Tarryford Draft
Overview
Tarryford (also referred to as Upper Tarryford or Bungford) is a village in Wiltshire where the party first came together to play The Long Corridor adventure in Autumn 1813. It is the birthplace and residence of Emma_Wentworth, Georgiana_Wentworth, and James_Bennet, and the adopted home of Jane_Radcliffe.
Key Locations
- Northlake Hall — Estate of the Northlake family. Site of the Northlake Ball and the Long Corridor.
- Upper Tarryford Church — Parish church officiated by Reverend Samuel Jennings. Parish records dating back to 1538.
- The Four Feathers — The finest inn in Tarryford, where Marina_Garrick stayed during the investigation.
Key Families
The Northlakes
Sir James Northlake, Lady Lydia Northlake, Miss Elizabeth Northlake, and Emma (the Dowager Lady Northlake)
The Pottertons
Mr. Henry Potterton, Miss Marianne, Mr. George, Miss Clara, Miss Susan, Master Charles, Miss Lucy
The Ashers
Mr. Richard Asher, Mrs. Chandra Asher, Miss Eleanor, Miss Julia, Master Philip
Other Notable Residents
- Reverend Samuel Jennings — Vicar of Upper Tarryford Church, age 32, from Southampton. A grieving man hiding his pain after his sister Grace’s death.
- Captain John Stone — Military officer, age 29. Convalescing after the Battle of Vitoria.
- Mr. Henry Ashford — Ambitious barrister
- Mr. Charles Fairchild — Wealthy landowner
- Mrs. Susanna Havering — Local noblewoman and socialite
Village Workers
- Mr. Garrick & Mrs. Alice Copeland — Tradespeople
- Mr. Morris & Mrs. Sarah Salsmith — Tradespeople
- Mr. Martin & Mr. Benjamin Johnson — The forge brothers
- Mr. John Banham, Mr. Isaac Elstone — Villagers
- Mrs. Millicent Fortham & Miss Harriet Fortham — Village family
- Mr. Peter & Mrs. Jane Carlton — Village family
- Dr. Winston & Mrs. Abigail Parsons — Village physician and wife
- Maggie “Ma” Hughes — Village matron
- Rev. Byron Choke — Second clergyman
- Mrs. Sarah Coombes — Housekeeper
The Northlake Ball — Social Dynamics
At the autumn ball, the eligible bachelors and ladies were paired by mutual attraction and host matchmaking:
| Gentleman | Primary Interests |
|---|---|
| James Bennet (poet) | Emma Wentworth, Jane Radcliffe, Elizabeth Northlake |
| Captain John Stone | Marina Garrick, Georgiana Wentworth, Eleanor Asher |
| Reverend Samuel Jennings | Georgiana Wentworth, Julia Asher |
| Mr. Henry Ashford (barrister) | Jane Radcliffe, Elizabeth Northlake, Susan Potterton |
| Mr. Charles Fairchild | Emma Wentworth, Marianne Potterton |
| Mr. George Potterton | Susan Potterton, Julia Asher |
These dynamics created overlapping rivalries and flirtations — fertile ground for gossip, alliance, and scandal.
Sunday Church — Upper Tarryford
The morning after the ball, Reverend Jennings delivered a sermon on the transient nature of worldly pleasures (Ecclesiastes, Luke on covetousness) — laced with subtle references to the previous night’s revelries. After the service, gossip flowed in the churchyard:
- Mrs. Susanna Havering and Miss Susan Potterton — primary gossip-mongers, sharing whispers about oddities at the Northlake estate
- Miss Elizabeth Northlake — a focal point for rumours, her every gesture scrutinised
- The Asher sisters — framed the night’s excesses as cautionary tales
Parish Records: Kept in the vicarage, dating back to 1538. Accessible with a successful Charm or Persuade roll when speaking with Reverend Jennings. A rich vein of family history and previous scandals.
Campaign Significance
Tarryford is where the campaign expanded from a solo game to a full table. Marina_Garrick was sent here by Lord_Percival_Harcourt on her first Order mission, and the events of The Long Corridor brought together the core party. The Wentworth sisters are locals. The village and its extensive NPC cast remain available if the party returns to England.