Botkinburg
The town of Botkinburg lies far from the settled lands of the south and the fabled Kingdom of New Aenoch Kingdom of Outremere. It sits upon a bend in the HRUESEN RIVER in the shadows of the slopes of the rugged hills of the BLACKTOOTH RIDGE, in a land known as the BARREN WOOD.
The fortunes of those lands changed only with the passing of that malicious monarch UNKLAR and the dissolution of his kingdom. AUFSTRAG was made a shell of its former self, if not wholly destroyed, and the evil hosts of the Horned One scattered to the winds. For many years, the lands knew peace, though they never flourished again. The evil which had resided here passed into memory or vanished into the deep recesses of those hills. Thus the world stood for many years.
In time elves, in search of ancient homelands and shrines, and men, in search of fertile and peaceful lands to farm, returned and settled in the Barren Wood; quickly forgetting, or choosing to forget, that each new age fosters new challenges and past evils often haunt the hopes of the future. As the elves and humans returned, so too arrived remnants of the Horned One’s armies; for the Blacktooth Ridge lies in the shadow of Aufstrag and the fell pits of that horrid place are a never–ending source of foul creatures hungry for the easy pickings of the world of man and elf. Now many creatures long away from this land find its fresh fields and peaceful inhabitants easy filling for their gluttonous desires.
As for Botkinburg, it was one of many new towns and thorpes that were settled after the fall of the Horned One. Several fishermen, hunters, traders, and foresters, along with their families, founded the village, building near where an ancient stone bridge crossed over the Hruesen River. In those early days, the village consisted of little more than makeshift houses and hovels huddled together along the banks of the river. The settlement became permanent as the clean and meandering Hruesen River proved an abundant source of fish and the pastures about very fertile. Few creatures or maleficent beasts roamed those parts as the town took shape. They named the town Stoneway, and it quickly prospered, attracting more settlers, and later, folk wishing to escape the meaningless wars and petty uprisings in the south and west of the world.
So arrived CLEMENT BOTKIN, the third in line of a large noble family of Outremere. Clement Botkin chose to make his own way in the world, and after many travails and adventures, arrived in Stoneway, where he decided to retire and claim this place as his own. He brought with him several knights and some soldiery and built a tower in the town. As time passed, the dangers increased, and Clement built a stone wall around his tower and enclosed a wide bailey to protect the villagers in times of war. For two generations, his family provided protection for the village that eventually bore his name. Through his wisdom and strength, Clement kept the town and its folk safe for many years, until time robbed him of both his wits and his son, who died at the hands of orcs while exploring the Blacktooth Ridge. Clement’s grandson, VOLKMAR BOTKIN, has now taken the charge in his father’s stead as Clement has grown too feeble of mind and body to do more than moan in pain and eat soup. Volkmar, however, has neither the wisdom nor intelligence of his grandfather or father, and so (despite the advice from his loyal servants) has failed to notice and act upon the recent events along the Blacktooth Ridge, events that presage significant trouble for the people of Botkinburg and the whole of the Barren Wood.
The fortunes of those lands changed only with the passing of that malicious monarch UNKLAR and the dissolution of his kingdom. AUFSTRAG was made a shell of its former self, if not wholly destroyed, and the evil hosts of the Horned One scattered to the winds. For many years, the lands knew peace, though they never flourished again. The evil which had resided here passed into memory or vanished into the deep recesses of those hills. Thus the world stood for many years.
In time elves, in search of ancient homelands and shrines, and men, in search of fertile and peaceful lands to farm, returned and settled in the Barren Wood; quickly forgetting, or choosing to forget, that each new age fosters new challenges and past evils often haunt the hopes of the future. As the elves and humans returned, so too arrived remnants of the Horned One’s armies; for the Blacktooth Ridge lies in the shadow of Aufstrag and the fell pits of that horrid place are a never–ending source of foul creatures hungry for the easy pickings of the world of man and elf. Now many creatures long away from this land find its fresh fields and peaceful inhabitants easy filling for their gluttonous desires.
As for Botkinburg, it was one of many new towns and thorpes that were settled after the fall of the Horned One. Several fishermen, hunters, traders, and foresters, along with their families, founded the village, building near where an ancient stone bridge crossed over the Hruesen River. In those early days, the village consisted of little more than makeshift houses and hovels huddled together along the banks of the river. The settlement became permanent as the clean and meandering Hruesen River proved an abundant source of fish and the pastures about very fertile. Few creatures or maleficent beasts roamed those parts as the town took shape. They named the town Stoneway, and it quickly prospered, attracting more settlers, and later, folk wishing to escape the meaningless wars and petty uprisings in the south and west of the world.
So arrived CLEMENT BOTKIN, the third in line of a large noble family of Outremere. Clement Botkin chose to make his own way in the world, and after many travails and adventures, arrived in Stoneway, where he decided to retire and claim this place as his own. He brought with him several knights and some soldiery and built a tower in the town. As time passed, the dangers increased, and Clement built a stone wall around his tower and enclosed a wide bailey to protect the villagers in times of war. For two generations, his family provided protection for the village that eventually bore his name. Through his wisdom and strength, Clement kept the town and its folk safe for many years, until time robbed him of both his wits and his son, who died at the hands of orcs while exploring the Blacktooth Ridge. Clement’s grandson, VOLKMAR BOTKIN, has now taken the charge in his father’s stead as Clement has grown too feeble of mind and body to do more than moan in pain and eat soup. Volkmar, however, has neither the wisdom nor intelligence of his grandfather or father, and so (despite the advice from his loyal servants) has failed to notice and act upon the recent events along the Blacktooth Ridge, events that presage significant trouble for the people of Botkinburg and the whole of the Barren Wood.
Demographics
Botkinburg is mostly inhabited by humans but has a sizable halfling population who live close to one another around several large hills on the west side of the village. They interact freely with the rest of Botkinburg’s population, though they are viewed with caution and circumspection by some of the human members of the community.
Most in the community worship at the Chancel, a temple devoted to the many deities who watch over the lands of man and halfling, fertility, herding, or harvest, and the Hruesen River in particular. Rituals and devotionals to the deities are held on numerous occasions and are often accompanied by large communal gatherings during which beer and food are plentiful and served freely. On other occasions, fasting and abstinence are called for. Most of the farmers and fishermen, as well as the halflings, also worship at the Oak Grove, a shrine serving the deities of the sun and moon, plentitude and harvest, and the fairy queen. There are many rituals the people of Botkinburg follow on a daily basis to keep the evil spirits away and to mollify the various fey that still reside in the surrounding forests.
Most in the community worship at the Chancel, a temple devoted to the many deities who watch over the lands of man and halfling, fertility, herding, or harvest, and the Hruesen River in particular. Rituals and devotionals to the deities are held on numerous occasions and are often accompanied by large communal gatherings during which beer and food are plentiful and served freely. On other occasions, fasting and abstinence are called for. Most of the farmers and fishermen, as well as the halflings, also worship at the Oak Grove, a shrine serving the deities of the sun and moon, plentitude and harvest, and the fairy queen. There are many rituals the people of Botkinburg follow on a daily basis to keep the evil spirits away and to mollify the various fey that still reside in the surrounding forests.
Defences
In times of conflict, a militia can be called up. It consists of nearly 30 adult humans.
Industry & Trade
Botkinburg is not a wealthy community. Its inhabitants are mostly farmers or fishermen, with a few skilled tradesmen amongst them. It is self sufficient, though trades with other communities for rare foodstuffs or manufactured goods in exchange for salted fish, lumber, and dairy products. Every month during the summer an open market is held at the Oak Grove, a sacred place near the town’s square. This usually attracts several outsiders pawning their wares. Other than this, most commerce and trade is conducted
between families and individuals and is generally in the form of barter rather than with coin. The closest Botkinburg has to a store is the Bent Hook, a local tavern. The proprietor stocks a small amount of items imported from the wealthier communities to the south and north which the locals may find useful.
The days of most in Botkinburg are spent in the pastures, on the river, or in gardens with the crops. The pastures have a mixture of sheep and dairy cattle grazing in them during the day. These are brought in every evening and taken out every morning to the cacophonous sound of cow and sheep bells, bleating sheep, mewing cows, barking herd dogs, and the calls of herdsmen. Crops are plentiful and cheaply purchased, as most have full larders.
The days of most in Botkinburg are spent in the pastures, on the river, or in gardens with the crops. The pastures have a mixture of sheep and dairy cattle grazing in them during the day. These are brought in every evening and taken out every morning to the cacophonous sound of cow and sheep bells, bleating sheep, mewing cows, barking herd dogs, and the calls of herdsmen. Crops are plentiful and cheaply purchased, as most have full larders.
History
In happier days this land was a wild, forested country named the Hruesen. The forest was of an exceedingly large expanse and filled with many beasts as well as settlements of man, halfling, and elf. The great ridge offered hunting aplenty and was called by men the Highlands and by the elves the Avishean Ridge. There was peace in the country and little troubled the folk who lived there. But the world’s ages turned, and so with them the fortunes of those in that wondrous wood.
Long ago, beyond the memory of most in the Barren Wood, a power arose in the north and the whole part of the world fell under the rueful eye of a great and evil lord, The Horned One, as he was named. In those days, the Horned One’s shadow hung over all the world and he ruled from the great fortress of Aufstrag. When the Horned One first conquered these lands many aeons ago, it was as restless and troublesome as its inhabitants, fey of many type and stalwart men of noble bearing, did not easily bend to his will. So it was, after many a rebellion and uprising, the Horned One turned his armies loose upon the lands of the Hruesen. A great many orc and goblin issued forth from the foul pits of Aufstrag and laid waste to the lands of the Hruesen, driving the inhabitants south into the sea, enslaving them, or scattering wide the free peoples that had been living there. His evil emptied the forest of its inhabitants and razed all the region’s cities and towns.
For centuries after, the woods and vales of the Hruesen lay abandoned and empty. The ridge now stood forth from the wasteland as a great black scar, as the orcs occupied it and made it a fortress of sorts. They tunneled beneath it and built squat towers upon it. They carted folk to the Ridge as slaves, and there they became lost to memory. The ridge was named anew, the Blacktooth Ridge, as it devoured all that entered it, and the lands about were renamed the Barren Wood, for little remained of that once great forest.
Long ago, beyond the memory of most in the Barren Wood, a power arose in the north and the whole part of the world fell under the rueful eye of a great and evil lord, The Horned One, as he was named. In those days, the Horned One’s shadow hung over all the world and he ruled from the great fortress of Aufstrag. When the Horned One first conquered these lands many aeons ago, it was as restless and troublesome as its inhabitants, fey of many type and stalwart men of noble bearing, did not easily bend to his will. So it was, after many a rebellion and uprising, the Horned One turned his armies loose upon the lands of the Hruesen. A great many orc and goblin issued forth from the foul pits of Aufstrag and laid waste to the lands of the Hruesen, driving the inhabitants south into the sea, enslaving them, or scattering wide the free peoples that had been living there. His evil emptied the forest of its inhabitants and razed all the region’s cities and towns.
For centuries after, the woods and vales of the Hruesen lay abandoned and empty. The ridge now stood forth from the wasteland as a great black scar, as the orcs occupied it and made it a fortress of sorts. They tunneled beneath it and built squat towers upon it. They carted folk to the Ridge as slaves, and there they became lost to memory. The ridge was named anew, the Blacktooth Ridge, as it devoured all that entered it, and the lands about were renamed the Barren Wood, for little remained of that once great forest.
Geography
Botkinburg is located deep in the Barren Wood on a rise overlooking a bend in the Hruesen River. Much of the land surrounding the town has been cleared of trees and now serves as pasture and farmland for row crops. A road leads to Botkinburg from the south, and another less-traveled road heads off to the north. The town consists of small wooden and stone houses with thatched and shingled roofs. These are clumped together around a large stone keep located on the highest point of the rise.
Type
Town
Population
350
Inhabitant Demonym
Botkins
Included Locations
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
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