Mossbridges is located about 8 miles northwest of Ravens Bluff and the mouth of the Fire River, along the well-traveled Coast Road. It's about a four and a half hour walk from the City; on horseback, the trip is just over two hours. The center of Mossbridges is a few hundred yards from the shore of the Dragon Reach, but as the geography presents a less-than-ideal harbor, the town's maritime industry is minimal.
Maps or references which suggest a different location of Mossbridges should be considered inaccurate. (e.g. The City of Ravens Bluff)
From a note by Dan Donnelly (August, 1998):
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Mossbridges now also falls under the protection of Lord (Baron) Lorien Darkarrow who has taken up residence in what was once Fort Thoden outside of the town.
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From The Everwinking Eye: Treasures of the Vast, Part Three by Ed Greenwood (Polyhedron #91, January, 1994) as revised in The City of Ravens Bluff:
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This town serves Ravens Bluff as a caravan staging area, stockyards, warehouse district, and horse-trading and stabling center. Merchants who don't want to stay in Ravens Bluff often use Mossbridges as a base, including a few who dare not enter the Living City because of enemies they've made; their clients or creditors meet them here by arrangement.
The great multi-span bridge that gives the town its name carries the Coast Road linking Ravens Bluff and Tantras over the Fire River. A corps of engineers and stonemasons dwell in Mossbridges, paid by both cities to keep the bridge in good repair. While nothing could ever induce them to endanger "The Bridge" (as they invariably refer to it), in other matters their morality is more flexible and they have in the past been known to hide bodies, treasure, and certain small but recognizable items in the bridge-pilings, in exchange for sizable bribes. Those with inconvenient items in need of long-term stashing can contact foreman Klonalogh Umesker, whose office is three doors north of The Blushing Gynosphinx inn, on the east side of the road (the two doors between are rooming houses).
A lot of money flows through Mossbridges, but there is surprisingly little crime, due to the expert policing by the paladin Rulisqer of Tyr (LG hm Pal 10). Rulisqer and his fourteen followers put into practice his belief that lawful behavior and local safety allow happiness and prosperity for all. Rulisqer keeps brawls off the streets and thieves' guilds out of town. As a result, his town is used as a "no-swords" neutral meeting place by traditional antagonists wishing to trade or old foes wishing to negotiate agreements. This in turn encourages investment and even a thriving fledgling banking industry. Would-be thieves be warned: the gargoyles adorning the roof of Gladragon's Gold & Gems Exchange aren't just carved adornments. And adventurers beware: swords had better be kept in their sheaths if their owners don't wish to be expertly subdued, stripped of weapons, and frogmarched out of town.
Treasure is everywhere in Mossbridges, but all of it has owners - and the place comes equipped with the most diligent law officers in the Vast, who always seems to know just where trouble's about to break out before it actually does. The only exception, if one believes the tales, is the rumor that one of the retired smugglers in town is actually an amphibious shapechanger of some sort who can take on a giant octopus shape and still swims out to do business with pirates who signal from offshore, keeping her loot underwater, hidden not far offshore. One tavern drinker says it's all inside giant clams that clamp shut to trap anyone but the rightful person - but he was hardly sober when delivering himself of this information, and it may be pure fancy.
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From The Trumpeter: The Newsletter of Ravens Bluff (Volume 2 - Issue 8, August 1998):
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Tanar'ri attack Mossbridges
By Fred Faber
It seems that Mossbridges has also gained the hatred of the outer planar creatures. A full two score of hideous fiends stormed the frail town's walls two days ago.
In what was apparently a practiced reaction, most of the town folks were warned of the attack by magical alarms and began to take shelter in specially built
structures in the city.
During this "evacuation" the defenders of the town moved to engage the incoming tanar'ri. Lord Lorien would not be specific as to what happened next, however
according to a merchant not far from Mossbridges, the sky was filled with fire and lightning. The sounds were terrible and the entire sky seemed to be on fire. The
result of the attack was a total of four dead defenders, three of which have already been raised by the priests in the town. The other has been transported to
Ravens Bluff in order to have a resurrection attempted upon them.
While speaking to the same merchant the reason for the attack was easily determined. The merchant had heard in Tantras that Lord Lorien has taken control of
the Heart of Bane from the city and is studying it in Mossbridges. The merchant was warned about stopping in Mossbridges since the Heart of Bane would
undoubtedly corrupt the merchants of the small coastal town.
Lord Lorien would not comment about the Heart of Bane itself, however he did have one statement in regards to the rumors spreading in Tantras. "So that is why
we were attacked. I guess at least it was not rumors about me personally, however I can assure you that the merchants of Mossbridges have not been corrupted
any more than any other normal merchant. I do expect the attack to cause some of the merchants and artisans to seek a safer location, however I hope most of
them stay in Mossbridges and help the town to grow even more."
When asked about the town's success in repelling the tanar'ri Lord Lorien credited the actions and advice offered by the new Dean of Extra-Planar research,
Simon Regulus.
In what might be another unrelated story, it seems that while researching this story, that Lord Lorien was having his entire manor redone and redecorated. There
were over 50 artisans and merchants crowded about the manor house the entire time we were in Mossbridges. In fact, Lord Lorien met us in the town since he
had no meeting area completed in his estates. When I asked about the subject he only smiled and said that they were almost done after two ten-days of constant
work.
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From A Wish for Temptation by Glen R. Goodwin (Polyhedron #123, September 1996):
- This module describes a stone wall surrounding the town, created by both wall of stone spells and manual construction. Presumably the wall was erected near the start of the war with Myrkyssa Jelan.
- At the time of the war, the innkeeper of The Blushing Gynosphynx is Ferred Ganross.
From Dark Harvest (1994) by David W. Baker:
- Many long-time natives of Mossbridges have an inherent distrust of wizards and wizardly magic. As newer residents arrive and the influence of Ravens Bluff becomes more pronounced, this prejudice is waning.
- Earl Kassin, of a family native to Mossbridges for many generations, is the town's blacksmith.
- An old tradition within Mossbridges is the Harvest Blessing, an annual event where Chauntea, Goddess of Agriculture, is thanked and the first bounty of the harvest is consumed.
- Mossbridges is governed by a popularly elected Town Council. Lynn Anderson (hf LN) has served as Chairwoman of this council. She is a middle-aged lady standing 5' 5" tall with a slightly stocky girth. She has long blonde hair with streaks of white and speaks in a low, deep voice.
- Among the many farms surrounding Mossbridges is the Wilson farm, run by Jim Wilson.
- A mile east of the town, hidden within a copse of trees, are a number of caves. Over a decade ago, these caves were used by a group of gnolls that were killing the town's livestock.
From The Trumpeter: The Newsletter of Ravens Bluff (Special Edition, April 1997):
Three notable battles during the War were fought at Mossbridges:
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First Battle of Mossbridges: A large humanoid force attempts to overrun the Village of Mossbridges. The village survives barely with the aid of incoming army units.
Second Battle of Mossbridges: Four weeks after the first battle the enemy strikes again. The odds are worse than 4:1 but the fortifications around Mossbridges again hold, although many brave men and women are lost.
Third Battle of Mossbridges: The village is once again saved although the casualties make defending the village impossible. The army is withdrawn leaving the village with no defense if the enemy returns.
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