Steppehaven
As you travel along a well worn dirt road, you pass a number of modest farmsteads. You hear sparrows calling from the thatched roofs, and a barn swallow darts across the road, snatching small insects from the air. Farmers look up from their work as you pass, some nodding politely or waving, others regarding you with distrust. Eventually, these farmsteads begin to cluster together into smaller collections of homes, nestled within the sparse orchard or field of wheat, and the faint smell of livestock floats on the breeze. Finally, you crest a small hillock, and gaze upon your destination, the town of Steppehaven. Small plumes billow up from small chimneys rising out of the collection of modest wooden buildings. At the far end of the town, a crystal clear spring sits totally still, overlooked by a large bluff upon which sits the decaying stone ruins of a large manor. As you approach the town, the smell of baking bread drifts appealingly through the air, and a farmer rides ahead of you on a mule, pulling a cart full of produce behind it. A large oak rises out of the town square, surrounded by a ring of white stones, and surrounding the oak local farmers sell their goods.
Demographics
Steppehaven's population is predominantly human, though it has a small minority of scattered halfling and gnome families, with an isolated half-orc, half-elf, or dwarf among the townsfolk.
Government
Steppehaven is run by a small town hall meetings, which are currently chaired by Harbin Wester. The council meets on an ad-hoc basis, and is generally only called in times of emergency or just prior to major holidays and festivals. All townsfolk are welcome to speak at the meetings, but few attends except in times of grave danger. On a larger level, Steppehaven is administered by the Duchy of Whiteport, although it has a high degree of autonomy. Occasionally Whiteport sends tax collectors, but often settles for portions of the harvest. The Tresendar family previously served as the barons of Steppehaven, but the final Baron of Steppehaven and last member of the family, Lord Brin Tresendar, was killed during the Drakehoff terror, and his seat has remained unfilled since his death.
Defences
Steppehaven has very few defenses to speak of. In the event of an emergency, most of the population would either flee into the surrounding terrain or take shelter in the town hall. Previously, the population would have gathered in Tresendar manor, but after the death of the Tresendars and the manor fell into ruin, its defensive value severely degraded, and now the town has no real defenses to speak of, other than to gather in the town center and seek safety in numbers. The Townmaster's hall also hosts village's extremely modest armory, and certain wooden and stone buildings clustered around the center of town could be reinforced, though against any serious assault the townsfolk's best defense is to flee into the surrounding countryside.
Industry & Trade
Steppehaven is largely self sufficient, and most of its population are engaged in some form of agriculture. Steppehaven has a large apple orchard, owned by the Edermath family. Most of the towns other residents are involved in other forms of agriculture, raising cattle and sheep, or growing staple crops like Wheat and Barley, as well as a small collection of beehives run by sister Garaele which produces fresh honey and other apothecaries. The town also has a few individuals engaged in the associated professions, trading local produce both at home and in Whiteport, as well as a local brewery which produces mead, cider, and beer.
The town also has a smithy, two trading permanent trading posts and general stores, an Inn which doubles as a tavern, as well as one dedicated tavern. Finally, the Sacred Spring of Selune is a popular spot for pilgrims and clerics, who bathe themselves in its waters which can supposedly cure diseases, and is administered by the Lady Freda, a priestess of Selune, as well as the small Shrine to Belenos, which draws travelers. Steppehaven also benefits from the occasional trading caravan which passes through on its way to Whiteport, who often stops in the town to stock up on supplies and goods, bringing valuable news and goods from outside the town.
Infrastructure
Steppehaven boasts a windmilll on a hill just outside of town. The town was built and previously owned by the Tresendars, but since the family's extinction the Windmill has fallen under the town's administration, and the town council ensures that the mill is well-maintained so that is can continue to function for free for the townsfolk.
Assets
Most of Steppehaven's assets are its store of crops and livestock. The population have very few valuables to speak of, as most are simple farmers. Within the Townmaster's Halll, a few sets of rusted kite shields and spears are kept to arm the town militia, with enough to supply roughly fifteen men, while most others are expected to provide their own arms (likely farming implements or tools).
The local shops in town carry similarly mundane wares, such as the various farming implements and supplies for the local farmers and shepherds, tack and gear for passing traders, and the various other home and household implements and trinkets that the townsfolk r
History
Steppehaven was once a prosperous trade post on the road from Whiteport to other parts of the Kingdom of Attica. However, recent banditry, and Whiteport's focus on maritime trade have caused the city to decline in importance. This is most apparent in the failure of the Duke Owain to appoint a new Baron of Steppehaven after the death of the last Tresendar, and most of the townsfolk and informed persons consider such leadership unnecessary to the town. Now a prospering farming village, Steppehaven still remains an important, if less used waypoint for the trading caravans passing in and out of the Duchy and heading inland or to Whiteport, as well as attracting clerics and pilgrims to the Sacred Spring of Selune, which supposedly has healing properties or the Shrine of Belenos, which many farmers pray to for a good harvest.
Points of interest
Steppehaven's most well-known feature is Selune's Spring, which is said to have rejuvenating waters, and in times past was a prominent attraction for travelers and pilgrims. However, in recent years as travel on the roads has grown more treacherous and trade through town has dwindled, it is infrequently visited.
Most visitors invariably stay at the local inn, the Stonehill Inn, the only real source of lodgings for anyone staying in town aside from those of the decidedly less comfortable Sleeping Giant Taphouse, although locals in Steppehaven are friendly and are known to open their homes to visitors who honor the Guest Rite.
Barthen's Provisions serves as the town's general store, catering to locals and passing merchants, though the Summer Seas Trading Company also operates a trading outpost in town, close to the Farmer's Exchange which acts as an open-air auction and farmer's market where local farmers come to buy, sell, and exchange local produce and livestock.
Architecture
Most of Steppehaven's buildings are small wooden structures often with thatched grooves. Some of the towns largest buildings, including the Town Hall, the Stonehill Inn, and the Shrine of Belenos, are made of rough fieldstone or stone scavenged from the ruins of Tresendar manor.
Geography
Steppheaven sits along a dirt trading road which runs from the interior of Attica towards Whiteport. On the northeast edge of the town, Tresendar manor sits upon a small bluff overlooking Selune's Spring. To the north, northwest, east, and south, the town is ringed by a collection of small hills, most of which are occupied by farmland and pastures. The dirt path runs from the Southeast, and is bordered by thick old-growth forests which spread to the west of the city. Most of the surrounding land to the north, northwest, and east consists of rolling farmland, which gradually intermixes with forest and prairie as one travels further from town.
Climate
Steppehaven has a generally mild climate, as is typical in the Duchy of Whiteport, though Steppehaven is slightly cooler. It experiences a seasonal climate, generally featuring light snow during the winter (generally maintaining light dustings of snow or frost) with the rare once-a-winter snowstorm dumping more than a foot on the town. Springs are warm and mild, featuring chilled and then warm rainstorms, with hot but not especially humid summers characterized by sudden heavy summer storms with strong winds, thunder, and lightning. Falls tend to be crisp and cool, with most trees dropping their leaves.
Natural Resources
Steppehaven has immense access to natural resources such as wood from local forests, grain and various fruits, vegetables, and livestock from the surrounding farms, and there is fairly rich hunting around the town.
Type
Village
Population
~5,000
Related Ethnicities
Inhabitant Demonym
Steppehaveners
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Owner/Ruler
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