Halfway House

Once an underground research and containment Vault of the nocthian nation, then a vampiric nest, now the home base for the adventuring group known as Half Measures.

Located about 10 miles from the Jaruud border in a nearly uninhabited part of the Caldera, it is quickly becoming a center of trade for the region. Formally allied with Byssia, it anchors their efforts to resettle that region.

Permanent Residents as of 253 AC

• Fiona ka'Anu presides and oversees the area, raising Illia ka'Anu. Mostly raises herbs (medicinal and...otherwise).
• Kaz No-Clan is chief artificer and interface with/watcher over the Deep Mind, whose central node is located there.
• Ivanor the Heretic is the prime religious leader there, worshiping Elphas both as Elemental lord of Ice but also as Lord of the Merciful Moons (the latter being the heresy).
• Tala Moon-sword is the chief of security. She and Ivanor butt heads on religious matters, but maintain somewhat of a grudging respect as fellow ex-prisoners.
• Cookie is the goblin chief cook. Some say she's really in charge. Makes a killer stew.
• Joran Halfblood is the half-human (night's child), half-orc (wyrmholder) business manager for the trade operations.
• Elizabeth Ink-finger (an assumed name) is the sage-in-residence, formerly of the Sages, but left the dig at Old Wyrmhold after threats to her life due to the pieces of the Deep Mind as well as other secrets.

Other Area Residents

The Three Ducks mercenary company provides area security. This band of giant-kin and jazuu was originally hired by Half Measures to assist in the Plane of Ice, but after their leadership was killed or remained behind to serve Elphas, they became a permanent group of hirelings. Not particularly smart, but tough and loyal.

A group of Sigani dwarves have made a permanent enclave nearby as part of the treaty. They observe and learn, as well as providing mechanical services.

A detachment of Byssian march wardens has an outpost nearby, as part of a renewed desire by the new Byssian High Warden Yonas Akrotiz to provide better security in the region.

Merchants traveling to and from the Jaruud, the Oronar, the Scalefoot, and the Sigani are frequently found camping nearby.

A small, but growing, town has sprung up. Currently only about 200 permanent residents, but the area is growing rapidly. Both those disaffected by Jaruud and the local goblins and Byssians and Wyrmholders live here--all are welcome as long as they are peaceful.