Towns and Villages

Outside of Torica, human settlements have become more common over the past few centuries, sprouting up across the continent after the events of The Sundering.

Ranging from well settled to sparsely-populated, these hamlets, villages, and towns often require constant vigilance, both to obtain enough food to survive, and against roving bands of bandits, monsters, and worse. Living out in the middle of nowhere is not for the faint-hearted, but by working together, many of these small settlements have survived, and a few of them, even thrive.

Below are but a few of the towns and villages that travelers might come across:

Alestra

No one knows how Alestra got it's name. This small town on the Ardena boasts a population of both humans and Chorav, and is becoming well known as a source of topaz and amethyst, as well as the best place to find very well made baskets. In the past five centuries Alestra has become sort of the spiritual successor to High Reaches. The large town is home to a diverse community that seeks to live in peace above most other things. That being said, while a number of adventurers are from Alestra, not many stay there. The town welcomes their trade and commerce, but is not keen on them staying for long periods of time, as adventurers often bring more trouble then they are worth.

Amber Bay

Tucked at the south end of the Almalthean Coast, this walled town has managed to stay clear of the kobolds and manifestations nearby perhaps by sheer luck. Amber Bay fought off a few Halmorian ships in the Halmorian Invasion, but ultimately was occupied like most other settlements in Eramere. Since the Halmorians retreated, they have rebuilt a small shipping industry, and have a regular trade network with Torica selling pearls and oysters.

Bad Water

Once a town in a slump, Bad Water is now a town on the rise. The town would offer an idyllic view of the lake, were it not for the massive fortifications guarding it from the karr and bandits. They are still strapped for resources, but now have a thriving agreement with the Gnomish residents, filling the town with technology not otherwise seen elsewhere on the mainland of Eramere. The bartender of the Rooster Block, Macarius, is the grudgingly appointed Mayor of Bad Water, as was his great grandfathers. A very long time ago it had only one defender once, but the acting sheriff Lawrence Creed had turned much of the bad crowd into a semblance of a town watch, which has remained in effect for hundreds of years.

Conner's Grove

Once the survivors of an expedition camp made of Haerkglar and humans whose caravan broke down in the valley, Conner's expedition survived through many trials and hardships and built a settlement all on their own. Their homes carved right into the valley, it is easy to mistake for a Haerkglar home. Nevertheless the original survivors seem quite settled. It began to grow as families began to join their prospectors in their new, resource-rich home, and then settlers flocked to the new opportunities. Conner's Grove became the home of the Haerkglar who were employed by Furin Ironstoker. As the years have passed some moved on, but a number of Haerkglar remain, including Furin's direct descendants, one of whom, Galdrin Ironstoker, now leads the Mining Authority in town.

Devon's Reach

Devon's Reach is technically the oldest surviving human settlement on Eramere. Founded nearly as soon as immigrants were allowed to come over from the mainland, Devon's Reach became the haven for those who found themselves at contest with imperial law. Devon's Reach is located at the base of the Frostbeard Mountains, just east of where the Blackspear nation ends. That being said, the small town has had quite a number of run-ins with the Blackspear, being subjugated by them during each of the Horde Wars.

Devon's Reach has expanded to it's greatest heights in the time since the destruction of the Nexus. While many communities floundered, Devon's Reach, ever a haven for miscreants and exiles has thrived. With the destruction of Home and High Reaches, Devon's Reach became one of the largest cities over night. Merchants and Haerkglar interested in the ores the Frostbeard Mountains might hold have flocked to The Reach, and commerce has flourished.

Old Pine

Without a single pine tree in the village, most will say it must have been named from someone named Pine. Founded over sixty years ago, none can prove otherwise. Old Pine sits perched a few miles west of the bridge to Daggershard Isle, and is generally quite happy to be left alone.

Pella's Wish

Located just north of the Mystwoods, Pella's Wish got her name from the daughter of the original founder's of the town. Despite the implication, she did not meet a tragic end. Indeed, Pella became a grown woman who runs the town's aviary. Pella's Wish makes its living through their messenger birds. Still an untested method of communication, Pella's Wish still maintains a moderate amount of business with nearby towns who wish to communicate their news and information quickly without the ability to teleport.

It is said that Pella's decendants have some command of the woods. Whether or not there is any truth to the rumor, the town is generally unmolested by the creatures of the Mystwoods.

Pilgrim's Rest

Located along the River Ardena, Pilgrim's Rest was founded shortly after the end of the last war with the Blackspear. The spot was chosen because of an ancient shrine to Lilianthe, which was found during a scouting mission during the war. The shrine is rumored to have powerful healing properties, and has become a popular spot for members of the Lilianthe's faithful to come and visit.

The town itself boasts a population of just over a thousand or so villagers and farmers, who use the river to irrigate their farms. The village has a single tavern named The Anchor, which is often filled to capacity with outside visitors during the spring. Pilgrim's Rest became the home of quite a few of the Syl'vae that lived in High Reaches after it fell, and the town now sports one of the larger Syl'vae communities left in Eramere.

Saerugall

The first new permanent settlement of with the mountain was founded by the merchant Tiran Balderk, deemed Saerugall, or 'The Iron Halls' in the trade tongue on the Southern end of the Silentfire Mountains, with an exit to the Daiobi Desert. The relatively small community grew quickly in both population and wealth as they were now the only reliable trade with the surface. They quickly established a market with the Chorav, who were as at the time very happy to have an old trading partner secured, given the loss of business from both High Reaches, and THIMBLE. The Iron Halls have continued to grow over the past few centuries, and though it does not come close to rivaling Skolden'fel, it is still a jewel in the eye of a people who had suffered so much during the past millennia.

Three Oaks

Three Oaks was a small settlement a few days out from High Reaches. All adults were killed when the town froze over during a very warm spring. Magic was found to be the cause. The church used to be the leading voice within the village, until everything changed across Eramere. Eventually there was a small rebellion of sorts, and at the end of the day, Three Oaks had a mayor. The village gains a lot of information from travelers heading over the bridge, but in general they make a meager living. There is still a relatively large Faergolite following within the town, and they are famed for their undertakers. A number of higher profile funerals have been handled by their ilk.

Tims

The small mining town of Tims is located at the edge of the northern Silentfire Mountains. Supplying nearby towns with iron, rumours often crop up of rarer veins found nearby. Tims' tavern The Rusty Nail sees quite a few prospectors each spring, though most go home empty handed. Tims, while staying small in population, has become somewhat more prosperous. The Haerkglar have decided to allow the town to mine the local sites, with the promise that they would not encroach on their own operations.

Wellspring

Wellspring had a great start to it's town, with an active road between Hillcrest and Badwater to the north and south. However things went downhill once Hillcrest was destroyed. Wellspring was also occupied during the Halmorian Invasion, and lost much of its wealth to the Halmorians. In more recent decades, fortunes have shifted once again, and Wellspring has been restoring much of its former promise and wealth.

The farms are near the Witch Woods, and farmers often complain of things that go bump in the night. The town often employs adventurers to ensure nothing comes out.

Willow's Hollow

One of the oldest standing human settlements outside of Torica or High Reaches, Willow's Hollow was founded by those who were unable to secure employment within High Reaches, and did not feel comfortable among the Lakoi of Torica. Much of the population was made up of Halmorian poor, with little job skills, and very scarce resources. For much of its early days Willow's Hollow was a rough place to live, disenfranchised, and forced to scrounge together enough food to feed the inhabitants, it attracted the worst sort of leadership, and bred a hard group of people. Its only saving grace being its location, a remote ravine, not often traveled and easy to defend. With High Reaches such a rich and obvious target, the people of Willow's Hollow lived outside the purview of most of Eramere's coming and goings.

Willow's Hollow was the first to come under the protection of what has become known as the Croulous, or Crimson Crusade. It began when a woman of middle age, some say fitting the description of a notorious bandit, came to the town, declaring it under her protection. Few took such a boast seriously until an entire Karr raiding party, a rare but dangerous sight, was slaughtered in the night before they reached the outer farms. Several less impressive incidents, as well as a few altercations with some of the rougher elements of Willow's Hollow, began to give people hope that times were changing for Willow's Hollow. Those hopes were truly realized when the war hero Bertrand Croulous arrived with a small but well trained group of men, to act as a legitimate guard and militia force. Willow's Hollow is now a small but relatively wealthy town, one of the few whose population remains predominately human, of Halmorian descent. The Crimson Crusade remains based out of Willow's Hollow to this day, bringing a good amount of trade to the region.

Willow's Hollow has weathered the last few centuries just as they have for much of their existence, with stoicism and a shield wall. Halmoria never really attempted to invade the well defended Hollow, deeming it not worth the effort. When the Nexus was destroyed they weathered that too, and redoubled their efforts patrolling the roads, defending the common folk from the ever present mundane threats of Eramere. The Crusade has continue to grow in both strength and reputation, and has had to repel several concerted efforts by ambitious Karr leaders to try and wipe them from the map.