 Maerstar
 HIS
farm and quarrying town stands at the meeting of Helve’s Trail
from High Haspur and The North Road that links Procampur with the
northern Vast by way of the Glorming Pass. Maerstar is known as
a horse center; the large, sleek black horses bred here are highly
prized throughout the Inner Sea lands. It is not known as a place
of much wealth, but rather hardworking prosperity.
Its well-trampled paddocks have been used to hide
treasure, however. During the Time of Troubles, many merchants of
Tsurlagol and Procampur fled to their country houses in Maerstar
only to find themselves beset by looting mobs of wandering, displaced
men from the destruction in Tantras and the strife in Calaunt and
Mulmaster.
Many of the wealthy hid their riches under the dung
and churned earth of the paddocks, but not all of the wealthy survived
to dig up their riches when the Troubles were over. Local rumour
has it that at least two holdings still lie beneath the earth somewhere
in Maerstar: the moonstone and pearl collection of the merchant
Uligker Oloskar of Procampur and a hoard of coins and trade-bars
belonging to the locksmith and purveyor of trained dancers, Shondarl
Stonegiant.
This town is also the home of the Moonlit Tower. This
strange apparition can be seen only when the rays of the full moon
fall upon a crag northwest of the town. At such times, a small,
slender tower appears there. It glows blue-gray as if fashioned
of solid moonlight, and it can be entered. Its interior consists
of seven rooms and a rooftop level joined by a spiral stair of floating
stone treads without rail or visible means of support. Spells have
unusual effects when cast inside the Tower.
Some sages believe the Moonlit Tower travels about
several planes or other worlds. Those in it when it fades away are
seldom seen in the Realms again. When it appears, it may be empty
or may hold rare and awesome monsters. Sometimes these beasts guard
treasure, but on other occasions they bring disease, plague, and
eggs that hatch into other harmful monsters when taken out of the
Tower.
From The Everwinking Eye: Treasures of the Vast,
Part Three by Ed Greenwood (Polyhedron #91, January, 1994). 
Burantine
At the eastern edge of the High Country, near the
Impiltur border, the small village of Burantine sits in almost
complete obscurity. One hundred miles east of Dragon Falls, it is
a ride of about eight days through hilly trails along the Fire River
to reach the settlement. The village surrounds Burantine Keep, founded
forty years ago by Sire Burantine. Sire Burantine and his
comrades defeated the lich of Foulfog Tower hidden within the nearby
Foulfog Swamp.
Sire Burantine had hopes that rich caravans from Ravens Bluff, Tantras,
and Procampur would traverse through this area en route to Impiltur.
However, the trek through the High Country made the path impractical.
Furthermore, four years after the founding of his keep, major victories
were won against pirates, making the aquatic trade route even more
attractive.
The Burantine family persisted. The land around their Manor proved
to be good for growing fruit trees, olives, and wine grapes. A small
community developed. Sire Burantine managed the many farms about
the area, supplemented by flocks of sheep and goat that thrive within
the land. Sire Burantine turned over the running of the keep to
his only son, Lord Vance Burantine ten years ago, as his old age
began to catch up with him. The Keep is a largely empty place, housing
only Lord Burantine, Sire Burantine, and the Sire’s old manservant,
Kleary.
Sire Burantine stands 6' 3’ tall, with only thin wisps
of grey hair, blue eyes and pale white skin spotted with age.
Lord Vance Burantine is a tall cavalier who fought for the defence
of Ravens Bluff in the recently concluded war. Lord Burantine is
a courageous and headstrong man.
Kleary, is 5'8’ and bald with quick green eyes. He is
quick to protect his master, and has no time for small talk. He
will do as Sire Burantine tells him without question. Kleary is
an old mapmaker for Sire Burantine. He is no longer able to survey
due to his age, so the Sire keeps him around as a valet.
From Lich Hunt by Dave Wolen (1998)
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