Whitewell

As seen in

Demographics

Whitewell is primarily a village of the poor and working class. Most residents are either employed at Guardian Solace, work in one of the town’s few businesses, or are traders and delivery drivers based in the settlement. While some families have lived here for generations, others arrive seeking employment or a place to escape the growing hardships of larger cities. The village consists mainly of Aurelian, though a few travelers from other regions have settled here over time.

Government

Whitewell is governed by a town council, a small but respected body composed of business owners and a few elder residents. The council’s primary role is to ensure that the village’s essential supplies—such as food, medicine, and tools—continue flowing into the community. They also oversee infrastructure maintenance and organize defenses against wildlife and bandits, given the remote and often dangerous location.

Industry & Trade

Whitewell has a modest economy driven by craftsmanship, herbal medicine, and the trading of goods. The primary industries include:

• Woodworking: A specialty shop in Three Songs produces fine wooden furniture, tools, and wagon parts, highly sought after by traders.
• Herbalism: Two well-known herbal shops provide medicine and remedies using local plants and roots gathered from the temperate rainforest.
• Hunting & Foraging: Some villagers sustain themselves by hunting small game and foraging for edible plants and mushrooms in the surrounding woods.
• Butchery & Food Storage: The butcher shop processes game and livestock, ensuring that meat is available year-round. Some is traded to nearby settlements.
• Trade & Delivery: Many of Whitewell’s younger men work as delivery drivers, transporting goods to and from the village and Guardian Solace.

While the village is largely self-sufficient, it relies on outside traders for metal tools, fabrics, and luxury goods.

Infrastructure

Despite its small size, Whitewell maintains several key structures to support its residents:

• Two main roads connect the village to Guardian Solace and a distant trading post.
• Modest houses built of timber and stone, most with small gardens for additional food production.
• A well-frequented tavern where residents and travelers gather.
• A specialty woodworking shop producing high-quality goods.
• Two herbal shops, selling remedies and potions crafted from locally sourced ingredients.
• A butcher shop and storage facility for meat preservation.
• A defunct warehouse, long abandoned and rumored to be used as a bandit hideout.

Districts

Old District

The heart of the village, home to most residents.

The location of the tavern, where the town council meets before it opens for business.

Three Songs

Named for the three main businesses it houses: the woodworking shop and two herbal shops.

A hub for craftsmen and traders.

Twilight Lane

Home to two warehouse-style buildings.

One is used for butchery and food storage.

The other is abandoned and unknown to the villagers, secretly used as a hideout by bandits.

Assets

Whitewell does not have vast wealth, but it does hold key assets essential for survival:

• A communal grain and food storage facility
• A secured well and rainwater collection system
• A small but well-stocked armory, maintained by the town council for protection
• A few trained hunters and fighters who act as the village’s de facto militia

History

Whitewell was established shortly after the Crown took control of Guardian Solace, intended as a supporting settlement for the fortress. However, it remained small and struggled to thrive for its first century. Over time, as Guardian Solace reduced its paid staff, the town evolved into a self-sustaining village rather than a direct extension of the fortress.

Due to the region’s isolation and the Crown’s sporadic oversight, the village has endured numerous hardships, including bandit raids and attacks from wildlife. Despite these challenges, Whitewell has persevered, with its people developing a strong sense of independence and resilience.

Points of interest

Guardian Solace: The fortress outside the village where some of Whitewell’s residents work.

The Celestial Observatory: A hidden relic from an older time, still used by scholars and astronomers seeking knowledge of the heavens.

Architecture

The village architecture is simple and functional, built primarily from timber and stone sourced from the surrounding forest. Most homes have thatched or wooden shingle roofs, and many structures feature reinforced shutters to protect against the elements. The businesses in Three Songs and Twilight Lane are slightly sturdier, with stone foundations.

Geography

Whitewell sits within a temperate rainforest, surrounded by dense woodlands, rolling hills, and misty valleys. The landscape is both beautiful and treacherous, with frequent rain and thick fog obscuring the roads.

Climate

Its climate cool and damp for most of the year. The village experiences mild summers, with temperatures rarely exceeding 75°F (24°C), and chilly, wet winters, where the cold rains occasionally give way to light snowfall. Due to its proximity to dense forests and its relative isolation, fog often rolls in during the mornings and evenings, giving the settlement a mystical, hushed atmosphere.

Rainfall is frequent, nourishing the lush greenery and towering trees that surround Whitewell. The changing seasons bring bursts of wildflowers in the spring, while autumn cloaks the forest in deep golds and reds. Despite the sometimes harsh weather conditions, the village remains self-sustaining, with the residents having adapted to the cool, rainy environment over generations.

Natural Resources

The village benefits from its abundant natural resources, including:

• Timber from the surrounding forest
• Medicinal plants, roots, and flowers used by the herbalists
• Wildlife for hunting
• Freshwater streams that provide drinking water and fish

Whitewell remains a humble but vital village, standing as a testament to the resilience of its people despite the ever-present dangers of the wilds beyond its borders.

Table of Contents

Founding Date

4 Halcyon 2450 SE

Type

Village

Population

250

Location under

Septentria

Included Locations

• The Celestial Observatory

Ruling/Owning Rank

King of Edria

Owning Organization

Commonwealth of Edria

Related Historical Events

• 4 Halcyon 2450 SE
  Whitewell Founded

It's a quaint little town. Not one I would have visited if I wasn't wanting to search Guardian Solace's library. I'd have missed out on meeting some great people and seeing a little bit more of my country. I'm glad this town has flown under the radar of the nobles. While the residents would be richer, it and them would have a different feel today. And would most likely make my job of studying here at Guardian Solace harder.

~ Josiah Ward