Blackwater
Wheat and oats gleam gold in the sunlight, scattered patches of domesticated crops woven between the choking brambles and ancient roots. Ahead of you, you can see the boundary where the chaos of nature has been halted, a crossroads in the packed dirt path. A leather-clad hunter patrols the border-path, a massive bang-hammer on his shoulder and a spell tome at his waist. As you move forwards, the dark stone walls of Blackwater come into view above the vibrant fields, and you can see the hunter quickly assessing whether or not he needs to stop you.
Demographics
Most of the permanent residents of Blackwater are extremely poor farmers, with very few men of fighting age. Most of the population are human, however the village blacksmith is a half-elf. The only exception to this are the members of the hunters lodge, who are more diverse and always much more wealthy and well trained.
Government
The village is officially run by the mayor, however the priest of Fulgor and the Hunter-Sherrif also wield considerable power over the village due to the importance of their organisations. The village runs under Hemian law, and pays taxes to the throne, the church, and the hunters’ lodge.
Defences
A 10ft stone wall topping a small earthern rampart, with raised wooden stakes on the outer edge, and the Hunter Lodge in the centre of the village, which can be used as a fallback position, and is similar to a small stone keep.
Industry & Trade
Most of the villagers of Blackwater are farmers, eating only what they can grow and selling the extra to each other or to the traders who gather in the inn, who then ship it to Hemos to sell it on. There is a small smithy that mainly fixes farm equipment and basic spear and arrow heads, however the main hub of activity is the Hunters’ Lodge. The affluence of the lodge is the only reason the village still stands, as the hunters provide a veritable bulwark against the dangers of the wild, even moreso than the actual walls and militia. Those visiting the lodge also provide a good source of income, often staying at the inn as they wait on the pleasure of the lodge.
Infrastructure
Most of the roads in Blackwater are packed dirt, with small wooden bridges crossing irrigation ditches and open sewers, which are often interchangeable. A small and disused wooden dock perches on the edge of the lake, however it is cut off from the rest of the village by the wall, which cuts directly through some abandoned houses along the lakefront. As the lakewater is not drinkable, the village gets its water from wells, one within the hunters lodge and one in the centre of the village.
Assets
The village doesn’t have any major valuables. The church of Fulgor and village hall both have strongboxes hidden inside them, and the hunters lodge is the home of Adran the Flametouched, who wields Ukonvasara. The hunters lodge also has large stores of food and equipment, including a multitude of trick weapons.
Guilds and Factions
The village of Blackwater is dominated by the Hunter’s Lodge resting at its centre, however a small chapel of Fulgor and a village hall also exist.
History
The village of Blackwater was a small satellite settlement of Hemos in its heyday, however it has been forced to gain a level of independance in recent years due to the partial internal collapse of the city. As the number and severity of attacks upon the village increased, the once bustling village quickly became a veritable ghost town, until the Blackwater Hunters’ Lodge was built by Adran the Flametouched. The construction of a Hunters’ Lodge in the village quickly brought it to the attention of the Crown and church, and the wall and chapel were built soon after. It is only due to their combined efforts and attention that the village is not completely abandoned, however it has still obviously fallen upon hard times.
Architecture
Most of the buildings in Blackwater are poorly constructed wooden shacks, however the chapel and hunters lodge are both made of thick stone, and the village hall is well made wood and stone. The village is fairly spread out within the walls, with livestock and vegetables often being kept within the protection of the walls.
Geography
The village rests upon the shores of Blackwater lake, with the dense forests quickly reclaiming the farmlands that had been taken from them. The terrain is generally flat, however the massive tree roots found in the northern forests also litter the cleared areas, as it is generally easier for farmers to work around them than to attempt to uproot them.
Natural Resources
The lands outside the walls of Blackwater contain plentiful forests and farmland run wild for those brave enough to claim it. The villagers themselves mainly stick close to the walls however, with a small band of farmland marking the edge of the hunter patrols. Moderate scale farming for sale is generally done outside the walls, with subsistence farming and animal husbandry being done inside. Nobody is foolish enough to leave their animals outside the walls at the mercy of the wild. The lake used to be a good source of fish, however monsters lurk in the deep, and have tainted the water.
Type
Village
Population
450
Location under
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
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