Stoldrain
For the quiet and weary
Given its name due to the frequent rainy weather, Stoldrain is a small village on the southeast coast of Prostesa. Not known for much, it's become a place where magical refugees flee in order to start a new life. Though much of the land is for farming, this hasn't stopped the residents from importing their own goods to produce in Stoldrain. As the days carry on, Stoldrain steadily grows from being only a site of agriculture to a reliable spot for trade just near Port Brigges, a bustling city that's known to aid the village every now and then. Everyone knows one another here, and trust is always at an all-time high. Though the act of practicing magic is forbidden by Port Brigges' government, mages continue to practice in secret, and their less powerful neighbors will turn a blind eye in order to keep them safe. Those searching for lifelong friends would find them here in Stoldrain.
Demographics
Most of the villagers are either middle or low class and consist mainly of humans and half-orcs. The occasional gnome will sometimes come by from Port Brigges and you'll often see halflings traveling into the village briefly as merchants. Most of the workers are farmers or tailors, but some are jewelers that made their way out from Port Brigges. Builders are common, and glassmakers are on the richer side of Stoldrain; though the work is hard, the resources are right where they're needed.
Government
Stoldrain is a democracy as the villagers believed above all else that fairness is important. What the citizens wanted, they'd have, and if they were unsatisfied, that would be their fault. Taxes are only placed on goods brought into Stoldrain by traveling merchants since majority of foods are grown rather than bought. The laws are basic, with most laws being ones you'd expect to see everywhere: no stealing, trespassing, etc. Practicing magic is prohibited, and casting it will almost certainly have you cast out of Stoldrain. There's a bit of paranoia over travelers due to The Silence, but that's a normal reaction considering the time Stolians live in.
Defences
There aren't many defenses in Stoldrain, but there are many watchtowers in order to keep the village safe. Soldiers from Port Brigges are sent here to keep the cloth production safe.
Industry & Trade
One of the only ways to make a living is to work on a farm, and much of Stoldrain is filled with plots of tilled land with freshly-planted crops. Those that don't wish to work on farms spend their days traveling the land--mostly to Port Brigges--and selling goods to bring back to the village. Cloth is one of the biggest exports in Stoldrain, and Stolians are heavily valued for their seemingly endless supply of it. Those itching for a more adventurous life often take on the role of a knight to defend their town from raiders.
Infrastructure
Stoldrain isn't a very developed village outside of windmills on the outskirts of the village itself. All of the roads are dirt roads, and despite having access to the ocean, there aren't any cargo ships that come in to deliver. Watermills are common for more wealthy folks to create their own goods, and these resources tend to be sold to other villagers instead of merchants. There's only one bridge that leads into the village, and it's from Port Brigges.
Assets
Though there are stores, the only ones there are small and sell foods like freshly-grown bread or, if you have the money, barn animals. There are no magic shops as they were destroyed when The Silence began.
There's only one tavern in town and it's called The Gull's Wing. It's cheap to eat there, and you can get a hearty meal for only five copper pieces. The store itself is run by an old human named Raven Swellowfall. Aside from that tavern, there's one church in Stoldrain that prays to a deity by the name of Ayatuu.
Guilds and Factions
Stoldrain, despite being associated with Port Brigges, has no known factions. It's simply a settlement for those wishing for a simpler and safer life.
History
Stoldrain originated as a small set of colonies that settled on the southeast coast of Prostesa. Most of these people later migrated to what is now Port Brigges, leaving behind a few others that loved the agricultural lifestyle. After The Silence had swept across Prostesa, Stoldrain received an influx of refugees that sought to hide from their countries. Since then, Stoldrain has never been quite the same, and the villagers work daily to keep the magic they harbor hidden from Port Brigges and the rest of Prostesa.
Architecture
The village itself is built in a sort of circular formation with the church at the center and the windmills on the outer edges. The buildings have their walls all made of very rough stone while the floors and ceilings are softwood. The ceilings all are bright red and crafted in much the same way, a chimney sprouting out of the top of each quiet home. On a small hill near the beach is a cottage, bigger than all the other homes and owned by Salvador Thoridan.
Geography
Stoldrain is bordered by two forests, rolling hills, and an ocean. The nearby river in one of the forests provides Stolians with fresh water. Stoldrain has a lot of natural beauty despite looking quite worn-down. Ayatuu's Tears, a magical flower, surrounds the village and lines the edge of the beach. At night, the essence from the flowers seeps into the sand and is carried by the waves out to Briskbound Ocean. This essence causes the sand to glow as its carried out into the sea, and the rocking waves glint with the same color until day comes again.
Natural Resources
In terms of natural resources, there's wood from the nearby forests and any kind of crop you could be looking for. Stoldrain is not suitable for mining so stone and minerals can't be found in plentiful stock here. Glassmakers are common as the sand from the beach is perfect. The soil in Stoldrain is unnaturally rich from Ayatuu's Tears so farming often produces a wondrous supply of crops.
"I stranded for days before I found myself gazing upon a windmill from afar, and by that time, it was storming fiercer than a rampaging ogre! Yet when my feet met the lush dirt of Stoldrain, the rain lightened just enough for me to see every red rooftop in the village. A woman creaked open the door of her home, saw me sopping wet in the rain—staring up at the sky in awe—and invited me inside."
"She dried me off, sat me down at a table, and placed a meal in front of me. 'Eat all you need', she said, 'It's a stormy night out'. The crack of the thunder strangely made everything tie together perfectly. A wonderful meal, it was. I still remember the meat she seasoned."
Salvador Thoridan
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