Keserin Mine

Keserin Mine, by Richard Luschek
Copyright © 2013, Columbia Games, Inc. and Richard Luschek

I just finished the newest Columbia Games article- kind of last minute. This article was ready for art last month and I was supposed to be done early in the month, but I had a few setbacks. We still hope for it to be printed  and shipped in February, but of course there are only three more days left of this month. Too bad this isn't a leap year.
A bit about Keserin mining camp:

Keserin is an isolated forest hundred in Rethem’s Parachshire, where heavily forested foothills meet the low rocky spurs of the Rayesha Mountains.
This is the site of a mine held by the Order of the Red Shadows of Herpa, an Agrikan fighting order based in Menekai.
The mine nestles in a deep ravine carved by the white waters of a tributary of the Gomisen River. A small settlement clings to a level plateau of waste mine rubble, beyond which rises the rough-hewn timbers of a high stockade around the mine. Outsiders are not encouraged at the mine.

 It is a dark and nasty place of smoke filled air, polluted waters, sitting in a barren, clear cut locale. Add to that the fact that with the Agrikans in charge run the mine like a prison camp.
The geography of the camp was a bit tough to imagine, so as is my usual practice, I dropped the map into Google Sketchup and did a very rough model that I could look around in. One interesting fact that I figured out, that not even the writer had envisioned, was that the mine entrance itself is forever in the shadow of the rocky cliffs above, adding to the gritty feel of the place.

Birds-Eye view of Keserin Mine, by Richard Luschek
Copyright © 2013, Columbia Games, Inc. and Richard Luschek

View from Gomisen trail of Keserin Mine, by Richard Luschek
Copyright © 2013, Columbia Games, Inc. and Richard Luschek

North west View from across the river of Keserin Mine, by Richard Luschek
Copyright © 2013, Columbia Games, Inc. and Richard Luschek

View from high ground across the river of Keserin Mine, by Richard Luschek
Copyright © 2013, Columbia Games, Inc. and Richard Luschek

I decided the last one offered the most useful view of the camp. It has good look at the smelting furnaces, most of the working buildings and the the important features of the landscape- including the mine entrance. It is also a view that would most be used by scouting Kuborans or Garguns preparing for attack. As you can see the model just offers a very rough idea of placement and lighting. Some artistic license is needed to get a pleasing image for the article.
This article is a bit different from the typical locations that have been published on Harn. I could see an entire campaign run in or around this mine. Of course I was only able to illustrate a few views of the camp, but I hope these Sketchup screen-shots help get you excited enough to torture your PCs in this dreadful place.
To receive this article I suggest you sign up for HarnQuest or wait until it is posted to for PDF download on RPG Now or related site.

Inside Keserin Mine, by Richard Luschek
Copyright © 2013, Columbia Games, Inc. and Richard Luschek