Factions¶
The Ten Towns¶
The settlements clustered around the lakes south of the Spine of the World are collectively known as the Ten Towns. Each is small, hardy, and largely self-governing — most send representatives to a regional council that has historically handled inter-town disputes and trade matters.
The towns explicitly featured in the Survival Guide to the North:
- Easthaven — a fishing village on the route into Kuldahar Pass.
- Lonelywood — the youngest and northernmost of the Ten Towns.
Other Ten Towns mentioned in passing include Termalaine (the southern edge of the region's developed area). The towns are linked by trade costers — trade families that contract caravan-builders such as Baldemar Thurlow of Lonelywood.
Trade costers¶
Wealthy trade families of the Ten Towns and the south. They contract with cartwrights and merchants throughout the region; their caravans are the lifeblood of trade between the Ten Towns and the cities of the south.
Religious orders¶
The Survival Guide documents three temples and shrines in the region — each devoted to a different deity:
Temple of Tempus (Easthaven)¶
The Foehammer is the lord of battle. Tempus's clergy can be found on both sides of any conflict, as none can truly know which side the war god will favour. The Temple of Tempus stands in the northwestern section of Easthaven; Everard is its battle-priest.
Temple of Ilmater (Kuldahar)¶
The Crying God, deity of endurance, suffering, and perseverance. The Ilmatari temple stands in Kuldahar Valley, near the great oak. A small ranger of barbarian origin, Hjollder, has been lodging in a long-abandoned shack near the temple.
Shrine of Waukeen (Lonelywood)¶
A small house of worship dedicated to the goddess of trade, money, and wealth. It is quite a change from a standard Waukeenar temple (those usually resemble castles bedecked with jewels). Founded by a halfling priest, a missionary from Amn who has taken up residence in Lonelywood.
Source: iwdee/original_manuals/IWDEE - Survival Guide to the North.pdf — passim, especially "Easthaven", "Kuldahar Valley", "Lonelywood".