Connects to: 10.09, 10.10, 13.06, 14.09, 16.09, 29.14.47, 30.15 and the City of Shuttered Windows.
The Bolger Freehold is home to the (very) extended family of Bolger halflings. In their lands they raise thoroughbred racing ostriches, vegetables, wheat and large families as well as maintaining their famous giant bee honey meadery (with honey from 10.10).
They are a close-knit bunch, with most Bolgers marrying distant cousins. This has its benefits, but it also makes Bolger politics incredibly nasty as most local issues soon become overshadowed by what the other party’s aunt did. It eventually got so bad that after the death of Honorius Bolger in the wake of the Great Noodle Scandal, that the halflings began to hire mayors from among the tall folk in order to have neutral arbiters. They are called Plenipotentiaries for the Maintenance of Comity and the Promotion of Weal and have almost unlimited power during their tenure, but they can be impeached and in one case the impeachment proceedings began during the dessert course of the inauguration feast. These Plenipotentiaries can be nearly anyone but are often the younger sons of the nobility of the City of Shuttered Windows, with which the Bolgers maintain warm relations.
Some of the Bolger family has even settled in and around Shuttered most famously Bogarus Bolger, a gladiatorial manager at the Wedding Band (30.15). It seems like there is one child like Bogarus in every Bolger family, a child who is not content with the quiet life at the freehold who causes their parents great stress as they end up doing anything from trying to apprentice themselves to wizards to taking up painting.
Currently many of the Bolgers want to hire on a new Plenipotentiary as there is much work to be done. Mead supplies are running low as the ettins (13.06) demand much of it and seldom pay and the giant bees themselves have been dying for some reason that eludes the halfings. In addition, there is much planning to be done before the next Purple Smoke Derby, which is traditionally held before planting so that the dung of the champion ostrich can fertilize the fields.
Connections:
- The halflings ignore the nearly “haunted” statue (10.09) but stay well clear of it.
- Alfonse (16.09) once stayed here for a time to lie low. Does anyone remember him?
- A clay golem is marching straight for this Freehold (14.09).
- Elharen the Silent has come here to seek aid in her personal war against the gnolls of the Burning Lands.
Hooks:
- Who is the current Plenipotentiary for the Maintenance of Comity and the Promotion of Weal and how close are they to resigning in frustration or being impeached?
- Aside from Bogarus, who are some of the other black sheep of the Bolger family?
- Why is the Purple Smoke Derby called that?
- Does giant bee mead have any special properties?
