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The Mute Fens
Erected of unpolished slab and brick just outside the jurisdiction of Calantyr, the Saddlebrook Estate was once a robust outpost two days’ march southeast of Rook’s Landing. Controlled by the self-proclaimed Duke Previn, a Coeur landowner who constructed the impressive building to outrun arrest for tax evasion and slavery abetting, the estate was a popular thoroughfare for slavers and their wares, hunted outlaws, exiles, and other low-profile travelers who needed secreted access to or escape from the law’s influence.The mansion offered overpriced lodging and protection, guides through the swamps, a limited selection of whores, and even a bazaar of contraband materials. Patrolled by unmarked mercenaries under Previn’s employ – who themselves were often on the lam for violent crimes – unwritten rules were sporadically and anonymously enforced on its unruly visitors to establish an uneasy measure of civility. Affluent journeyers sometimes disappeared within the estate’s halls and women travelling unaccompanied might be subjected to entertain the host under threat of violence, but these occurrences were comparatively less common than alternative treks. To the careful, the structure was a haven and its report among the lawless was well-received.
Why the estate was abandoned is uncertain, but Previn’s over-reliance on the Saltmire’s unwelcoming terrain is often cited as the lead up to its ruin. The palace existed for nearly a decade along a route historically troubled by abhorrent wildlife and disease; coupled with the cheaply-bought allegiance of his bodyguards, a nefarious clientele, and a reputation that quickly made its way to ambitious lawmen’s ears, it was only a matter of time before the false-Duke was undone by forces outside or from within. Whatever befell the Saddlebrook Estate twenty summers ago also claimed those within its halls, and materials that might trace back to the estate or its occupants have not since resurfaced.
Today the structure is still visible from afar, though unchecked wilds have ended its grand appearance and its interior is saturated by the namesake tributary it once diverted. Paths leading to the sanctuary have been reclaimed by the wetlands, making passage to the ruined estate nearly impossible. Offering mystique to its dying fame, the few huntsmen and explorers calling themselves locals have redubbed the area its original name of the Mute Fens and spread dubious stories about activity still going on within the mansion.
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