Southern Swamp

History

The in-game blurb calls the Southern Swamp "a dangerous stretch of hostile land where only the rugged survive", far to the southwest. Theodore Badon reaches it by way of the South Fortress, where Captain Cole Balor, in Theodore's words, "runs a tight ship down there protecting travellers who come over the south mountains." Balor warns that "The fog will separate you from each other and seek to turn you around", and that "the thieves, vagrants and criminals that inhabit the swamp will strip the valuables off your corpse." Ask him about the people who live there and he calls them "a vile bunch", while Theodore says "They are occupying the land that is illegal to occupy" and that "Under order of the crown, they are to be punished". Balor adds: "The fog protects them, as you will see in due time. And once I uncover the magic that shields them, they will all hang." At the swamp's edge, Theodore warns that "The very ground will try to sap away at your life, as will the people who occupy it."

You "step onto firmer ground at the edge of a small village": Mirehaven. A teenager with a spear, Atlas Wiphaundim, wants to know if you are a bandit. Its people are not what the fortress makes them out to be. Theodore later admits "I have made some brash judgments about some of the people living here", and tells of Chase, a hunter who "does what he can to bring food back to Mirehaven for everyone to partake in", and Manny, who "leaves the swamp to take work and bring resources back to the village the honorable and honest way." Atlas's parents "were victims of the White Rot, a plague that was more widespread about fifteen years ago." Its sufferers "were forced to leave their homes", and "most who contracted it were left to die." His parents "moved out to the swamp where they passed away, but not before birthing Atlas and surrendering him to the people of Mirehaven."

The Order of the Grey Dawn

"Head up the hill over there", Atlas tells you: "the Temple at the top is the monastery where the Grey Dawn does their study." The Order are occultists, and at Mirehaven Theodore tells them "Occultic arts are also illegal". Veremund Hass states one of their rules plainly: "The Order of the Grey Dawn does not allow for the resurrection of undead under any circumstances. Such actions are punishable by banishment from the parish." Atlas says of them, "They protect and help us." Archivald Carideo blesses with "Sabaoth guide us", and Ramona Seager, "the Order's matron", whom Archivald calls Mother Seager, parts with "Sabaoth keep you, traveler."

The region's blurb also names "the Pirate's Hideout", and the world map marks a Pirate's Hideaway, but no one in the game talks about either.

What the locals say

Mirehaven looks after its own. Keep your hands to yourself and we'll get along just fine.

Atlas Wiphaundim

They've done a hell lot more for us than any soldier, I'd take my chances with an occultist over any road guard.

Atlas Wiphaundim, on the Order

You are a slave to the whims of a king who abandoned his own people and now seeks to take even the very ground by which we stand on. I seek to give the tired, the battered, and the weary a place to rest.

Veremund Hass, when you ask why he hates you so much

Most of us never want to go back. Your words are kind, but we have a home here, and enough of us have scars that will never heal that were done unto us by your king.

Atlas Wiphaundim, to Theodore Badon

Yes, I am Ramona, the Order's matron. I am afraid that with all that is going on, I have little time to speak with outsiders.

Ramona Seager