Badgerhold
Badgerhold is a town intertwined with the omenwood, from its humble beginnings as a lumber station, to a veritable stronghold against the creatures of the wood. Disturbed by the ever expanding logging and hunting operations. With routine, and acclimatization, the town adapted, and a surprising quiet has fallen in the region, with few monsters to fear (at least within eyesight) and a booming industry. A surprisingly good place to live.
Defences
Other than the duke himself (a danger in himself, alongside his son). There are also the Adventurers and Headhunters' guild. The town militia is also quite well regarded, as nearly every townsfolk has some proficiency with an axe, and the hunters in town are likewise proficient with bows. The town is in a defensible position, for the most part. And is surrounded by a low palisade with a spiked ditch to keep out horses and large monsters.
Guilds and Factions
The House of Mauler: The government of Badgerhold. While the house of Mauler governs under orders of the King in Rotguard. The royal decrees from the capital tend to reach Badgerhold late, and generally they are left to themselves. This has led to some peculiarities in local government. Including the setting up of a Headhunters's guild branch in Badgerhold, alongside a more typical Adventurers Guild Branch. The Duke is currently in a power struggle with said headhunter's guild, trying to expunge the monsterous guild members from the village. For indeed, if his august majesty were to learn more of this, it would not be pretty.
History
Badgerhold is something of a rags to riches story. When the nature of the Omenwood was still unknown, and the monsters were more numerous. The logging station of Badger was one of the only areas of human settlement in the region, due to the dangers in the wood. The work of the brothers Mauler, (Gaileth and Gustav), cleansed the wood of most of the most dangerous monsters. For their work, the Maulers were ennobled. Gustav became a duke, and founded Badgerhold, a growing town at the edge of the Omenwood, as more and more people travelled south, pursuing opportunities and a good life. The people also came to love their dutiful Duke, mighty and ever dilligant, a quaity he took from his work as a lumberjack, though many lamented the effect of a dreadful curse that the last witch of the Omenwood, Suleika laid upon him. That he might never look upon the fruits of his labors ever again, rendering him permanently blind, and unable to grow literal and figurative fruits under his own name, forcing him to often work through intermediaries. How he managed to have children is a mystery for the sages.
Architecture
Most things in Badgerhold are done in wood. With a small amount of stone (especially the central village hall, residence of the Duke, and place of giving audiences). The homes are built practically, though to last. The rooves are shingled to a rule, and several wells at intersections help provide security against fires. Homes are typically ornamented with wooden carvings, which reflect local myths and family histories. The town's streets are a tangle, as the town was not centrally planned and grew organically with the mass immigration of settlers from the north. The town center was historically the area around which the original logging infrastructure was built. From there, a large avenue leads to the front gate, allowing for easy transport of large quantities of lumber. Where tents once stood is now a large three storied town hall, with offices, an audience chamber, and more offices to manage the vast quantities of lumber to be shipped, taxed, and processed. Sometimes all at once.
Geography
Badgerhold stands at the top of a great slope, which begins at the forest's edge. A short walk into the forest, and the town drops below the horizon. Though, watchful eyes never quite leave the weary traveller, they are simply not often human. The plains north of the town extend for some time, granting ample sight lines to the town's defenders, as well as a good route for a well paved road. With the importance of Badgerhold's logging, the roads are as well patrolled as they can be in Greengrave, though some monsters do still cling to the margins. The breeze from the coast lends a vigor to the air in Badgerhold, at times, its residents forget they are in greengrave. The ominous moaning, and frequent dissapearences that issue from the Omenwood remind them otheriwse.
Natural Resources
Wood from the Omenwood, more appropriately known as Living wood retains the flexibility it would have as part of a living tree. It makes it a more durable building material, and even effective in weapons. The blood found in more meaty wood is quite valuable for herbal medicine and potion making. It is also known as sugar red, or red sugar. The sawdust of omenwood is very similar to sugar in flavor, though it is red, and has some side effects. Those who drink it see larger muscle mass. Lumberjacks have created an alcoholic drink with it, which both provides energy and increases muscle mass. The meat from the trees, while of unknown type, is not human meat, and is to all appearances safe for consumption. These resources have become quite hot commodities for export.
Founding Date
386 / 416 CRL
Type
Town
Population
2,000
Inhabitant Demonym
Woodsmen
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Characters in Location
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments