Area: 392 square miles

*Villages: Vystaar (937) is a large village located in the Southwestern hills

Ardjes (168) is a mountain village where Ardjes stones are cut.

Bergen (138) at an altitude of 270’, it's located between the hills and the mountains.

Ethnic groups: Flaems 75%, Lupins 10%, Kaelics 10%, others 5%.

Languages: Flaemish, Lupin (Flaemish Shepherd dialect).

Ruler: Rowena Krollnar (born 968, Fire Elementalist of the Third Circle) (OD&D: Mage 10^th, AL N) (AD&D: Mage 10^th, Al CG).

20 Ardjes Escort.

30 Vystaar village Militia (80% levied).

Viscountess Rowena, like many Glantrian nobles is blatantly ignoring the Military Control Law. She wisely divides her guard by splitting it among the prominent settlements of her dominion.
The Flaemish Shepherds Guard is a small elite group (F4, short sword chain mail and shield) all from the Paster clan, and all totally loyal to Rowena. They are lead by the mighty Rovex (Ranger 21^st, short sword +3, plate mail+2 of fire resistance), a legendary hero among the Lupins of Glantri.
The Ardjes Escort is a human unit made up of 20 mounted fighters (F2, long swords, chain mail, and shield) who patrol the areas around Ardjes and the main roads.

The Vystaar village Militia (30 F1, spears or tridents, leather armor) is a reserve force that Rowena keeps active and trained well.
Additional weapons: aside from the defences built in the Bergen Tower itself, lots of small traps and siege weapons are cleverly hidden in the walls (pots with boiling oil, magical fire traps, spring mounted spikes, etc').

Trails: Fair trails connect the three villages. A fair trail leads Southwest to Fort Nordling, another one South to Ostbruck.

Economics: Ardjes (slate-tiles) are Bergen’s main resource and they’re now exported all over the Principalities, thanks to Idwal Terlagand’s idea. Sheepherds, introduced by McAllisters, knew a sharp increase after Isaac’s toll Affaire. The wool is mainly exported to Bergdhoven and Ostbruck. The Viscounty imports food by the Principality of Bergdhoven. The Library and Museum of Planar Lore generates an income of 200 dc per month.

History:

Flaemish settlers knew this area for those houses with strangely tiled roofs. It was home to the Flaemish Shepherds of Sager clan (mountains) and Paster clan (hills). Bergen became part of the Principalities when Prince Vlaardoen finally succeeded in convincing his old teacher Porfir Massza to establish a dominion there. A studious and a sage, Porfir loved the company of the Sager clan, and Lupin trusted that under the rule of that man nothing would have changed. Their guess proved right for some twenty years, when Porfir died without any heir, leaving the ruling of the Viscounty to the Aalbanese Idwal Terlagand. Idwal realised this community needed something to aliment its treasury, and he cunningly started to publicise Bergen Ardjes in Glantrian circles. Soon the Viscounty started exporting it throughout Glantri, where it was used as a particular decoration even in place that needn’t it.

When Idwal moved, Bergen knew a period of unrest since next Viscount was Seisyll Wittels, an Alphatian. However, the "Cunning Weasel" managed to calm down the population by committing the ruling to members of the Sager clan, while he preferred to concentrate himself to find a way of getting out of Bergen. After he had finally reached the title of Count, he was succeeded by McAllisters who ruled forty years. McAllisters arrived from nearby Uigmuir, but they weren’t interested in good ruling. Combining Kaelics and Lupins experience, wool trade increased in the hills of the Viscounty first, then in those of the FP of Fort Nordling. When Alasdair McAllister won the County of Glenargyll, things turned even better for the Viscounty: the new ruler, Rowena Krollnar was born in the village of Vystaar, and had become much attached to her lands.

The founding of the Library and Museum of Planar Lore in the small village of Bergen was the last positive turn of events, since it has brought an adequate income for the Treasury.

Notable sites: Ziljen Ranges rise around the Tower of Bergen and are home to the Sager clan, the more reclusive clan of Flaemish Shepherds. Loved by the people for their healing abilities (using mountain herbs), they also proved to be useful councillors and sages for the Viscounts, to Lupins this was the best method of being sure the Viscounty was well run. Actually, they are lead by Bernardus Sager (born 965, Lupin male, Flaemish Shepherd breed) (OD&D: Al L) (AD&D: Healer* 12^th, Al NG), close friend of Rowena Krollnar. They are quite the same age, and they grew up together, Rowena runs to him whenever she seeks a wise council. Bernardus runs the Healing Hospital in Vystaar with his apprentices.

Viscountess Rowena has recently founded Bergen Library and Museum of Planar Lore, the result of a passion she took from her father. It counts on several family heirloom and some donations. Entrance is 5 sovereign; book consulting is 10 ducats the first day, then 1 dc per day. The museum provides an income of 250 ducats per month, thanks to some agreements with the Flaemish Library of Kopstar and the Great Library of Glantri City, who pays the right to consult the private material in Bergen. Rowena managed to obtain this thanks to Wilhelmine Vlaardoen’s political abilities.

The Tower of Bergen is an amazing sight. It has a conical shape and it’s entirely covered with Bergen Ardjes: an idea of Idwal Terlagand who modified the Tower previously built by Porfir Massza. During winter the snow seems to caress the tiles then fall on the ground as if repelled.

The Healing Hospital was another idea of Rowena. She had it built with the secret financial help of Margaret Hillsbury, and it’s run by the Healer Bernardus Sager, Head of the Sager Clan. His more skilled aid, Rufus (born 979, Lupin male) (OD&D: Al L) (AD&D: Healer* 6^th, Al LG), substitutes him when he’s somewhere else. Bernardus can count up to twenty apprentices among his clan. The Hospital is a simple structure with the characteristic ardjes-tiled roof, it holds 80 patients, but if the need arises, it can reach 120 beds. Outside the Hospital, there’s an Herb Garden. Run by Bernardus’ apprentices, it helps the Healer to maintain a good supply of curative herbs. Rowena decided that people of the Viscounty shouldn’t pay for the cure received something that increased her popularity even more. Outsiders are charged with normal fees. However the Hospital doesn’t produce any income for the Treasury: normal fees and additional income (for selling lijsk leaves to the Guild of Gemcutters in Kopstar) merely suffice to cover the expenses.

Personalities: Rowena Krollnar (born 968, Fire Elementalist of the Third Circle) (OD&D: Mage 10^th, AL N) (AD&D: Mage 10^th, Al CG).

Mirn Krollnar (born 991), son.

Rovex (born ???) (OD&D: Ranger 21^st, Al ???) (AD&D: Ranger 15^th, Al ???).

Bernardus Sager (born 965, Lupin male, Flaemish Shepherd breed) (OD&D: Al L) (AD&D: Healer* 12^th, Al NG).

Rufus (born 979, Lupin male) (OD&D: Al L) (AD&D: Healer* 6^th, Al LG).

Coat of Arms: argent Plume on sable background.

*The Healer is an NPC’s class which appears in "Sages and Specialists", a TSR supplement for AD&D.

Thibault Sarlat, Giovanni Porpora, Agathokles.

January 2001, All rights reserved.