Mürz River Valley
The 'Mürz'
means 'little Mür', and refers to the small river which flows into
the town of Bruck before confluing with
the Mür and turning south to Graz. The rocky rapids of the Mürz
wind westward, descending from the towering Raxalpe (some 30 miles east
of Bruck). A path along the banks of the Mürz leads towards the Seat
of the Duchy of Austria, Vienna. The Mürz is also commonly referred
to as the 'Styrian' river, and its valley is defined by the Fishbacheralpen
to its south side, and the massive Hochschwab paralleling its north bank.
The river itself is much more shallow and rocky than the Mür, with
green foaming waters, and except during the spring thaws, it is characterized
by frequent rocky fords.
Hochschwab
Raxalpe
Frohnleiten
Kleistburg
Mariazell
Hochschwab
This mighty massif looms 5100 feet above the valley below, and lies paralleling
the river along its north bank. Many dry-caves dot the high rocky cliffs
overlooking the river, although pine trees clinging to the rocky terrace
obscure most of them from view.
Raxalpe
A mighty rock formation resembling a pointed-dome which stands 4500 feet
over the valley, majestically looking down the Mürz river valley and
southeast into the Styrian hills. This mountain marks the eastern-most end
of the valley. Hell's Gorge winds around the far side of the Raxalpe, though
no paths lead there and Rabenstein has not investigated this ill-named canyon.
Frohnleiten
Small village on the south bank of the Mürz. The original site of
the village lies a few miles southwest nearer the Fischbacheralpen, but
it was abandoned after catastrophe struck the villagers (see the adventure
summary Curse of the Horned God).
Two socius from Rabenstein lie buried in a common grave on a nearby
hill with other peasants who were butchered by overzealous mercenaries.
Attempts to found this second village (also called Frohnleiten) nearby have
proven difficult, and the village's future is tenuous.
Although most of the villages perished or fled the valley, many of the
them have settled recently in the village of Bosl, quite near to Rabenstein.
Kleistburg
A castle at the eastern end of the valley, formerly the home of the Brabancons
and their Captain. Spartan in its design, its former lord perished in the
3rd Crusade, and it passed to the Bishop of Seckau. Several socius
from Rabenstein were imprisoned here in the winter of 1202 until the Canons
of Seckau could assure their release (see the adventure summary The Dungeon of Kleistburg),
and others fought a pitched battle against the Brabancon captain, ending
his tenure here (see the adventure summary The
Court of Epona). The current lord of the castle is unknown.
Looking north from Mariazell
A path leads north from Kleistburg to the monastery of Mariazell.
Mariazell
This town lies on a gentle slop above the morning mists, just below the
menacing Burgelalpe Mountain (3700 ft). A Benedictine Priory was founded
here in 1157. A hilly, forested area, 38 miles from Bruck as the crow flies.
The priory was founded as a cabin housing 5 monks who built the convent
and set in it a limewood statue of the Virgin.
*Historical anecdote - Curiously, the statue seems to develop the ability
to perform miracles, and over the next 100 years the village's reputation
draws numerous Slav and Hungarian pilgrims. This does not transpire until
the early 14th Century, however.
This page last modified on 2/8/98.
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