Emerald Canopy
Demographics
The Emerald Canopy is mostly home to Wood Elf and Half-Elfs.
Most inhabitants are lower-class or lower-middle-class as anyone considered high class would likely rather take an arrow to the heart than to live 'in that treetop slum' as nobility refers to it.
Government
The village is run by the 3 eldest members, and is open for voting on matters concerning the village's overall welfare, however, votes are generally not needed since the village does not interact with other settlements outside of minor trade.
The government can be so lax due to the fact that the village is essentially self-sustaining.
Defences
The village doesnt have much in the way of defense. A couple of sentry towers and some vine walls do enough to keep out most creatures. Fortunately no military powers find enough value in the location to bother with it.
Industry & Trade
Close to a river, and situated within a forest, the village is nearly self-sustaining, but does trade the byproducts of hunting: feathers, oils, skins and other parts that are not eaten, and the surplus fruits, vegetables, and nuts they collect.
Infrastructure
If you fear heights and rope bridges, this is not a place for you. The Emerald Canopy has a few roads that run below it, off to its sides. Aside from that, its most noteworthy infrastructure is the forest itself, which provides abundant food in the form of game, fruits, vegetables, and nuts.
Districts
The village has 4 distinct regions, the division of which is created by the geography of the area.
Everything East of the river is considered the visitor's district. The inn, tavern, and most provisions required by travelers can be found there, even if some are in the canopy level.
Except for the jeweler and the runesmith, which are on the canopy level East of the river, almost no travelers enter the town proper, the portion on the West side of the river. It's not that they can't, but more that the village was constructed to reduce the need to do so. The only reasons anyone would have to go West of the river are
- They need the carpenter
- They need to visit a guild. (the combined guild building is on the canopy level, something which makes staff members grin in fiendish delight when someone averse to heights visits
- They are visiting family
Guilds and Factions
Factions tend to not form here. Those with a dissenting opinion from the majority of villagers generally tend to want to leave, in which case they do. They may be quietly suggested to leave if their discontentment, or everyone's discontentment with them, grows high enough.
Those who do not abide by the common will of the village and its leaders simply leave, either on their own or with a bit of mild persuasion.
As far as guilds, most global guilds share a single building here. They all consider it a "backwater" location, but they can do most things that guilds require, from registration to reporting, and anything else.
History
The origin of the Emerald Canopy can be traced back to the schism that separated all elven kind. Its founding is akin to the establishment of the Wood Elf as a species.
Points of interest
The entirety of the village is interesting. It's a city of tree homes, connected by rope bridges and wooden pathways, with small pulley systems to raise and lower things and people to the ground.
The Mushroom Houses, although not unique to the village, the largest collection of them by far can be found on the forest floor of this humble settlement.
Tourism
The village is a small one, and sees travellers passing through relatively often, but no tourists. The reasoning is simple, you can easily see the entire village in under half a day. Anyone who stays longer is either planning to settle or is using the village as a base for some activities in the forest.
Architecture
This village is quite nature friendly, with a noticeable amount of the residences therein made up of the naturally occurring, yet forcefully petrified, giant mushrooms.
All other establishments are made of wood and adorned with leaves and vines. The building lines are generally curved and resemble ivy and other flowing and flowery aspects of nature.
Geography
Split a bit less than evenly by a creek and set on the flat and very stable forest floor, the village enjoys the peace offered by the meandering stream, and the stability of the giant tree's roots, which scarcely sway with all but the strongest of storms. Even moderate earthquakes deal little damage to the area and its inhabitants, though it does frighten them greatly for some days afterward.
The residents enjoy the stunning and serene views afforded by the elevated canopy platforms, which change with the seasons, each bringing their own forms of beauty.
Natural Resources
The village has abundant wood, fruits, berries, vegetables, nuts, and even a bit of fish courtesy of the nearby stream. However those resources are relatively few overall, being enough to sustain the population and trade with passing merchants.
by Kranjax (with Midjourney AI)
Maps
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Emerald Canopy
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