Roscombe
🔈 (ROHS-kom)
- pop. 762
A market town in Carlinshire, Addermarch, Greater Sembara
Roscombe is a walled market town in the highlands of western Addermarch, serving the hill farms and scattered hamlets of the Stonewolds and the Highmoor in upland Carlinshire. It is built on a slight ridge, with a commanding view. It is the largest town in the highlands, the principal market town of this area, and the only highland town with its walls still standing.
One inn, The Traveler’s Rest, near the main gate, provides rooms for the occasional traveler, and a handful of alehouses provide drink and entertainment for the populace. The Mill Brook, a rushing brook, flows past the town from the northwest, turning south to cross under the road from Valcroix about a quarter-mile from the main gates. The only paved road from Roscombe is the road to Valcroix, which is often impassable for carts in the winter or spring due to snow and mud. However, numerous cart tracks lead in all directions towards the scattered villages of the high moors. The town has a main southern gate on the Valcroix road and a smaller northern Mill Gate near the brook and mill.
The walls are stone, well-built, and date to the days of the wars against Avatus, several hundred years ago. Although they are crumbling in a few places, the current castellan, Elowen Duval, has invested in their repair. Much of the town is stone cottages with thatch roofs, although a few newer buildings have upper stories of timber, including the Traveler’s Rest.
Notable Sites
The two largest buildings in the town are the manor, currently occupied by Elowen Duval, and the slate-roofed Temple of the Sibyl, home to a priest, Owen Tavish.
Duval Manor is the residence and administrative seat of Lady Elowen Duval, castellan of Roscombe. Its hall hosts formal dinners and local councils, and its clerks maintain records of Carlinshire dating back to the wars against Avatus. Master Ernault, the manor’s chief clerk, keeps many of these records in a crowded study and has knowledge of old frontier sites such as Serethwyn Tor.
The Temple of the Sibyl is one of the largest buildings in town and the center of Roscombe’s religious life. Owen Tavish serves there as priest, assisted by temple steward Isolde of Roscombe, who manages temple records, visitors, and secure storage. In DR 1715, the Serpentine Dagger recovered from Torvaine Watch was destroyed there with Trueflame under Owen’s supervision.
The central plaza contains a well and fountain, and supports daily local trade, with larger market days on Wednesdays and Sundays. Caradoc regularly comes into Roscombe for the Sunday market and often meets clients at the Raven’s Roost.
Inns and Taverns
The Traveler’s Rest. The only inn in Roscombe, a well-built two story building against the wall, near the South Gate, where the road from Valcroix enters town. Run by Bertrand LeBlanc, a charming middle-aged man with a personal connection to the Traveler. Efficient and organized, and a decent cook as well.
The Raven’s Roost. A popular alehouse on the market square, where the locals hang out. Run by Madeline Brewer, a young woman, daughter of the old tavern keeper who died unexpectedly a few years ago. Madeline took over the family business and has been thriving. Known for their beer, and the primary brewer in town.
The Toad. A slightly run down alehouse, also on the market square. Known for music but a bit seedy. Run by Rhys Dafydd (REES DAV-ith), an older man who’s lived here forever and knows all the stories, but doesn’t really put much effort into maintenance and has no (living) children (won’t talk about family).