Red Deer

The town, the tyth, the tegend. The place where all our heroes came together then desperately wished they could leave. A small town located in what used to be Central Alberta, Red Deer's economy is centered around two things: adventurers, and the trade between Rogerton to the north, and Mohkinstsis to the south. It was the site of the May Day festival our heroes first came together at, as well as the ensuing mysterious illness. For a time Red Deer was home to a cult that worshipped the devil Mephistopheles, but it has since been dismantled. When our heroes left, Red Deer was in the middle of a great deal of turmoil — how it has handled the traumatic events of the spring is as yet unknown.

## Demographics

Like many smaller urban centres across Ki, Red Deer is a predominantly human settlement. Also like many urban centres across Ki, Red Deer has a local werewolf pack which contributes to the town's security. However, there are some other residents of other species, including vampires, half-orcs, and goblins.

## Politics

In theory, Red Deer is governed by Roger's Guard, the organization of adventurers based in Rogerton to the north. However, Red Deer is on the southernmost borders of the Guard's jurisdiction, and has less direct oversight from the organization than other areas. Elfrieda Chad, the Roger's Regent for Red Deer, serves as the town's senior Roger's Guard representative, but she is outranked by others in the organization when they come to town.

## Religion

As with the vast majority of urban centres across the continent, the only officially sanctioned religion in Red Deer is the worship of the Blessed Nine. However, this rule is not as strictly enforced in Red Deer as it is in other locales. The only place of worship in town is the Temple of Honour, dedicated to Barica and led by Kiran Ross. As a general rule, Kiran has a history of turning a blind eye to a lack of faith as well as worship of forbidden gods, provided heresy is not flaunted openly. Whether their policy has changed in the wake of any disciplinary actions associated with the visitation from Aleida de Gris and other Mohkinstsis priests is unknown.

## Locations

### The Gentle Thicket

A tavern built in a former church, complete with stained glass windows. Owned and operated by the Bell family. Vampires Belras and Breasal run the tavern, with their werewolf daughter Shelby acting as server and barmaid. Previously, their werewolf son Kyle acted as a bouncer, but following the revelation that he was a member of the Mephistopheles cult, and subsequent jailing and escape, that is likely no longer the case.

### The Hall

Headquarters of the Roger's Guard in Red Deer. A long, low brick building, with a spacious interior and green accents.

### Jail

A wooden building with only a few cells; burned down in early June by angry townsfolk.

### Market

The center of much activity in the town, with an outdoor market running through the warmer months.

### No Guts, All Glory

The butcher shop, formerly run by Wei MacDonald, a werewolf. Following Wei's death when our heroes explored the dungeon of the Mephistopheles cult, it's unknown who now runs this shop, if anyone.

### The Outpost

The general store, formerly run by Ade Fowler. Following the revelation that Ade was a member of the Mephistopheles cult, it is unknown who now runs this shop, if anyone.

### The Phoenix Forge

The local blacksmith, run by wives Brenras and Reva Johnson. Primarily focused on simple weapons, horseshoes, etc., though Brenras is often willing to try her hand at new tasks, as evidenced by her forging of decorative coins for Vyre.

### Pickphrey Manor

The local haunted house, across the river from the populated side of town.

### The Red Bed

The local brothel, owned by vampire Francisca Crawford. Features workers of a variety of species and backgrounds, and is known for both its excellent dill wings and its willingness to trade information as freely as flesh, so long as you can pay.

### The Stables

Run by Chandra Jackson, who prefers horses to the vast majority of people, and who lives in perpetual exasperation at the antics of adventurers.

### The Temple of Honour

Dedicated to Barica, and led by Kiran Ross, the temple is the only religious establishment in town. This is where Rorrik received his training as a cleric of Barica, and where he had been living in Red Deer prior to leaving with his newfound allies to search out the Ethereal Plane.

### The Troubled Monk

Another tavern, and the one most often frequented by our heroes in their time in Red Deer. Owned by the reclusive brewer Ermdan Bergeron, but most customers tend to deal with the barmaid, Erin Mendoza. Has three beers available — all brewed by Ermdan himself.

### La Voile Sauvage

The apothecary and curios shop of Beatriz Derkson, who most Red Deer residents would describe as the town witch. Offers potions, magical items, ingredients for salves and tonics, and fortune telling.

## Notable Residents

### Belras Ball

A middle-aged woman who, after getting herself deliberately turned into a vampire to be with her husband, will keep looking middle-aged for a very long time. Co-owner of the Gentle Thicket.

### Breasal Ball

A quiet, wry, careworn man who was turned into a vampire about ten years ago after making the mistake of offending a vampire who had been passing through town. Co-owner of the Gentle Thicket, and one of the only people in Red Deer who thinks Gulo is rude following some unfortunate caffeine- and fatigue-induced miscommunication.

### Kyle Ball (former)

The angstier of the two Ball children, Kyle joined the werewolf pack so he would be better able to assist his parents, and was extremely close with Lionel Gough, the leader of the Mephistopheles cult. Following the events in the Mephistopheles dungeon, Kyle was revealed as a member of the cult and taken into custody. When townsfolk set fire to the jail, he escaped in the ensuing chaos.

### Shelby Ball

The bubblier of the two Ball children, Shelby got herself turned to a werewolf in her mid-teens to join the rest of her family. She took the hostility directed to her family following her brother's misdeeds quite hard.

### Ermdan Bergeron

The reclusive owner and brewer at the Troubled Monk.

### Elfrieda Chad

The Roger's Regent in Red Deer, a werewolf who appears to be middle-aged and perpetually has a headache. Went through quite a lot with our characters, from her initial suspicion of Vyre and Gulo to her asking the group for help with the mysterious illness caused by the vines, to seeming to side with them following their mysterious resurrection and the overt hostility of her superior, Falk Mistsplitter. Helped clear our heroes' names and evacuate them from Red Deer following the fire at the jail.

### Francisca Crawford

The mysterious Madam of the Red Bed brothel, a vampire who can get you all kinds of information, provided you're willing to pay the price. No one knows how old Francisca is, and a lady never tells, but she's been in Red Deer for well over a century by now. Fiercely protective of her employees, but rarely ventures beyond the walls of the brothel herself.

### Beatriz Derkson

The town witch, and owner of La Voile Sauvage apothecary. Friendly enough, but rarely gives away anything unless she's getting something in return.

### Dein Dustwind

Francisca Crawford's second-in-command and pianist. A vampire like Francisca herself, none of our heroes have ever heard Dein speak, but he has a perpetual smirk to him.

### Tolvis Fawndancer

To call Tolvis a resident of Red Deer may be somewhat misleading, as this elven druid makes his home in the surrounding wilds, particularly to the north of town. However, he has been known to occasionally pop within town limits. Our heroes saved Tolvis's life by solving the mystery of the vines and the illness they were spreading, and in thanks he gave them his Cloak of Elvenkind.

### Gin

Can't be a himbo because she's a lady. A herbo? This herbo half-orc has lots of muscles, a terrible understanding of sarcasm, and a huge heart. Girlfriend to Chandra Jackson and infinitely more sociable than her partner, this Roger's Guard member is effectively Elfrieda's second-in-command, and is largely responsible for mail deliveries around town.

### Greexuek

A Roger's Guard member who is technically based in Red Deer but, like most members of the Guard, spends a lot of time elsewhere adventuring. A goblin. Seemed generally amused by our heroes and the trouble they caused.

### Lionel Gough (former)

The leader of the Mephistopheles cult; killed by the Stranger in May 2351.

### Chandrakanta Jackson

Owner of the stables, girlfriend to Gin, friend to Zohal. Chandra prefers horses to people, and prefers most people to adventurers, which might mean she's just about the only person who gets as exasperated by Red Deer as our heroes do.

### Brenras Johnson

Co-owner of the Phoenix Forge, senior blacksmith. Brenras is social enough but prefers sticking to her own business. However, it was she who told Gulo of some people who had passed through town some years ago who bore a resemblance to him, and who advised asking Francisca for more information if he truly wanted to know, though she warned Gulo of the danger in dealing with such a vampire.

### Reva Johnson

Brenras's partner in both business and love, several years younger than her wife. Tends to be less friendly than Brenras, and has interacted with our heroes much less.

### Edric Lewis

An acolyte at the Temple of Honour; in his early 20s, shy, and easily startled.

### Wei MacDonald (former)

Formerly Red Deer's butcher, this werewolf was one of the cultists our heroes battled in the Mephistopheles dungeon — like her leader, she was ultimately destroyed by the Stranger. Was one of the infected during the illness of the vines — our heroes stopped her from taking a butcher's knife to the crowd.

### Erin Mendoza

Barmaid at the Troubled Monk — a friendly, flirty sort who took a particular liking to Gulo, introducing him to the wonderful world of bubble baths.

### Telmo Mendoza

Erin's older brother, somewhat simpler than his sister, but a talented carpenter, responsible for many of the town's buildings and repairs over the last several years.

### Ju Nadeau

Owner of Tough Cookies bakery, and one of the first to contract the mysterious illness of the vines. Saved by the actions of our heroes.

### Makisig Reyes

The leader of the Red Deer wolf pack, though it's unknown whether he held on to that position following the revelation that a cult to Mephistopheles, led by his second-in-command, had been operating under his nose.

### Genberos Rezumenko

The town drunk and a member of the Red Deer wolf pack, Genberos was one of the infected townsfolk who our heroes stopped from committing acts of violence at the May Day festival — he had tried to launch himself at Seán, a travelling vampire bard, before he was subdued. It's well known around town that he carries a torch for Francisca Crawford, though so far as anyone can tell he's never gotten anywhere with her.

### Kiran Ross

A priest of Barica and leader of the Temple of Honour. Former mentor of Rorrik. Kiran is a nonbinary werewolf with a troubled past. They ended up in more than a little trouble when Aleida de Gris and several other priests from Mohkinstsis came to town, with a good share of that trouble coming from the actions of Rorrik himself. Ultimately, Kiran gave Rorrik the benefit of the doubt, but whether or not they'll come to regret that remains to be seen.