Hammerhill (Region)

The Hammerhill region is an area of land in Northern Vlossenvarn claimed by the Greypick Trading Company. The company has set up a settlement called Hammerhill to reinforce their claim. Due to the poor mapping, the area's south of Hammer Hill are claimed by several different companies. Until the claims are settled, no company has authority to prevent the others from entering it. Since whomever wins the claim will be entitled to trade rights and resources in that area, no company wishes to development permanent outpost in that region for fearing of losing it to their competitors. Carin Hills: Located west of Hammerhill is patchy hilly land with sparse greenery. Several of the hills here are marked with colored stones which do not seem to be found near this area. I think that these may mark some kind of important burial and felt uneasy if camped on the hills. Two large valley’s here are littered with ancient bronze weapons and armor. A partially collapsed tower is north of the center, while a strange arrangement of large, partially carved stones.

Clay Crag: This reddish soil canyon is the mouth of Brewer's Bend. Giants can be seen roaming the top, split into competing tribes on each side of the chasm. Deadan believes them to be at war with one another, saying that large stones seem to back been thrown back and forth.

Cliffhome: This flourishing land is mostly enclosed by Clay Crag. The giants above seem to stake claim to this land below. Based on its topography, Deadan thinks most of the plants here have spawn along the dried river bed, as they are thicker near the center then the cliffside. Several small ruins of claywork dot the area, taken from canyon walls. A group of Goblins seems to have taken up residence in the villages carved into each clifface.

Dustwind Plains: This flat is covered in a layer of red clay dust. Travel here was difficult, as contact dust storms forced us to seek shelter. A pair of large eagle-like creatures with horns stalked us from storm to storm. As we fled, Deadan split from me to draw them off. After the dust settled, I could not find his remains, but I found signs of his struggle from the feathers and blood in the sand.

Free Graze Field: Deadan and I set out north from Hammerhill to an area called Free Graze Field by the locals. To encourage more settlers and grazers, the Greypicks said that this region north of town was freeland for anyone to raise grazing animals. These rolling hills stand out like islands amongst a sea of grass. In the northern area, signs of hollowed out hills and large footprints point to Ogres or Trolls seeking refuge in the area. Deadan and I also observed that local fauna travel through the tall grass as if to hide their numbers, but when sleeping they will spread out among the hills as if to have a view of each other or approaching predators. Cougars and wolves also stalk the area at night.

Glasstep: Ash and soot settle north of Pipe Puff Peak, trapped in a constant overcast from its smokey discharges. It's dark soil is littered with sharp obsidian and glass. The ash and soot settle here like snow.

Lowlands March: As Deadan and I followed Panner’s Creek north, we found that it splits this lowland to create a floodplain. The soil in that area is a patch work of colors. When it rains, the land near the river quickly floods, but when it drains it sometimes reveals hidden treasures that give Panner's Creek its name. The receding water creates pits of soft sand and mud that can suck in animals that try to cross it.

Mangrasp Marsh: We found this terrain difficult to navigate until Deadan created us a flat raft. Most of the area is either covered in a thick layer of mud or a few inches of water. In the mangroves that line Brewer’s Bend, we found make skeletal remains tucked into hollow trees. This area is infested with alligators, viscous quippers, swamp bears, trolls, hags, and the undead. At one part, Deadan and I travel through an arrangement of petrified corpses.

Marble Mountain: While we were unable to scale the mountain, cracks and caves reveal large amounts of marble within it. We found large discarded tools that would be unwieldy for a human, but a good size for an Ogre. A large gleaming waterfall here leads to the beginning of Panner’s Creek.

Pipe Puff Peak: As we approached this mountain, we could see that smoke intermittently escaped from the summit. Large streaks of the mountain are covered in a black rock. We could feel the heat beneath our feet as we neared the mountain. Deadan swore he could see large flying creatures emerging from the peak in the smoke.

Pitchpit Goll: We found a flat land barren of most greenery. The soil was a dark brown with large black stones. In some areas, the loose soil hides pits of black tar. The deeper we travelled into the area, we found the effects of our magic wound began to wane, until the magic did not seem to work at all.. A large black stone temple sits in the middle of a lake of pitch, but we were unable to find a safe way to enter it.

Salty Springs: The air here smells like the ocean and is very warm. The terrain is rocky with low shrubbery. Spread throughout this area are sporadic salt water geysers and collected in stony grottos. All manner of beast ventures here, and Deadan spotted a lurking Hydra ambush Hippogriffs landing for a salt lick.

Shrubheart: This scrublands is marked with white sand and heavy foliage. Deadan learned the hard way that the loose sand can give way to sinkholes, but luckily I got to him in time. Most of the animals here are smaller, but marauding Kobolds and Goblins stake claims here. We also stumbled into a partially collapsed Chimera den, but escaped before it could return.

Sunless Forest: As Deadan and I entered this forest, we found that in many places the canopy is so tight that light cannot reach the forest floor. We found ourselves often lost and stumbling onto our own tracks without memory of the nearby terrain. Many of the flora here seem to move on their own, without wind. In some areas, a series of webs form a maze that ensnared the local fauna. In the heart of this land, we found a grotto, but could not find a way to return to it after we left. When we rested, the camp always seemed off, as if the shrubs had distant themselves or the branches of the tree lowered. Occasionally the wind would sound like the blows of a pipe flute.

Anvil Lake: Located to the west of Hammerhill, this lake drains south. Riverboats use this path to quickly transport away from Hammerhill. Northward, the lake is filled by Brewer's Bend, which causes a rich brown sediment to settle in the lake. This sediment gives rise to aquatic farming for Volon Leeks and other edge water plants.

Panner’s Creek: According to sources at the Academy of Sandala that are said to have been to recovered from a sunken giant's ship, prior to the exodus of dragons from this land a group of giants attempted to gain a foothold in the area by ousting a young red dragon that held Marble Mountain. During the battle, the dragon's horde of treasures was blasted out and scattered to the river. Slags of melted gold have been seen gleaming at the rivers bottom by explorers in the area. Riverboater occasionally try to pan or dive for gold in the creek, but this endeavor now cost more then it used to return. This river flows into Brewer's Bend.

Brewer’s Bend: The water of his river has a brownish hue, similar to a bitter ale. Red topsoil from its source at Clay Crag mixes with other eroding soil to give this river a lot of sediment. Local brewers have tried using this water with their stouts to create a unique flavor, but most consumers do not enjoy the murky taste.