Ossington

This small forest camp is nestled in the middle of the Empty Forest. The villagers are constantly tormented by the Horseman and the Grugach.

History

Centuries ago, druids gathered from across the land to build a double stone circle deep in an ancient forest. Consecrated as a holy site, it provided a sacred place immune to scrying by outsiders, wherein they could hold their most important yearly rituals.

Long afterward, but still long ago, the area was the site of two great battles in which Saithnar the Warlord defeated invading armies but perished as a result of the second battle. The massive barrow raised in his honor is still a local landmark, standing a few miles northwest of the stone circles.

Then came the disaster that devastated and depopulated the area. The great dragon Ashardalon, for reasons no longer remembered, attacked the site, destroying the druid community and leaving a large part of the forest to the north of the circles a burnt waste. The sole surviving druid, Dydd the Wise, transformed some of the forest animals into humanoid form to aid her in the resettlement and restoration of the region. In case history ever repeated itself, she had the requisite spells carved into the stones of the circles themselves, lest the necessary knowledge be lost. Most of “Dydd’s people” chose to retain human form, intermarrying with true humans and leaving behind descendants who have populated much of the region (gross).

In the quiet centuries since, most of these events have been forgotten or have passed into folklore. A small village grew up within the circles, concerned only with their yearly harvests. Recently, however, a tiefling sorcerer named Dyson learned of the spells inscribed on the stones and decided to use them in a long-term plan he had*.

7/18/990 - In company with a Vrock bard (his liaison with the fiends), a druid priestess (who provided access to the spells carved on the stones), and a cat familiar (which he soon transformed into a companion and body-guard), he settled in the little village and soon took it over completely.

6/14/991 - Within a year, he had replaced virtually all the original townspeople with transformed animals. All those who stood in his way have been ruthlessly murdered. A nearby tribe of grugach (wild elves) whose members protested the disruption caused by his removing so many animals from the forest were lured into a parley and massacred; the few survivors now stalk all humans with a burning vengeance. A wandering paladin who investigated rumors of trouble was murdered and buried in unconsecrated ground; his unquiet spirit roaming the forest roads, seeking to achieve in death what he could not in life.

Enter the Heroes of the Ridge.

Uncovered Secrets:

The vast majority of the citizens of Ossington (and its surrounding territories) are actually faux-humans and faux-halflings who have taken over the homes, clothes, and lives of the former villagers (who have since been murdered and/or eaten).

Upon the arrival of the Heroes of the Ridge, there were only three actual humans left in the small town: Henwen, Tarbee, and Elder Murdows. Elder Murdows is now deceased and Henwen is a known villain. Tarbee, while still human himself, either does not care or is oblivious to the fact that his daughter, Tanasha Lu, is a faux-human as well.

As of 7/4/1001, Elder Murdows and Tarbee are now dead; Tanasha Lu is working for Drusilia at Puckett's Ridge; and Henwen is no longer evil.

*See "Secrets" for more on Dyson's master scheme.