Gispel

"Gispel used to be a normal village. No one remembers those times." 

The village of Gispel's torments started when one day, they were visited by a travelling group of wizards on a research expedition. Their cart was stuck in deep mud with more rain on the horizon. They villagers, dreading they'd be helpless to stop the cart from sinking into the lake, came to aid them. Fussy and most prestigious, the scholars refused their help and started muttering in a peculiar language. They watched in horror as a thick liquid, black as War's blood, stained the lake. 
When they left, the village's fears were just beginning. Those who drank the water were cursed or suffered from aether decay, whilst other cowered in fear and refused to approach the lake. Nightly, the village was haunted by beasts that ate their livestock and killed all they came across. The villagers grew desperate and began eating the meat of these creatures, only to fall to beast consumption. Those who survived the nights were slain in the day by their neighbours, or families. 
A hunter from the forests arrived. A ranger, garbed in autumn scarlet. He warded off the beasts, whilst teaching the survivors his crafts. With this knowledge, they fortified their ruined and and despairing souls until they worked together to ward off the beasts. Satisfied with their work, the ranger turned heel and left, saluting with the fingers he would use to notch his bow. 
Ever since, those in Gispel have kept to their business. It makes them very busy. Improving fortifications here, building new houses there. Anyone coming here nowadays would be awestruck at how normal their lives seem, surrounded by monsters and dark forests. Locals know better. They say the real monsters are the strangers in wagons, lining up in queues to note down every grisly detail. 

Government

The headman of the village also serves as the Parish Constable, since no self-respecting landowner outside of the village would want to venture there unprotected. Even amassing a posse to inspect Gispel would prove a great undertaking, without even considering how undesirable the position has become.

Defences

They have a main wall around the village, made from sharpened logs of wood stuck in the ground. A second wall, made of taller logs, surrounds the inner residential area of Gispel. This is also where the village headman lives and works.

Tourism

Those most eager to visit Gispel have heard the tale of its near destruction and are eager to explore "the cursed village" for themselves. Some come there with pure curiosity in mind, but most are those specialising in the research or capture of beasts. Gispellans, to no surprise, have little time for scholars and what they deem a good use of a villager's time, but will humour a hunter for a drink or two.
Most hunters come to test their strength, enchanted by the prospect of an unlimited supply of monsters to battle and farm for resources from. They once even considered making Gispel the site for a hunter's guild and accompanying school. However, once it was clear that the lands held more danger than beasts thanks to the inkana, most hunters are only interested in the short-term gains and leave soon enough.

Architecture

The architecture is adaptable and able to take a few hits. Most of it is made of wood, since there's no fear of dragons so far south. Most of their attacks are also from beasts rather than people, so arson remains very rare. Their walls are lined with mud and the huts circular.

Geography

Nestled in the woodland, nearby to a small lake. Thanks to the Inkana spill, beasts can emerge from either of these features with little to no warning. The water has remained toxic ever since the spill, so most villagers get their water supply from wells.

Natural Resources

The woods remain the most trustworthy resources that Gispel can take advantage. Sometimes, a woodcutter will find themselves cutting into an ent or a dryad, incurring their wrath. This is so rare that it's worth the risk, especially when it comes to building a livelihood. 
Their farms are seen as just as important as the people, so agriculture stays within the second wall. These fields provide grain, vegetables and fruit for the denizens, should livestock or wild game be killed by rampant beasts.

Founding Date

431

Alternative Name(s)

The Cursed Village

Type

Village

Population

742

Inhabitant Demonym

Gispellans