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The Charmhearts

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A halfling family

The Charmhearts are a prominent family of halfling overland traders. They trace their history to Sembara, but for the past several generations they have made their living on long distance trade, bringing spices, furs, and dyed cloth from Sembara to Dunmar, as well as sometimes apple brandy from Adderfell.

Their traditional route brings them across the lower elevation eastern passes across the Sentinel Range on the road to Karawa, often crossing as early as the middle of March, aiming to arrive in Karawa in time to trade at the Festival of Rebirth, usually in early April. After a year circuiting Dunmar, they return to Sembara via the high passes from Tokra in late spring when the snows melt.

They are a serious trading family, and always travel prepared for danger, especially across the passes and the open frontier north of Karawa.

In 1748, the Charmhearts encountered trouble on the road from Ausson’s Crossing to Karawa. Descending the passes on March 19, 1748, the Charmheart caravan stopped to rest and recover after the hard journey, at a well-used campsite near the old Dunmari fortress called Raven’s Hold. Ander Charmheart, a young and sometimes foolish member of the clan, went exploring, and was caught in a wave of demonic energy from a demon summoning. Driven mad, the Charmheart caravan was forced to deal with the situation in Karawa.

The demon at Raven’s Hold was later killed by Dunmar Fellowship, but Ander Charmheart only slowly and partially recovered. What is more, during this time, gnoll raiders rampaged across Eastern Dunmar, and little trading was possible. The Charmhearts made their way to Tokra with crowds of Dunmari refugees, but the sickness and war seriously disrupted their trading year, causing significant losses. Later, they left Tokra for Darba, hoping for better luck.

Chronology