<hr/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;"><em>Lakeshire</em></span></span></div><hr/><br/>The town of Lakeshire is a reasonably populated city, though the plague that swept the town has halved that population. The town is governed by a single Lord, which is determined by birthright. The town does not fall under any national jurisdiction.<br/><br/><strong>Defenses</strong>:<br/>The town has two lines of defense. The first is the guard, currently lead by Captain Drackson. They regulate crime within the city and defend it against attackers from outside of the town. The guard has earned the trust of most townsfolk, and many young men volunteer to join their ranks.<br/><br/>The second is the wizard's council. Five strong wizards have watched over the town for centuries, dealing mostly with events and situations that were beyond the control of the city guards. However, the wizards are growing old and some of them have already passed away. Nazhun, one of the remaining witches, has recruited apprentices to fill their ranks, but considering it takes half a century to educate someone properly in the skills of magic, they are considered of no help for the near future.<br/><br/><strong>Inns</strong>:<br/>While the city used to sport several inns in various qualities, most were forced to close their doors due to recent events, and the lack of travellers this caused. Today, only the Rain's Shelter, run by Samuel Hawkeye and his daughter Alice is still operational.<br/><br/><strong>Recent events</strong>:<br/>Nobody knows what caused the outbreak, but several months ago, a plague swept the town. Within two weeks, half the population had perished from the illness, and a decent amount of people also catched the diseases and are still struggling for their lives.<br/><br/>Among the deceased is Lord Beremin Hammond, previous Major to the town. When the plague had touched him, everyone assumed his younger, and equal as popular, brother Thotin would follow his footsteps. Unfortunately, a few days before Beremin passed away, Thotin got caught into an incident. The details about the incident are still unclear, but Thotin was found dead at the city's outskirts, and apparently died to numerous wounds that scarred his body. With both brothers now dead, their reclusive cousin Daragan is now in charge of the town.<br/><br/>Last but not least, some people, presumed dead before, were seen moving over the streets at night, hiding in the shadows, their hair and skin unnaturally white.<br/><br/><hr/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;"><em>Around Lakeshire</em></span></span></div><hr/><br/>Lakeshire, as it name suggests, lies at the coast of a lake, which in turn lies at the base of a large group of mountains. Several rivers run down from the mountains into the lake. The lower parts of the mountains are beset by trees, which spread to the west into a big forest.<br/><br/><strong>South</strong>:<br/>The rolling landscape south of Lakeshire is mostly open, save for the large river that runs south from the lake, twisting it's path between the gentle sloped hills, making it the perfect place for farmers to work the land, or breed cattle. It's Lakeshire's major source of food. Most farms are quite widespread, having to rely on themselves against bandits, as the area's too large for the city guards to patrol.<br/><br/>In recent days, the barbarians, that were expected to live far to the south, have made more and more appearances, causing a great deal of concern for both the farmers and the city council.<br/><br/>Since a couple of days ago, some of the farmers return home with stories of huge, clawed footprints throughout their fields and half their crop scorched.<br/><br/><strong>West</strong>:<br/>The forest to the west, that reaches a little onto the slope of the mountain chain to the north, provides ample of game, herbs and fruits to collect. While it is not Lakeshire's main source of food, the meat and vegetables that hunters return home with them has been welcomed throughout town. Those that stray deeper into the forest are bound to run into other humanoids, elves if one is lucky, goblins or orcs otherwise. Guarded caravans occasionally set out into the forest to trade with other races, preferably the elves.<br/><br/>Elves and fae usually keep themselves concealed for travellers from other races, but the orcs and goblins are growing more populous. More and more sightings of these greenskin creatures has been reported to the city guard. The guards decided to send out patrols to watch over the wooded areas close to the city, alert for any large greenskin movement. However, since the plague has left the city guard undermanned, these patrols have been recalled.<br/><br/>Some of the hunters that went into the forest since the plague hit did not return, and the other hunters blamed it on creatures they saw and had fled from, half human, half animal.<br/><br/><strong>North</strong>:<br/>A large chain of mountains spreads out both ways directly north of town. The lowest, more gentle slopes of the mountain are still covered by trees and undergrowth, but they quickly reach above that to more barren rock, and further ahead, snowy peaks rise into the sky. Dwarven outposts scatter the mountainslopes, usually next to tunnel entrances leading into the mountains. The less pleasant to meet Kobolds and troglodytes also roam the slopes and surface tunnels.<br/><br/>Lakeshire had two large mines established up the slopes of the nearest two mountains, well organized with miners, guards and overseers, but the recent events has cut these activities short.<br/><br/>During the last week, more than one person had heard the sound of swooping wings at night and looked up to the sky to see a winged silhouette in the direction of the northern mountains.<br/><br/><strong>East</strong>:<br/>The lake to the east provides a natural buffer against enemy forces. Several siege crossbows are scattered among the docks, were someone to attack the city by boats, but these have never been required. The water is abundant with fish, and fisherboats are often floating on the water, providing the third source of Lakeshire's food supplies.<br/><br/>The recent events have had less effect on the men that made a living catching fish. No bad creatures were known for roaming the water surface. However, rumour goes among the fishermen about something odd occasionally revealing a small part of itself above the waterline. With no actual incidents or casualties, the guard has been ignoring these sightings for now in favor of more pressing matters.<br/><br/><hr/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;"><em>Other areas of civilization</em></span></span></div><hr/><br/>Two other settlement are situated along the coast of the lake, the nearest one, Cloudville, being a week on foot away. The other one, Mountainshire, is located at the base of the mountainchain at the other side of the lake. A couple of small trade ships sail forth and back between the three settlements. Another city, Pinetown, lies several days on foot to the southwest, on the outskirts of the forest. The barbarians that live to the south make relations with towns further south a risky business at least.<br/><br/>The elves have settlements of their own deep in the forests to the west, but obscured from sight as these are, one rarely stumbles across these settlements. Visitors not welcomed do not get a chance to leave them again.<br/><br/>The dwarves to the north welcome traders at their outposts, but are less eager to invite people from other races into the tunnels that lead to their own homes. Still, humans that have earned their respect are granted passage.<br/><br/>Wielders of great magic are capable of relocating themselves to any place on the world of mortals, but this access is reserved for only the most powerful conjurers.