A sheep farm located in the Hidden Valley. Lately encased by fog, it was recently freed from a malaise by the actions of the adventurers, who destroyed a vampiric tree and some evil plants.
Proprietors: Milo and Elena
Lord Regent Heinrich is the de facto ruler of Poordirt, and makes decisions for the barony. He is married to Elsha Hasencleaver neé Kroll, the niece of Count Kroll, the deposed overlord of Poordirt.
He is very distressed that Poordirt is now ruled by elves. The alien creatures have disturbed his plans to grow the barony and to play politics in Efros. Faced with a creature who was present at the creation of his Barony, 300 years ago, Heinrich is very, very nervous.
His uncle has counseled patience, but Heinrich is not known for being a patient man.
He is tall and well built, with black hair, dark brown eyes, and weathered skin. He loves to hunt, and has some martial skill.
Lord Ralf Hasencleaver is the 14th Baron of Poordirt. His family took over the barony 150 years ago, and has maintained it since.
Baron Poordirt is old, and has no children of his own. He adopted two sons, but they both died in their prime: One to an accident, one to illness. His nephew, Heinrich Hasencleaver, is heir apparent and rules the barony as regent. The Baron is rarely seen in public, but is planning on attending the spectacle that Countess Beevale is intending to throw, health permitting.
Over the objections of his nephew and Regent, Baron Poordirt is willing to swear fealty to the Countess Beevale, but unfortunately cannot travel to her hall in order to do it. He hopes she will come here, to receive his oath.
Lady Sari, Countess Beevale is now the overlord of the the Barony of Poordirt. See the history of Poordirt for how this came about.
Lady Sari, as she likes to be called, is an elder elven noblewoman. She has been around for a very long time. She signed the original lease that allowed Poordirt to become a human barony, and she has decided not to renew the lease, making it now part of the elvish domains. She is curious to see how she would do as a ruler of ‘shorter lived’ races, and is fascinated by being a ‘Countess’, as elves do not have the concept.
She is an accomplished weaver, and delights in wearing clothes of unique fabrics, often using magic in her crafts to make her appearance more ethereal. She also delights in spectacle, and is currently planning her first visit to Poordirt. She has a hall in the Deepening Woods (out beyond Hidden Valley).
Lady Sari is a well known celebrity among the Elves, famous for her art, gowns, robes, crowns, jewelry, poetry, songs, boots. Her tapestries and fashions are desired by everyone interested in fashion, her performances are sought after by appreciators of art. She is known by many names, of which Lady Sari is simply the latest. In the past she has been the Thilivern Roval (white-winged).
She is assisted by Iolas Yinmys, her right hand and majordomo. Iolas sends out the countess’ retainers on various missions.
Three hundred years ago – A conglomeration of humans, halflings, and dwarves petitioned the Elves of Beevale, especially Countess Sariandi Ulaquinov to establish a barony in the area of what is now Poordirt.
The area was not good for farming, but the humans were interested in ranching and orchards, the dwarves in mining the foothills, and the halflings in the commerce that could come with the confluence of three rivers, which would be where the group would establish their settlement.
The elves signed a 300 year lease with the group, letting them develop the area on the condition that a portion of the forest would remain available to the elves, but otherwise agreeing to the terms. After 300 years, the barony would revert back to the rule of the elves. And the name had to be unattractive to humans, so there would not be a rush on the land. The name Poordirt was chosen.
The first baron built his fortress on a hill overlooking the Three Rivers Ford, and from there the humans, dwarves and halflings spread out. The Elvish reserve was protected, but used for hunting on occasion. The elves kept to themselves, but watched the growing town with interest.
The town grew over the next 200 years at a moderate pace. Ranches and orchards were established, dwarven mines were initiated, and warehouses were built for the halflings to direct trade. Wool, fruit, and metals were sent downriver; finished goods, sugar, salt, and weapons were returned from elsewhere in the Efrian kingdom.
For most of these 200 years, the barony was relatively quiet. There would be the occasional humanoid raid from goblins or orcs, but the elvish forest kept the majority of the issues at bay. The kingdom of Efros fought wars with other human kingdoms to the East and South, secure that it’s northern and western flanks were protected by the barony.
100 years ago, the town had grown to moderate size, when four heroes came and saved the town from the ravages of an undead horde. The town commemorates them as the Four, and there is a great statue in the square to remember their efforts and goodness. The Temple of All Gods, also known as the Cerulean Sanctuary was raised by Friar Tuck, one of the heroes. The Mage’s Guild was started by Althos Nicros, and another of the four. Champion Gilbert the Honorable began training the Baron’s guard, and his techniques are still taught today. Pepin Bolger, the halfling of the heroes, started The Grange, a combination marketplace and event hall.
The lease expired 6 months ago, and to the amazement of the town fathers, dwarven mineholders, and halfling traders, the Countess was still alive, and asked the current overlord and his troops to leave, rather than renew the lease. She has not asked the current baron to step down, as he has been willing to swear fealty to the Countess. She has not interfered with the governance of the barony at large, nor the industry and enterprise of the inhabitants, but with bemused interest is allowing her treasury to increase and is taking stock and inventory of her new domain.
The Efrian kingdom, and the former Count Nico Kroll, have contested the reversion of the barony of Poordirt to Elvish rule, but are trying to have a diplomatic solution rather than a war. None the less, the armies loyal to Count Nico have gone just over the border into the neighboring county of Susava, and are camped at the border.
The Grange is a lot of things: On Firstday, it is where the Baron Regent holds court, so the commoners and guildpersons can air their grievences. It is a giant indoor market from Seconday to Sixthday, and again on Eighthday and Ninthday. On Tenthday, it is a reception hall for marriages, funerals, and various parties given by the ranches or the guilds, and occasionally it used as an arena for rodeos or gladitorial games. On Seventh Day it is closed for work on the grange building itself.
The Grange building is a giant wooden structure that doubles as arena. It has removable bleachers and stalls, and can be subdivided into a great convention area, or opened into a huge arena.
The Grange is run by its membership. It has four officers who are elected by the membership (meaning the people of Poordirt): The Master, The Overseer, the Lecturer, and the Steward. The residents are not required to be members of the Grange, but there are benefits: discounts on rentals, life insurance, valuable storage, etc.
Merchants can rent a stall in the grange building for 1 sp/day for a standard stall. Storage can be purchased for 1 sp/week (10 days).
The Mage’s guild is housed in Kaeden’s Tower. It 
is currently run by three people:
The Mage’s guild runs a shop, the Amusing Chimera. It is the only place to buy or sell potions in Poordirt, by law. Any other sales are illegal and subject to the Baron’s Guard.
This is a very large temple complex made entirely out of blue marble, is run by the so called Priesthood of all Gods. Each of the priests there actually focuses on a single god from the Greyhawk Pantheon, but they are all capable of running services for any of them. The main sanctuary is dedicated to all the gods of neutrality and nature, the right is dedicated to the gods of good, the left to the gods of evil. The gods of neutrality and good are given offerings for their favor, while the gods of evil are given offerings to keep their hostility at bay.
(Level)2∗10
+(ConsumedMaterials∗2)
+(NonConsumedMaterials∗0.1)
Examples:
actual cost may vary based on
a) whether the caster likes the requestor,
b) what else is going on,
c) how many other spells cast that day.)
However, there is a god in each sanctuary that has pride of place. Currently, the statue of Tharizdun, god of Eternal Darkness in the evil sanctuary Beory, Goddess of Nature for Neutrality, and Pholtus, God of Light and Law in the good side. The other gods have statues in small nooks around the sanctuary, and are changed out every so often.
Services are held once a week in each of the sanctuaries. The Good sanctuary is in the morning, the neutral after noon, and the Evil gods hold services at night. The favor of the gods is necessary for Poordirt, as peace and prosperity have ever ruled here.
If a god has a Feast day, that god is given a special place in the sanctuary for it’s feast day. Sometimes there is a parade, if there are many adherents to the god.
Residents of Poordirt who pay their pledges are able to access services from the temple: blessings, healings, even raising the dead if one is a faithful attendee. Many people in dangerous occupations pay into a fund, so as to have a raise dead ready. A person can pledge payments towards a Raise Dead Policy, paying a negotiated amount per week, with the balance due if the raise dead ever needs to be used. Other services are negotiated, but usually available for an adequate donation.
Outside the sanctuary proper, on the grounds of the Sanctuary, there is a shrine to the Dwarven Pantheon, and a shrine to the Halfling Pantheon.
The temple staff is quite large, and very knowledgeable.
