A muggle tour of Maywood -
The Story -
A Brief History
A thousand years ago there was a world-shattering war. On one side the strange beings from the west known as the Legion of Shadow, with their armies of strange creatures they created or twisted to serve them. Followers of human, dark elves, and other races with evil in their hearts.
On the other side, clerics, paladins, warriors and mages of the Revered Light, and their armies. Empires fell, entire civilizations perished, the Legion was defeated, caged and imprisoned deep beneath the earth, their armies were scattered to the winds and history was written by the victors.
Since that time the realm of Maywood has been founded (The realm of Maywood was founded about 1000 yrs ago according to the scrolls gathered in this area) and has grown to its current status. Organizations have become established, noble families have risen, fallen and risen again, unexplored territory has become known and the current balance of power has evolved to the delicate equilibrium it maintains today.
Over recent years, however, worrying signs of change have been seen. An army of unknown intent has gathered in the North. One of the Legions most sinister necromancers has been reborn and now wanders Maywood freely. Tensions between the guilds hover on the edge of war. Political strife and whispers of revolution endanger the established order. Dragons unknown to the land for thousands of years have been seen and numerous mystic artifacts have come to light. The world holds its breath, wondering what will happen next...
Realms of Existence
There are three known realms of existence. Most of the world (Maywood realm) follows roughly the laws of physics you'd expect, barring the occasional magical mishap. Magic can be used to open portals to the Spirit Realm, the land of the dead, where the dead exist in their afterlife, time moves strangely, and any living beings venturing here need to be weary, as without proper guidance, you might not make it back. Magic can also be used to travel to the Plain of Sorrows, a place of unmentionable horrors, very few have ever ventured there, even fewer have returned and retained their sanity.
A reading from Xolths scroll, third scribe to Hedrin, Luminary of the Lidless Eye:
The portal to the Plain of Sorrows opened with the sound of a thunder clap. The blue, purple and black mists swirling into the vortex of the void. The young mage eagerly stepped through this vortex. Suddenly only a moment from when the mage disappeared into the mystic portal a noticeable hiss filled the room. With a flash of light and sound the young mage was hurled back from the vortex from which he just entered, screaming in agony. His robes were drenched in a thick, foul smelling black liquid that was steaming in heat, his fingernails appeared to have been tore off and he was bleeding from the eyes and ears. A foul rotten smell came from the mage and this goo.
"You were gone but a bat of an eye! What was it like? what did you see? Tell us man." the elder mage asked despite the current condition of the young mage .
"By all the gods in all of the heavens, the horror if it..... I..... I will never in my life be able to see with mine own eyes again, Please kill me now, so I may no longer bear witness to the evil visions I will see for all the rest of my days!" cried the young mage, as he lie there on the floor, curled up and weeping.
"So it was hell?" Asked the elder mage
"You do not understand, HELL is but a word......... the reality is much......... much.......... worse."
Geography Of The Maywood Realm
Maywood:
The main setting is the Realm of Maywood. Maywood is an independent state and the most prosperous in the region. It is currently not ruled by any formal or nominal form of government, only a council of elders whose chief talent has thus far been to weld the guilds, temples and of course mobs of lunatics with swords (who apparently prefer to be called "adventurers") into a coherent unit. However many guilds and tribes are quickly gaining strength in Maywood and it may not be long before enough of them unite to call out one ruler.
Being conveniently situated along a river and at the centre of a large number of trade routes between other realms, the Realm of Maywood is a terribly active place, and full of terribly interesting people from terribly far away who very often seem to need terribly dangerous things done by people who are either terribly brave or terribly stupid. This, by default, is where you the PLAYERS are assumed to be living at the start of play.
Ancient Battlegrounds
There's nothing but a graveyard and old foundation there now. But there was a battle fought here what is believed to be a hundred years ago against something that came out of the west. The general assumption is that it was an army of the undead, but other rumors say that it was something far darker, and far stranger. Whatever it was took the great Battlegrounds and the weapons training hall that once stood there.
The Watchtowers
To the north, and east of the trade / current battlegrounds arena are two of the watchtowers the third lies near the top of the steps. The eastern tower at one time was kept garrisoned by soldiers and supplied by the temples, and noble human families. The northern tower was believed to be built to protect an ancient orc village. It is one of the few tribe structures still standing today. The Realm of Maywood is currently at peace, leaving the watchtowers unguarded.
Temples
Instrumental in the founding of Maywood was the Temple of the Revered Light, whose headquarters are to be found in the very centre of the realm, attached to the great hall. Occupying a position of some respect but less grandeur is the Temple of Ashes west of the city. Although all respect the Ash Priests they are not exactly popular, they enjoy a faintly untouchable status which is shared by so many who deal with the trappings of mortality. Followings, Rituals and Symbols of the Legion of Shadow is strictly forbidden and enforced by the just of Maywood.
Other Institutions
Innumerable guilds vie for influence within the realm, and numerous merchants ply their trade in the realm's markets.
The Arena
Nearly 752 years ago, when the realm of Maywood was gaining great strength, a war was fought against those things which we now call the Legion. Armies fell against them, the mightiest druids and warriors of the age were all but powerless. In the end it fell to the Paladins and mages of the Revered Light to force the things of evil back whence they came. Between the northern watchtower and the Temple of the Revered Light there is a battlefield, where a key battle in the War was fought. This place was laid flat by the events that took place there, and it has beneath it some being of intense and ancient power. The Temple watches this place closely.
The Wells
All in ruins now, the Citadel up the hill from the great bridge was destroyed at the climax of the War, its stones were cracked, its walls cast down and its towers made as dust. Only the wells and sweet water springs that supplied the water remain above ground, but underground many speculate that the citadel remains much as it ever was. Many, particularly those who have forgotten the full nature of the citadel, speculate that riches and wonders untold could be found just beneath the surface. In recent years there have been evil things stirrings within the ruins but the fresh water springs here still supply Maywood with the vital liquid nourishment it requires.
The Woods of Solitude
This lush area is said to be the home of the creatures known as Imps. Few attempt to pass into it, and those that do return are usually driven to madness, telling tales of winged creatures rising from the forest floor to consume those who trespass on their ancient lands. In the middle of the wood there is rumored to be an area, covered in black roses, inhabited by a demon who never leaves.
The Steps of Montage
This is the site of the last battle between the Temple of the Revered Light and the Legion of Shadows, some 640 years ago. Some of the bodies of the fallen warriors from both sides were never moved from the area, they were left where they fell to simply decompose. The anniversary of the Battle of Montage is traditionally celebrated in Maywood with a day of peace, contemplation and heavy drinking. The steps are the main passageway to and from the southwestern part of the realm.
The Deadly End
It is to the far west that the Temple of the Revered Light look most strongly for signs of the return of the Legion. Hence the name given to it, The Deadly End.
Alter of Storms
Carved from the ultra rare Sagewood, the Altar of Storms in the distant past, channeled and elemental energies through the wooden structure itself to purify the magics of orcish druids and shaman of the realm. These energies, were lost however when all but a hand full of the orc warlocks were destroyed by the Legion. The Altar of Storms is now used to announce intention of claiming land for a guild, to announce war or peace, or to form or dissolve alliances.
The North
There is little trade with the north, since it is a harsh land and sparsely populated.
The East
To the east, following the river lies the Land of Evergreen, The Land of Evergreen is a lush and expansive realm with pleasant farming communities that ply their trades largely unmolested. Trade with the east is bountiful, food is plentiful and aside from the occasional bandit camp, everything in the area is lovely.
The West
To the west lies a vast and dense forest. Scholars speculate about its possible inhabitants, from unknown flora and fauna to the possibility that the Legion has returned to its murky depths. In recent months, word has come from the area that there is some sort of sickness in the Western Forest. Throughout great patches of the forest one can travel for days without hearing a noise from the wildlife, and rangers report finding animals of all description lying comatose and twitching upon the forest floor. Darker rumors speak of madness where reality shifts and melts into rather less predictable and more mutable beings. A possible attempt at a dark portal from another realm some elders believe.
The South
To the south lie the plains, the City of Crossroads, and ultimately other Kingdoms of which little need be said here since they are distant in the extreme.
The plains in the south are riddled with paths, ponds and wildlife many of which are home to simi sientient creatures. The largest path is actually a ill kept and ruined road, dating from before the war and half buried in a mighty earthquake. Every few hundred years another tremor hits the area. If this tremor uncovers any stone with wording on it, that stone is declared The Stone of the Prophets. The beasts then erupt into violent warfare, whichever clan controls the stone becomes the new rulers of their society.
Ellwood H. May Environmental Park is located at: 3615 Mueller Road, Sheboygan, WI 53083
