Ashhold Hamlet

Beneath Ash Peak, a mountain named for its resemblance to an ash tree, lies Ashhold Hamlet, a small and cooperative community in the rugged foothills. Isolated from larger settlements, the hamlet functions as a largely self-sufficient entity where shared labor and collective resourcefulness sustain its residents.

Deeper: On the northern outskirts of the hamlet is a natural wellspring that provides clear and abundant water, essential for drinking, irrigation, and livestock. The wellspring feeds cisterns and channels that sustain the hamlet’s agriculture and hygiene systems. Local elders suggest the water carries unusual properties, though this belief remains unverified. A simple ceremonial cottage near the wellspring accommodates and welcomes Popolos visitors as honored guests. The residents tend to the cottage grounds monthly, airing out the humble home, changing straw bedding, mending, and cleaning. They leave pins of ale, hearty bread, salted meats and preserves, and cords of firewood and tinder. No one has seen a Popolos visit there, but then again, most leave the cottage alone when it’s not being tended. Occasionally, some supplies will be used, but most folks in the hamlet assume travelers or passersby have accepted their hospitality for a while.

The community consists of family farms and shared plots, supported by decades of an unusual agricultural and engineering innovation bloom. Wind-powered pumps and rudimentary plumbing reduce physical labor, while lightning jars illuminate homes and workshops. Such advancements allow the hamlet to maintain a quality of life uncommon in similar remote settings outside of Plath. Residents engage in collective efforts, tending to shared fields and orchards, repairing tools, and maintaining windmills as needed.

Ashhold Hamlet’s social fabric is reinforced by seasonal festivals that mark significant moments in the year, such as harvests and seasonal changes. These events, often centered around the wellspring, involve shared meals, music, and storytelling. The community occasionally welcomes new settlers, typically families drawn to the promise of a peaceful, resource-rich life, though such arrivals occur infrequently and are carefully integrated.

Several residents hold pivotal roles in the hamlet. Harlen Wray, an elder farmer and unofficial leader, mediates disputes and preserves oral traditions about the wellspring and the region’s history. Cerys Flint, the blacksmith, ensures the tools and machinery remain functional and works on improving the hamlet’s infrastructure. Liorna Trill, an herbalist, cultivates medicinal plants near the wellspring and takes a personal interest in the Popolos and lore about their unique customs. Ewaine Aldrin, a carpenter, maintains the hamlet’s buildings and dreams of constructing a communal hall to serve as a central gathering place during harsh winters.

Spring

• The Wellspring Garden: Liorna Trill proposes creating a medicinal herb garden near the wellspring to benefit the community. The hamlet seeks help gathering rare seeds and learning cultivation techniques from nearby herbalists or Popolos. PCs are challenged to navigate the wilderness to trade for or harvest specific plants, perhaps requiring coordination with distant communities or naturalist NPCs.
• The Orchard Expansion: The hamlet wants to plant new fruit trees to expand its orchard, but the soil in certain areas needs improvement. Elders suggest seeking advice from nearby farming communities or uncovering forgotten methods to enrich the land.PCs are challenged to find and apply sustainable soil treatments and balance the community’s reliance on the wellspring.

Summer

• The Windmill Upgrade: Cerys Flint and Ewaine Aldrin want to modernize the windmills with more efficient mechanisms. They need rare materials to construct new gears and sails and assistance gathering knowledge about advanced designs from Plath. Adventurers must acquire the necessary materials through trade or exploration and collaborate with artisans to implement the improvements.
• Building the Gathering Hall: The community agrees to Ewaine Aldrin’s dream of a communal hall for meetings, festivals, and shelter during harsh winters. However, the construction requires additional lumber, stone, and skilled labor. PCs are challenged to secure and transport the additional resources and labor and make tough material decisions as Ewaine and Cerys rally the hamlet to work together.

Harvest

• The First Harvest Exchange: The hamlet is invited to a regional harvest fair to exchange surplus goods, such as honey, herbs, and fruit. They need help organizing their offerings, preparing for trade negotiations, and ensuring smooth travel to the fair. Balancing what goods to offer without straining local reserves and positively representing the hamlet’s reputation for building relationships with neighboring communities is difficult. Harlen asks if the PCs can accompany him to the outlying villages along the foothills as he travels to speak with their leaders.
• The Wellspring's Yield: Elders suggest constructing a system to distribute the wellspring’s water better, ensuring all farms and fields are irrigated equally. However, designing the layout requires careful planning, surveying, and building. Adventurers assist in the technical work, mediate disputes over resource allocation, and ensure minimal disruption to the ecosystem.

Winter

• The Hearthlight Library: Harlen Wray proposes creating a communal library to preserve the hamlet’s knowledge and traditions. Villagers need books, scrolls, and artifacts from nearby settlements or forgotten ruins to start the collection. Adventurers asked to seek books and scrolls to fill it for a fair price.
• Winter Provisions Drive: With the cold season approaching, the hamlet is organizing a drive to bolster its food stores and warm clothing supplies. Residents request help reaching out to neighboring communities for contributions. Adventurers assist in forging alliances, transporting goods, and finding creative ways to ensure everyone is well-provisioned without creating hardships for others.

Year-Round

• Popolo Hospitality Initiative: The village youth want to improve the ceremonial cottage for visiting Popolos, adding comforts like better bedding, stocked larders, and a sheltered animal stable. They need help learning more about the Popolos’ preferences.