TEXT: EN World EN5IDER | Over the Next Hill: Springs of Hverfell
  EN World EN5IDER | Over the Next Hill: Springs of Hverfell
  O
  ver the Next hill is a multi- 
   author series focusing on small 
   settlements that can be dropped into a 
  campaign with minimal preparation. Each article 
  in the series presents several detailed NPCs, 
  points of interest, and loose plot hooks that can 
  be developed during play. This installment of 
  the series details Hverfell, a small resort village 
  cloaked in the wake of a hot spring-fed waterfall 
  in the middle of the unforgiving tundra.
  Overview
  There is a hidden valley, shrouded from the world 
  by a cloak of endless clouds and rolling mist 
  where the rocks and water heal the sick, where 
  plants and animals unlike those anywhere else in 
  the world roam, and where the planes themselves 
  meet and magic spews into the world. There, 
  beside an orange-yellow waterfall of steaming 
  blue waters is Hverfell.
  Geography
  Located in the wake of Ochre Falls, Hverfell 
  is a hidden valley of verdant warmth in the 
  unforgiving tundra. Constantly bathed in the 
  warm mist of the hot-spring fed Hverflow, 
  Hverfell enjoys a temperate climate throughout 
  the year and boasts a vibrant ecosystem full of 
  colorful birds, giant insects and rare reptiles. 
  The valley’s breathtaking colors—the deep blue 
  waters of the Hverflow, the dark green of the 
  surrounding conifers and the orange-yellow algae 
   
  writing June Bordas
   color art Phil Stone
   
  mapping June Bordas
   
  editing James J. Haeck
   
  layout Eric Life-Putnam
     over the next hill
  Springs of
  Hverfell
  
  Over the Next Hill: Springs of Hverfell | EN World EN5IDER
  Over the Next Hill: Springs of Hverfell | EN World EN5IDER
  of the falls—has led some to speculate Hverfell 
  rests on a weakened border with the elemental 
  planes. Regardless, Hverfell enjoys its reputation 
  as a place of wonder, and has survived mostly on 
  the coin spent by travelers looking to enjoy the 
  valley’s restorative springs.
   The valley descends steeply and has little flat 
  ground, pushing most of the town’s ten-score 
  residents into multistory tenements. The valley’s 
  steep sides and constant clouds make agriculture 
  difficult despite its fair climate, forcing Hverfell to 
  exclusively import food from outside the valley.
   While Hverfell can be reached by traversing 
  the winding eastern road and descending into the 
  valley, the going is difficult for horses and oxen, 
  and almost impossible for carts and wagons, 
  relegating most east-west traffic to foot or donkey. 
  As a result, most travelers and merchants take 
  the southern road following the Hverflow out of 
  the valley. Several miles south of town, the clouds 
  and mist that protect and insulate the valley 
  settle, leaving a swath of moist, swampy forest 
  in the summer and a frozen, hostile band of giant 
  icicles—the Frostwall—in the winter.
  Significant NPCs
  Brita Kitore (mountain dwarf mage)
  A surprisingly energetic dwarf, Brita is a 
  renowned transmuter and one of the town’s 
  two rival wizards. An older woman with a lot 
  on her mind, she is known to absentmindedly 
  change language or dialect mid-sentence. An avid 
  naturalist, Brita researches the valley’s unique 
  birds and insects. Her familiar is an indigenous 
  bird: a vibrantly-plumed ochre cloud raven. 
  She considers Leogard Brix undisciplined and 
  impulsive, but still plays chess with him by daily 
  correspondence left at the Misty Fir.
  
  EN World EN5IDER | Over the Next Hill: Springs of Hverfell
  EN World EN5IDER | Over the Next Hill: Springs of Hverfell
  Leogard Brix (human mage)
  A middle-aged human male with the paunch 
  and thinning hair-line to prove it, the conjurer 
  Leogard spends most of his time studying the 
  elemental forces present in the Hverflow. Each 
  morning, he can be seen taking water, mineral and 
  algae samples from the steaming falls. Leogard 
  considers himself the smartest person in Hverfell 
  and believes that he should be allowed on the 
  town council instead of Brita. He wins most of 
  their chess games. 
  Jeri Lestrad (stout halfling knight)
  A stout halfling woman with a short, cropped 
  hairstyle and a prominent scar that runs from 
  her left ear to the back of her head, Jeri Lestrad 
  serves as the town sheriff and head of the town 
  militia. She is warm and boisterous by nature and 
  makes a point of personally introducing herself 
  to all newcomers and visitors. An experienced 
  war veteran, Jeri is confident in her abilities to 
  end most conflicts before they start and is not 
  easily cowed by shows of force. She is fond of tall 
  human women and vegetable pies.
  Reginald Spitz (human noble)
  A dour human man in his late 20s, Reginald 
  inherited the Spitz Bathhouse from his late mother 
  Dorathea over the claims of his older brother 
  Harold and his sister Willow, a headstrong 
  woman who hasn’t been seen since stealing away 
  with a trade caravan as a teenager. Reginald 
  is overly cordial with guests to conceal his 
  melancholic nature, and feels saddled by the 
  sudden unwanted responsibility of running 
  the bathhouse and sitting on the town council. 
  Despite his feelings, he works hard to protect his 
  family’s interests.
  Mistress Ashley Leon (human commoner)
  A cunning human woman in her late 50s, 
  Mistress Leon manages and owns the Ochre 
  Springs Bathworks, the smaller, younger and 
  less prestigious of the town’s two resorts. Since 
  the death of Dorathea Spitz several years ago, 
  Mistress Leon has been angling for more land, 
  rights and property from the Spitz family, though 
  Reginald’s commitment to familial duty makes 
  this unlikely. She is fair, but cutthroat in her 
  business dealings, a trait which has earned her 
  the name “Mistress Ash” among her detractors. 
  Ashley dresses sternly and often bears an open 
  but cunning smile. 
  Andras Shetole (half-elf commoner)
  A confident and personable half-elf of ambiguous 
  gender, Andras is the master liaison of the 
  regional commerce guild. Andras wears their hair 
  in small interwoven braids and is fond of long 
  tunics and gowns. As the oldest and most senior 
  member of the town council, Andras commands 
  considerable respect throughout town. Andras has 
  two adoptive human children, and leaves them 
  during the day in the care of their many assistants 
  and tutors.
  The Waters of Ochre Falls 
  Raw elemental power infuses the waters of the 
  Hverflow, making them a powerful healing agent 
  and potent addition to many spells. Healing potions 
  made from the enchanted waters heal 2d6 + 4 hit 
  points instead of the usual 2d4 + 2. A 4-oz. vial of 
  water from the Hverflow can be used as a material 
  component for any evocation spell and any conjure 
  minor elementals, conjure elementals, or planar 
  binding spell used to bind an elemental creature. A 
  spell cast with this material component is treated as 
  though it was cast in a spell slot one level higher. 
   
  Furthermore, anyone who bathes and drinks the 
  waters during a short rest regains one spent Hit Die. 
  Bathing in the elemental waters as part of a long 
  rest allows a new saving throw against negative 
  persistent conditions such as poison, disease, or 
  blindness using the DC of the original saving throw. 
  
  Over the Next Hill: Springs of Hverfell | EN World EN5IDER
  Over the Next Hill: Springs of Hverfell | EN World EN5IDER
  
  EN World EN5IDER | Over the Next Hill: Springs of Hverfell
  EN World EN5IDER | Over the Next Hill: Springs of Hverfell
  Significant Areas
  1. Spitz Bathhouse
  A lavish manor of gilded marble and fine 
  wood, the Spitz Bathhouse is a medicinal resort 
  featuring mineral baths, restorative massages and 
  perfumed ointments. As the preeminent attraction 
  in Hverfell, the bathhouse features four private 
  suites for long term guests seeking long-term 
  restorative care as well as several smaller rooms 
  for more temporary guests. It is reluctantly owned 
  by Reginald Spitz.
  2. Ochre Springs Bathworks
  A large structure of gaudy pink stucco, the Ochre 
  Springs Bathworks caters to those who may not be 
  able to afford the luxuries of the Spitz Bathhouse. 
  The Bathworks has two private suites, public 
  baths, saunas and a river-fed mineral pool.
  3. Elemental Observatory
  The home and office of Leogard Brix, this squat, 
  octagonal two-story building is marked by large 
  painted arcane symbols corresponding to the four 
  elemental planes on the north, south, east and 
  west faces. Inside, four summoning circles have 
  been carved into the stone, and various arcane 
  instruments hang from the ceiling on chains 
  for easy access. The northern entrance contains 
  a small shop for magical goods and parlor for 
  visitors. 
  4. Aviary
  This large stone and masonry tower rises to a 
  height of 60 feet and is crowned by a panned glass 
  dome. Various colorful native birds flock to the 
  tower’s dome, and in the grasses at the tower’s 
  base, rich wild flowers and native insects flourish. 
  This tower is the home of Brita Kiltore, though she 
  can be found daily in the surrounding woods and 
  nightly across the road at the Misty Fir.
  5. Misty Fir Tavern
  The public inn in Hverfell, the Misty Fir is famous 
  for its bar and benches which are made from 
  the twisted roots of an enormous fir tree that 
  once stood there. The inn boasts three wings of 
  rooms and accommodations ranging from stained 
  bedrolls and cots in a large common room, to 
  elegant private suites. 
  6. Hverfell Keep
  Actually a barracks and not an actual keep 
  capable of withstanding siege, Hverfell Keep is 
  the home of Jeri Lestrad and her two deputies. 
  The keep also contains a small armory, a forge, 
  and training grounds for militia.
  7. Marketplace
  Not much more than a series of canvas tents, the 
  marketplace is an essential part of village life 
  and the center of most daily activity. Located in 
  the shadow of the Commerce Guildhall, guild 
  enforcers ensure that would-be traders obtain the 
  required guild seals and permissions before they 
  conduct business.
  8. Commerce Guildhall
  This large red granite structure contains meeting 
  chambers, underground storage vaults, a large 
  guild hall and adjoining mess as well as private 
  rooms for guild members. A large inner courtyard 
  and outer garden provide relaxation and respite 
  for traders and guild members.
  9. Agricultural Fields and Aquaculture Pond
  Hverfell’s fields are owned by the town council. 
  Its workers are sharecroppers who work the land 
  in exchange for a portion of the proceeds and a 
  place to live. Though native fish tend to avoid the 
  warm waters near Ochre Falls, the sharecroppers 
  maintain an aquaculture pond of imported 
  tropical sunfish and perch.
  10. Sharecroppers’ Cabin
  This dirty, thatch-roofed communal living 
  space serves as the home for the dozen or so 
  sharecroppers who work the nearby fields and 
  ponds as well as seasonal lumber workers and 
  their families.
  
  Over the Next Hill: Springs of Hverfell | EN World EN5IDER
  Over the Next Hill: Springs of Hverfell | EN World EN5IDER
  Plot Hooks and Rumors
  Level 1–4 (1d8)
  1. A humanoid body, boiled beyond 
  recognition, rolls over the falls. It rises as 
  a revenant and stalks the town at night, 
  muttering “Brix… Brix…”
  2. A loud bang and plume of smoke comes 
  from the Elemental Observatory, brought on 
  by a pair of steam mephits.
  3. According to Brita Kiltore, the venom from 
  the valley’s giant wasps can be distilled 
  and mixed into a base of Hverflow water to 
  create powerful magic potions.
  4. A recent caravan came upon a perfect ice 
  carving of a beautiful youth in the depths of 
  the Frostwall south of town. 
  5. Supposedly, the original dwarven expedition 
  found a cave under Ochre Falls, full of 
  lizardfolk and ruled by a lizardfolk queen. 
  6. A teenage prince visiting the Spitz Bathhouse 
  on vacation has emerged as a girl. She’s 
  pleased, but her advisors are distraught. 
  7. One of Andras Shetole’s children has gone 
  missing and there’s a huge reward for his 
  return. Meanwhile, a guard atop the eastern 
  watchtower has been killed by a mated pair 
  of perytons who have taken the eastern 
  watch tower as their roost.
  8. An old comrade of Jeri Lestrad has come to 
  town, followed by a hobgoblin warlord’s 
  army which threatens to take the valley by 
  force.
  Level 11–16 (1d6)
  1. An archmage creates a gate across the 
  Hverflow and orders a pair of stone golems 
  to guard it, leaving Ochre Falls suddenly dry.
  2. A whirlpool forms at the base of the falls, 
  creating a portal to a noble marid’s domain 
  on the Elemental Plane of Water.
  3. An adult red dragon takes up residence 
  in the caves under Hverfell, causing 
  earthquakes that collapse several buildings 
  in town. A lizardfolk emissary comes to 
  town, begging for aid. 
  4. All of the waters in the Ochre Springs 
  Bathworks suddenly turn to blood. That 
  same day, a visiting alchemist stumbles out 
  of the Spitz Bathhouse claiming to have 
  discovered the secret to eternal life. Not long 
  after, an assassin threatens her life.
  5. Willow Spitz, actually a death slaad in 
  disguise, returns home.
  6. New mineral calculations suggest that the 
  source of the Hverflow may be lined in 
  precious jewels, sparking a “gem rush” in 
  the region.
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/5th Edition (5e)/3rd Party/EN World EN5ider/EN5ider 052 - Springs of Hverfell.pdf