Rushford
Clustered near the fork in the river lies the small village of Rushford. Scattered trees rise up around the edges of town, and low rows of hedges separate farmsteads from one another, which spread out from the village center. A small hill rises from the fork, the banks along the river worn away into a low stone cliff, where the squat, circular stone Rushfort sits, its walls wrapped in ivy. The main road itself passes through the center of the village, crossing over two worn stone bridges which meet on a small island in the center of the river, where a few villagers cast nets and fishing rods off into the stream, occasionally chattering amongst themselves when one pulls in a particularly large trout. Towards the center of town, clusters of buildings have sprung up to satisfy the many traders who pass through the village, such as a large inn with a long wooden front porch and a colorful sign labeled 'traveler's public house.'
Demographics
Despite its small size, Rushford is one of the more racially diverse settlements in the Duchy. Although humans certainly are still the majority of its population, Rushford also is home to minority groups like Halfings, Dwarves, Gnomes, and even has small communities of half-elves and tieflings. Many of these minority groups are relatively new arrivals from the city, who have moved to the quieter town of Rushford for business or to retire in peace, and the inhabitants of the town are accustomed to individuals of most races, as a variety of individuals pass through the key crossing while trading in the duchy.
Government
As a small village, Rushford has no official government. The community often gathers at the Temple of Tymora for important meetings and decisions, but these are rare, and the locals usually prefer to come to some common understanding or simply volunteer for communal tasks rather than operating some sort of sitting government. Technically, the town is administered by Baron Olifer DeDall, but DeDall is often absent, preferring to remain at court with his family in Whiteport itself.
Defences
Rushford has very little in the way of defenses. The Rushfort, while sturdy, is hardly more than a single stone bailey overlooking the river, and the town lacks any walls or defensive constructions. Instead, Rushford relies predominantly on protection sent from the larger and nearby city of Whiteport to address any immediate dangers. In times of serious emergency, Rushforders have been known to assemble as a small militia and block the bridges either with barricades or with a cheval-de-frise.
Industry & Trade
Rushford is a prospering village, and makes most of its money as a rest stop on the road from the interior of Whiteport to the port itself. Most of the inhabitants support this trade, working either as carpenters, wheelwrights and cartwrights, or working in the local inn or tavern accommodating travelers. Those who do not actively support the trade through the town generally work in agriculture, growing food for Whiteport which is sold in Rushford and brought fresh to the city the next day, and some Rushforders work as fishermen along the river.
Infrastructure
Rushford has developed around the crossing for the Rush River towards Whiteport, which makes it an important spot on the trade route from Whiteport to the interior of the duchy. Two stone bridges have been constructed across the ford of the river, and although they are worn by use they remain sturdy. Rushford also operates a small lumber mill downstream as well as a watermill for grain. Finally, within the settlement itself most of the industry is concentrated around supporting the local tradesmen which pass through the town, and as a result the largest buildings in town are the dual purpose inn and public house, stables, and cartwright.
Assets
Rushford has very little material wealth, and although it is is a flourishing town, most of the towns assets are in its local businesses and produce. Beneath the Rushfort and within a warehouse in town, Rushford has a small stockpile of grain, smoked fish, and smoked mutton, but otherwise the town's wealth is mostly reinvested in the trade and through the town, and as a result the citizens of Rushford generally live more comfortable lives than their counterparts in Whiteport's more distant and less prosperous villages.
Guilds and Factions
Due to its small size and relatively quiet populace, Rushford's internal politics are calm. However, as an undefended settlement located on a key trading route through the Duchy, Rushforders are acutely aware of any political developments in the Duchy, especially those that could easily spill over into open conflict, and as a result are generally better informed about the politics of the Duchy than their counterparts elsewhere. This is further accentuated by Rushforder's easy access to information, as traders passing through the village almost always bring news from some far corner of the realm, and Rushforders often quiz new arrivals upon their entry to town on the latest goings-on from wherever they've traveled from.
Rushford is used as an outpost by the Clasp, the thieves guild which operates out of Whiteport, and uses the town as a forward operating base to collect valuable information before it arrives in Whiteport and scout potential victims.
History
Rushford was originally settled as a small town close to the most convenient river crossing to reach Whiteport, and eventually the Dukes of Whiteport, seeing the village's value, constructed the two stone bridges and the Rushfort to defend this key crossing. The settlement is usually quiet, but saw particularly fierce fighting during the Drakehoff Terror, lending its name to the nearby Battle of the Rush, which resulted in a decisive victory for Ducal forces against Count Drakehoffs army. During the battle, the town changed hands repeatedly, although the Rushfort remained in Ducal hands for the duration of the battle, and the bridges served as a key choke point which ducal forces fought fiercely to defend, and the Temple of Tymora and the stables were converted to makeshift field hospitals. In the time since the battle, Rushford has flourished once more and almost totally rebuilt.
Architecture
Most of the buildings in Rushford are newly constructed, as the town was largely destroyed during the Battle the Rush with the exceptions of the Rushfort, Stables, and the Temple of Tymora. However, Rushford's relatively prosperity and fortunate location meant that wealth flowed back into the town shortly after the conclusion of the Terror, and most of the buildings are recently constructed. The town is a mix of stone and wood buildings, but all are well made and comfortable looking.
Geography
Rushford is situated on predominantly flat land around the fork in the Rush River. At the very corner of the fork, a large hill rises up, eroded down to its bedrock by the river, where the Rushfort is located, and the river itself flows through the center of town and under the two stone bridges which meet on a small island in the center of the river. The surrounding soil around the river is extremely fertile, and much of the flatland around the settlement is heavily farmed.
Natural Resources
Rushford's natural resources are largely agricultural, as its soil is extremely fertile and makes for good farming. The river itself also supplies Rushford with natural resources, and many townsfolk supplement their usual diet with fish and even crayfish and river oysters.
Type
Town
Population
2500
Related Ethnicities
Inhabitant Demonym
Rushforders
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
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