An archipelago in the north.
Places of interest: Goon's Folly, East Campbell, West Campbell, Dragonskull, Liarry
There is evidence around Goon’s Folly, Dragonskull and Liarry of prehistoric settlement of the area, but those cultures have not endured with the exception of the Yuan-ti in Liarry and Dragonskull.
The Shambles are explored by (An Archdane, A Carnivorous, Two Hammerhands) They set up a small settlement on East Shatterheart and used it as a base of operation until they were separated by the events at Harpy’s Drop, New Home on 212 BNE. They never returned, but their descendants, their followers, and their crew split off onto three of the islands, each taking in refugees from the Harpy’s Drop as well as later becoming destinations for refugees of Skybreaker’s Day.
The Archdane Party (Carnivorous Krkkit, Jam Archdane, Lancel Archdane, and Jonas Hammerhand) bring refugees from around the world after Skybreaker’s Day.
In the first hundred years of the New Era, The Shambles have flourished and are now home to almost a million people from all walks of life.
The families of the original settlers have formed landowner's coalitions that are loosely affiliated under three families generally referred to as the “Grand Lords”. The surrounding areas are largely divided among regional landowners, but no official government has been established.
East Campbell, on East Shatterheart, is the original settlement by humans and elves. Settled by the Archdane Party, and currently run by the Archdane family; although the Archdane family is clearly run by their grandmatriarch Marmalade Archdane. Humans, half-elves and elves are the primary population here.
Far in the south, Liarry (island) stands alone. Considered by the outside world to be part of the shambles, it nonetheless maintains near self-sufficiency without close contact with the others.
Ruled over in a loose sense by the heirs of Hammerhand, Liarry even less resembles a formal country with very little effort made to collect tithe or enforce any order other than “mind your own business” and any justice except frontier justice.
Liarry (city) is a sprawling collection of neighboring villages that have grown together.
The three Grand Lords get along well enough, and trade among the island is fairly free. Lords Carnivorous and Archdane are collaborating to erect a 50km long bridge uniting East and West Shatterheart.
Most drugs are not outlawed in most of the world, although dependency is looked down on in most cultures. The drug trade in Prasinos is very lucrative, due in large part to the selective availability of many.
Alcohol can be produced anywhere, but some places such as East Campbell are known to have premium product. Carlston has become a major source of low -cost, high volume alcohol production.
Liarry, in the Shambles is an important producer of tobacco, marijuana, and one of the only producers of cap.
Outland has access to marijuana, mandrake, and opium.
Titongordon is the world's foremost producer of cocaine, having access to the havernal jungle.
The northmost island’s high cliffs have prevented much exploration. It appears to be a densely forested plateau of little interest. On the few occasions where someone has designed to settle it, they have either turned back shortly or disappeared.
West Shatterheart is a difficult, rocky island with very little access to farmable land. The thin, rocky soil gives way to a vast central bog that was created by attempts to irrigate the land centuries ago. Some workable land remains, but only the heartiest of crops take hold here.
Originally settled in 217BNE by Carnivorous.
Currently led by Allene and Clarence Carnivorous.
The largest city on West Shatterheart, and the original dwarven settlement in the area. It is run by descendants of an explorer known only as Carnivorous, who have taken his nickname as their family name. It is populated largely by dwarves, gnomes, and halflings although it is not hostile to others except architecturally.
West Campbell is becoming an important trading hub despite its distance from traditional trade routes. It is known worldwide for having some of the best craftspeople in the world, and “Campbell Cut” jewelry is in fashion as far away as Ottombad.
West Campbell also serves as the gateway to East Campbell, and Liarry. East Campbell's high cliffs and rocky coasts make docking any large ships next to impossible, and Liarry is simply not interested in becoming a major port. East Campbell and Liarry's trade with the rest of the world is handled at Carnivorous' marketplace.
Founded in 212BCE by Vargas Varchilde and located about 50km south from the outskirts of West Campbell, the Iron Arms Academy is a high-walled fortress and the center of martial arts training in the Shambles.
A fertile island with limited access to the sea; East Shatterheart’s rocky shores and high cliffs isolate it from oversea traffic, with the exception of some workable coast on the west side, along the banks of Shatterheart Straight. The high cliffs and low central valley have created an unusually temperate zone for this far north, slowing crosswinds and allowing rich soil to accumulate. Although the soil is rocky, once worked in it is excellent for farming and easily irrigated and maintained. These factors, along with the volcanic ash that accumulates in the silt of the East Campbell River, position East Campbell as the best place in the Shambles for producing grains, fruits, and a variety of crops that are otherwise hard to maintain this far north.
East Shatterheart’s portal to the world is the port in West Shatterheart, at West Campbell. While West Campbell serves as a trade hub, East Campbell keeps them fed and is treated to a large portion of the incoming wealth.
The treacherous and rocky terrain provides little trouble to the yuan-ti who make their home on Dragonskull, but prevents outsiders from considering it a place worth visiting. Home to the last holdouts of the old yuan-ti ways, it is generally considered a place to avoid.
The island of Luther is effectively uninhabitable, due to its extremely low elevation. At least once a month at maximum tide the island is completely submerged for up to twelve hours at a time. It is also prone to flooding in almost any severe weather, and freezes over almost immediately each winter. It is home to a wide variety of hearty insects who make their nests in the amphibious cypress trees, and in warm weather it is a popular spot for migratory waterfowl.
The original settlement in 217BNE attempted to establish itself with a traditional hierarchy, but following conflicts with the native Yuan-ti and the massive influx of refugees following Harpy’s Drop and Skybreaker’s Day and Jonas Hammerhand’s apathetic rule, the province lacks much in the way of social order.
The island features low rolling hills and a temperate climate, wide beaches and few rocky areas. Most of the island is forested and settlements dot the clearings. It would have been an ideal spot to clear and farm, but the existing yuan-ti made this difficult initially and a less developed way of life has long since set in.
It could be said that all structures of power come down to having a monopoly on violence, but in Liarry there is no illusion of any other kind. Mob justice is the only justice available to some, but those with the means to arm themselves are often drawn to vigilantism.
None of this is to say that it is especially more dangerous or lawless than anywhere else - thievery, hoarding, and even failure to provide needed aid are routinely punished. Anyone who has much more than they need is distrusted, which leads to an uneasy balance between communities to help their own but to also be careful not to prosper too visibly.
Barter is common and it is seen as a point of pride to be able to give to others. Culturally, craftspeople are held in high esteem and it is considered a privilege to be able to provide material for a skilled craftsperson to prepare.
A typical exchange might involve giving someone two barrels of produce, and receiving one of those barrels back pickled or candied.
There are chapels to all gods scattered about Liarry, but Coriander is the most common to have devout followers.
Liarry City is a city in name only. A loosely-collected group of subsistence farmers, small fortresses and communes with little to no organisation. The Hammerhand family rules over the area insofar as they maintain the physical power to do so.
Liarry is mainly populated by descendants of refugees of many races, but has a native population of Yuan-ti much higher than the global average.
Clarence and Allene Carnivorous are dwarven siblings who are descended from West Campbell's original founder, Carnivorous.
Together they run the island as a fiefdom which pays taxes to the city of West Campbell. Most residents of West Shatterheart feel that their taxes are fairly deserved, as the port at West Campbell is extremely important to everyone's quality of life and in the general public opinion the Carnivorous family put in honest work and don't live opulently.
The Wrenchbaskets live in the Three King’s Bay fishing community and operate an unconventional fishing setup involving a diesel-operated salmon pump lubricated by gnomish magic and under the protection of Garl Glittergold.
Ratchet gave the blue man group a ride to the south end, and allowed them to stay in their extra rooms. Wrickett kept watch over an Aboling’s body for the New Age Six.
Level 12 Human Wizard
The headmaster of the Varchilde Institute of Extranatural Sciences.
Dwarven Wizard 10
Head of Engineering: Practical Physics, Theoretical Physics, Assisted Physics.
Best friends with Thockmilton, enjoys pranks and joking. Experiments with Gravity magic and other hypothetical schools and elements with Thockmilton on the field of pain.
There is an area the size of an apple on the south side of the field which they've managed to deform such that it bends light slightly and “feels funky” when you pass your hand through it.
Dark Elf Wizard 10
Head of Social Arts: Political Study, History, Art History, Literature
Sidney is an elitist and culture vulture. He reads all of the “trash” coming out of the Outland Press so he can stay on top of how terrible it all is. Teaches the classics (which were regarded in their time as trash as well.)
Human Wizard 8 / Expert 2
Head Librarian: Quartermaster, Inscriptions, Bookbinding, Calligraphy, Literature Appreciation
In a relationship with Varchilde. Audrey unironically enjoys the “trash” that Sidney looks down upon, and discusses it with him due to them being the only head staff who read them at all. She is a favourite among the students and is openly flirtatious with Varchilde.
Centaur Wizard 10
Head of Planetary Study: Geology, Geography, Natural World Study
Employed by the Carnivorous family to assist with logistics on the Shatterheart Bridge. Talinous is a man who takes geology very seriously. He believes that there is much more to learn from the natural world than most wizards think.
He also takes his free time very seriously and is loathe to work one more second than his job description requires.
Gnome Wizard 10
Head of Physical Education: Head of Grounds, Self-Defense, Physical Fitness, Biology, Health
Oversees sparring on the Field of Pain. Does other things too, but doesn’t really like them. Magde has an unusual temperament for a wizard, in that she values physical health as much as mental health. She attempts to “whip these stringbeans into shape” and coined the idiom “every wizard has a plan until they get punched in the face.”
Hobgoblin Wizard 10
Head of Maths: Pure Math, Geometry, Accounting, Economics
Close friends with Atticus. Guarded with others. Thockmilton experienced a lot of isolation as a hobgoblin child more interested in books than brawling. He is content to let Atticus talk for him whenever possible.
He shows a different side of his personality when experimenting with his friend in the field of pain.
Smitty Rincewind Human Commoner 3 Silt salesman. Connections to Outland Incursion
Ned Hornbloer Human Commoner 3 Smitty’s main rival
Anchesca Rince (Deceased) Former owner rincewind tavern. Died 106NE
Doppelganger Sorcerer
Adventuring doppelganger from West Campbell.
Human Expert 1 Commoner 3
Anna’s brother. An honest businessman enjoying the prosperity of his bar. Knows Anna collects books in secret but does not realise it is magic.
Human Fighter 4 (Deceased)
As of 09 28 106NE
Anna Rince’s cousin. Knows Anna is the Exsanguinator. Is blackmailing her to help him replace the Guard Captain with a simulacrum, and supplying her the reagents. His ultimate plan is to have a simulacrum of the Guard Captain kill Marmalade Archdane, who he believes is an evil dragon.
As of BR 07 106NE
Blamed for the full series of Southbend Exsanguinations. Executed by Archdane Close Guard.
Dwarf Fighter 6
A stern older dwarf, Archdane loyalist.
Retired after the events of Brewfest 106NE.
Human Aristocrat 4 / Sorcerer 10, Tiamat’s Five Color Champion
The head of East Campbell's most powerful family, an unpredictable and cruel woman who openly resents their reliance on West Campbell.
Elf Aristocrat 6, Died 98NE
Marmalade’s husband.
Died at the hands of Marmalade Archdane when she first received Tiamat’s power at the Reaper King’s Ball in 98NE.
Half-Elf Aristocrat 3 Son of Lancel and Marmalade. Adoptive parent to Celebrant Vanside.
Human Aristocrat 2, Monk 6 Wife of Frederic, co-conspirator with Cedric Vanside. Adoptive parent to Celebrant Vanside.
Human Ranger
Daughter of Cedric and Edlyn Vanside who was adopted by the Archdanes after Cedric was killed at the Reaper King's Ball in 106NE.
Half-Elf Aristocrat 2
Daughter of Frederic and Sakara.
Half-Elf Aristocrat 3
Nimrod’s husband, Son of Lancel and Marmalade. Being groomed to take over the business. Along with Nimrod, has adopted two of his brother’s children.
Human Aristocrat 3
Samson’s husband.
Half-elf Aristocrat 2
The youngest Archdane. Biological daughter of Frederic and Sakara Archdane, adopted by Samson and Nimrod. In charge of event planning, and rarely able to get much help outside of house staff.
Half-elf Aristocrat 2
Biological daughter of Frederic and Sakara Archdane, adopted by Samson and Nimrod.
The Wrightvanes run the majority of the farmland in the Outer West area.
The Martens control a small portion of the farmlands and some of the lower class residential areas in the Outer West area.
The Summervales control most of the lower class residential areas in the south part of the inner west city, including the Southbend area.
The Trenches control the upscale residential and mercantile districts in the north part of the inner west city.
The Crossroads controlled a portion of the center city as well as selected upscale properties in east central, but left for Goon's Landing in 107NE.
Marianne's whereabouts remain unknown.
The Varchildes controlled upscale mercantile areas in the center city until 107NE. In early 107NE they arranged for those who were interested to move to West Campbell, and sold the remainder of their holdings to the Conchords.
Having bought up Crossroads and Varchilde properties at a fire sale rate, the Conchords now control all of the Central City.
The Crabapples control most of the central east city’s upscale residential area. As of 107NE they also control the Vansides former holdings.
The Vansides controlled a modest portion of the south central east city region and had a partnership with the Wadswards until Argyle Chudwell Wadsward III’s untimely demise in early 106NE.
They temporarily took over most of the Wadsward holdings in the north coastal area, before Cedric was slain by Marmalade Archdane at the Reaper King's Ball in late 106NE.
The Wadswards controlled most of the north coastal area, until their holdings were dissolved by the Vansides in 106NE.
As of 106NE the Harmwardens control the entire coast.