As you travel west among small, secluded settlements hidden in small valleys, you arrive at a large clearing - which is a rare sight in the western forests - surrounding a hill.

The old keep on the top of the hill has seen better days. This is the famed "Prosperity Keep" itself, currently the home of the Old Lady, the duchess who's in charge of this frontier. The last time she made an appearance in town was before your time, decades ago; ever since, she's been fading away deep within her cold castle, the last descended of a once-proud family, her lands falling to the hands of bandits, beasts and worse.

The tiny walled town at the foot of the hill, also called Prosperity keep, is the last bastion of civilization… although that might be a bit of a stretch. This tight gathering of two-storied stone and wood buildings, with shadowy streets and dark alleys, is known as a haven for criminals and ne'er-do-well. What stands here for law and authority is either corrupted or simply absent. And yet the people of this town keep the peace themselves, more or less, with an uneasy tensions between gangs, guilds and guards.

With a steady influx of strangers, exiles, and would-be adventurers, there's always someone new and unexpected in the streets, even if they’re gone after a day or a week. The town stands at the edge of the Rush river, the unofficial borders of the Dusk Barrens. It's rainy, muddy, dangerous and gloomy - but this will be your home.

Ashenport by Mike Schley

The population of Prosperity Keep, including outlying farms, woodmen and trappers, is around 400; mostly humans, with some halflings and the occasional dwarf of elf.

• Crime: The twelve watchmen of the garrison are known as the Lady's Riders, and they're in charge of keeping the roads clear and the streets safe. They fail miserably at both.
• Selling loot: Gems and other worthy treasures can easily be sold to local fencers, for 50% of their worth.
• Crossing the river: Fishermen from the docks are willing to ferry adventurers over to the western bank of the Rush river, for the cost of 1 coin per person (5 in winter). There used to be a stone bridge across the river, but it's been in ruins for more than a hundred years.

Notable Locations

The Courthouse Inn

This is where you sleep, it's the only inn in town. The owner, Sergio, is a pale-skinned man of unclear heritage, or possibly a fey, who arrived at town a few years back and bought the old courthouse in the middle of town; it hasn't seen use in decades anyway. He transformed the place into an inn, which he manages to keep perfectly safe for visitors, with some obviously magical, though unknown, means.

The local crime population (in other words, the local population) quickly learned to respect the man and his word. Sergio is considered the go-to arbiter for most disputes, and so The Courthouse does indeed serve justice.

The Adventurers’ Table

The Courthouse features "The Adventures’ Table", reserved for people who dare the Dusk Barrens, as well as the notice board, known as The Rumor Pool.

Hirelings

The Courthouse attracts various adventuring types, and hirelings are always available here; the GM draws on a random table to see who’s available every week.

• Hirelings are generally less capable than PCs.
• A hireling demands a fair share of the loot.
• Hirelings are generally loyal, and are ran by you, although the GM can take the reigns when he sees fit. If a PC is killed, a hireling can become the player’s new PC mid-play.