Byroden

Byroden is a town on the northwestern edge of the Mornset Countryside, bordering the Gladepools to the north. It marks the first stop for any traveler endeavoring to traverse the Rifenmist, which gave Byroden its name for its convenient location, for being "by the road".

Byroden is where Vax'ildan and Vex'ahlia grew up with their mother, Elaina, and it is also the hometown of Opal.

## City Description

Byroden is a mostly self-sufficient town: it has abundant farming, artisans, miners, and fishers of the Gladepools, giving the residents everything they need to survive. Byroden exchanges their surplus of goods for luxuries, trading with other Mornset Countryside communities or with the trappers and artisans of the Verdant Expanse.

In 795 PD, the ancient red dragon Thordak attacked Byroden, which led to a society-wide vigilance against threats. Most citizens became armed at all times and ready to immediately respond to the designated War Ringer's call and prepared to form a communal militia. Their paranoia continued to be fueled in part by rumors of the Iron Authority's expansionary drive northward into the Rifenmist Peninsula.

Probably in response to these threats, by 842 PD the road from Emon ended at a massive 30-foot fortified tower, with soldiers in heavy plate guarding the walled-off city. In the center of town was a beautiful fountain and a statue of two of the most notable former residents of the city, Vex'ahlia and Vax'ildan.

## Society

By 842 PD, Byroden came to pride itself on three things, locally termed "the three Ms": militia, mining, and merriment. Pie, both sweet and savory, is considered a major food staple. It's a Western Cowboy town.

According to Opal, who grew up in Byroden, skill with a rope was important there, and all girls got rope training.

It holds frequent festivals, feasts, and fairs throughout the year, including the Forever Byroden pageant, a competition for the title of Gem of Byroden, and midsummer Peachiest Pie bake-off. Forever Byroden is an annual festival, first held in 820 PD. It consists of an interview, a talent show, and an evening wear exhibition. Persons who won in previous years may re-enter in later years to potentially win the title multiple times. Though the competition is primarily held for residents, those from out of town may also enter; entry is open to all genders. Other festivities during this pageant include a presentation of pies during the day, which are also judged in a competition, and a presentation of barbecue and smoked foods at night.

### **Demographics**

In 812 PD, Byroden was a small town with a population of 850. At that time its citizens were a varied mix of humans (46%), half-elves (21%), halflings (15%), gnomes (10%), and other races (8%).

By 836 PD, Byroden's population had grown tenfold to 8,050, likely due to the mining rush in Hillmaw Chasm. The majority remains human (45%) and half-elf (21%). The town now has a significant goblinkin population due to refugees from the Iron Authority (12%). The rest are halflings (8%), gnomes (8%), and other races (6%).

It's a western cowboy town in our game.

## Summary of Events

Two TACOSE scouts (Krego and Wisp) had disappeared in Byroden, and even more agents are quitting TACOSE left and right. Smashmouth heads into town disguised as college student archaeologists and psychics on a gap year, with Champ as their TA. After defeating a monster on the edge of town, the group joins a party in the square celebrating Vex and Vax generally. Bea buys a Vex and Vax doll, and makes the Vax doll dance. Everyone loves this. Yorrick introduces them to his construct Warbringer and gives them an overview of town.

No one has seen Krego or Wisp, and they head over to the inn and meet the owner, Eponine. She warns them to stay away from the southern swamps, the graveyard, and the archaeological dig site. Krego had been a regular but had not been by in a month. Smashmouth investigates the cemetery after nightfall and discover that the graves are empty and the dirt is disturbed. That night at the inn, Smashmouth share a dream of a black door and tunnels they've never seen. A voice chants:

> *Be wary those who enter here,/* *For things are not as they appear./* *Enter by night but don’t delay,/* *For you will remain in the day./* *Five paths,/* *Five keys,*/*Five dreamers it needs,/* *For that is how the Old One feeds.*
>
>

The next day, they go to the dig site and join as assistants to Sylvie, the elf woman in charge of the exploration. Henry says the party isn't authorized to continue digging through the divination magic field until reinforcements arrive. That night, Smashmouth sneaks in through the back of the site into the doors and tunnels. The group finds an unconscious man named Upa and together they continue on. They defeat a hag and navigate the tunnels until they find Krego and Wisp deep in the maze; they went in there to rescue each other. Back at the dig site, everyone is acting suspicious and the doors magically disappeared. Smashmouth runs to tell Yorrick but find him unconscious on the floor of Upa's home. He says someone (it was Henry) hit him on the back of the head and left him for dead. Krego and Wisp stay in town to look for Upa, but Upa is back at the doorway looking for "his" "lost" "ring". But turns out he was telling the truth because he used the ring to propose to Yorrick. But now Sylvie and Henry are missing.

Wisp calls TACOSE headquarters but it doesn't go through. The party travels to the swamps down south to look for the missing archaeologists where Bea does a sick handstand and walks into the water to talk to fish. A hag attacks them and they kill it, the hag turns out to be Sylvie, yikes. Bea remembers she can cast Sending and reaches Henry who is revealed as the BBEG. We finally contact Journey who says TACOSE headquarters was compromised and she's on the run. I think Henry gets away, I don't know.

## Notable People

### Krego

Krego is a TACOSE scout Goblin man who was missing in Byroden, found in the mines.

### Wisp

Wisp is a TACOSE scout Genasi woman who was missing in Byroden, found in the mines.

### War Ringer

Steel construct belonging to Yorrick who protects the town.

### Yorrick Rustbeard

Democratically elected leader of the town. Artificer, militia captain, and mayor, ready to neutralize any threat at any time. Engaged to Upa thanks to Smashmouth.

### Eponine Lavalian

Elf woman who owns and runs the local inn.

### Sylvie (Deceased)

Elf woman in charge of the dig site. Turned into a hag in the southern swamps.

### Henry

Archaeology staff, ends up being evil. Gets away?

### Upa

Townsfolk person rescued from the mines along with Wisp and Krego. Engaged to Yorrick thanks to Smashmouth, proposes with ring from the mine.