Hippotian — a now rarely-manifested crossbreed of human and one of the Outsiders' slave races that were bred hundreds of millennia ago. A consensus among sages is that fewer than one in one hundred thousand people born today manifest this particular set of characteristics. Hippotians were bred for strength, endurance, and survivability. They have resistance to slashing damage.

Hippotians are invariantly physically imposing specimens that have two hook-like fingers and a similar hooked thumb on each hand. Their feet are thick and stump-like, with three heavy, thick claws like one might have seen on a prehistoric sauroid.

Kaden Worst
Barbarian 2
AC 6 (leather, Dex)
29 Hit Points

Str: 18/80 (+3)
Dex 14/75 (+1)
Con: 14/20 (+1)
Int 10/25 (+0)
Wis 11/25 (+0)
Cha: 10/20 (+0)

Kaden is a Hippotian barbarian, resistant to slashing type damage. He carries the unique, rune-inscribed blade known as Cirocanth that deals 5d4 base damage on a hit. He will not speak of his childhood or from whence he originally hails, and he most certainly will not talk about his sword's origin.

His blade requires Strength 14 to lift and Strength 18+ to wield in combat. It crits on natural 19 or 20 attack roll.

In combat, Kaden says, in a rumbling, gravelly voice, "Drop your weapon, and I will make your death a quick one."

Saving Throws
Death Ray/Poison: 12
Wands: 13
Paralysis/Turn-to-Stone: 14
Dragon Breath: 15
Rods/Staves/Spells: 16

Grok Goldtooth
Barbarian 2
AC 6 (leather, Dex)
31 Hit Points

Str: 17/20 (+2)
Dex 12/95 (+0)
Con: 16/10 (+2)
Int 10/25 (+0)
Wis 10/85 (+0)
Cha: 08/20 (-1)

Grok is a half-orc, but looks closer to full-orc. He wields a heavy battleaxe that inflicts base damage of 1d0 (3d6 versus Large or bigger creatures). He hair prematurely graying hair, and never fails to get fighting mad when Krelg Sawsword called him 'Grandfather'. In hostile situations, Grok usually chooses to kill first and ask questions later. Truthfully, he rarely has any questions other than where his next will is coming from.

Saving Throws
Death Ray/Poison: 12
Wands: 13
Paralysis/Turn-to-Stone: 14
Dragon Breath: 15
Rods/Staves/Spells: 16

Krelg Sawsword
Fighter 2
AC 4 (double-chain)
22 Hit Points

Str: 15/10 (+1)
Dex 13/80 (+1)
Con: 15/75 (+1)
Int 09/20 (+0)
Wis 12/35 (+1)
Cha: 09/75 (+0)

Krelg is a half-orc fighter who generally gives no quarter. He fell in with Savra in PR 202 and she treats him well, so as to retain his loyalty and protection. Krelg is brutal and, unknown to him, has Fey blood going back three generations in his ancestry. This manifests in-game as MR 30% magic resistance and a +2 to saving throws versus spells and spell-like effects. Krelg hasn't yet been in a situation that revealed this to himself or to his companion.

Saving Throws
Death Ray/Poison: 12
Wands: 13
Paralysis/Turn-to-Stone: 14
Dragon Breath: 15
Rods/Staves/Spells: 16

Revole Ting
Caravan Master 5/Thief 4
AC 1 (half-plate, shield, Dex)
22 Hit Points

Str: 09/65 (+0)
Dex: 15/50 (+1)
Con: 14/85 (+1)
Int 12/10 (+0)
Wis 12/25 (+1)
Cha 13/70 (+1)

Revole is a one-time ambitious halfling merchant and caravan-master. Unluckily, Thromb was among those unfairly blamed for Auriochos d'Rosenberg's death in a battle with gnolls. Matthias d'Slaytonthorpe nearly slew Thromb, and coerced him into pledging fealty to Asmodeus and to Matthias. Thromb came out of it alive but changed. His right arm is now covered in abominable scales and spikes and carries fell power garnered from hell.

Thromb's right cheek is similar afflicted, but he wears an amulet given him by Lord Ember (Matthias' alias) that hides these monstrous deformities via powerful illusion and also grants Thromb invisibility once per long rest.

Saving Throws
Death Ray/Poison: 13
Wands: 14
Paralysis/Turn-to-Stone: 13
Dragon Breath: 16
Rods/Staves/Spells: 15

NPCs in The Earth — It Cares Not

NPC	Portrait
Earnest Thromb
Grok Goldtooth
Kaden Worst
Krelg Sawsword
Savra Skullmaster

• Matthias d'Slaytonthorpe (a.k.a. 'Lord Ember')
• Auriochos d'Rosenberg (deceased)

Savra Skullmaster
Cleric of Nergal 3
AC 1 (half-plate, shield, Dex)
19 Hit Points

Str: 12/30 (+0)
Dex: 13/05 (+1)
Con: 13/25 (+1)
Int 10/80 (+0)
Wis 14/95 (+1)
Cha 11/30 (+0)

Savra is a 27 year-old red-headed human woman with flashing green eyes and a quick temper. She worships Nergal, and is equipped with half-plate, a +1 mace, +3 vs good-aligned creatures and deals them an additional two dice of damage. Over the past year, she — though the last miscreant to join the Kellen's Rock Culprits — has come to lead that band of ne'er-do-wells.

Spells: 3 1st-lv, 2 2nd-lv

Saving Throws
Death Ray/Poison: 11
Wands: 12
Paralysis/Turn-to-Stone: 14
Dragon Breath: 16
Rods/Staves/Spells: 15

Kirkilston (Hamlet)
Population: 362
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Demographics: Human, approximately 50 elves, half-elves, and halflings
Political Structure: Ecclesiastical Law (St. Ygg); Petre of St. Ygg (Human Cleric)
Industry and Trade: Primarily Livestock (Sheep) and Agriculture (Corn), Mead, Lumber.

Kirkilston is named after the church, or kirk, at its center. The church, alongside the Red Temple in Eastdale and the Watchtower in Westkeep, provide the three key centers of faith, administration, and governance in The Prelacy of Middenmark. However, unlike the more puritanical stance of the clerics in Eastdale, The Red Laws are more relaxed in Kirkilston and the immediate surrounding area.

Westkeep (Village)
Population: 649
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Demographics: Human, Elf, Half-Elf, and Halflings
Political Structure: Ecclesiastical Law (St. Ygg); Endra of St. Ygg (Human Cleric)
Industry and Trade: Horses, Bison, Livestock (Cattle, Pigs, Sheep), Lumber, Charcoal.

A village on the far western edge of the Middenmark, Westkeep draws its name from a single watchtower-monastery built by the local populace and the clerics of St. Ygg.

The watchtower serves as a means of protection but also a place of study and training for young apprentice clerics and monks. The door to the watchtower is 20 feet above the ground and accessed by a temporary wooden staircase. In the event of an attack the guards retreat to the watchtower and the staircase can be destroyed or burned to ensure their safety. The Red Laws are observed in Westkeep, but not as strictly as Eastdale.