Willowend

Willowend is one of the only locations of settled halflings in the north of Kordania, and is certainly the last to be found before one reaches the misty moors of the Frosthalda. Originally one of the few Nezviedan halflings to flee to the Frosthalda, the ancestors of the Willowend halflings wandered the moors north of the Callair before finally journeying west and claiming a small stretch of arable land for their own. When eventually the Kulduun dwarves arrived in the region, the Willowend halflings are among the first to ally with them. The prominent and abundant halfling town has been one of the most important settlements in the earldom ever since.
Now, with the farms around the other settlements of Gungarad being badly affected by a widespread blight, and food shortages affecting so much of the region, Willowend is facing the increasing strain from the rising tithes and tensions are rising among the farming folk as more and more of their produce is needed to keep Gungarad from starving.

Given the importance of Willowend to the Earldom's survival, the road between Gungarad City and Willowend are among the most heavily patrolled in the land, second only to the road connecting the capital to Skaterun. To guard the expansive farms and fields of Willowend, a number of watchtowers stand guard over the roads and the countryside, and a well equipped force of Longhorns watch for wandering beasts and raiders.

Demographics

56% Halfling
38% Human
3% Orc / Half-orc
3% Dwarf

Government

As the principal agricultural hub in the region, the Earldom of Gungarad is heavily reliant upon Willowend to support the burgeoning population. As such, the Earldom goes out of its way to ensure that the people of Willowend are granted a fair amount of autonomy on how they are governed, provided that the harvest tithes are met. As such, the people of Willowend are free to elect their own alderman, rather than have one appointed by the earl himself. The current alderman is Torben Willowbough, an efficient and astute halfling local who has governed Willowend for almost 20 years now. His son Tobias, once considered a spoiled and entitled brat, has seemingly outgrown his childishness and appears eager to follow his fathers example, doubtlessly keen to be nominated as alderman himself someday.

Defences

Willowend has no walls or gatehouses to defend it, relying instead on a series of watch towers scattered around the outskirts of the town to keep a lookout over the roads approaching the settlement, and the surrounding countryside. A local garrison of Longhorns help keep the people safe from external threats and serve under the alderman's direction.

Industry & Trade

Most basic goods are produced locally in Willowend, and adventurers will have a harder time finding anything exotic or costly. Wares can be found mainly in the workshops, taverns and local businesses near the town square. Humble and homely rooms are available at the local inns.

Guilds and Factions

A beautiful shrine to Jarat, ornamented with climbing vines, fruit trees and flowerbeds, and tended by a small group of acolytes stands out among the western fields. A quaint stone shrine to Ouma overlooks the town square. No major guilds are found here, and all artisans and workshops are subject to the earl.

Geography

Among the rugged countryside and compared to the cramped and industrially-focused towns of Gungarad, Willowend stands out for it's idyllic and bucolic appearance. The neat and well-tended farms spread out to encompass a broad expanse of land surrounding a central town square. Lending to the picturesque layout of Willowend are the multiple small brooks, rills and streams that babble and wind their way through the area from the hills to the north and west, before they eventually join with the great Sivyrne River. The town square is located in near a natural joining point for several of the larger rivulets, and the land is lush and green and vibrant. Along the banks of these streams grow numerous willow trees, from which the town derives it's name.
The majority of none-farming residents and businesses can be found around the town square, as can the towns most popular tavern, the Raucous Brook. Dirt roads crisscross the town square, and rough trails spiderweb outwards to connect all the disparate farmsteads. Windmills dot the town, their sails turning lazily in the wind atop the small scattering of hillocks that dot the area.

Type

Village

Population

approximately 1300

Inhabitant Demonym

Willowenders

Ruling/Owning Rank

Aelderman

Owning Organization

Earldom of Gungarad

NPCs in Willowend

• Elias and Julia Riverun, and their children Logan, Ronan and Luna - Halfling farmers, old neighbours of Ralrius and have now subsumed half of Ral's father's old farm.
• Torben and Tobias Willowbough - Halfling Alderman and son of Willowend.
• Zan - Human owner of the Raucous Brook
• Old Mally - Human drunkard at the Raucous Brook
• Lady - Zan's dog at the Raucous Brook
• Albon - Human head of the local Longhorns

Shops and Key Locations

• Mayfair's Tannery - Tanners and Smokehouse (Mayfair Tannstedd, female halfling, mess of curly reddish-brown hair)
• The Rillbank Garden - Herbs and incense (Pol Soddine, male orc, stony-grey skin and small tusks that curl slightly in different directions)
• Willow-odds & Willow-ends - Pawnshop/curiosities (Galda Tchuss, female halfling, long copper-colored, curling hair like a waterfall over her shoulders)
• Joanaid's Clothiers - Clothes / Tailors / Dressmakers (Joanaid Kraich, female halfling, black hair in a bun and an elaborately embroidered dress)
• Tiekside General Store - General goods (Tavish Drukker, male human, brawny and big-chested, strong and beefy but with a big kettle-belly)
• Highgreen Estate - Alderman's residence
• Tiek's Pond - Deep pool and a popular place for fairs and for local children to swim in.
• Raucous Brook - Popular tavern, comfortable and homely (Zan Hookerbie, male human, scruff of greying hair, but balding on top)
• Ox-wreath Tavern - Inn on the outskirts of town, catering to the more isolated farmers (Ursal Swift, female dwarf, makes her own ale)
• Flourtop Hill - largest hill in the area, with a number of windmills providing a key landmark to navigate by