Termallaine

You emerge from the silent forest onto the crest of a grassy hill. From this vantage point you are offered a commanding view of the bay that opens up before you. The smell of salt and seaweed is carried on the wind, a welcome change from the cloying scent of slowly decaying vegetation that had pervaded the wood. The bay is long and narrow; bounded on the north by sheer cliffs and stark white hills, and on the south by a narrow pebble beach pressed up against the edge of the pine wood. The southern horizon is dominated by the ominous Mountains of the Moon that stand sentinal over this hidden vale. The hill on which you stand slopes gently down to the bay, a worn dirt path passing through fields of grazing sheep and cattle. At the head of the bay on the north bank of a small estuary is a cluster of squat stone buildings; you estimate about two dozen. There is a slight shift in the wind, and with it comes a new scent, the smell of smoke and burning flesh. You suddenly notice a plume of black smoke rising from the beach behind the buildings.

Deep within the Westlords Vale, protected by the indomitable @mountains of the moon, the residents of Termallaine manage to avoid the constant harassment of roaming barbarians that plague their inland brethren. The coast is dotted with sheltered, stony bays tucked away from the worst of the elements that allow Termallaine residents to forage for food, and looming offshore stand tall stone columns, with patchy grasses growing wherever they could take root. In the constant sea mist they emerge like watchful sentinels, although many have succumbed to the roaring waves and collapsed into the water below. Access to the shore requires scaling the sheer cliffs along well worn paths that shift and change under the effects of natural erosion.

Demographics

70% Human, 15% Half-Elf, 10% Elf, 5% Other

Government

The primary authority in Termallaine is the alderman. The current holder of this title is Aldar Heed, who recently inherited the position from his father, Dain.

History

The unique coastal choke point the Termallaine area occupied allowed it to stand as a bastion against the horrors that emerged from the wild oceans of the West thousands of years ago. In that time the area was known as Termallec Bay, and the hardiest warriors of Arden were sent here to test their mettle and defend the kingdom against the various abominations that sprang forth from the depths. However, it wasn't until the family of Lorthend rose to power that the true strategic might of Termallec came into effect. A huge stone castle was constructed stretching far into the water and forming an impenetrable barrier sealed with 3 sets of wrought iron gates. With this as a base of operations many a wyrm was slain in its lair and the krakens were forced back to the depths from whence they came. With the seas safe, the Lorthend family claimed ownership over the surrounding land and grew fat and wealthy with a flourishing trade and fishing industry.

Population

250

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