Agirni

Agirni Hold
Anti-Magick Circle
Sovereignty:	Ithaqua
Vogt:	Arian
Thanes:	Mitra

Nestled in the cold black pines of the Ithaqua Forest lies the fortified compound of Agirni Hold. The Norrjin men who reside there are barbaric in nature, lacking many social graces, though they do possess great physical prowess and a veritable genius for the art of thievery. Accustomed to the hard and brutal laws of nature in that harsh realm, the barbarians of Agirni Hold long ago turned to raiding and other unsavory pursuits as a means of survival. Among their ranks, they boast some of the most cunning opportunists, skilled hand-to-hand fighters, and talented bird trainers in the land. It would be dangerous indeed to underestimate the ability and resolve of the 'unwashed' savages that make Agirni Hold their home.

Agirni produces and sells crops, ore, and lumber commodities. In the past, the Hold has fallen victim to a beast known as "the Culler", who killed many norrjin men and captured children from the Hold.

History

On the 8th of Artificium, in the year 562 AD, Agirni Hold was attacked by Horde warriors led by Gherok, flanked by the goblins Mimrik and Braahl. The citizens of Ithaqua defended the Hold against the Horde, at the cost of great damage to the towne of Kadar, which was also targeted in the same attack.

Landmarks

• A throne of petrified bones - These heaps of old, war-torn bones are crushed upon one another to form an edifice that belittles all that lies beneath it. The bones hold the appearance of mineral-laden stone, some casting imperfect prisms in their fossilized state upon the walls. Not one bone seems to be separated from its fellows, as if fractured together by some weight strong enough to snap them in twain. All of them jut out at erratic angles, indicating that this was once not a throne, but a collection of bones that were marked by burial sites a long time ago. Splinters of iron painted shields are forced down on the bones near the center, forming steps up to the throne - rusting glaives, arrows, and grave-clothes scattered through the areas along the sides of the concave seat. The high back of the chair is constructed from the skull of a giant behemoth, and extends past the last few skulls and weaponry that line the crown of the animal. Intricate yet elegant glyphs rest upon the pale surface, though some are distorted by the marks of some great beast dragging its claws down the throne. The head of a dire wolf lingers on the edge of one of the arms of the throne, still attached to its fur which is sprawled across the shield below. It weighs about 250 pounds.

Eye of the Osprey Tavern

A tavern owned and operated by Ghordun. Its menu of wares includes:

• peppermint cordial-laced snow
• a wooden skewer of baked potatoes
• a string of roast lemmings
• a slab of red meat
• ale (served in a black pine mug)

Shoppe of the Crying Wolf

A shop operated by Borthel. It sells items such as:

• a sharp switchblade
• a branding iron
• a pair of iron shackles
• a fur-lined cloak
• a bone vial
• a pair of warm snow boots

Notable Denizens

• Graelam, the Gatesman of Agirni Hold - His height and body mass are typical of most young Norrjin men, and his hair is a pale blonde, his face marred by a scar that does not detract from his devilish smile. His hands are roughened from his work with the ropes of the palisade gates.

• Ghordun, the barkeep - Brawny arms and ragged clothing are the first items you notice as you glance at Ghordun, the Agirni barkeep. Indeed, on first impression he appears to be more apt to guzzle his own libations than pour and sell them. A strong, lantern jaw is made nearly invisible by a thick, reddish beard that extends from the apples of his cheeks to dangle down to his chest. His clothes look to be rather dishevelled and mismatched, as though they were obtained through means other than studious shopping. A goodly amount of dirt is visible under his ragged fingernails, likely giving some folks second thoughts about drinking or eating something he would serve. He owns and operates the Eye of the Osprey Tavern.

• Yoren, the postmaster - Looking every bit as surly as his Agirni brethren, Yoren appears to be less than enthused with his role in the towne. Though clearly a rather barbaric sort, with various scars adorning his arms and face, some of the recent scratches and scars look to have been inflicted not by combat, but by the feathered couriers of his trade. Despite this grave indignity, Yoren is clearly very strong and lean, and a set of brass knuckles hanging off his belt indicates that his savage disposition is no ruse.

• Borthel, the shopkeeper - Tall and lanky, Borthel looks to be one of the more seedy members of the norrjin race, with a jutting chin, pointed nose, and beady eyes that seem to perpetually shift about his surroundings. A long mane of scraggly red hair is tied in a loose ponytail, hanging down his back, while a sparse beard rims a sneering mouth that exposes teeth that seem far more wolfish than they ought. Fidgety hands drum out nervous rhythms on various surfaces, and his stance befits one who is constantly thinking of making a surreptitious escape. His clothes are significantly classier than those of his Agirni brethren, though none of them seem to fit him all that well. He operates the Shoppe of the Crying Wolf.

Clan Bonecaster

• Kalchas Bonecaster - Thick leathers and heavy furs bind this elf's gaunt form, hiding most of his emaciated body from view, save for where his cloak parts. Normally standing at around five feet in height, Kalchas Bonecaster is hunched low in an attempt to stay warm from the biting winds. His milky white eyes peer out, unseeing, from beneath a simple hood, and stringy auburn hair frames a disturbingly slender face. Threadbare, a patchwork scarf hangs around his neck, once there to keep the chill at bay but now only a part of his routine. There is no malice in this man, nor does there seem to be any strength; his prime perhaps never came, though his expression suggests some hint of keen awareness. He is Relg Bonecaster's son.

Clan Ironfeather

• Aslag Ironfeather - She is a lean Norrjin woman, her hook-nose accentuated by the piercing, green eyes that peer out from her frame of red hair. Her hair has been tied back in a makeshift braid with a thong of sinew and pieces of bone that dangle down. Aslag's left ear has been pierced and set with ivory, many bone charms draping down to her shoulder that rattle with each movement of her head. Her skin is wind-bitten and pale from the lack of sunlight in the north, yet this woman is still quite beautiful for one her age.

• Olwyn Ironfeather - Dark brunette hair rests in mats and braids upon this norrjin woman's head, while an assortment of feathers spill across her shoulders marking her as one of the Ironfeather clan. Wild strands of silver and grey mark her as being a bit older, but nevertheless alert with a rigid, looming sort of posture. Her features are gaunt and angled sharply like most Agirni women, yet still somehow holding a rough, hardy beauty. Her dark hazel eyes are underlined with bruise-colored circles of exhaustion and are reddened from crying. She is Raum's sister, and the wife of Oughata, the Hawkmaster.

• Oughata Ironfeather, the Hawkmaster - The word barbarian does little to describe this Norrjin man. His bare chest and entire upper torso are covered in a myriad of tattoos that interlock with each other in a chaotic fashion to give the impression of a larger image being slightly hidden by his mass of unkempt raven black hair. Grey eyes pierce through the hair, and always seem to be paired with an unwavering scowl as he goes about his usual business. Modified black leather falconry gloves cover his hands and much of his arms, however the occasional movement allows you to observe that the tops of the fingers have had talon-like claws attacked to the leather to create beauty and danger in one. Most of his attire is covered in the remains of feathers, a belt of the same leather equipped with all manners of tools required to refine predators of the air. A long-tailed auburn hawk rests upon his left forearm, clicking conversationally. He is Olwyn's husband.

• Raum Ironfeather - Clad in dark leathers and thick pelts, this Norrjin man is a lean figure compared to most of his people within Agirni Hold. His scruff of a beard has been shorn short, threads of silver hair betraying his age. Raum's hook-like nose is surmounted by narrow green eyes, and raven black hair that has been tied back into a makeshift braid with a leather thong stringed with bone. A smaller braid strung with strips of leather and raven feathers hangs just before his ear, clattering with each movement of his head. A variety of knives has been strapped across his chest, bone hilts peeking out from underneath the great cloak that he has cast over his shoulder. Further, a chainmail hauberk of stehl dully shines out from beneath his heavy leather garb and furs. His left hand is covered in a steel gauntlet of claw-like blades, while in his right hand he clutches a bone knife, idly sharpening it to a razor edge. He is Olwyn's brother.

Clan Osgarson

• Brannok Osgarson - A young man of the Hold's fighting militia, Brannok Osgarson bears grievous wounds that line his wracked body. Tall and lithe, Brannok's body is coated in a thin sheen of sweat from the deep throes of his fever that seem to give no end to his torment. His skin is deathly pale, drawn tight over his muscles and his once full face is now a gaunt reminder of his former state. A swathe of blonde, shaggy hair hangs about his head, matted down into a tangle of curls and an untrimmed beard barely covers his blue, swollen lips. Most harrowing of all is the great black branding mark in an undeterminable shape that stands out cruelly from his barren chest. Oozing green pus, the flesh surrounding it appears to bear marks of decay, but does not spread further from the cruel brand. He is Ferian's husband.

• Ferian Osgarson - A young woman of the Hold, Ferain's blonde hair has been tightly tied back into a bun against her head, and covered with a piece of white linen. Her hands, deathly white, have several dark stains permanently left on her skin which she seems not to notice as she works. Freckles have been spread across the bridge of her nose, and her light blue eyes seem to look on with hope as she completes her tasks. She is Brannok's wife.

• Herjan Osgarson - A beast of a man, Herjan Osgarson has cast a massive bear skin cloak over his body that barely covers his broad, barrel-like chest. The cloak itself has preserved the great claws of the dire bear intact, seemingly wrapping around Herjan's expansive shoulders. A mass of red hair is braided behind his back in the traditional Agirni style, beaded and reaching far past his waist. Similarly, his massive beard reaches down to his paunch of a stomach, more beads and bones braiding throughout the red mane, rattling with each movement of his head. His face is weathered by the wind and snow, frostbite marking him around his flat nose, while Herjan's cheeks are a deep red, ruddy from windburn he has endured for many years; all leave scars about his countenance. He wears a patchwork kilt of various hides from the north, each a mark of his trophies in great hunts. Never relaxing his grip on the haft of his gargantuan weapon, the warchief wields a great warhammer which rests across his lap.

Flora and Fauna

• a wooly brown lemming - Furry and near the size of a hefty mouse, this rodent is covered in a thick brown and cream pelt and has pert ears that swivel back and forth atop its tiny, rounded head. Its stubby tail flicks back and forth as it darts on short legs and tiny paws, bent on some unknown but evidently urgent mission. A woolly brown lemming looks relatively helpless. It weighs about 1 pound.

• a gleaming alabaster ermine - The gleaming white ermine has dark eyes that peer out from a round face bearing a continuously wriggling nose of pink. Her soft, fluffy fur is so white that the rest of the world appears almost dim in comparison, and the fur where her sharp claws meet her feet are stained pink from the blood of recent prey. A gleaming alabaster ermine appears to lack strength. It weighs 7 ounces.

• a round-faced harrier - When looking directly at this bird from the front its face resembles that of an owl. Its profile belies the fact that it is quite a different bird as its head is long and narrow. The feathers of its back and wings are grey save for the black-tipped feathers at the end its wings. The belly of this harrier sports solid white feathers. Its long legs lead to razor-sharp talons. A round-faced harrier does not look particularly dangerous. It weighs about 2 pounds and 1 ounce.

• a silver flecked hawk - This predatory hawk bears feathers of black that are lightly flecked with silver. The hawk is over-large, with a wingspan as tall as a human, each feather gleaming distinctly. The head of the hawk bears pin feathers that are silver, giving the hawk the appearance of being crowned in silver. Talons of dark yellow are in contrast with the unusual coloring of the hawk, and his sharp beak bears the same saffron hue. A silver flecked hawk is a humble-looking creature. It weighs about 2 pounds and 8 ounces.

Quests and Activities

• Eggs for the Hawkmaster - Oughata, the Hawkmaster, requires eggs from three species of bird - the Ithaquan kestrel, the Redwood eagle, and the Siennan condor.