Spear Peak

Local Sites

Map of the local area Luzern - Berne.

Map of the area Fribourg and Lac Neuchatel.

Luzern

Luzern is dominated and owned by the Abbey of St Leodegar (St Leger) & St Mauritius (St Maurice) founded in 735. This Abbey church is a daughter house of the powerful German Abbey of Murbach, one of the few Abbeys run by the Augustinian Canons (most Augustinian houses have converted to become Premonstrean). As a daughter house the Abbey in Luzern has no Abbot of its own, but is ruled by the Abbot in Murbach. In practice this means that Luzern's Prior is in charge there. As well as prayer the Abbey runs a school, a hospital and an almshouse, taking part in the daily life of the town.

Luzern is the market town for the folk of the surrounding area, including much of Unterwalden. Produce also travels along the lake from the isolated valleys of Uri and Schwyz. Although the town is owned by the Abbey, most administrative matters are handled by a town council elected by the burghers (permanent adult male residents with a secure income - in practice the senior craftsmen and merchants). Market times and dues and the upkeep of several town watchmen, plus the upkeep of public buildings are the responsibility of the council. Expenses are paid by tolls and market dues. Town rents are the property of the Abbey and are collected by its representatives.

The town has three market squares. In the centre of town are the Weinmarkt, surrounded by the guildhalls and craft shops, and the Kornmarkt, which contains the Rathaus. South of the river is the Hirschenplatz where livestock (mostly hogs) are traded. Between the Kornmarkt and the Abbey can be found the Kapellplatz with the fairly new (built 1178) chrurch of St Peter.

The lake provides Luzern with both food and trade. The fishermen of the town inhabit the poorer areas south of the River Reuss, and have their own chapel of St Judes close by. The boats from communities along the lake tie up at quays close to the Kapellplatz.

Historically (ie it hasn't happened in the saga - yet) the 13th century sees Luzern grow into a city of some 8000 people as German-Italian trade switches to the newly opened St Gotthard pass. This became passable early in the century when a bridge of chains and planks was buit along the Schollenen Defile. This was called the Devils Bridge (Teufelsbrucke), built at his instigation, and paid for with the soul of the first to cross it - a billy-goat driven accross by the crafty people of Uri (this wouldn't work in ArM as animals don't have souls!).

Personalities

Prior Paulus - Runs the Abbey on a day-to-day basis. Seems to be fairly tolerant of most things including magi.

Brother Gregorius - The Abbey librarian. A supersticious, blinkered, bigot. Does not want anything to do with the Covenant and claims Mt Pilatus is haunted by Devils and Ghosts. His "learning" relates to scribing and calligraphy, little else. Prone to gossip and spreading rumours, particularly bad ones.

Francesco Contarini - Venetian Merchant. Agent for the Bank of St Michael. Has been sent here because the Bank has had "foretellings" that Luzern will be an important place "soon". The Bank of St Michael is also the house that deals with Karens estate. Continari is, at present, playing host to Enrico's daughter Madonna.

The Local Area

Along the road from Luzern to the Napf the majority of folk live in large extended family farmhouses. They are not villages as such but working farms based mostly on livestock. Most folk (and their animals in winter) live in one large building.

The forests arounf the Hills of Floating Eyes are well known for various Faerie activity. Overall the area has a low-level Faerie Aura. There are various regiones scattered through the forest, including at least one moving regio containing a Faerie "court". How much notice other faeries take of theis "king" and "queen" is unknown.

Pasaquine

A small village on the edge of the faerie inhabited woods, a couple of miles NW of Luzern. The village is owned by the monastery and boasts a smithy and an expensive but good mill. More details can be found in the supplement Pact of Pasaquine. Erwin the Tinker has family here.

Vezay

A small village close to the Vierwaldstatttersee below Mt Pilatus, owned by Baron Tamita of Nidwalden. The village has had various troubles with the infernal and is the original home of Sebastian, on of the Covenant grogs. More details can be found in the now reissued supplement, Festival of the Damned. The grog Sebastian originates here.

Engelberg

This Benedictine monastery is surrounded on three sides by high mountains. Founded in 1120 this is a minor pilgramage site, but is not easy to reach. The abbey burns down 3 times in its life before being rebuilt in 1730.

Langnau

A small village owned by the knight of Fer castle (presently occupied by bandits), on the road between Berne and Luzern. It boasts neither church nor inn, but is remarkable for its cheese, the best examples of which are displayed at its Midsummer festival. The village suffered badly in the events of 1203 and is still a focus of attention for the bandit mercenaries of Fer castle.

The grog Stephan often visits the village as he has found a welcome there despite his disfigured face. A matron referred to as Auntie Nelda mothers him whilst he is there.

Berne

A very new town, founded in 1191 by Duke Bercthold V of Zahringen. Named after the bear he hunted whilst surveying the site, which seemed to come to life during the celebratory fair after the hunt. Unlike many towns, Berne is ruled by several of the Dukes knights who are enfoeffed with the surrounding area and who live in the town itself.

Enrico's contact here is Andreus, personal servant to the Ritter von Allricht.

Fribourg

Founded in 1157 by Duke Bercthold IV of Zahringen, at a strategic ford on the Sarine (Saane), Fribourg is a stronghold that sits squarely on the linguistic dividing line between French speaking Burgundy, and German speaking Swabia. As its name suggests the town charges no trade tariffs.

Murten

This small fortified town, also founded by Duke Bercthold IV, is bi-lingual like Fribourg. Perched on the small Murtensee, the burghers can see the mists surrounding the Covenant of Lac Neuchatel from their ramparts. Every sunday priests and citizens wlak the entire circumference of the walls, chanting prayers and singing hymns, to ward off the evil. Since they started this there have been markedly fewer reports of bad dreams and strange turns in the town.

Avenches

A small town sited at the edge of the ruins of Aventicum, a Roman colony of some 20,000 people. The town has been built on the old capitol of the ruins. Townsfolk regularly raid the ruins for building materials, but stear clear during the night when ghosts are said to wander freely. Diabolists used to frequent the ruins, but have regularly been seen off by the magi of Lac Neuchatel Covenant, who regard the ruins as their personal playground. From a hidden source inside the ruins the magi collect Intellego vis in the form of clear, pure water.

Ownership of the town was the main excuse for the war between Baron Albrecht of Lac Neuchatel and the Bishop of Lausanne. Both claimed it belonged to them, although the Baron had appointed its provosts for years. With the Baron dead, and the Bishop mad, its current status hangs by a thread. Lac Neuchatel seem to have contacts and resources within the town, although to what extent is unknown.


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