Shithole

Shithole Population: 632 Alignment: Lawful Neutral Demographics: Primarily human with a few dwarves, elves, half-elves, and halflings. Political Structure: (Noble Family—Hereditary) Krothos Ironguard Industry and Trade: Dried Peat, Livestock (goats), Agriculture (subsistence)
The village of Shithole is located between the northern edge of the Barrowmoor and south of the Blackened Forest. Humans established the village centuries ago atop the ruins of a much older settlement. The location affords access to water, the protection of the forest, and fuel supply in the form of harvested peat moss from the bog.
The people of Shithole are a mixed group. The remote location of the village, on the western edge of the known world and far removed from civilized society, means the townspeople are either hardy frontiersmen who make the village their home or scoundrels and knaves seeking refuge in the distant corners of the realm.
The time of year also influences the village population. Shithole appears relatively quiet during the rainy season in the fall and winter months. During this time, only the foolish would attempt to cross the marsh (even highly skilled rangers and druids would think twice). The water level rises during the rainy season and it makes traversing the ground a perilous undertaking. Instead, most wait until the late spring or early summer to navigate the Barrowmoor.
Shithole falls under the feudal protection of Lord Viscount Kell Ironguard. Lord Ironguard has designated his son and heir, Krothos Ironguard, as ruler of the village (even though the young Krothos spends the majority of his time shirking his duties). Lord Ironguard knows his son is too immature for the position, but hopes the responsibilities of leadership will help him grow and develop into the future ruler of Ironguard Motte. In truth, the people of Shithole have great admiration for Lord Ironguard but despise his son Krothos who cares little for the well-being of the land and its people. Krothos is rarely seen without his personal advisor and councilor—a weasel-looking fellow in black robes by the name of Ollis Blackfell.
Many folk tales and legends are told in Shithole. Of these stories the undead are the most persistent. Village elders agree that the sightings of strange human-like figures shuffling through the fog are a growing threat to their communities. Some locals in Helix blame adventurers for these disturbances and say the barrow mounds must be left alone and that the dead must not be disturbed.
New PCs or classed NPCs from Helix may include rangers, druids, fighters, thieves, clerics, and possibly magic-users and paladins (the latter being very rare).
Each fall, the people of Shithole celebrate the harvest by constructing a large effigy of Green Man or Herne in the village square made of dried peat, reeds, and hay. The villagers, wearing masks symbolizing the animals of the swamp and forest, surround the effigy with sacrifices, conduct prayers, and then light it aflame on the night of the Autumnal Equinox. This is followed by a celebration of drinking, singing, and dancing. The church of St. Ygg discourages this longstanding practice.