Shadowbranch - Wine Country

Near the base of the Applescarn Mountains is the town of Shadowbranch, population 5,230, or as some people in Pinegaard call it,” Wine Country.” Settlers, mostly dwarves and halflings, first established Shadowbranch in 39AT. The town founder, Axel Shorthammer, a dwarf from the Prime World, helped design the first homes, granary, and marketplace. The activity drew the attention of the denizens from The Below. Car’dal Trven, a dark elf, met with Axel and the two shared information about each other’s communities.
Axel and his family soon established outlying grape farms and vineyards. One of the vineyards became Shorthammer Winery.
Word of a new town drew several fey from the different courts, most notably the vampire Bernard Teadrinker, who enjoyed Shorthammer’s wine and offered to help grow Axel’s winery.
Shadowbranch has other exports, but wine is the town’s specialty. There are 12 outlying vineyards and eight wineries in the town’s borders. The town also has a partnership with vineyards and wineries in The Below.
Shadowbranch’s government consists of a mayor and five council members. The current mayor is Meris Eros and the council members are Lemy Proudnin, Isla Teadrinker (The Below representative), Jimo Katar, Rin Summerfen, and Shay Ternan.
Every year there is the Shadowbranch Founder’s Day Festival where the Crystal Vynter is bestowed on a resident who impacted the town’s and its wine business during the year.
In addition to wine, the town is famous for supernatural occurrences. Monsters in Pinegaard and from The Below have appeared in Shadowbranch and the surrounding region.
The town’s defense consists of the Shadowbranch Guard. Members of The Below’s mercenaries and visitors from Teadrinker Manor outside of town also aid Shadowbranch during a crisis.
Shadowbranch isn’t just known for its wine. There are several establishments in town that visitors can stop at, including the Hungry Wolf Inn, Dragon Breath’s Bakery and Coffee House, Hag’s Woodshop, and the Necromancer’s Tannery.