VoonlarNortheast of Shadowdale is the small town of Voonlar. Located at the junction of roads from Shadowdale, Yulash, and Teshwave, Voonlar is only slightly larger than Shadowdale itself and is Shadowdale’s chief rival in the area. Voonlar is independent on paper, but in practice it is ruled by a Zhentish puppet.
Voonlar is a relatively peaceful town, and its natives have accepted their corrupt leadership and the burden of supporting mercenaries and evil temples. They tend to regard Dalesmen as disruptive rogues and highwaymen who make a practice of harassing Voonlar. Over the years adventuring companies based in Shadowdale have raided, the town’s temples and mercenary garrisons, creating a great deal of trouble.
Voonlar is governed by an elected sherriff, known locally as the .bron.. In theory, all the villagers gather to elect a new bron every year, but in practice the Zhents keep their man safely in office from year to year. The bron is Buorstag Hlammythyl (LE hm F8), a loyal follower of Cyric’s teachings and ex-mercenary. Buorstag is an aggressive and greedy man who gives his loyalty to Zhentil Keep in exchange for the power to run the town as he sees fit. Buorstag extorts .protection taxes. and other pay-offs from most of the people of the town.
Like Shadowdale, Voonlar is basically a farming community. It is slightly more urbanized . the extensive outlying farms of Shadowdale are not present, and the town is more developed. Several inns, taverns, and traders cater to the various passers-by, and Voonlar is a relatively safe (if expensive) place to visit. There are two major temples in Voonlar one dedicated to Cyric, and the other to Chauntea. The temple of Cyric is known as the Dark God Reformed, and is commanded by Gormstadd the Rerisen (LE hm P14.) Gormstadd is served by 14 lesser priests and an elite temple guard of 16 4th-level warriors. The Dark God Reformed has been raided many times by adventurers from Shadowdale, and Gormstadd has a standing bounty of 10,000 gp on the head of the Lord of Shadowdale, Mourngrym Amcathra.
The second major temple of Voonlar is the Bounty of the Goddess, dedicated to Chauntea. Lady Shrae of the Goddess (CG hf P12) supervises 14 lesser priests of various levels and a guard of 20 2nd-level warriors. Lady Shrae is on good terms with her counterpart in Shadowdale, and she occasionally aids good adventurers in the area by concealing them in the temple and smuggling them out of danger.
Voonlar is defended by the bron and his six deputies. The town also musters a militia of pikemen, augmented by companies of archers. From time to time, the Zhents ‘suggest. to Buorstag that he allow a band of mercenaries to quarter in the village, and the bron usually complies. Currently, there are no Zhentish troops posted here.