Lost Way

Demographics

Halflings: 528 Humans: 521 Gnome: 54 Half-Elf: 49 Dwarves: 42 Elves: 5 Firbolgs: 4 Goliaths: 3

Government

An Earl of House Goldbloom, Sanmin Humblemantle, manages the affairs of Lost Way. However, Earl Humblemantle is rarely present in Lost Way and often leaves the daily affairs of Lost Way to his trusted advisor, Nevias Fernsurge. Under the guidance of Fernsurge, a native of Lost Way, the town is governed through a democratic process that involves the election of Village Elders to bring issues to Fernsurge. Very rarely is there a matter that Fernsruge can not handle. In the rare circumstances that he can not, he sends word to Earl Humblemantle to deal with the issue, or at the least seek additional guidance on what must be done.

Industry & Trade

As a village that lies along the Axe Road, Lost Way supports a plethora of businesses today. Travelers can often find other travelers who are looking to sell their goods. With the addition of windmills in the village, Lost Way and the surrounding area has greatly increased their grain production to make use of the new construction. This has led to additional traders coming to the village seeking to buy the grain. 
Some might call Grimhill Graveyard an important economic asset of Lost Way. Supported by a Temple of Kelemvor, the graveyard processes a couple dead each year in exchange for donations to the Temple. The transporters of the bodies often come from Wulkan, and spend the evening in the village before departing.

Infrastructure

Prior to the formation of House Goldbloom and the grant of Lost Way to Earl Humblemantle, there was little to speak of in terms of infrastructure for Lost Way. Much of the village was decaying and there was little to attract new residents or to entice travelers to stop. Recent years has seen money begin to trickle in from Earl Humblemantle's estate. The construction of Windmills to take advantage of the Golanin Hills natural windiness has led to significant increases for grain production and their byproducts in the area.
Grimhill Graveyard lies at the center of the village and is one of the larger graveyards on the continent. Originally serving as mass graves during a war long ago, Grimhill has grown into a massive and sprawling graveyard where the larger cities of Vladdingmore cast their dead out of fear for the undead.

Guilds and Factions

The most significant faction within Lost Way is the followers of Kelemvor that reside within his Temple in the village. Numbering just under ten permanent residents, the Temple often has pilgrims and other travelers who stop for a visit. Many of the residents of Lost Way have petitioned Earl Humblemantle and Fernsurge to close the Grimhill Graveyard. They claim that the graveyard scares newcomers away and prevents many from settling down. These requests thus far have been denied, and without any reason. 
The farmers of Lost Way have formed a cooperative to negotiate better grain prices for their crops and for lower fees to access the windmills constructed by Earl Humblemantle. Some believe that the group has resorted to violence to force unwilling farmers into the group, and those that resist further may find their crops destroyed.

Points of interest

The most notable location within Lost Way is the Grimhill Graveyard. Grimhill is estimated to house nearly ten thousand dead, and grows each year grave by grave. Walking through the rows of graves is an eerie experience, and many say that undead roam the graveyard looking to strike back at the living out of envy. The followers of Kelemvor claim that there is only dead, and no undead in the graveyard.
The first permanent structure outside of the Graveyard in Lost Way was the Dish & Fox. The Dish & Fox was built as a convenient location for travelers to stop in their travels along the Axe Road. The founders also built the inn because of a belief that many tourists would visit the graveyard, and would be in search of a comfortable resting spot. That hope never came true, but the inn has remained as the village grew around both the Dish & Fox and Grimhill.

Geography

Lost Way is built at the beginning of the Golanin Hills on the southern side. Much of the village deals with varying elevation levels, and has the famous Gusts of Golanin, a weather phenomena of high speed wind gusts that rip through the Hills. Much of the land is smooth and suitable for farming and grazing animals. Few trees exist in this region of Vladdingmore, therefore, making lumber a scarcity if one has not thought ahead.

Founding Date

9992 2E

Population

1,208

Owning Organization

Vladdingmore

Related Reports (Primary)

• Session Report 37