell Abbey. Importantly, there is a flour mill on the edge of the village and the mill provides all the flour for the Abbey. There is a market here twice a week. The Reeve (the head beast of the village, who reports to Prioress Noona) is Fedwina; a female Squirrel.

Rumblewood Rumblewood is a village with a population of about 170 Kind. There is a market here once a week. The Reeve is Welwyn, a Hare. For a Hare, he is surprisingly level-headed... or so it is said.

Stormhollow A village with a permanent population of 100 Kind, Stormhollow is predominantly comprised of moles (about 40%). The population swells to nearly double when the miners return from the iron mine in the hills to the north. The Reeve here is Telfer, a Mole, diligent in his work.


Mistmoor Abbey The Abbey and Environs was founded by Abbot Cindran (who was previously the Prior at Stonewell) only a couple of years ago. It is located to the west of Stonewell. Building is still ongoing; it currently has only a wooden exterior wall surrounded by a ditch for defence. As a new abbey, Mistmoor still relies on Stonewell for regular caravan shipments of stone, iron, and other precious materials.

goes here.

THE WILD BEASTS OF ALDER VALE Wild Beasts is a category used for beasts that belong neither to Kind Creatures or the Wicked Vermin. It is difficult to make general statements regarding the beasts that fall in this category. Some tend not to be as clever or enlightened as the Kind Creature, their thoughts usually focused more on themselves and the mundane stuff in their own little environments, rather than thinking about the wider world. Others are exceptionally intelligent and cunning, but tend towards vanity and selfishness. Still others are simply more savage than the Kind Creatures, and tend to have a more isolationist mindset.

Some Wild Beasts are able to use simple weapons and tools (which they may have made themselves, or raided others to gain), others don’t see the point, preferring to use their own natural weapons. Some Wild beasts can communicate smoothly, most can speak haltingly to some degree, but others have no speech at all. There are few that read or write.

Here are a few of the Wild Beasts you might encounter:

Bears: The giants of Alder Vale, Bears are towering beasts, frightening to behold. They are often encountered individually, in mated pairs, or in small family or clan units. Their thick fur provides them with some natural protection. They often wield massive battle axes or clubs, hurl large rocks, or slash with their sharp claws. They are known to pick up their enemies and toss them as well. Unless they are hungry or annoyed, Bears tend to leave the Kind Creatures alone.

Eagles: Deadly predators from the sky, Eagles are massive birds that like to carry off smaller prey. Their tell-tale screech will cause most Kind Creatures to flee for cover. They prefer to dive in, snatching their prey off the ground or out of the sky with their large, powerful talons. Some lift their catch up high in the sky and then drop them to the death. Others prefer to carry their prey off to their nests to kill them. Oltavian would know a tale from many, many seasons ago (prior to the Abbey being built) of Kind Warriors who rode trained Eagles into battle.

Hawks: Smaller than Eagles, but nearly as deadly, Hawks are gifted with superb eyesight. Some Wicked Vermin capture and train them to keep watch or act as scouts for their invading hordes.

Lizards, Common: Simple minded and fairly loyal, common lizards are typically trained as mounts and pack-beasts. They will serve well as long as they are well treated and receive regular food, a decent wage and a place to stay. Always moving on all fours, common lizards do not use weapons or tools. They are strong and dependable and would be consider amongst the Kind Creatures but for their minimal intelligence.

Owls: Clever and vain, Owls are one of the most intelligence Wild Beasts. Most can read and some can be reasoned with – especially if they are not hungry and you flatter him with praise.

Raccoon: Some would consider Raccoons as kindred to the Kind Creatures, as they tend to speak and read quite well and possess equal intelligence to other Kind Creatures. They just tend towards wrong doing – harassing and stealing from travellers – which usually ends up getting them cast out or banished for their crimes. And, though they do tend towards doing wrong, few Raccoons are known as wanton murderers, which sets them apart from the Wicked Vermin.

Serpents: There are a variety of Serpents that inhabit Alder Vale, in a variety of sizes and colours. They slither and slide up to their prey catching many by surprise. Some Kind Creatures would like to lump serpents in with the Wicked Vermin for they truly are nasty and mean-spirited. They tend to be very clever and can, often, read. Tales exist of some ancient Serpents of Skalleren Woods who know how to cast magic.

Toads: Secretive and strange, Toads are warty creatures found mostly around the wetlands of Fellmarsh to the south. Most can barely speak the common tongue, preferring their guttural, throaty language. Isolationists, Toads dislike all who trespass into their marches and defend their territories aggressively.

Wildcats: Dangerous wanderers that are sometimes seen in the Murkenhills, Wildcats come in two varieties – Northern and Eastern. Northern Wildcats tend to be loners, living by their wits and their skill with a blade. Eastern Wildcats are more clannish and, during the time of Ariella, attempted to expand their kingdom westward into the Abbey’s environs.

THE WICKED VERMIN
Vermin are horde-creatures – are a rule, they typically think, work, and fight in groups. These are creatures that cannot help but do wicked things. As a horde, they are cruel; pirates, outlaws, vandals, raiders, robbers and looters. Individually they are sneaks and bullies.

Vermin consider other beasts beneath them and don’t really think of them as their kin at all. To a Vermin, he Kind Creatures are weak and pathetic, while the Wild Beasts are stupid and ignorant. Vermin are reviled and despised by most creatures throughout Alder Vale.


Bats: Bats are like little flying mice. They aren’t too dangerous individually but enmasse they can be troublesome. Whilst they are mostly wicked, they are amongst the least violent of the Vermin and tend to have little to do with most of the other Vermin.

The Abbey thinks that bats can be won over and has had some success with individuals and a few small groups. Bats defend their caves if they feel threatened and fly out of them in a great swarm to harass, rob and steal. They tend to avoid killing where possible.

They are rarely seen during the day, having difficulty with the light of the sun. In a fight, they’ll often attach themselves to tree branches or rocks where they’ll hurl darts or sling stones at their foes.


Crows: Crows are dark feathered birds with wicked dispositions. They like to act as lookouts for Rats and other Vermin. Some crows allow shrews to sit on their backs to act as airborne troops in battle. However, they are unreliable mounts, worried more about their own safety. If their life is threatened, a crow will not think twice about bucking their rider off their back.


Foxes: The most cunning and sly of all the Vermin are Foxes. They are liars, cheaters and swindlers. They may individually attach themselves to a horde, but will just as often work solo or lead small bands of brigands. They tend to gravitate towards where there are other beasts gathered so that they can con them out of their money or their belongings. Many foxes are also magicians or tricksters – able to perform sleight of hand tricks, or illusory magic.


Rats: Rats are found in great hordes just about everywhere and are the bane of farms, towns and villages. Rats will plunder and pillage all communities in their quest for food, for valuables or just for the pleasure of fighting. They are pirates, bandits, robbers and thieves all.

Rats can rarely be reasoned with and even more rarely will they keep their word. They use scavenged, borrowed or stolen weapons and armour of all types, mostly patched, mended and moth-eaten. Some rats’ blades are so filthy that anyone hit by them can become infected by a number of diseases.


Shrews: Shrews are very small creatures that inhabit dark woods and other lightless places. They are quick and vicious, attacking with their daggers, darts and slings. If possible, they try to avoid attacking in broad daylight, the sun causing their eyes to squint and tear up.


Stoats: A Stoat is the larger cousin of the weasel and can usually found as a chief or leader of a band of their smaller kin. They may be found both above ground and in subterranean caverns. They form into loosely organized clans, often ranging far from home in order to steal and kill with rapacious ferocity. They normally wear studded leather and use nasty curved swords and cutlasses.

There are known to be stoat-wizards that tend to be bigger than the rest and that like to surround themselves with Undead.


Weasels: Weasels are mean, sneaky, devious and evil. Groups of them are often led by a stoat. Sometimes weasels throw in their lot with a horde of rats. They are often armored in some form of leather and can found carrying shields. They arm themselves with a variety of weapons: bows, spears, maces, swords.


Wolverines: Wolverines are the terror of Vermin kind. If there is a Wolverine with a horde of Vermin, the Wolverine is always the boss. Luckily, most tend to work alone, and you will rarely find more than one in a horde.

Wolverines favor edged weapons, axes and swords mostly. They are brutal fighters and never yield, whatever the odds. In the midst of battle, Wolverines are known to throw themselves into a frightening battle frenzy, making them even more terrifying to behold.

THE INSECTS OF ALDER VALE Most of the insects in Alder Vale possess a minimal intelligence. They are often times larger (relatively) than insects in our world. Here are a few your characters might run across:

Ants, Giant: The Giant Ants of Alder Vale live in vast subterranean hives tunneled through soil and even stone. Ant hives can hold as many as one hundred ants. There are three different types: Workers, Warriors, and the Queen. Workers and Warriors grow to be one and a half to two and a half paws in length, and the massive Queen can be over ten paws in length. All attack with powerful mandibles, with Warrior Ants able to secreted poison in their bites.

Centipedes: Growing to a length of one to one and a half paws, Centipedes move with speed and stealth. While their bite does little damage, its poison can cause short-term paralysation.

Scorpions: Nasty critters with foul temperaments, Scorpions can be found more commonly in Murkenhill, in the barren and rocky spots. Their hard shell provides them with an excellent defense. Their poisoned stinger causes pain and paralysation.

Spiders, various sizes: Aggressive hunters of the Skalleren Woods, Spiders come in three different sizes: Huge (1.5 – 2 paws), Giant (2-3 paws), and Monstrous (3-4 paws). All have serious poisonous bites that can cause death. Monstrous spiders are the only ones that can spin and capture their prey in webs.

Their information will go here...

Last bit of info goes here.

and so that I can bring my post count to an even number, some last bits of info here. For real... no more information after this.

I'm sorry to have teased you like this.

Feel free to post here and there now.

What does AR mean?

Riding in wagon with Weldon to gain info for spinning tales. My laptop had to have the hard drive replaced so will be a few days before I can post in game!

A.R. stands for Abbey Reckoning. It has been 54 years (or 216 seasons) since the Abbey was founded. Dating prior to the founding of the Abbey is listed as B.A.R. (or Before Abbey Reckoning).

Were there any trees nearby when we stopped for the previous night?