Driftwood Hollow

Founded in 875 AD by a group of Kenku refugees seeking refuge after the events of the overseers descent on Astrium. Driftwood Hollow became a hidden settlement, leveraging the natural resources of Wyrmspine Gorge to build a home.

Demographics

Kenku: 98% Other: 2%

Government

• Driftwood Hollow is governed by the Mimicry Assembly, a group of elder Kenku who have mastered the art of imitation and use their mimicry skills to deliberate and present ideas. Decision-making is highly communal, relying on imitation to ensure ideas are properly understood before being acted upon.

Defences

• Natural Barriers: The cliffs of Wyrmspine Gorge and the dammed river provide natural protection against invasions.
• Scouts and Lookouts: Kenku scouts patrol the cliffs, relying on mimicry to sound alarms.
• River Traps: The river is lined with traps designed to prevent enemies from entering the village by water.

Industry & Trade

• Fishing and Water Trade: The river serves as the main source of food and trade, allowing for the village to export fish and river-crafted goods to nearby settlements.
• Mimicry Services: Kenku offer their mimicry talents for espionage, trade negotiations, and information gathering.
• Crafts and Woodworking: Driftwood and natural materials from the gorge are used to craft goods like tools, furniture, and simple trade goods.

Infrastructure

The village consists of huts and buildings built using driftwood and stone sourced from the gorge and river. The town has developed an intricate system of canals from the dammed river that runs through the village, utilizing water power to operate basic mills and irrigation for agriculture. Key Infrastructure:

• Dam System: The dammed section of the river provides fresh water, controls flooding, and powers mills.
• Water Lifts: Rope systems combined with waterwheels lift supplies between different levels of the village.
• Cliffside Homes: Homes built along the steep cliffs use ladders and lifts to navigate the village's vertical layout.

Districts

• The Rookery (Central District): The heart of Driftwood Hollow, where the council of mimics resides. It houses communal spaces, workshops, and important meeting areas.
• Riverside Quarters (Lower District): Situated along the riverbanks, this area is where most residential homes are located. The bustling hub for fishing, wood gathering, and small trade occurs here.
• Cliffside Retreats (Upper District): Cliffside homes built on stilts or embedded into the rocky walls of Wyrmspine Gorge.

Assets

• General Store: Offering basic supplies, groceries, and tools crafted by local artisans.
• Talon's Trinkets: A small magic shop that deals in enchanted items and curiosities, specializing in mimicry-based enchantments.
• The Feather Forge: A modest blacksmith shop specializing in tools, light armor, and simple weaponry used for defense and trade.
• Gale Tailor: A tailor shop where garments are made using local materials, with a special focus on lightweight clothing suited for the area's weather.

Guilds and Factions

1. The Riverhands: A faction dedicated to controlling the flow of the river, maintaining the dam system, and ensuring sustainable fishing practices.
2. The Mimicry Circle: A group of highly trained Kenku specializing in the use of mimicry for trade and diplomatic purposes.
3. The Gorge Wardens: Scouts who patrol the cliffs and river, ensuring the village's defense from outside threats.

Points of interest

• The Broken Dam: A section of the original dam that collapsed years ago, now serving as a natural waterfall and ceremonial site for the Kenku.
• Mimicry Amphitheater: A large, open-air theater where Kenku demonstrate their mimicry skills during festivals and events.
• The Perch: A high lookout point where Kenku scouts keep watch over the gorge, offering breathtaking views of the river and surrounding cliffs.
• The Riverwheels: Waterwheels powered by the river, used to grind grain and power basic machinery for the village.

Tourism

Visitors to Driftwood Hollow are rare due to its isolated location within the gorge, but adventurers often come to witness the mimicry displays of the Kenku or to experience life within the natural beauty of Wyrmspine Gorge. The Kenku's mimicry performances are a major draw for those seeking entertainment or information
Featherlight Festival Date: 17th Thundralis The Featherlight Festival is a day-long celebration in Driftwood Hollow that honors both the Kenku people's resilience and their cultural connection to mimicry and the legend of the Pact of Forgotten Skies. Held annually during the first full moon of the summer, it symbolizes the Kenku's journey toward reclaiming their voice, creativity, and spirit. Events Throughout the Day: Dawn at The Broken Dam: The festival begins at dawn with a ceremonial gathering at The Broken Dam, a natural waterfall formed from the collapse of the original structure. Kenku elders recount the Pact of Forgotten Skies, the tale of the ancient crime or betrayal that cost the Kenku their ability to fly. Offerings are made to the river as the community reflects on their shared past and resilience.
Mimicry Showcase at the Mimicry Amphitheater: As the morning unfolds, the Mimicry Amphitheater comes alive with performances by Kenku of all ages. They demonstrate their impeccable mimicry, copying the sounds of nature, music, and even the voices of those around them. This event is the heart of the festival, where mimicry is celebrated as both an art form and a way of communication. Visitors and fellow Kenku are encouraged to participate, fostering a sense of unity and shared creativity.
The Flightless Procession: In the early afternoon, the community holds the Flightless Procession, a solemn yet uplifting parade through the village, where Kenku walk the streets with light, crafted wings strapped to their backs. The wings are intricately designed from driftwood, feathers, and river stones, symbolizing their lost ability to fly and their ongoing efforts to rise above it. The procession ends at The Perch, where they release sky lanterns that float up into the gorge, representing their hope and aspirations.
River Games and Competitions: After the procession, the village hosts river-based games and competitions along the partially stoppered river. Teams of Kenku race handmade rafts through the rapids and participate in fishing contests. These events celebrate their close relationship with the river and their resourcefulness.
Featherlight Feast: As evening approaches, the Featherlight Feast begins at the village center. Long tables are set up with food gathered from the river and the surrounding land, and the Kenku gather with their neighbors and visitors to share stories, songs, and laughter. The Kenku use their mimicry abilities to sing in harmony with nature, creating a unique soundscape of wind, water, and birdsong.
As the Featherlight Feast comes to an end and twilight blankets the village, the community gathers once more at The Perch, the highest lookout point in Driftwood Hollow. Here, the final and most symbolic event of the Featherlight Festival begins: the Leap of Faith. The vigil starts in silence as the Kenku ascend the winding path to The Perch, a narrow, rocky outcrop overlooking the river far below. The scouts lead the way, carrying lanterns that cast a soft glow against the cliffs. As they reach the top, the Kenku stand shoulder to shoulder, gazing out over the river, the canyon, and the open sky, a vast expanse that once belonged to them before the Pact of Forgotten Skies stole their wings.
The elders speak in hushed tones, recounting the tale of the ancient betrayal that caused their ancestors to lose their ability to fly. The Kenku listen, their hearts heavy with the weight of their lost heritage, but also brimming with hope. Tonight, they will once again attempt to reconnect with the sky.
In a symbolic and daring gesture, young and old alike take turns leaping from The Perch into the deep, clear waters of the river far below. This Leap of Faith is a sacred act of defiance and hope, a moment where they embrace the belief that one day they might fly again. Some land in the river, others on a soft bed of hay that has been prepared near the shore, but the meaning remains the same—each jump is an effort to reclaim what was lost.
As each Kenku leaps, the crowd below cheers and chants in their unique mimicry, creating a beautiful and haunting chorus that echoes through the gorge. The sounds of wind, rushing water, birds, and ancient songs fill the air, a reminder of the natural harmony they once shared with the skies.
As the moon rises higher, the jumps continue, with each leap reflecting the Kenku's hope for a future where they might soar again. The festival ends with the community lighting sky lanterns, releasing them from the riverbank to drift upward, illuminating the night sky with soft, glowing orbs. These lanterns, floating upward while the Kenku remain grounded, are a poignant symbol of their unbroken connection to the skies, and their unwavering belief that one day, they will fly once more.
The Twilight Vigil is a powerful conclusion to the Featherlight Festival, a ceremony that binds the Kenku together in shared longing, bravery, and hope for the future..

Architecture

Driftwood and Stone Buildings: Homes and communal buildings are made from river driftwood, stone, and natural materials from the gorge, with a focus on lightweight and flexible structures. Cliffside Homes: Some of the most unique homes are built into the cliff faces, with ladders and pulley systems for transport.

Geography

Nestled within Wyrmspine Gorge, Driftwood Hollow is built along a winding river, with high cliffs on either side. The village's vertical nature requires the use of lifts, ladders, and water-powered mechanisms for transport.

Climate

Temperate: Mild and humid due to the nearby river, with cooler temperatures in the shadow of the gorge.

Natural Resources

• Freshwater Fish from the river.
• Driftwood and Stone gathered from the riverbanks and gorge.
• Herbs and Plants growing in the shaded areas of the gorge, used for medicine and trade.

Founding Date

875AD

Type

Hamlet

Population

3500

Location under

Wyrmspine Gorge

Characters in Location

• Chirper Blackbeak