Philomath

1. Septentrion

As one of the largest and oldest magical universities in Clearcrest, the Septentrion boasts an impressive list of alumni now in positions of power throughout the world. The main campus in Philomath has been steeped in arcane residue for centuries, leading to strange local flora and fauna flourishing across the magically landscaped, park-like space. Marble, ancient brickwork, and climbing ivy lend the university buildings an air of gravitas, subdued slightly by the occasional sounds of explosions from the Evocation practice range.

2. The Serpent & Sceptre

A popular drinking spot amongst the wizards, sorcerers, and other various scholars of the Compario park area. Staff and students alike can be found spending evenings here pouring over stacks of ancient tomes while also enjoying a flagon of ale. This tavern, run by Balarin Darius, is a bit more upscale and doesn’t take kindly to the loud, raucous type who may be asked to leave.

3. The Home of Gregory Serpentwood

Much like the man himself, this is a rather eccentric home with a rustic charm. With an odd, uneven architectural quality, this home stands two stories tall and simple maintenance seems to have been let go as wild bushes and ivy grows along it’s front. Inside is warm, but every surface appears to be covered in antique artifacts, books, and scrolls of every shape, size, and color.

4. The Learned Owl

A small tavern that finds itself across the lake from the learning institutions of Philomath, the name once may have been held reverently but is now seen more ironically. Not boasting the largest seating capacity, this venue tends to find itself filled to the brim with mostly townie characters each evening looking to escape their hardworking lives in the bottom of a mug of ale. Behind the bar you will find a hulking dark green-skinned half-orc man with two small tusks protruding from his bottom lip. This is Rotak, the barkeep of this establishment and, while an intimidating figure, he has a jovial disposition and can often be found belting out drinking song lyrics with his patrons while buffing glasses and filling pints.

5. Tel Lyarthi

Tel Lyarthi is Elven for “ancient knowledge”. This school of arcane history resides in a large, once grand building that has since fallen into disrepair due to funding cuts and low attendance.

6. Philomath Guard House and Jail

Falling in the center of this district, this large, stoic stone building is used as a base of operations for Philomath’s district guards. A small cell block is kept in the basement of this building to store prisoners of minor offenses. Occasionally, temporary prisoners of more serious crimes may be stored here before being moved on to Chainlock Keep in City Center.

7. The Ironclad Pony (Blacksmith)

A large, plain looking stand with an open entrance that allows patrons to walk right up and see the metals being worked. A heavy-set half-orcan man swings his hammer behind a small counter. Klutark Th’yrean has a sparse grey beard and a cloudy left eye due to a battle wound he sustained years ago. He is a man of few words and like to get directly to the point.

Items for sale here:

  • Standard martial weapons and heavy armors
  • Customization to weapons and armor made of metal
  • Can forge masterwork weapons and armor made of metal
  • Special offer: Nightingale Hammer-a maul developed through the engineering prowess of an unnamed wizarding student and Klutark’s well-honed blacksmithing talent. Inflicts thunder, rather than bludgeoning, damage against targets. 200g

    • 8. Green Gertrude’s (Gardening)

    Given the backdrop of drab city streets, this vendor stands out like a green thumb. Along every wall climbs thick ivy and large, exotic-looking plants cover every surface. Inside you’ll find a spacey, druidic female halfling who goes by Gertrude Gerlinski. Gertrude has a lot of thick hair and a pungent, earth odor. The glaze in her eye and the lull between her thoughts suggest that she partakes in Spore.

    Items for sale here:

  • Various non-magical plants
  • A variety of fruits and vegetables
  • “Gertrude’s Slicing Salve” – A minor healing potion that can only heal 2d4+1 damage caused by a weapon. 25gp
  • “Gertrude’s All-Natural Cure All” – Removes one physical ailment (stunned, poisoned, blind, deaf). 30gp
  • Spore – a natural psychedelic that isn’t illegal, but there is a stigma about those who use it. When inhaled, Spore produces a euphoric high in the user granting disadvantage on Str, Dex, and Wis saving throws and skill checks and advantage on Charisma and “creativity-based” (at DM’s discretion) skill checks. 8gp/dose

    • 9. Jacque’s Fine Leathers (Leather)

    It is obvious from the outside that the proprietor of this shop, the half-elven man Jacque duFleur, takes great care in it’s appearance- it appears extremely well-kept, clean, and organized. Various lather jerkins, saddles, pouches, and bags line the walls.

    Items for sale here:

  • Leather armors
  • Various leather goods (pouches, bags, belts, boots)
  • Slick Oil Boots – Due to the incredible craftsmen ship and fine oils used to make these boots, the wearer gains advantage on stealth checks when moving at half their rate of speed. 75gp

    • 10. Colour Me Impressed (Dye)

    This shop would be easy to miss, given its small, almost closet-like size if it wasn’t for the bright slashes of color that cover every surface- cool blues, deep purples, brash greens, bright yellows, and warm oranges cover the outside in various patterns. Inside is the equally colorful gnome woman, Minxi Monhollith. Rumor is she’s fresh on the dating scene and has been on dates with city guardsman, Jason.

    Items for sale here:

  • Dark green, red, brown, black dye. 3gp/bottle
  • Blue, purple, orange, yellow dye. 6gp/bottle
  • Minxi will dye your item for you. Dye color + 6gp. Takes three days.
  • Marker dye – This dye, available in any color Minxi sells, creates an obvious stain wherever it is splashed. Washing has no effect for 72 hours (though magic can erase it), but it fades completely after 2 weeks. It can be thrown as a splash weapon. Dye color + 12gp

    • 11. The Crooked Stair (Alchemy)

    Tucked deep into a corner of Firefly Square, this unassuming shop almost appears to be abandoned if it weren’t for the tall, long-bearded shop keeper inside. Known as “Virgil the Valiant” for the exploits of his younger days, he is an old human wizard who sells the various alchemical devices he makes and, if given the opportunity, will regale listeners to stories of his youth.

    Recently, a mysterious fire burned this shop to the ground and released a strange array of arcane contamination into Firefly Square.

    Items for sale here:

  • Armor Ointment – This thick lubricant makes the joints of armor move freely. Applying the ointment takes one minute and negates disadvantage on stealth checks for 8 hours. 30gp
  • Forger’s Paper – A single piece of treated parchment. When heated, the paper turns nearly transparent for one hour, allowing the tracing of documents and signatures, granting advantage on forgery attempts. An hour after the paper has cooled, the chemicals infusing the paper are consumed, leaving it as normal parchment. 10gp/sheet
  • Various other alchemical items! Ask Virgil for a list of what else he may be able to craft for you.

    • 12. Bartleby’s (Scrivener)

    Need a document drafted, bound, copied, or notarized? Look no further than Bartleby’s for all of your document needs! A Philomath staple for over 150 years, many students come here to prepare scrollwork. You can often find Clancy, a bespectacled halfling man, behind the counter who would be happy to help you. And for no particular reason, Bartleby would like you to know that a singular business card only costs a single copper piece!

    13. The First Bank of Cash

    Resting on the northern end of Stillbrook Pass, you’ll find a delightful cottage boasting a handmade banner that reads, “The First Bank of Cash”! While likely not an official financial institution, business cards around the district point to this address as a known residence of The Cassius Cleaners, LLC.

    14. Clearcrest EPA

    A red brick building located in the northwest corner of Dolgan’s Crest in Philomath, it is a governmental body with various departments, mainly dealing with writing and enforcing regulations for the benefit of public health and conservation of nature. Also the first responders in the event of most disasters, either natural or artificial.

    15. Yul-Veryon Medical University

    A university for clerics wishing to gain higher understanding of medical techniques, both with and without use of magic. As well as being a university, it also accepts and treats patients with unusual or difficult to cure maladies that cannot be dealt with through normal means. It is a very large building with a beautiful emerald green roof and towering spires, just outside Compario Park in western Philomath.

    16. Sump’n Sweet

    A candy shop in Firefly Square, partially affected by the Crooked Stair disaster. The owner is a gray, unpleasant bugbear named Sump.