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R O N A K A T A G L A N C E

GovernmentCouncilPopulation68(68scaleddwarves)AlignmentsNLanguagesRonakee(HybridDraconicandDwarven,understood

partially by speakers of either language, or perfectly byspeakersofeitherlanguagewithaDC10Intelligencecheck).

Nobody knows Ronak exists. Or, more precisely, nobodyremembers.Ronakwasthelasthopeofadyingtradecompany,a desperate attempt to settle and explore a distant swamp.Whenthecolonyfoundnothingbutlizardfolk,thecompanydidnothaveenoughgoldtoretrievetheiremployees.Ronakneverheardfromcivilizationagain. The native lizardfolk, despite their peaceful culture, wereseen as nothing but savage natives by the dwarves. As thedwarvesstruggledtosurvive,thescaledtribesmentaughtthemhow to hunt and fish in these dangerous lands. But culturalmisunderstandingsandrisingtensionsquicklyledtoviolence.Inanightofblindfear,thedwarvesmassacredthelizardfolk. Centuries later and the dwarves have reverted to a moresavagestate,transformingbitbybitfromorganizedcoloniststohunter-gatherers.Theyarehauntedandguidedbytheghostsofthe exterminated lizardfolkwho seek the continuation of theirculture. Thedwarves speak a hybridofDwarven andDraconic,buildthatchhutsamidthecolony’sruinsandworshipamixtureofaltereddwarvendeitiesandheathenserpentgods. Mostdisturbingly, theRonakeenowbearscalesand jaggedteeth, and grow to proportions unnatural for a dwarf. Perhapsone day soon the lizardfolk will be born again, this time fromdwarvenmothers. ThedwarvesofRonakbelievecivilization tobebutamyth,but theycannotstayhiddenforever.WhilesomeRonakeemaycautiouslyseektolearnmorefromtrespassingoutsiders,othersviewinterlopersasevilspiritswhomustbedestroyed.

V I L L A G E R S

Appearance:TheRonakeeresembleamixturebetweendwarvesandlizardfolk,butvarygreatlyintheirdegreeoftransformation.Some grow shaggy beards over pink flesh, while others haverowsofpointedteethandscratchatmalformedscales. Dress: The Ronakee dress in furs and hides, as well asclothing woven from swamp plants. Children paint their faceswithmudandadultssportintimidatingtattoos. Nomenclature:male Balgrik, Barik, Durnak, Garuk, Rorgek,Throrvak; female Frimaz, Gimdatz, Talez, Uslatz, Yadaz; familyBronzewall,Blackspine,Stonespear,Thundertooth.

M A R K E T P L A C E

Resources&IndustryFish,peat

WhenthePCsarrive,thefollowingitemsareforsale:

§ Potionspotionofanimalfriendship(250gp),potionofpoison(300gp),potionofwaterbreathing(400gp)

V I L L A G E L O R E

A PC may know something about Ronak, its history andsurrounds.APCmakingaDC10Intelligencecheckknowsoneormore pieces of information from the list below. A successfulcheckgainsalltheinformationrevealedbyalessercheck. DC15:TheRonakeearedwarveswhohaveforgottenalltieswithcivilization. DC20:TheRonakeearedecedentsofadwarvencolonythatdisappearedalmost500yearsago. DC25:ThedwarvesofRonakmassacred the lizardfolkwhousedtoliveintheselands.

W H I S P E R S & R U M O U R S

While in Ronak, a PC may hear one or more rumours. A PCmaking a DC 10 Charisma check learns one rumour from thetable below. A PC exceeding this check learns an additionalrumourforeach5pointsbywhichheexceededDC10.

D6 RUMOUR

1 The gravepits to the north are filled with bones of theancestors.

2 Urraz Scaleborn thinks those without scales should beexpelledfromthecouncil.

3* TheRonakeearedescendedfromlizardfolk.

4 Smoking sawleaf allows communication with the spiritsoftheancestors.

5 In funeral rites, the Ronakee consume the corpse raw,thenaddthebonestothegravepits.

6* Longago,agroupofdwarvesinvadedthebogandtriedtomurdertheRonakee.Theyfailed.

*Falserumour

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N O T A B L E F O L K

Most of the population are nothing more than hardworkingpeasants.Afew,however,areofinteresttoadventurers:

Dunaz theFisherman (location1;NGmale scaleddwarfscout)Dunazisfarprogressedinhertransformation.Herlargeeyespierce muddy water and she swims like a lightning snakewiththehelpofamalformedtail.

ElderKarhok (location3;CNfemalescaleddwarfcleric8)BlindElderKarhaz is theoldest of theRonakee.After instructionfromhisgod,hesplithis tongue intwainwithanaxe.Nowhe spits prophecies of rebirth, while raising his claws inreverencetoSskalaz.Herevilesoutsidersasevilspirits.

HildazScaleborn(location4;CNfemalescaleddwarfberserker)Fearedandrespected,Hildazisthetribe’sbest.Pastrowsofjagged teeth, she dribbles froth at any who displease her.Hildaz often fightswith her brethren, but she is a valuabletribeswoman.Shehatesoutsiders.

Hinrok Throatsinger (location 5; CN male scaled dwarf spy)Hinrok Throatsinger comes from a line of skalds.While hisforbears played the lute, Hinrok intonesmodified dwarvenepicsinroughchants.Heisfascinatedbyoutsiders.

TordazMudrunner(location5;LNfemalescaleddwarfveteran)Though decisions are made in collective by all parents,Tordaz holds the most sway. She is respected among herpeers forherpatientand fair judgement.Tordaz isopentooutsiders,butishighlydefensiveofherpeople.

N O T A B L E L O C A T I O N S

Most of the village comprises crude huts. A few locations,however,areofinteresttoadventurers:

1. Bitter Bog: Bitter Bog surrounds Ronak for 50 miles in alldirections,isolatingitfromtherestoftheworld.

2. Fangwaters: The Fangwaters, a saltwater spring wherealligatorsdonottread,isanexcellentfishingground.

3. Gravepits: When the dwarves of Ronak massacred thelizardfolk, they threw the charred corpses into mass graves.Centuries later, the Ronakee view the Gravepits as sacred, aplace for meditation and reflection where the ancestors’whisperscanbeheard.

4. Scaleborn House: The Scaleborn family are closest tolizardfolk,andtheyweartheirmutationswithunusualpride.

5. Spirithouse:Hallucinogenicsawleafsmokefillsthespirithouseatalltimes.Huntersprayhere,andthevillagersseekcounselamongthevapours.

6. TempleofSskalaz:TheTempleofSskalazwasoncea templeto the dwarven god of protection. However, the elementshave reshaped the statue into the shape of a stone serpent,andreligiouscustomshavefollowedsuit.