C is for Craydon

Craydon is the largest southern town of Meterra, on the southwestern shore of the Tranulk Lake. It is an old settlement, dating hundreds of years before the Arrival; the current population of about 3,000 people is mostly Ramai, with about 5% of the population now made up of European arrivals. The two groups have slowly integrated over the past five years, but tensions still arise between them.

Aside from the fishing from the lake, Craydon is surrounded by several sheep farms, and wool from Craydon is very popular in the capital city. Across the lake and just visible on clear days is Baldon Castle atop a promontory overlooking the central bay. The castle is home to Lord Williem de Froissau and houses a small troop of fifty men-at-arms, mostly Europeans. Lord Williem is a bit of a dandy, and is quite taken with his own appearance, but his skill in battle is well-known, and he is quick to demand satisfaction at any insult.

Some of Craydon's notable buildings and residents include the following:

Correntus Augriban's House: Correntus is the mayor of Craydon, having served for eight years (and thus longer than the Europeans have been in Meterra). He is rail-thin despite his appetites, and dresses in a style that mixes the new European tastes and the traditional garb of the Ramai. He is a jovial fellow, always eager to meet newcomers to Craydon and assess their ability to contribute to the town's economic growth. In other words, he wants to know how much money they will spend in town; for this reason, adventurers are particularly welcome; they tend to spend a lot of money and leave shortly afterward, the ideal arrangement in his mind. He has welcomed the Europeans, especially the soldiers, who protect the tradesmen and merchants coming to the town, although he is keenly aware of the cultural clash between them. He has embraced the Christian faith, as have many of the townsfolk, and is a regular at Sunday masses.

Filvendor's Trinkets: Filvendor is an elf from the Dragihl Forest who was bored and decided to learn about human cultures after the Arrival. A white-haired, wizened elf, he is old enough to remember the time when the Ramai first settled in the region, and has decided to compare and contrast the newcomers to what has come before. He sells elven trinkets (junk) for exorbitant prices, but is an excellent source of information and lore on rare and unique items. He is skilled in the arts of magic (in D&D terms, he is a 4th-level fighter/8th level magic-user), and can identify magical items (4 in 6 chance) brought to him. Needless to say, he charges even more for this service than he does for his trinkets.

The Golden Swan: This is the only inn in Craydon, and does a brisk trade with people traveling to and from the village Penrith and into the hills to trade with the native tribes and races. It is a quieter, more sedate place, and the proprietor, Grimald Devere has hired four men-at-arms to keep the peace. His wife Eulalie is the inn's cook, and she is famed throughout town for her baking expertise. Traveling minstrels are often found here, sharing their tales of other lands and peoples.

The Iron Hog: A blacksmith and armorer's shop run by a dwarf, Hogred Hillfoot. Hogred is a failed smith by dwarven standards, but the humans, who don't know much better, prize his work and pay his inflated prices. His armor is no better than human-made armor, although he does put dwarven designs on the armor to make it more 'authentic.' He is popular in town, despite his greed, and is a favorite among the town's children for his feats of strength.

The Laughing Goblin: The most popular tavern in Craydon, this is a raucous place filled with adventurers, townsmen, and the occasional noble (in disguise, naturally). Music is as plentiful as the ale, and it is far enough from the settled part of town so as not to disturb the townsmen at all hours of the night. The proprietor is Galvin Rutterdorf, a former adventurer who lost a leg to a hydra and retired to Craydon after buying the Goblin.

St. Michael's Church: This church will be the largest building in town. At the moment, it is undergoing construction, the largest civic project in the city. In the meantime, however, masses are celebrated in a smaller chapel that was built in the first year after the Arrival. So far, St. Michael’s has only had its foundation laid. The pastor is Vicar Turald Damours, a young and vibrant priest who preaches passionately at every sermon. He has embraced the new-found power of his prayers, and can often be found helping out the sick and infirm, seeing this as a sacred duty. He is assisted by Father Adrian Champnon and the acolyte Richard Burguet.