This is the world Guide to the Beaten Path. It contains the people, places and things the players many encounter.
A small farming town famous for it's namesake crop for-- you guessed it-- Eggplants. Originally intended to be a mill and textile town, it was named when, seemingly overnight, several eggplants sprouted up after the town was founded. Mick Eggsplanter had, just the day before, allowed free-range chickens to drop eggs all over everyone's field (a crime punishable by essay in that time) but became a hero once enough people were convinced he had something to do with it all. In reality, that night two eggplant thieves from the Castle Town had run in and burst rotting eggplant seeds all over. Keeping with tradition, every year the Egg Festival is held at the end of summer, not because it's when any of this happened, but because the townsfolk think it's a good time to celebrate.
This town isn't host to many people or animals, but has a surprisingly large number of shops. This goes back to the day when the town was intended to be the textile (and fashion) capital of the kingdom.
Located not even a mile from the church (or the old mill), the town hall stands proud still, as the Seventeenth mayor goes to his office every day to fall asleep in his chair.
This is because few people are still in the town. One farming family (after winning the town Eggsdropday lottery) bought all of the farmland. Being now the only family who isn't running a business (shopkeepers are not eligible to win mayoral elections) Joseph Kline became mayor.
After accidentally becoming mayor just last Eggsdropday at age 30, he left his wife Grezelda (29), his two daughters Inge (19), Patty (17) and his young son Jeff (14) to run the farm. Under the town laws he was required to leave it to his young son (being the only male), however the young son knows nothing about farming and dreams of moving to Yecastle Town (the capital city) to become a fashion designer.
Grezelda Kline always kept a clean house. She herself was also a clean person. No dirty table, chairs carpets or thoughts are allowed in this house. She believes that Mister Switch speaks the language of children (and husbands). She's been known to ask her husband to to do many things since he became mayor (such as demand prices be lowered) but he refuses time and time again. It's suspected he only married her because the other choice was Eliza Creépé.
Formerly the richest family in town, the Creépé have a legacy shrouded in red sanguine mystery. The only remaining member, Eliza Creépé (age unknown), is the only one who truly knows the secrets. It's said she wanders the house talking to her dead relatives as though they were alive with her. She hasn't left the house in years.
Which is fortunate, as the bridge over the Acissej river crumbled years ago, blocking access to her house.
Just over half a mile from the Old Church (a lot of things in this town are old), the old mill stands testament to what the town would have been, had it not been for a careless eggplant thief. No one has used the mill since that day, at least not for it's intended purpose. There's something strange, mysterious and just plain creepy about it.
Oddly like a strip mall, build in front of the Old Well, the town's four shops are here, along with the residences of the shopkeepers.
Ever since she was a child, Madge Pumpernickle (49) was interested in magic. After asking every single random traveler in a cloak about it, eventually she opened her own small shop of magical (and not-really magical) items. It's amazing how much money you can make in a little town when somany adventures coem through it1
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Addack (Princeton; 43) and Deff (James; 31) have always been a little different. Deff is a little avant-garde while Addack is more down-to-earth. This unlikely duo went into a partnership and started the town's first Weapon and Armor shop. It's questionable why they went into business together (although some people contest that there is no question about it), they have the only shop in town where you can buy armor and weapons.
Alvin General (age 28) never was in the military. No one in is family was ever in the military. He has no idea
why his last name is "general" and would like to punctuate his statement with Dude
. The General's Shop is, rather expectantly, a general store. Alvin here sells everything and anything he can get his hands on. If you dropped it anywhere in town, sure enough it's here.
Formerly a bakery run by Marvin Creépé (deceased.) It went out of business when Eliza failed to marry, as under town stature two and a quarter only men could run a business. Women could work at them, but not own them. (The "Work at" clause was added later so they may demand pay for services.)
As far as anyone can remember, this well was never used for water, nor ever even contained water. It's purpose is unknown. It's condition is old.
Upon the fifth Queen's death, it became illegal to say her name (her husband, the King, was not very fond of her). The forest she Annexed (from the local forest creatures) having already been named after her, a new name was to be found. After the King declared that an adjective and a possessive noun be drawn from a hat (and then added before the word "forest") his two children (Prince Monty and Princess Enbalma) each drew one. As though the late Queen herself were sending a message, the words drawn were "Fifth" and "Queen's" and the name stuck.
For many years this forest was inhabited by magical creatures (many of whom died at the hand of the Queen number five) and the forest itself became enchanted. It's said that the creatures are still magic and they protect a mine of rare Gems not seen or named by any human yet.
What a sap! These monsters are what happens when tree sap mixes with magic and it devlops a life of it's own.
| DEF: | HEL: | CAT: |
| 90 | 200 | 100 |
No matter what you are, you're an animal to this former tree. Now it's just a stump with a mission. That mission (and, trust me, it chose to accept) is to eradicate any intruders (namely: you)!
| DEF: | HEL: | CAT: | Weak: |
| 90 | 150 | 150 | Fire |
It's unknown what connection any king has to this cave. It's suspected that map makers just picked a name and it stuck. It's said that once you enter the cave, you can never come out. No one has ever dared try to enter, so this is likely just a myth.
Young men have a way of disappearing in the woods. Sooner or later they turn up here, but never seem to remember how or why. The only thing they know, is that they have a new identity and don't want to leave.