Timberwatch
Within the temperate forest of the Timberlands, beech, oak, elm trees eventually give way to rows of stumps and a few small homesteads. Mossy tree trunks line the roadway towards Timberwatch, and felled logs lie in large heaps, marking the path as they await transport throughout the Duchy. Groves of saplings sway in the breeze, each carefully coppiced, growing long and straight, roughly the size of a spear shaft. Rising out of the manicured groves, the rough-hewn walls of Timberwatch rise up imposingly, while in small gullies before the walls, rows of sharpened stakes menace any unfortunate or foolish enough to rush the walls. A small wooden keep rises out from within the walls, only slightly taller than the scattered watchtowers while still extending the inhabitants vigilant gaze to the edge of the woods.
Demographics
Timberwatch's population is made up of a strong human majority. Timberwatch has one of the largest elven communities in Whiteport, with the exception of Whiteport itself, who are drawn to the town because of its close relationship with the surrounding woodland. It also boasts a small communities of forest gnomes and halflings, who predominantly work in Timberwatch's gardens, growing herbs and practicing as apothecaries. Finally, Timberwatch has a small but visible population of half-elves resulting from dalliances between Timberwatch's humans and elves.
Government
Timberwatch is a feudal county, and is currently ruled by Count Iayne Hartwoode, who resides inside Timberwatch Keep with his family, though he often rules in absentia from Whiteport. In practice, most of the affairs of Timberwatch are managed by the Reeve, Lara Harper, and the Master at Arms, Sir Osbert. The Reeve, Lara Harper, manages the day to day business of Timberwatch, judging local disputes and business conflicts, while Sir Osbert oversees the town's defense and its town watch.
Defences
Timberwatch's defenses are formidable, and explain why the settlement has survived and thrived in the relatively isolated and unruly Timberlands. Although the settlement lacks a moat, it is surrounded by a double ring of deep ditches near its gate, which can be filled with sharpened stakes during emergencies, and is further defended by a tall wooden palisade, sharpened at the top. Timberwatch lacks an true towers or walls which can be defended, but behind the palisade, a number of tall square wooden watchtowers have been constructed which can serve as platforms for the town's archer militia.
On the inner ring of ditches near the southwest side by the gate, the ditches are always filled with spikes, although elsewhere the forest has been allowed to encroach almost up to the earth embankment the palisade rests upon, although the forest has been cleared in some patches which leave only stumps, the stumps themselves presenting an obstacle to any rapid assault.
Finally, Timberwatch is defended by its Keep, the seat of house Hartwoode, though the keep is only comprised of a tall hall, a squat, square stone tower with a wooden hoarding around it. Although nominally in charge of the defence of Timberwatch, house Hartwoode usually only keeps a handful of men at arms stationed at the Keep (only five or six), the village watch (a volunteer force of only about twenty) and relies predominantly on citizen militias or outside intervention to repel any serious threats.
Industry & Trade
Timberwatch was originally founded as a military outpost in the Timberlands, but over the years it lost its military value, and instead focused more on its thriving logging industry as a result of the dense hardwood forests of the the Timberlands. Most of this wood is shipped to Whiteport where it is used in the shipbuilding, carpentry, or furniture industries, after being brought to the lumbermills in the woods themselves or to the logging camp at White River.
Timberwatch also supplies many of the wild herbs and plants used by alchemists, magic users, and apothecaries, and is known for its small community of forest gnomes who have built a warren under the Halrin's Herbalist House and operate a large underground garden. Many game wardens operate out of Timberwatch and hunters frequent the woods, so a tannery, smokehouse, and hooper have also developed in the town.
Aside from commerce, Timberwatch also hosts a small Shrine to Silvanus, and a small hospitality industry has developed to suit the occasional pilgrim.
Finally, outside the settlement small homesteads, farms, and hunting cabins spread outwards from around the palisade.
Infrastructure
Timberwatch benefits from well developed infrastructure, and although it is relatively isolated, travel to Timberwatch is easy, as one needs merely follow the Timbertrack to the town, and the town itself is well secured. Logging facilities dominate the nearby area, and a large lumber mill operates along the White River from which logs are transported to Whiteport for use in the shipyards. Locals also operate a small Shrine to Silvanus within the town walls. Timberwatch also boasts a thriving bowyer industry and fletches arrows, while also providing much of the game and wild fruits consumed and traded in Whiteport. To process most of the game caught, Timberwatch also has constructed a large underground storehouse, a smokehouse, a tannery, and also hosts a small smithy and stable.
Assets
Timberwatch is a well-supplied settlement with abundant natural resources, although it has very little material wealth to speak of, as most of the populace are simple tradesmen. Within Timberwatch Keep, the armory contains a large storeroom of shortbows and sheafs of arrows, alongside a plentiful stockpile of whittled stakes, pikes, and wooden javelins, which are to be distributed to each townsperson in the event of an emergency.
Timberwatch also has a large underground storehouse where emergency supplies and winter stores are kept, predominantly smoked meats, preserved fruits and vegetables, and herbs.
Guilds and Factions
Timberwatch is essentially led by a council which includes the Reeve, Lara Harper, and the Master-at-Arms, Sir Osbert who have final say in the decisions made day-to-day in the town, but they usually consult a small council of local high profile individuals or even hold town meetings. These individuals include Halrin Felver (the gnomish owner of Halrin's Herbalist House, who often speaks for the town's gnomish community and is known for his charitable demeanor), Agran Glen (a local hunter and amateur monster-slayer, who is a proud survivalist and pragmatist and holds respect among many of the local woodsmen), Centhia Hooper (the kindhearted event planner for the town market and frequent patron at the Shrine of Silvanus, making her popular with the town's faithful and business owners), and Sten "Sawdust" Whitworth (the somewhat abrasive but stern foreman of one of Timberwatch's larger logging camps, who often speaks for their interests and can sway the lumberjacks and woodsmen to his side).
History
Timberwatch was originally founded by the Dukes of Whiteport as a southern border outpost, but a logging camp grew up quickly nearby, and eventually, as the outpost fell into disuse, most of the towns industry switched to support the prospering industry, and the town subsequently developed into its current state.
Architecture
Most of the buildings in Timberwatch are made of wood, with varying degrees of craftsmanship, though some have stone foundations or accents, and most of the fine woodwork and architecture is concentrated close to the village market and keep, and further from the palisade itself. The homes are predominantly simple one and two story buildings built out of local woods like Oak, Maple, or Birch wood, which might house a family or two, often with wood or thatch roofing. Many of the wooden doorframes are carved with small designs meant to solicit blessings from the gods. The walls of some of the poorer homes are wicker, and many of the inner fencing and gate work are made of woven wicker materials. while the windows feature wooden shutters with iron accents which can seal the windows.
Natural Resources
Timberwatch's natural resources are almost entirely derived from the surrounding forest, the Timberlands. Most importantly, Timberwatch relies on the Timberlands for its supply of wood, logging predominantly Oak, Maple, and Birch trees. Timberwatch's residents also utilize the woods for a fresh supply of wild plants, berries, nuts, and game, which many of the residents use to supplement their typical diet of vegetables, grain, and the occasional domestic animal.
Type
Town
Population
5000
Related Ethnicities
Inhabitant Demonym
Timberlanders
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
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