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# System prepended metadata

title: Intro

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# Intro
An easy way to bring the PCs to the remote village of Rybalka is to play through Adventure-A-Week adventure modules A0: Crow's Rest Island, A1: Crypt of the Sun Lord, and A2: Devil of Dark Wood. Otherwise the PCs may find themselves stumbling upon Rybalka—or any other similar remote village—on their travels. Whatever reason the adventurers have to be in the area, every time they meet someone who has lived in the region for more than a year they are reminded to make sure they are in the cathedral for the long dark night of the "Vigil for Light.” This happens if they are approaching the village and meet workers or fishermen, if they are new to the town and are settling in, or if they are thinking of leaving and their destination is days away. Everyone is in the cathedral on that evening,as their safety isn’t guaranteed if they remain outside.

A fishing village adjacent to a healthy iron mine, Rybalka had a different name just a few decades ago and was controlled by the Vikmordere. In the past, the viking raiders used the strategic location of the settlement as a launching point for attacks against the Klavek Kingdom. The abundant mine nearby provided all the ore the Vikmordere raiders needed for their tools, weapons, and armor.

The Klavekian monarchy moved troops into the Vikmordere Valley and launched an arduous assault against the local population in hopes of securing this strategic
location and obtaining the lucrative iron mine. After many failed attempts and the deaths of hundreds ground troops, the Klavek Kingdom was finally able to oust the Vikmordere raiders from Rybalka. In order to hold the location, additional soldiers were brought in to clear the mountainside forests of the rest of the Vikmordere warriors. This resulted in horrible casualties for the Klavekians, losing 10 soldiers for every 1 local raider found and killed. Many of the Vikmordere avoided persecution by hiding in abandoned ruins and mountain caves where it is thought they persist to this day.

The Klavek Kingdom placed a permanent contingent of guardsmen at Rybalka to protect the populace and the vital iron mine—without access to the ore in the mine,
the Vikmordere’s military strength and foothold on the region would be greatly reduced. Many Rybalkan Vikmordere villagers who were not affiliated with the raiders were allowed to stay and live freely if they continued to provide services to the Klavekian settlers: blacksmithing, fishing, mining, and ship construction as well as various menial tasks requested from time to time. Racism in Rybalka is still prevalent, especially amongst new, incoming Klavekian settlers, and a few interracial families that were harassed and persecuted by these fresh faces moved into the dangerous and unforgiving wilderness to escape the ignorance and hatred of the misguided.