Bleakton

"If there's a forest darker than this, the Raven Queen herself would take it for her own."

- Tephlorien Seiak, Riptown riverboat guide

Demographics

The people here are the ones who managed to escape the forest but won't hazard the journey any further. Unsurprisingly, they tend to be poor since they couldn't afford the safer riverboat journey to Shellbury. Bushos is one of the four great human countries; most of the inhabitants of Bleakton are therefore human. Others are welcome, even desired, since the humans of Bushos adhere to Spearleaf's Code.

Government

Bleakton is allowed its autonomy. This comes either from an apathy from Shellbury or the lack of desire to tame the monsters that prowl the area around it. As such, the humans that landed here have little structure to cling to besides Spearleaf's Code. It's understood that surviving these woods depends on the townsfolk helping each other and learning new methods to combat whatever the forest can throw at them. This helpfulness needs little management, so the government of Bleakton is more of a co-op, with town members meeting at the inn to discuss and decide town wide decisions.

Defences

A sturdy, dwarven inspired wall surrounds the homes of the villagers. Most know how to fight, out of necessity, but few believe they'd have to fight alone if the demons did breach the walls. It's commonly believed that the Crow Seers watch over the people of Bleakton.

Industry & Trade

Farming is not possible near Bleakton. The monsters would kill any farmers and it would take years to clear enough forest for any substantial crops to be planted. Instead, most villagers survive by plying the trade they came to Bleakton with.

Infrastructure

Food and protection are the priorities of the people in Bleakton. Learning the fundamentals of engineering from a passing dwarf party, they've built a sturdy wall surrounding the houses of the town, with two sally ports in one side acting as entrance and exit. Outside of the walls is the small quay they've built to facilitate the small amount of trade that feeds the town.

Assets

Bleakton is mostly hovels of people who can contribute something to the town's survival. Few proper businesses are in place, since people simply go to whomever is responsible for producing what they need. However, two buildings have risen to prominence; the inn, which works as the tavern and townhall as well, and the smithy, who cobbles together adventurers armor who have taken the forest path.

Geography

Bleakton itself sits upon a low hill that looks over the fork of the river that runs through Bushos. The small quay they've built juts into this fork, as if to catch any trade that is trying to dodge the ragged village.

Type

Village

Population

500

Inhabitant Demonym

Poor bastards