<strong>Toni</strong> <strong>Sihvonen</strong> (<strong>order</strong> <strong>#92780</strong>) 6 These adventures all take place in and around the Haestingas theod. The suggested date for the start of this campaign is 480, allowing a full generation to pass before the Battle of Badon in 518. The Haestingas are a successful, independent theod, nestled between the cyningdoms of Kent and the Suth Saexe. They control about 500 hides; their army consists of 30 thegns including the heorthwerods of the five ealdormen. The player characters are in addition to these men, and should start as thegns or heorthgeneats in the service of one or another of the ealdormen, or Cenwal himself. The fyrd musters between 500 and 700 ceorls. Haestingaceaster. the theod’s main burh, lies on the coast between Anderida (Pevensey) and Lemanis (Lympne). To the east and north is Romney Marsh, forming a natural barrier against the cyningdom of Kent, while to the west is the Anderida Marsh. The only dry route leads northwest into the Weald. The town of Haestingaceaster is built on the site of a Roman coastal signal station, overrun when Haesta came ashore. Haesta razed the remains of the signal tower itself, but built his mead-hall inside the walls of the station. Over the years the walls of the original station have disappeared under an accumulation of sheds and barns built outside them. Haestingaceaster is surrounded by a wooden rampart with timber towers, with a gatehouse facing the north. The coastal approach is also walled off: normally Saxon boats are dragged up on the beach below the walls. Between Haestingaceaster and Romney Marsh lies the Ridge, a wooded continuation of the hills of the Weald. Most of the land of the Haestingas is scattered with oak copses, gradually becoming more forested as it approaches the Weald. On the b<strong>order</strong>s of the Romney and Anderida marshes the trees thin out as the ground becomes swampy. Two rivers cut deeply into the land of the Haestingas: the Bulverhythe from the west and the Brede from Romney Marsh. North of Haestingaceaster is Sedlescombe on the Brede River: Crowhurst lies to the northwest on the Bulverhythe. Ealacsham marks the furthest settlement to the east, close to Romney Marsh. Bexlea is to the west, down the coast. Settlements grow sparse as you approach the Weald: the men of the Haestingas fear the beasts and monsters of that dark wood. The hills inland of Haestingaceaster have numerous iron mines left from the time of the Romans. A few abandoned Roman villas can be found in the area, as well as the foundations of the shacks of the mine slaves. Aetheling Cenwal has reopened two mines. His smiths produce weapons, armor, and agricultural implements for trade and the use of the theod. Immediate Neighbors Kent East past Romney Marsh live the Limenwara, part of the kingdom of Kent. Ealdorman Oswald of the Limenwara was a renowned warrior who sailed with Hengist and Horsa when they first landed at Thanet. Haesta’s daughter Aethelic married Ealdorman Oswald’s son, Uxfrea. Haesta and Uxfrea had their differences over the course of the years - sometimes spilling blood - but for the most part there has been peace between them. Oswald’s great-granddaughter Wulfwynn is married to Cenwal, reinforcing the ties between the two theods. The current ealdorman of the Limenwara is Sigebyrht, Wulfwynn’s father. Romney Romney Marsh is avoided by both the Haestingas and Limenwara, who fear its mearsc feonds (marsh demons). Few Saxons will venture far into the trackless marsh, but there is a tribe of men living there whom even the Romans were unable to conquer. They live deep in the marsh, in low houses covered in rushes. These Marshmen know the hidden paths of the swamp, and sometimes raid the herds of Ealacsham and Sedles-combe. The Haestingas hunt these men when they can, but the Marshmen are masters of ambush and hiding. The Weald The land to the northwest, between Romney Marsh and Anderida Marsh, quickly becomes forested as one moves north. The forest of the Weald is haunted, not just by bears and wolves, but by magical creatures such as wyrms and werwulfs. The men of Haestingas are slowly cutting
<strong>Toni</strong> <strong>Sihvonen</strong> (<strong>order</strong> <strong>#92780</strong>) 6
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