Shade Hollow

Shade Hollow is a frontier tin-mining town on a dried riverbed that marks the border between Potenxia (the former Dottenland) and The Burg. It is where The Twilight Anarchy began, and the hometown of Braggum's mother and the human side of his family; he was shanghaied here, through the tunnels under the tavern. The town bills itself as his birthplace (he was in fact born in a mud village north of the river), and its garish shrine and walking tours (Mael and Bael) trade on the legend of The Fatemakers. Governor Thadeus Crane has ruled it since the days of the drow monarchy. Carts carry tin from the Drylands over the Ironvein and Misthold bridges.

In late 1040 PC the foreman Borak disappeared after tunnelling straight down to a geode whose socket had held The Source; the townsfolk were drawn into shared dreams, and Lord Cedric's mercenaries took over the mine. In June 2024 (real time) an ancient pyramid, The Pyramid of Shade Hollow, appeared and now dominates the town's north end. In February 2025 Cedric's allies mass-dominated the townsfolk to force his release, and the party killed him at The Rusted Anchor.

Notable residents: Cato and Catos Apothecary, Archivist Seraphina Quill of The Archive of Echoes, Alaric Sunstrike, Evelina Crane, Lady Eudora, Bill One Eyed Murgatroyd, Tulla, Godrick, Harlow of Beast's Bounty, Sergeant Thorne, and the staff of Shadehollow Preparatory College.

Scabard notes

A harsh frontier town led by a local governor who was loyal to the royal family of the Dottenland before they were overthrown. No one has come to change that in the years since.

Districts:

1. Merchant's Quarter: This is where most of the trade and commerce takes place. It's busy, crowded, and filled with the scent of exotic spices, food, and other goods.

   1. The Rusted Anchor Tavern: A popular watering hole for the city's residents. It's owned by a grizzled ex-pirate named Bill "One-Eyed" Murgatroyd who has a knack for telling the most outrageous and hilarious tales.
   2. Crusty's Bakery: Crusty is an old halfling who is famous for his delicious and inventive pastries that are a highlight of the Merchant's Quarter. However, his bakery is also known for its absurdly random opening hours.
   3. Tulla's Threads: A popular clothing store in the Merchant's Quarter run by Tulla the tiefling. Here, residents can buy anything from practical work clothes to slightly outdated but still flamboyant outfits for special occasions.

2. The Dregs: The slums of Shade Hollow where the poor, downtrodden, and criminals reside. It's a dangerous place, especially after sundown.

   1. The Archive of Echoes: This temple is dedicated to the "Eternal Scribe," the deity of knowledge, writing, and glyphs. The Archive is a vital source of information for the city, functioning as a library and a centre of learning. It has seen better days, and while it has many books, the shelves are dusty, mildew abounds
   2. **Cato'**s Apothecary: A small shop filled with herbs, potions, and other remedies run by Cato. It is across the road from the archive. It's a place where people can find medicinal assistance, but it's also becoming a secret gathering spot for those who question the Governor's activities.
   3. Birthplace of Bragg'um (fate maker) Next door to the archive, there is a small shrine set up, it is garish and 2 gnomes called Kael and Bael are often found here. They speak in rhythmic unison, attempt to sell passers-by on a tour of the sites where Brag spent his youth. They know their way around the town quite well.

3. The Heights: This district is where the Governor and other well-off individuals live. It's considerably cleaner, quieter, and more secure than the other districts.

   1. In the eastern and northern area north of the merchants quarters close to the coast,

4. The Drylands: This is the industrial area where the valuable resource is being mined and processed.

   1. The Drylands Pit: The main mine where the valuable resource is extracted. It's a place of hard labor and is run with an iron fist by the foreman, a brutish half-orc named Gorrak.
   2. Shade Hollow Prepatory. A school established by the governor when his daughter came to the age of needing schooling, he withdrew the town funding when she graduated. Headmaster Arvid Holloway has strong feelings about this if asked. Luckily for the time being, Dowager Lady Eudora Lockhaven has been contributing to the costs of the school.
   3. Lockhaven Manor: North of the pit very close to the demilitarised zone that is now abandoned, upon a promontory allowing a picturesque view to both the north and east into the city, This grand and slightly peculiar estate is located just outside the city limits, closer to The Burg side. Over the years, the manor has been transformed into a sprawling museum of the strange and the fascinating, a mirror of Lady Eudora's eccentric character. The estate's numerous rooms are filled with everything from taxidermy monsters to magical artifacts, rare books, peculiar art, and more. Its vast gardens host exotic plants and a variety of uncommon creatures, each a testament to Lady Eudora's far-reaching interests.
   4. The Beast's Bounty: This isn't just any hunting store - it's a haven for those who seek to challenge the monstrous inhabitants of the wilderness. Run by Harlow "The Beastmaster", a retired monster hunter, the store provides specialized equipment for hunting and trapping various beasts and monstrosities. The walls are adorned with trophies from Harlow's past hunts, including the head of a Frost Wyvern, the claw of a Hill Giant, and the fangs of a Dire Wolf.

The Blackthorn farm outside town grows cabbages, cherries and walnuts; Thoren Blackthorn's family has farmed it for generations, and his zombie brother Eamon Blackthorn works its fields. An old tomb on the farm, exposed by erosion, held the necromantic tome that started Thoren on his path.

The plague. The Plague struck before 1040 PC. Reid Ransom ended it with power from Zeph, and Shade Hollow still remembers him for it.

The raid. During the Twilight Anarchy, The Eightfold and a blue dragon raided Shade Hollow. Alaric Sunstrike was among those killed.