Taken from original art work "Mistwood" colored by blaidd |
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Expanded 11/12/15
Rivenshore
Rivenshore is a
small village set in an isolated valley that lies south of an ancient
and sometimes dangerous world. It's surrounded on three sides by
wilderness that leads to the Forbidden Highlands mountain range, and
on the southwest side sits the Choral Beck river. The mountains and
river both protect and isolate Rivenshore. The entire area is simply
known as The Valley.
Beyond the mountains
to the north lies what is known to the people of Rivenshore as The
Great Realm. To the south, beyond the falls, is another village known
as Fairfall, which is also part of The Valley at large. A smaller
mountain range known as Bear Cliffs separates the two villages.
Rivenshore is a very
peaceful place to live. Its people live simply; farming, logging, and
fishing. Since the village is secluded, surrounded by mountains, and
the fact that the Choral Beck river ends at a
giant waterfall,
Rivenshore sees few traders. The traders they do see mostly come from
the north down the river. Although it appears that the river ends at
the waterfall there is also a cut off to the east. Those traders who
know the way travel the river south past Rivenshore and then follow
it to the east where the river escapes The Valley through a narrow
passage only large enough for small trading boats.
The traders by land
are usually from Fairfall. Rivenshore has been in commerce with
Fairfall almost from the beginning. Traders make their way along the
eastern pass which runs along the mountain. It's the safest route
between the two villages. To those travelers whose business brings
them by Rivenshore, the village is known for it's hospitality, a fine
marketplace and as a great place to get freshly cut lumber for any
boat repairs that might be needed.
Rivenshore is also
known to be home to several races - humans, elves, halflings and even
a handful of gnomes. There's also a dwarf named Hastreath Grayhelm
who stopped for a rest while traveling south to the dwarven town of
Hordohr. That was over twenty years ago, and Grayhelm wasn't the
first traveler through the centuries to get lost enroute to one place
or another, and wind up settling in this valley by the water fall.
What began a few hundred years ago as a small fishing camp set up by
a few humans and elves who were tired of fighting the wars in the
north, grew into a diverse village of peaceful people.
As peaceful as life
is in Rivenshore there are plenty of dangers outside of the village
that can make their way down the mountain, through the forest or down
the river. The two biggest threats to the village are wolves and
bandits. Although most of the traders are peaceful folk, there are
bandits that find their way to The Valley and foolishly see the
people of Rivenshore as easy marks.
Up the northwestern
passage that crosses the river there is the Wolf Den. It was
discovered over two-hundred years ago when the then tiny village had
no fence for protection and only a few skilled warriors, rogues or
mages among them. The village was attacked by a pack of wolves. The
next day some of the surviving townsfolk tracked the wolves up the
northwestern pass, over the river then down the western pass to their
den. On the west side of the river they were greatly outnumbered by
what they assumed were demon wolves with red eyes. They made a quick
retreat back home. There have been no wolf attacks on Rivenshore
since. Rumors abound as to
what exactly is to the west, but all those who have traveled there have
never returned. The western pass is no longer used.
Not long after the
wolf attack the watchtowers were built, and eventually the fence that walls the
entire village in. It was also the beginning of the tradition of all
townsfolk being trained in basic defense from a young age. For the
last hundred years those with an adventurous spirit and a sense of
duty to their home receive advanced training at the Rivenshore
Academy.
At the academy young
men and women specialize in different fields, learning the tools and
techniques of warriors, rogues, and even mages - for those who have a
predisposition for magic. They train and practice daily, even
venturing out to the forest and up the mountain for survival
training. They also help around the town when needed.
Throughout their
academy training cadets may be called upon by Guard Captain Jack
Harker or Sheriff Ira Skeen to help with situations that may arise,
such as the recent infestation of giant rats in the tunnels below The
Murky Ale Tavern. These small tasks help build the cadets skills so
that when they graduate they will be ready for the much larger
adventures to come.
Graduates split
duties between becoming adventurers - bringing back goods and
treasures not readily available in the small village - and joining
the Town Guard which is run by the Guard Captain. There are nine
guard posts strategically placed outside of the fence surrounding the
village. In their second year, cadets become part of the guard post
rotation.