DRYDERE 1

rydere manor and its village, which is really more of a hamlet,

are located by the Ulmerien River, just west of Burzyn, on the
Burzyn-Onden Road. This Chybisan estate, at just 750 acres,
has the dubious distinction of being one of the smallest fiefs, in
the smallest Kingdom on Hârn. Drydere manor may be small,
but many leading members of Chybisa’s elite regularly visit, making the
manor a hotbed for political intrigue. The Dowager Lady Selkes, bailiff of
Drydere, through marriage and blood, and her background and social skills,
is well connected to many of these powerful individuals.

HISTORY
Like most of the Ulmerien River Valley, this location has been occupied
for centuries, though the first documented evidence of a village situated in
this location dates to just 512 TR. The treasury accounts from the royal Location: Kingdom of Chybisa [L7]
exchequer for that year list a large payment authorized by Sir Opran Afaelin, Holder: Lady Aloïsya Selkes,
Chancellor of the Exchequer under King Gometh, to Trymma of Blocc, a Bailiff
master mason for the construction of a royal hunting lodge “…at the village Liege: Sir Renan Selkes,
of Dridery, close by Burzin, for the kyng’s pleasure…” Knight of Lisryd
Almost 50 years later, the Red Death, a virulent pestilence ravaged Population: 50 (approx.)
Hârn from 559 to 560 killing more than a third of Chybisa’s population
including many members of the royal clan. The physicians of Queen ARMORIAL REGISTER
Sabalyne blamed the deaths of the royal family on the nearness of the Aloïsya Selkes née Orson, the daughter
plague-ridden town to Caer Burzyn. Sabalyne commanded that an outer of a Lythian noble, is entitled to use her
wall be built around the castle to avoid future plagues. To secure rents to clan’s armorial bearings. When she
the royal treasury to fund her project, the queen granted several manors of married the Lord of Lisryd, she had the
less than a knight’s fee, whose holder could only discharge their obligation Orson clan arms marshaled to those of
through scutage. One of these was Drydere, which in 562 was granted to clan Selkes as her personal arms. She
Sir Gosfrid Selkes, Knight of Lisryd. continues to use the combined arms as
both the Dowager Lady Selkes and as the
Over a century later in 675, Sir Rance Selkes, Knight of Lisryd, was Bailiff of Drydere. This is the shortened
killed in the skirmishing around Burzyn Castle at the opening of the registry entry for her combined arms.
Treasure War. His son, Sir Brenoc Selkes, then 26 and Bailiff of Drydere
manor, inherited the Lordship of Lisryd. Sir Brenoc was not able to take Lady Aloïsya Selkes née Orson,
possession of his inheritance because he, like the other forces King Balesir Bailiff of Drydere
could muster, had taken refuge within Caer Burzyn and found themselves Shield: Party per pale, gules, two
besieged. During the siege, Sir Aigulf Mudon, a lieutenant of King Torastra bars embattled argent,
of Kaldor, occupied Drydere as his base of operations. Even so, Sir Brenoc azure, three martlets
appointed his paternal uncle as Bailiff of Drydere, at least in name. When close gold.
Balesir surrendered, ending the three year long siege, Clan Selkes along with Mantling: Gules and gold.
other Geledoth loyalists accompanied Balesir into exile in Melderyn. Motto: With knowledge comes
After nine years of exile, Balesir leading a small army retook his doubt.
kingdom in 687. As Balesir’s forces advanced on Burzyn, Torastra’s Registry: Unicorn Tower, 687
lieutenants, including Sir Aigulf panicked and quickly surrendered. Once (Golden Orb, 679).
Balesir proclaimed the restoration of the Kingdom of Chybisa, Sir Brenoc,
quickly reclaimed his titles and land, including Drydere. CREDITS
Writer: S. J. Clark
Heraldry: C. I. Roegner, Matt Roegner
Maps, Plans & Layout: S. J. Clark
Plan Contributor: Bill Beane
Portraits are derivative work by
R. Luschek, other art is derivative
work by S. J. Clark, all based on
content in the public domain.
Version 1.1.b, October 2020

© 2020, S. J. Clark, N. Robin Crossby & Columbia Games, Inc. HârnWorld®

 DRYDERE 2
CURRENT SITUATION Aloïsya
Sir Renan Selkes, bailiff of Drydere manor, became the Knight of Lisryd Selkes
upon the death of Sir Brenoc, his father, in 704. After ascending to the née
Lordship of Lisryd manor, Sir Renan made his mother, now the Dowager Orson
Lady Selkes, the bailiff of Drydere manor. The manor provides Lady Selkes
with a dower income, but is intended as more of an honorary position until
Sir Renan’s son Rance, who is currently a page in the household of Baron
Martis Afaelin, can assume the responsibility after earning his spurs.
Lady Selkes is known for her generous table and often entertains senior
courtiers from Burzyn Castle, peers of the realm, and members of the royal
clan. Queen Fairela especially enjoys Lady Selkes’ hospitality, as the queen,
like Lady Selkes, is originally from the continent. Other frequent visitors
include Sir Martis Afaelin, the Baron of Aereben, who is providing training
to Lady Selkes’s grandson; Sir Tarsyl Legith, Chancellor of the Exchequer
who enjoys hunting in the Drydere Woods; and Sir Barain Clamyns, who is Bailiffs of Drydere
not only the Constable of Caer Burzyn, but also the father-in-law of Lady While Drydere manor was part of the
Selkes’s son. Recently, Lady Selkes invited Rekela Beryon Dalny, the newly royal demesne, the Burzada monarchs
appointed Bishop of Burzyn to Drydere. awarded the position of bailiff as a prize
to favored retainers. When Sir Gosfrid
When the Dowager Lady Aloïsya Selkes née Orson, 62, first arrived in Selkes acquired Drydere, he appointed
her newly adopted home, she quickly assumed the local manners and styles, his eldest son and heir as bailiff on the
however even today, some still see her as a foreigner. Lady Selkes is better day he was knighted. This action
educated than most individuals of gentle birth, and is a keen patron of established a tradition for the Selkes clan
scholars and the arts. She is politically astute and an excellent judge of that the Bailiff of Drydere is granted to
character, witty, charming, and diplomatic in her dealings with all people. the clan’s heir apparent upon earning his
spurs as a personal honor. The tradition
continues to this day. In those situations
GENEALOGY OF CLAN SELKES where the heir apparent to Lisryd is not
Rance Selkes Syd Renashra
Knight of Lisryd 697–7173 yet knighted, a senior member of the clan
625(656)6752 = 716 = will be appointed as bailiff in the interim.
= 648 = Brenoc Selkes Renan Selkes Mela Selkesf Bailiffs for Clan Burzada
Floryna Wesinf Knight of Lisryd Knight of Lisryd 700–7193
= = (dns) Maurol Afaelin 512–519
629–706 649(675)704 680(704)
= 699 = Father N.N. Faehlon Sotha 519–533
= 679 =
Aloïsya Orsonf Welyn Clamynsf Brenthol Seled 533–551
Hrother Selkes d. of Barain Clamyns Merel Selkesf Kirol Afaelin 551–560
d. of Ardan Orson
630–702 Constable of Burzyn 702– Kiras Afaelin 560–560
Lord of Giese
= 652 = (dns) 657– 676– Halmic Fetin 560–562
Hendra Cessof
635–689 Rance Selkes Bailiffs for Clan Selkes
Hrethi Selkes Hrun Selkes 705– Sir Grofreir Selkes* 562–587
Priest of Larani Kt. Lady of Paladins
657– 684–7183 Rhilan Selkes 587–591
Aldric Termyrd
Knight of Erenes Sir Rolfrid Selkes* 591–608
Riya Kynyssf
616(643)668 Votho Selkes 608–617
Emel Kynyss 712–
= 648 = (dns) 683–
Wyulfs Anlahwys 617–621
Lorensa Selkesf = 711 = Dram Kynyss Sir Goswyn Selkes* 621–652
633–6491 Gezel Selkesf 715– Sir Rance Selkes* 652–656
690– Hrother Selkes 656–670
=699= Date of Marriage Nesa Kynyssf Sir Brenoc Selkes* 670–675
== Other relationship 719– Hrother Selkes† 675–701
(704) Succession Date Seder Selkes Sir Renan Selkes* 701–704
693–
f Female Lady Aloïsya Selkes 704–
1 Died in childbirth = 714 = Taga Selkesf *
Milori Mellestinf 718– Heir apparent to Lisryd Manor.
2 Died in battle
†
3 Other violent death 694– From 675 to 687, during the Siege of
d. daughter Burzyn and subsequent annexation
Kt. Knight of Chybisa by King Torastra of Kaldor,
Hroy Selkes
N.N. Not Named Sir Aigulf Mudon of Kaldor occupied
698–
(dns) descendant(s) not shown
Drydere Manor.

© 2020, S. J. Clark, N. Robin Crossby & Columbia Games, Inc. HârnWorld®

 DRYDERE 3
RELIGION
The interest Lady Selkes has in scholarship and the arts runs much
deeper than most would suspect. She is a lay adherent of Save-K’nor, and
has been since her late teens. Upon her arrival at Lisryd manor, and later,
when she became the bailiff of Drydere manor, she had shrines to
Save-K’nor built in each manor for her personal devotions.
Although there is a chapel to Larani within the manor, the household
does not maintain a resident cleric. The Lady Selkes and her household do
though regularly attend the low services at the Temple of Larani in Burzyn.
On occasion, she is a guest of the queen, and will sit in the temple galleries
with the royal clan.
There is a shrine to Peoni in the village. Once a month, one of the
Ebasethe from the Chapel of Peoni at Olmedun Island will visit to tend to
the spiritual needs of the village residents. Otherwise, villagers go to the
Olmedun Island chapel for services.

Shesor of Santri
GOVERNMENT Tall, gaunt, and some would even say
Drydere village is small and only supports the tenant offices of reeve, cadaverous, Shesor of Santri, 65, has
woodward and beadle. Lady Selkes holds the manorial court over which she been an integral member of Lady Aloïsya
presides on the 6th of each month. Otherwise she defers the day-to-day Selkes’s inner circle for decades. Shesor
running of the estate to her son Seder, who is the manor’s steward. Her is a first cousin of Lady Aloïsya on the
cousin Shesor, who is the manor’s chamberlain, manages the day-to-day distaff side of her family. He grew up in
running of the household. her father’s household and like Lady
Aloïsya, he showed a strong aptitude for
learning from an early age.
Feudal Levy
The size of the fief does not qualify as a full knight’s fee, and hence does At first Lord Orson hired various tutors
not provide a knight’s service, only scutage. However under traditional and scholars to teach Shesor and Aloïsya.
When the two were in their late-teens,
Chybisan standards the fief still owes the services of three yeomen. Lady
Lord Orson brought in a Haliki (Priest)
Selkes meets the obligation with the services of Jarst of Myven, the manor’s from a Temple of Save-K’nor to provide
one yeoman farmer, and the service of the two men-at-arms, who safeguard a broad education in philosophy and
the manor hall. theology, as well as several other arts
and lore. Both Shesor and Aloïsya
ECONOMY continued to show significant progress
and potential. In 677, based on the
Although there is one woodcrafter and a couple of crofters in the advice of the Haliki, Lord Orson had the
village, the majority of the tenants are villains, holding from 20 to 35 acres two travel abroad, accompanied by a
of land each. The only other Drydere tenant is the yeoman farmer Jarst who large endowment, to study at the Temple
lives with his extended family further along, on the Burzyn-Onden Road. of Save-K’nor in Thay.
Over three quarters of Drydere’s 750 acres is given over to cropland, It was while studying in Thay that
pasture and meadow. The rest of the estate is woodland, primarily Drydere Aloïsya met and subsequently married
woods, but the manor’s woodland also includes portions of Erelya and the displaced Sir Brenoc Selkes, who had
St. Angryl’s woods. accompanied King Balesir into exile.
When Balesir marched forth from Thay
to reclaim his throne in 687, Shesor and
Manor Lands Aloïsya, now the Lady Selkes, travelled
To the west of the manor is the Drydere Woods, which form part of the with the army’s baggage train into
manor’s lands. Drydere and Touwyn manor, its neighbor to the west, divide Chybisa.
the Drydere Woods between the two estates. Drydere’s northern border is Shesor has remained an important
the Ulmerien River. Its eastern border is the townlands of Burzyn and member of the Selkes household, at first
Salters’ Road south to the Erelya Woods. These woods and St. Angryl’s serving as an advisor to the lord of the
Woods separate Drydere lands from Erelya manor lands to the southeast, manor, and a tutor to the lord’s children.
while a simple hedgerow separates the fields of Drydere from the fields of And now, he advises Lady Selkes, and
Brigasel manor to the southwest. A few notable locations are within the her younger sons, and serves as
immediate vicinity of Drydere. chamberlain for Drydere Manor.

© 2020, S. J. Clark, N. Robin Crossby & Columbia Games, Inc. HârnWorld®

 DRYDERE 4
1 BURZYN TOWN CEMETERY
After they die, the majority of Burzyn’s townsfolk are buried in this
Peonian cemetery. Many people believe the land pertains to Burzyn, though
the town has virtually no rural acreage. In fact, the town cemetery is located
on land that is part of Drydere Manor. When the Red Death swept through
Burzyn, there were too many dead to bury individually. This location
outside of town was selected to bury the majority of the town’s victims.
Afterwards, Queen Sabalyne had a large stone marker erected over the
mass grave. Today that part of the cemetery serves as a potter’s field. The
town pays Sures of Resyn, a Drydere tenant to maintain the graveyard.

2 YEOMAN
HD Size: 7
/ BEADLE (Jarst of Myven)
Acres: 30
Six years ago, Jarst of Myven, 43, retired from military service as a sergeant
in the Low Guard at Caer Burzyn. As a favor to Sir Barain Clamyns, her
son’s father-in-law, Lady Selkes agreed to settle Jarst on Drydere lands as a
yeoman. Jarst has steadily cleared land each year, with the help of the
Ahnna of Laidem
village woodcrafter who has benefitted by keeping some of the cut timber. The area around Burzyn has been the
Jarst also spends one afternoon each month training the village militia, scene of many horrific tragedies. The
the manor’s two men-at-arms and the Dowager’s two sons. Part of Jarst’s story of Ahnna of Laidem, who was
feudal service includes fulfilling the role of village beadle. Despite the savaged to death two hundred years ago,
responsibilities of beadle, Jarst has managed to maintain good relations with is one such tragedy.
everyone in the village. This has worked out so well, Lady Selkes is now 18-year-old Ahnna was an orphan girl
looking to settle a second yeoman on Drydere. who grew up in Burzyn, after losing both
of her parents when she was very young.
When she was old enough, she went into

3 BRIGAND CAMP
A small band of brigands, led by a woman who calls herself Myrim,
service as a chambermaid at Drydere
manor. On the afternoon, of the last day
have set up camp in Erelya Woods. She is hoping to make one big score, of Morgat, the bailiff of the manor sent
and then find some quite place to retire to. She and her band operate her on an errand to his Liege Lord at
outside of Burzyn’s Lia-Kavair, thus she wants them to keep a low profile. Caer Burzyn. Having dutifully discharged
her responsibility at the castle, she left
Myrim claims to be the granddaughter of Merren of the Valley. She also shortly after the end of fourth watch.
claims she knows where all of the legendary bandit’s hiding places are
Before departing Drydere, she had
throughout the Kingdom. So if things get too difficult, she asserts they have obtained leave from the bailiff to visit
several choices where they can lie low if they need to. friends in Burzyn, where she had been
brought up. She and her friends spent the
evening at a tavern. It was a pleasant
outing until a mysterious stranger
whispered something in her ear.
Ahnna became upset, and decided to
return to Drydere, although her friends
tried to persuade her to stay. A dusting of
snow had fallen before she set off to walk
the quarter league home to Drydere.
Nothing more was seen or heard of her
until the next morning, when her body
was found on the road to Drydere, with
her head nearly cut from her body.
The monster that had ended her young
life so cruelly was never found. The
villagers of Drydere say her tormented
spirit constantly roams the road to
Burzyn forever searching for the fiend
who ended her life, and will appear to
inhabitants in times of impending danger.

© 2020, S. J. Clark, N. Robin Crossby & Columbia Games, Inc. HârnWorld®

 GM MAP DRYDERE 5

© 2020, S. J. Clark, N. Robin Crossby & Columbia Games, Inc. HârnWorld®

 DRYDERE 6
1 DRYDERE MANOR
Majestic, 200 year old oaks line the approach to
Drydere manor, which ends in a stone bridge leading
into the manor. The bridge crosses a man-made pond
intended to resemble a moat. Plans of the manor are on
the following pages.
[a] Stables / Kennels: As Drydere manor was originally
built to be a royal hunting lodge, there are sizable
stables, and a large kennel for hunting hounds.
2 REEVE / VILLEIN (Kuvag of Esh)
HD Size: 8 Acres: 34
Although lucrative and considered a privilege, after
almost 25 years as village reeve, Kuvag 59, is weary of
his duties running the manor’s agricultural operations.
Since his wife died three years ago, he has been quietly
politicking to have his eldest son named reeve. Both of
his sons, their wives and children live with Kuvag.
3 VILLEIN (Sann of Cabor)
HD Size: 4 Acres: 25
Sann, 31, was recently in Drydere Woods, collecting
deadfall for his family’s hearth. While there he came
across several small stone blocks he believes are the
foundation of an ancient Khuzan tower. He is convinced
there must be treasure there too. Since then, he has been
trying to persuade others from the village to help him dig
for the lost gold.
4 VILLEIN (Sesa of Hoog)
HD Size: 3 Acres: 33
Five years ago, Sesa’s husband disappeared, although
there is much speculation in the village, no one knows
what happened. Despite the village gossips, Sesa, now
38 has continued to hold her head high. Since her
husband’s disappearance, Sesa and her two teenage
sons have struggled to farm all of their acres. Still, she
has managed to pay her annual rents.
5 VILLEIN (Sures of Resyn)
HD Size: 6 Acres: 21
With only 21 acres, Sures, 33, his wife and four growing
children sometimes go hungry. He has often lent support
to Sesa in exchange for a share of her crops to keep his
children fed. He thinks his eldest daughter would make a
good match for Sesa’s eldest son.
6 WOODCRAFTER (Frenlos of Hostin)
Size: 2 Quality:  Prices: Average
13 SUMMER PAVILION
By helping Jarst clear his lands, Frenlos 31, has built up
a sizable collection of quality lumber. Hence, he and his
apprentice keep the village and manor well supplied
with a variety of wooden goods.
© 2020, S. J. Clark, N. Robin Crossby & Columbia Games, Inc.
7 COTTAR (Ort of Daffen)
HD Size: 4 Acres: 5
Ort, 27, and his young brother-in-law, are responsible for
the manor’s beehives and orchards, which separate the
manor hall from the village. Ort’s wife has also just had
their first child. Despite Ort’s many responsibilities he
still finds time to trade stories with most of the villagers
and manor residents.
8 VILLEIN (Senan of Tohder)
HD Size: 8 Acres: 33
Senan, 56, keeps the village well supplied with her
strong opinions and poor advice, whether wanted or not.
Her children and grandchildren live with her.
9 VILLEIN (Agarth of Dyfel)
HD Size: 3 Acres: 31
Ever since the accident last year, when Agarth, 21, hit
his head, he has been muddle-headed, and not managing
his agricultural responsibilities well. His younger siblings
are worried they may be removed from their lands
10 VILLAGE SHRINE
Each month, when the Ebasethe from Olmedun
Island visits the village, the cleric will perform services
for the village in front of this small Peonian shrine. For
special occasions, and on Peonian saints’ feast days,
villagers will leave small offerings of flowers, nuts, and
small stones at the base of the shrine.
11 WOODWARD
HD Size: 4
/ VILLEIN (Clyf of Esva)
Acres: 34
Clyf has been lax when it comes to enforcing the Lord’s
law in the local woods. Generally though, he hasn’t had
to. Mainly due to the fact that most of the village’s needs
for lumber have easily been satisfied by the timber
produced from clearing Jarst’s lands.
12 FISHERMAN / COTTAR (Thys of Esnald)
HD Size: 2 Acres: 0
Thys, 66, and Sorah, 62, his wife of over 40 years had
only one son, who was killed during the skirmishing
around Burzyn during the Treasure War. All of the
village tenants regard the two as surrogate grandparents.
Thys often takes village children with him when he goes
fishing. Although he still has a small two-man coracle,
these days, Thys mostly fishes from the village pier.
This open-air, structure, sometimes called
Gometh’s Folly, was part of the original efforts that built
Drydere manor. During the warmer months Lady Selkes
will host small fetes in it for select guests or hunting
parties to enjoy the panoramic view of the river.
HârnWorld®

⑨
⑧ ⑦
③
DRYDERE MANOR
The two-story, cut stone manor hall sits behind the
man-made pond. Edged by reeds, the pond serves as the
home for a number of local waterfowl.
GROUND FLOOR
[1] Entryway: The open-ended passage is just high
enough and wide enough for two mounted horses to
pass through, at the same time. It has two large oak
doors at the moat side, which can be barred shut,
but seldom are.
[2] Porter’s Lodge: Unless standing guard in the main
hall when Lady Selkes is entertaining guests, the
manor’s two men-at-arms normally watch the main
entrance from the porter’s Lodge. The southern
room serves as their quarters.
[3] Servant’s Hall: This large space serves as the main
workroom for the manor’s servants. The eastern of
the two offices is for Seder Selkes, Lady Selkes’s
son, who is steward for the manor, while the
western office is for Shesor of Santri, Lady Selkes’s
cousin, who in addition to his other duties, serves as
the manor’s chamberlain. The large adjacent
lavatory includes wash tubs for laundry and
garderobes for the servants.
© 2020, S. J. Clark, N. Robin Crossby & Columbia Games, Inc.
DRYDERE 7
④
②
⑥
[4] Kitchens: The kitchen is the domain of Misiela of
Cag, the manor’s alewife and Jegien of Frente, Lady
Selkes’s personal cook for the last 40 years. He is an
excellent chef, which she discovered shortly after
arriving in Thay. She has retained him ever since.
The stairs lead down to the cellar, which is used for
storage of food stuffs and other supplies.
[5] Main Hall: The walls of the two-story main hall
display a number of hunting trophies from over the
years, as well as a number of traditional hunting
weapons, and paraphernalia.
[6] Private Hall: When not entertaining, Lady Selkes
will be found in the smaller private hall attended by
her daughter-in-law, Milori Selkes, who serves as
her lady-in-waiting. The stairs lead to the sleeping
chambers on the second floor.
[7] Stables: Lady Selkes’s youngest son, Hroy Selkes
runs the manor’s stables. There is a tack room at the
west end of the stables. The ladder in the tack room
leads to the feed lofts above (not mapped).
[8] Bunk Room: The stablehand, Siguff of Juth, who
assists Hroy in his duties shares accommodations
with the kennel boy, Oswyn of Daffen.
[9] Kennels: There is a row of kennels along the west
wall. Supplies are stored in the adjoining room.
HârnWorld®
 DRYDERE 8

④ ③ ②

① ② ③
①

⑧ ⑦ ⑥ ⑤

SECOND FLOOR ATTIC

[1] Chapel: Although there is no chaplain, the manor’s [1] Loft: This poorly lit space has become the final
chapel dedicated to Larani is well maintained. It resting place for broken and unwanted furniture.
contains a small shrine to St. Symaen, patron Saint Seldom visited by any of the household, cobwebs
of Chybisa, in the southeast corner. festoon the rafters, and dust covers everything.
[2] Guest Chamber: This well-appointed and [2] Tower Room: Once a refuge, now it is rarely used.
comfortable chamber is reserved for high-ranking The ladder leads to the tower roof (not mapped).
guests who stay overnight at the manor. Their [3] Garret: After Drydere manor was completed, King
servants will sleep in the main hall. Gometh had a peephole overlooking the main hall
[3] Steward: Lady Selkes’s son Seder, her added. Before receiving courtiers or others, he
daughter-in-law Milori, and Taga, their one-year old would have them wait below, while he spied on
infant, occupy this chamber. them from above. None of today’s manor residents
[4] Stable Manager: This is the bedchamber for Lady are aware of the secret garret or its peephole.
Selkes’s youngest son, Hroy.
[5] Bailiff: Lady Selkes’s bedchamber is spacious, CELLAR
well-lit, and comfortable. Lady Selkes had a shrine [1] Storage: This cold, dark space is used for food
to Save-K’nor built into the north wall behind a storage and for a small collection of wines.
sliding panel. [2] Cells: Another of Gometh’s additions to Drydere
[6] Chamberlain: Shesor, Lady Selkes’s cousin manor. The oubliette was used just once.
occupies this spacious chamber. The room has a
bookcase containing a variety of scrolls and tomes.
When not in his office, or attending on his cousin, he
can be found here reading.
[7] Male Servants: The manor’s cook Jegien and Berl
of Tohder, the manor’s one general laborer share
this room. Berl’s aunt, Senan, is one of the village
tenants.
[8] Female Servants: The manor’s alewife Misiela, her ② ①
two teenage nieces, Metta and Milda of Cag, who
work as the manor’s two chambermaids and the
manor’s washerwoman Hygerd of Esh, spinster
sister of the village reeve, share these simple
quarters.

© 2020, S. J. Clark, N. Robin Crossby & Columbia Games, Inc. HârnWorld®

 PLAYER MAP DRYDERE 9

© 2020, S. J. Clark, N. Robin Crossby & Columbia Games, Inc. HârnWorld®

 DRYDERE 10
ADVENTURE HOOK TRILOGY
Assuming Drydere manor is the player characters’ home base (see
sidebar this page), the following adventure hooks, which can be played in
order, are intended to help the PCs develop an emotional affinity for the
village and manor as they successfully defend the area and the local
inhabitants from threats both imagined and real.

Woodland Ruins
Although Sann of Cabor (village location #3) thinks the small stone
blocks he recently found in Drydere Woods close to the Ulmerien River are
an ancient Khuzan ruin, he is wrong. They are ruins, but not Khuzan ruins.
Rather they are the foundation stones of an ancient Sindarin long house.
Nonetheless, Sann continues to explore and dig holes looking for “buried
Khuzan gold.” So far, he has not found anything, except for some old broken
glass.
Making a Home
He has begun to suspect that there is something in the woods watching
Drydere manor can serve as the home
him. Occasionally he will hear movement behind him, and sometimes he base for a group of starting PCs in a new
notices moving shadows out of the side of his eye. He worries about what campaign. The PCs can be integrated
fell beast or spirit is haunting the ruins, but has not told anyone in the village into the Drydere milieu in any way that
as he still wants other villagers to help him look for the lost gold. works for the campaign. Many of the
village locations including the yeoman
Birth of a Demon and village woodworker have adult
The Sindarin ruins in the Drydere Woods are not haunted, but nor are children who can be PCs. Alternately
they uninhabited. Recently, Gaerwulf of Adel, a ranger of the Uthriem Roliri, PCs can be any of the servants from the
manor hall. Finally, PCs could be
a secretive brotherhood of Siemist woodsmen, has set up camp near them.
extended members of the Selkes clan.
So far he has managed to avoid Sann, but is preparing a costume made of
animal skins, feathers, bones, skulls, and antlers. He plans to use the Getting There
costume which he calls the “Demon of Drydere Woods” to scare Sann away Although Drydere is the home base for
from the ruins. In the meantime as he watches Sann poking around the the PCs, undoubtedly, they will travel
ruins, he occasionally makes a noise or small movement to keep Sann within Chybisa. What follows are some
anxious and uncomfortable. typical travel times by foot between
Not occupied by the Uthriem Roliri for innumerable years, the ruins Drydere manor and key locations within
the kingdom.
were once a Rola-Taur (Uthriem Roliri outpost), with a nearby Taur-im-Aina
(holy grove). Gaerwulf has been camping near the ruins to monitor and try Burzyn Castle ¼ hour
Lisryd Manor ½ hour
to minimize the on-going damage to the Drydere Woods by Drydere’s
Aereben Manor 1½ hours
yeoman farmer, Jarst of Myven and the village’s woodcrafter, Frenlos of Onden Keep 2 hours
Hostin (village location #6) as they clear land for Jarst to farm. Namadees Abbey 3 hours
Geda Keep 5 hours
A Northern Incursion These times assume average weather
While meditating in the holy grove, which is near the Ulmerien River, and can vary based on travel mode as
Gaerwulf has occasionally seen a small group of Pagaelin on the river’s well as travel and weather conditions.
north bank. Gaerwulf is not sure what the Pagaelin are doing, but it appears
they are reconnoitering the area. Patron and Advisor
Gaerwulf’s supposition about the Pagaelin is correct. Tired of fruitless The Dowager Lady Selkes is intended to
raids against the fortified and well prepared settlements north of the serve as the PCs’ patron, while her
cousin and advisor Shesor is intended to
Ulmerien, they have decided to raid a softer target south of the river. They
be an information resource for the PCs.
have been searching the south bank for potential targets, and have settled
Shesor is a wealth of knowledge, but will
on Drydere manor and village as it appears they are poorly defended. They have some task or another for the PCs to
plan to cross the river on the night of the next new moon to raid and perform in exchange for information. In
plunder the manor. addition to the various political ties the
Dowager Lady Selkes has as a basis of
plots, her connection to Save-K’nor can
also be a source for different quests.

© 2020, S. J. Clark, N. Robin Crossby & Columbia Games, Inc. HârnWorld®


POLITICAL INTRIGUE
With Lady Selkes’s family connections and frequent
guests who are some of Chybisa’s most elite and
powerful, Drydere manor can be a hotbed of intrigue
and political action. What follows is an outline for one
such situation in which the PCs can become involved.
DRYDERE 11
The PCs can participate in a number of ways,
depending on their role in the household and
relationship to the Dowager Lady Selkes. The PCs can
help with preparations; going to Burzyn to purchase
necessary supplies; help with preparing the manor hall;
ensuring staff are ready, etc.

A Family in Mourning An Unexpected Guest

Recently, the Dowager Lady Selkes’s eldest
granddaughter, Mela of Renashra bore a male child out
of wedlock. The child’s father has not come forward to
acknowledge the bastard infant, who is currently in the
keeping of Mela’s father, Sir Renan Selkes, Knight of
Lisryd. Shortly after the child’s birth, Mela was found
dead, apparently by her own hand.
Court rumors have proliferated speculating various
reasons for why Mela would take her own life. Shesor of
Santri, the dowager’s cousin, does not believe Mela
committed suicide. He directs the PCs to investigate her
death, but advises them that utmost discretion is critical.
If the PCs are successful with this task, they will
learn that Mela indeed was murdered. The assassin was
Kory of Thalizien, a member of the Burzyn Lia-Kavair. It
turns out Kory himself has also been gruesomely
murdered, even though Burzyn’s Lia-Kavair has a
reputation for viciousness and retribution.
What the PCs will not learn, at least yet, is who
hired Kory to kill Mela or why. Nor will they learn why
the Lia-Kavair assassin was subsequently killed or by
whom. Though they might speculate it was to conceal
the first assassination.
Regardless of the outcome of the PCs investigation,
if the PCs fail to be careful and discrete in their actions,
they may alert one or more of the parties responsible for
the murders of Mela and Kory. Thus the PCs themselves
may become the target of assassins.
On the day of the planed luncheon, the dowager’s
son, Sir Renan Selkes escorting his wife, Lady Welyn and
their daughter Merel arrive at Drydere manor in the
early morning. The dowager seems surprised at her
son’s presence, as he was not expected to be there. They
retreat to the private hall to talk.
It is not long before Sir Renan’s raised voice can be
heard from the private hall. He is clearly upset that his
mother would even consider Balesir as a match for his
surviving daughter. He asserts it is out of the question.
Sir Renan declares that his dead daughter Mela had a
document bearing Prince Balesir’s seal and signed by the
prince acknowledging his paternity of her infant son.
Finally, he confesses that the document has been stolen
and he believes the prince is behind his daughter’s
death. Sir Renan then storms out and leaves Drydere.
The key to the success of this scene is to ensure the
PCs overhear the dowager and her son, or otherwise
learn of the contents of the argument.

A Luncheon is Planned
Chybisan noble families know very well that Queen
Fairela is a matchmaker and something of a busybody.
The queen is constantly reviewing lists of noble families
to find an appropriate bride for her son, Crown Prince
Balesir.
Despite her grief, Lady Welyn Selkes, Mela’s mother
is actively searching for a husband for her second
daughter, Merel. To help her daughter-in-law, Lady
Welyn, the Dowager Lady Selkes has invited the Queen
to lunch with her daughter-in-law and granddaughter
Merel at Drydere. The Dowager is not expecting the
Queen to consider her granddaughter Merel, as a
potential bride for Balesir, but does hope that the
Queen’s penchant for matchmaking may help find a
possible suitor for her granddaughter’s hand.

© 2020, S. J. Clark, N. Robin Crossby & Columbia Games, Inc. HârnWorld®

 DRYDERE 12
The Queen is Announced
The queen’s entourage arrives at noon. The queen is
accompanied by her ladies-in-waiting, and Lady Meliara
Afaelin, the chamber seneschal, who coordinates the
queen’s many social events. The queen’s party is
escorted by four High Guard knights, led by Sir Rithalyr
Legith, a knight commander of the High Guard.
The dowager and her family receive the queen in
the great hall, giving the place of honor to the queen.
Two of the High Guard knights remain near the queen,
while the other two stand guard at the hall’s entrance.
Luncheon is pleasant but the Selkes are all tense. The
queen attributes it to the family being in mourning.
Outside of the main hall, the PCs can notice Sir
Rithalyr Legith, the knight commander of the Royal
Guard engaged in conversation with the dowager’s
cousin Shesor. After the queen’s party leaves, Shesor
meets with the PCs. He informs them that Sir Rithalyr
knows about the document in which Prince Balesir
acknowledges paternity of Mela’s child. Shesor adds that
Sir Rithalyr claims Mela threatened the prince with
publicizing it, and that is why she is dead. Sir Rithalyr
also knows Kory stole the scroll when he killed Mela and
who he passed it to before he was murdered. Finally, he
knows where the document is and is preparing an
expedition for the following month to retrieve it. Shesor
wants the PCs to join Sir Rithalyr’s expedition.
© 2020, S. J. Clark, N. Robin Crossby & Columbia Games, Inc.
An Unexpected Caller
A ten-day later, Sir Martis Afaelin, Baron of Aereben
arrives at Drydere unexpectedly. Sir Martis has brought
the Dowager Lady Selkes’s grandson, Rance, with him.
Rance is a page in the Baron’s household. The baron
expresses his condolences at the family’s loss. He also
mentions the recent visit by the queen, commenting he
learned of it in passing from his cousin, the Lady Meliara
Afaelin, the chamber seneschal.
The baron’s other traveling companion is Sir
Voronir Gailir, Bailiff of Dunlorik, one of the baron’s fiefs.
While the baron spends time with the dowager and
Rance in the private hall, the PCs will have the
opportunity to converse with Sir Voronir.
As it turns out, Sir Voronir is also aware of the
recent luncheon, and provides his negative opinion of
Prince Balesir as a match for a lady. The ruthless prince
is ruled by his passions and willing to employ nefarious
means to deal with obstacles in his life. He has a well
deserved reputation as a womanizer and is undergoing
the early stages of syphilis. Sir Voronir confides the
prince has passed on the disease to Emba, his daughter.
Though the bailiff accepted the prince’s assistance in
arranging for her to marry a manor lord, Sir Voronir still
detests the prince and wishes to see his downfall. If the
PCs express any sympathy or a similar view he invites
them to Dunlorik manor to help develop such a plan.
Saving a Scion
Crown Prince Balesir, 20, is the king’s only son and
although popular with many nobles, he has no shortage
of enemies. Now that his sister has married, he worries
about his own future if she were to have a child. Hence
he tolerates the queen’s matchmaking activities
believing that a proper marriage and legitimate heir
would strengthen his position, while illegitimate children
work in the opposite direction. Thus when Mela
threatened him with publicizing the signed document
acknowledging his paternity of her bastard, he had her
killed. But the killer kept the scroll.
Although he still wants the scroll, Balesir has had
enough, and is now going to end what he perceives as
the ongoing threat to his future inheritance by having
Mela’s infant child murdered. After a first botched
assassination attempt, the Dowager Lady Selkes,
realized the danger and directs the PCs to take the child
into hiding. The PCs will now be pursued by the prince’s
assassins, until the infant or the killers are dead.
Author’s Note: This outline is just one approach to
involving PCs in the “The Bastardy Document” plot, which
first appeared in Hârnlore 6 (CGI #4906) and subsequently in
Onden Keep (CGI #5602) both of which are currently available
from Columbia Games Inc.
HârnWorld®