Glittermoot
A naturally sheltered oasis, set in a vast glittering cavern; Glittermoot is a temporary camp halfway along the wagon trail through Auril’s Teeth. What began as a simple necessity, a moment of safety and rest in an otherwise deeply hostile environment, became a tradition and cultural touchstone for those who made the foothills of Auril’s Teeth their home.
Glittermoot has grown into a more permenantly built (although still only temporarily inhabited) settlement; stone structures have replaced tents, uneven tundra cleared and levelled, weary travelers resting before pushing on have given way to periodic parties when the caravans meet in the glittering hollow.
Demographics
No one species, ethnicity, or faction holds dominance at Glittermoot. Only those who make the journey pass through, and none who pass through stay; for come winter, to stay, is a death sentence.
Government
As there is no permenant population at Glittermoot, there is no formalised government. However it is understood amongst those who pass through that the Caravan Masters’ word is law, for without a caravan, a traveller has little hope of making it out of Auril’s Teeth alive.
Defences
There are no formalised defences at Glittermoot, so deep in Auril’s Teeth, there’s none who could threaten it. Even so, those who stay there, take literal shelter from the outside world in the vast glittering cavern, accessible only by two snaking tunnels, one heading north into Ambervale, and one south to NAMENAMENAME. While these tunnels are easily 25ft high, and wide enough for two caravan trains to pass each other safely, their entrances are concealed, and the ice reflects sound and light so well that the caravan guards of any travelers there would have ample advance warning of an approaching threat.
Industry & Trade
Existing as a meeting point for the caravans, Glittermoot’s industry and trade is literally that, trade. Exchanging goods and information, handing off passengers, bartering in rumours. Commerce of all kinds is it’s life blood, a flurry of trading every month until winter closes in and the caravans must stop.
History
Many’s the Caravan Master who’s laid claim to the founding of Glittermoot, but none have been able to bring forth any proof to back these claims. The ring of Menhir’s has been there longer than any company can remember, and to carve the tunnels would have taken scores of workers and wizards longer than would be survivable, even in summer. Glittermoot’s origin has been lost to the snow swept winds of time.
Architecture
Low stone cabins with sweeping stone roofs, primarily given over to communal bunk rooms and emergency stores, are the only buildings in Glittermoot. The only other defining architecture of the settlement would be the ring of stone menhirs in the centre of the cavern, commonly used as hitching points for Jax and the focal point for the midsummer festival.
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