Staunton Bluffs
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This section contains canon info from officially published sources |
| Staunton Bluffs | |
|---|---|
| [[Image:|350px]] | |
| Culture Level | |
| Ecology |  Full
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| Climate & Terrain | TemperatePlains, forests, cliffs, swamps, hills[1]
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| Year Formed | 630 BC[2]
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| Population | approx. 1000[3] |
| Races (%) | Humans |
| Languages | |
| Religions | None mentioned |
| Government | Direct Democracy[4] |
| Ruler(s) | Sir Torrence Bleysmith[4] |
| Darklord(s) | Sir Torrence Bleysmith |
| Nationality | Stauntonian[5] |
| Analog | |
| Related Categories | |
| Locations in Staunton Bluffs | |
| Transportation in Staunton Bluffs | |
| Inhabitants of Staunton Bluffs | |
| Former Inhabitants of Staunton Bluffs | |
| Flora of Staunton Bluffs | |
| Fauna of Staunton Bluffs | |
| Native Monsters of Staunton Bluffs | |
Originally part of the county of Staunton in the Kingdom of Mourette, Staunton Bluffs is now but a tiny, bucolic island of terror of only four and a half miles on a side.[6] The rustic, uncomplicated lives of Staunton Bluff's citizens conceal a history written in blood and treachery. Like the land of Mordent, Staunton Bluffs is riddled with the ghosts of past dark deeds.
Perhaps the worst of the Bluffs' spirits is Sir Torrence Bleysmith, the darklord and hidden ruler of the domain. Although he does not rule in the sense that he openly plays a role in the government of Staunton Bluffs, both the living and the dead obey the order he enforces within the domain. Bleysmith resides in Castle Stonecrest, his residence in life.[4] The treacherous, cowardly nature that damned him and his domain continues on in his ghostly state.
Biology
Flora
Fauna
Native Horrors
The following monsters can be encountered in Staunton Bluffs, especially in the eastern half of the domain.[7]
Geography
The domain is cut in half going east to west by a large ridge of cliffs.[6] The eastern and western halves share some common traits but are surprisingly different in character. An unnamed road runs through the western side of the domain, through the town of Willisford, and up into the Bluffs, passing into Castle Stonecrest.[8]
Prairies and plains dominate the land west of the bluffs[6], with the occasional clump of trees, any of them too small to be considered a proper forest. The quality of the land is not exceptional, but the farmers make a decent living through hard work. They use the Willis River for irrigation and the peat bogs to heat their homes.[8]
Contrasted with the western half of the domain, Staunton Bluffs' eastern half is lush, beautiful, and fertile, if hilly, marshy, and excessively damp. However, few people choose to live here, as the nighttime changes the atmosphere from one of beauty to one of horrors. Many menaces walk the night, from the natural to the unnatural.[8]
Rivers
Willis River, runs east to west along the southern part of the domain.[6]
Towns
Government
Fitting the domain's low population, Staunton possesses no formal body of government. The people govern through direct democracy and monthly gatherings of the people. Staunton Bluffs' citizens also comprise its (informal) militia, with citizens taking up arms determined by proximity to the location of trouble.[4]
A second source of law pervades the realm, the will of Sir Torrence Bleysmith. His orders exist mostly to keep the living apart form the undead and vice versa. The creatures of the night are not permitted travel west past the bluffs, nor are the living permitted trespass against Castle Stonecrest.[4]
History
The current people are not of native Stauntonian stock. Rather, they are Avergnites, descendants of the invaders that conquered the County of Staunton, what Staunton Bluffs was before being taken by the Mists.[9]
Although seemingly peaceful backwater now, Staunton Bluff's past is one of wars, bloodshed, and treason. Under the rule of the ambitious Count Rupert Bleysmith, the County of Staunton waged holy war against the nearby Duchy of Avergne.[10] Although all his progeny took after him, two Count Rupert's sons, Sir Torrence Bleysmith and Sir August Bleysmith, viewed each other as particularly bitter rivals.[11]
As Count Rupert rode off to war, he trusted Sir August with keeping things running at home. Jealousy of this slight drove Torrence to treason, and he conspired with Commander Pierre Willis against his brother. Torrence lured August and his best men into a trap where Willis proceeded to slaughter them.
Yet Torrence's treachery brought upon not only the downfall of his brother but also the downfall of his father's land, as Torrence the betrayer was betrayed in return by Willis. The latter led troops into the heart of Staunton, looting and laying waste to everything in their way. Although Torrence escaped, the invaders easily overran the Bleysmith Family and razed their castle.[10]
Torrence slipped away and later used a perverse ritual of black magic to drive the Stauntonian peasants into a battle frenzy to strike against the Averginites.[10] Although the occupiers were initially surprised by the counterattack, they quickly rallied against the peasants and wiped them out. Torrence hanged himself to escape the consequences of his evil. Yet the Mists captured him and some of the land to create the domain as it is today.[9]
Over the years, the Avergnites settled in the western half of the domain and built new lives from the ashes of the deceased Stauntonian peasantry. As a ghost cursed with the inability to affect them, Torrence could do little to stop them.[9]
References
- ↑ Islands of Terror p.68-69
- ↑ John W. Mangrum's Unofficial Ravenloft Timeline p.14
- ↑ Islands of Terror p.70
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Islands of Terror p.71
- ↑ Islands of Terror p.65
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Islands of Terror p.68
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Islands of Terror p.83
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Islands of Terror p.69
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Islands of Terror p.66
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Islands of Terror p.65
- ↑ Islands of Terror p.64
Data from the Ravenloft Catalogue
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Islands of Terror - pp64-82 | |
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Islands of Terror - poster map |
