Samhain Village
The wisps of flame lead you to the village of Samhain, which is small and fairly isolated. It was built by settlers of a by-gone era whose gothic style architecture widely remains to this day. The dark wood and metal buildings are in stark contrast to the orange and red leaves of the autumn trees.
Beyond the border of the village is the massive Samhain tree, lingering on the edge of the wilderness. Its imposing form is only off set by the large gothic cathedral near the center of town. Gargoyle statues hang from its tall ancient towers. However, this time of year the people of Samhain seem to have a spring in their step as they decorate their modest village with colorful decorations and empty lanterns.
“The villagers say not many adventurers find themselves wandering into Samhain this time of year. They won’t say it outright, but I’m sure it has something to do with that tree. Indeed, the settlement is old and dark in more ways than one. I suspect good reason that the main road veers around it on the eastern side.” – Sir Abathor, Journal Entry in the Samhain Cathedral
The Festival of Lanterns honors and celebrates the dead, the spirits, and citizens alike. We commemorate their sacrifices and celebrate their memories. We laugh in the face of death.
Every year around the end of summer, the Samhain Tree begins to wilt. Its pumpkins rot and fall, releasing their spores into the cool evening night. But the blooms on this tree are ghastly, for its pumpkin fruit are carved in the shape of the dead, and its spores are the burning flames of the spirits. These spirit flames wander the land, lost without their pumpkins to call home. But in honor of the dead, the local townsfolk open their village to the spirits. It is then that the townsfolk use dying light of the spirits to celebrate with them during the Festival of Lanterns and commemorate their lives. When the Festival is over, the spirits burn with a bright flame once more, and are returned to the Samuin tree, now in bloom with a new harvest of pumpkin lanterns, to keep lit all year round.
Every year around the end of summer, the Samhain Tree begins to wilt. Its pumpkins rot and fall, releasing their spores into the cool evening night. But the blooms on this tree are ghastly, for its pumpkin fruit are carved in the shape of the dead, and its spores are the burning flames of the spirits. These spirit flames wander the land, lost without their pumpkins to call home. But in honor of the dead, the local townsfolk open their village to the spirits. It is then that the townsfolk use dying light of the spirits to celebrate with them during the Festival of Lanterns and commemorate their lives. When the Festival is over, the spirits burn with a bright flame once more, and are returned to the Samuin tree, now in bloom with a new harvest of pumpkin lanterns, to keep lit all year round.
Demographics
Human (43%), Halfling (21%), Elf (19%), Dwarf (6%), Half-Elf (4%), Half-Orc (4%), Gnome (2%), Other (1%)
Government
Democratic Communalism
Democratically elected leaders of voluntarily elected factions preside over key functions of governance and serve on a central council for determining larger matters. Hierarchy is relatively flat with a mayor elected by direct democratic elections on an annual basis using a ranked choice system.
Defences
Remoteness and challenging terrain offers natural defences.
Industry & Trade
Agriculture, brewing, mining/smelting, weaving
Guilds and Factions
Unions/guilds revolve around professional organizations.
Architecture
Gothic stone and metal
Geography
Located deep within a natural labyrinth in a great chasm.
Type
Village
Population
~380
Inhabitant Demonym
Samhains, Spooks (pejorative)
Included Locations
Related Tradition (Primary)
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