Burle

This small town was once a fortified frontier garrison that protected against the dangers from the Dreadwood Forest. With the forest beaten back and the Northern Road established, Burle is now a hive of mercenaries. These mercenaries - The Kingfishers - market themselves as shields-for-hire against the perils that occasionally stray out of the Dreadwood.
Situated on the banks of a minor tributary of the Kingfisher River in the misty shadow of the nearby Dreadwood, Burle still maintains its earlier frontier feel. The town is ringed by a low wooden palisade above which rises the roofs of several dozen wooden buildings, including the old garrison fortress, now the headquarters for the Kingfishers company, and a handful of inns, emporiums, and workshops. The most notable of these is The Spotted Dog, a tavern run by Astar Avesta, a friendly tiefling, and one of the best places to talk to locals and traders alike (and possible get a deal on a shipment of Burlean hardwoods...).

Demographics

Humans make up the bulk of Burle's permanent population, although there are a small numbers of dwarves in town who are either members of the Kingfishers or work in Burle's timber industries. Most of the dwarven population comes from the Blues Mines or smaller dwarven kolkhoz near Chinle.

Defences

A 10-foot-tall wooden palisade surrounds the town. The palisade is not an ordered construction of lashed poles, but rather presents as a deceptively ramshackle-looking collection of gnarled timbers. The wood comes from the nearby Dreadwood , however, where trees seldom grow straight and tall. The interwoven timbers in Burle's palisade form an impregnable barrier to all but the smallest creatures, with the outward facing limbs shaped into wicked points and the inner branches supporting fighting platforms and watchposts.

Industry & Trade

The residents of Burle make their living trading in forest products like lumber, turpentine, and resins, as well providing hospitality services to travelers along the Northern Road. In particular, the Kingfishers provide mercenary services to all comers, especially trade caravans looking for protection from the dangers of the Dreadwood.

Architecture

The buildings in Burle are overwhelming constructed from wood. The oldest buildings in town are simple yet solid log constructions that date to the initial garrison period, while more recent structures are built using milled lumber and covered with wooden clapboard or shingle siding.

Geography

Burle is located on the banks of a minor tributary of the Kingfisher River along the fringe of the Dreadwood Forest's western arm. The great Northern Road clearcut extends north from Burle through this portion of the forest, while Saltmarsh is two day's journey to the south along the banks of the Kingfisher River. A less traveled route to the west links Burle with the mountains to the west.

Type

Town

Included Locations

• The Spotted Dog

Owning Organization

The Kingfishers

Related Reports (Primary)

• Session 4.5a Report - Adventures on the Road