The Lands of the Night Cattle
Connects to: 27.03, 29.07, 29.14.01, 29.14.07, 33.00, 33.16, 34.05, 41.02 and the Kingswood.
On the chalk hills that ride up from the Kingswood live humans, not in towns or villages, but only a series of dark and ancient keeps. These keeps are boarded up tightly during the day and admit no visitors. At night (and only at night for that is when the elves of the Kingswood are safely within their Holt (29.07)) the night men come out and graze their albino cattle in the surrounding fields. The unblemished white skin of these cows makes them highly prized as sacrificial victims by the priests of several cults.
All of these keeps are well away from the woods, except the one inhabited by Lord Olmsted (31.04) and his daughters. Although the perils of the Kingswood lie between here and the lands of men and dwarves, trade still passes through the Lands of the Night Cattle along a curious road.
From the western plains, past the edge of the Kingswood and up into the northern mountains to the Titan’s Skull (33.00) lies the Welt Road. It was built by the men who herd the night cattle, who dig deep trenches at night, raise support beams and then cover the road with dirt and sod. These men, who cringe at the sight of the sun, can then scuttle between their keeps during the day, which also makes it easier for caravans to travel east into their lands. (See Welt Road for more).
Hex Summary
27.04 (The Order of the Broken Chain): becoming the leader of a growing slave rebellion was never part of his plans.
28.04 (The Market Pits): cultists and sorcerers come from across the lands to buy the unblemished Night Cattle.
29.01 (The Rustler’s Guild): whether he’s an especially strong halfling or a dwarf under a curse, Drogo the Baldfaced is one of the most storied thieves and cattle rustlers of these lands.
30.03 (The Blackhorn Keep): a sleeping princess, attempted cannibalism, burning stakes, decapitation, flying cats, what more could you possibly want?
31.04 (Olmsted Keep): the home of the half-elves who monopolize trade between the elves and the outside world.
Connections
- The night cattle are used by the Brothers of the Grove (33.16) to help guide the process by which the Doge of the City of Shuttered Windows is selected and are used in the wicked auguries of the Whispering Sisters (29.14.07). They are carefully inspected when they are brought into the City (29.14.01).
- Cat feathers (34.05) fetch a high price in here.
- A strange tree has been eating cows while the herdmen blame each other for the disappearances (27.03).
Hooks
- What cults value these albino cows for sacrifices?
- Who are the individual lords who rule the various keeps of the night men?
- Why do some elves want human infants?
