Kaerin
Demographics
Most of the population of Kaerin are dragonkind with a few small families of humans, elves, and dwarves. Since Kaerin has been isolated for so long, these races have differentiated from others into Kaerinian ethnicities. People in the village adhere to the idea of a common good. Everyone shares in the work and the wealth according to their individual abilities. Most of the people here are farmers or ranchers, caring for the vast lands between the mountains. Some people are hunters or fishers. A few people are trained in the trades such as blacksmithing, tanning, and carpentry. There is a small team of people responsible for discretely trading with outside settlements once or twice a year while keeping the existence of Kaerin as hidden as possible. Everyone in the village is trained in some sort of combat such as swords, spears, or shields for the defense of the village against outsiders and some powerful monsters living in the mountains. Those who have the spark of magic also train to use their magic most effectively, but that spark is slowly going out.
Government
The council of elders, led by Meldross Windtracker and Katalyn Windtracker rule over the village. There are always 5 elders in addition to the ruling pair. When an issue comes up that cannot be resolved by the villagers, it is taken to the council. Depending on the severity of the problem, the council will decide on a punishment that can be as light as extra work or as heavy as death (though that's only happened twice in the village's history when a villager revealed the existence of the village to an outsider). Apart from the two elder guardians which is an inherited position, the rest of the elders are voted on by the villagers every five years.
Defences
The center of the village has 3-meter tall walls made from several layers of carved stone that is sufficient to keep most of the common monsters out, though it's rarely used. The villagers will normally defend their farmland and fields from invading monsters or other sentient races without retreating to protect their crops and animals. If a threat that is too large to handle appears, the villagers will retreat to the main settlement, driving along as many animals and supplies as they could, and take up positions to defend the walls.
Infrastructure
Most buildings are made out of carved stone, taken from the mountainsides and carried back by sled. The tallest buildings are only two stories aboveground, but many have cold cellars beneath for storage. The village has most of the buildings required to be self-sufficient such as a smithy, stables, and watermills.
Geography
Kaerin is located in the bend of a glacial valley that was carved out thousands of years previously through the Sunderbank mountain range. It is located near the northern edge of the Rivenda kingdom. Water flows down from the mountains in many little streams, ensuring that there is nowhere in the valley that is too far from a fresh water source. The water collects into the medium sized Drakonath Lake to the south of Kaerin before running towards the Antaleon Ocean via the Drakoran River.
Climate
Kaerin has a relatively mild climate considering how far north it lies. The westerly winds bring in warm air and moisture from the sea, which breaks upon the western barrier mountains. During the summer months, the rivers in the area expand, bringing the last winter's icemelt down from the mountains. Rain clouds slip by the lower mountain peaks and bring a steady supply of water for crops. In the fall and winter, as the weather cools, the rain slows, the fields begin to dry, and a light dusting of snow will fall occasionally.
Natural Resources
The most important natural resource for the village of Kaerin is the extremely fertile fields in the valley. Many streams, rivers, and even a lake bring water down from the mountains, carrying fresh minerals and fertilizer. Crops grow extremely well here and there is ample grass for livestock to eat. There is also a small mine nearby with ready access to basic ores like iron and copper which are used to smith new tools and decorations. While there are normal animals in the mountains, there are also monsters. The bravest villagers sometimes hunt these monsters for their pelts, claws, teeth, and meat which are of a much higher quality than that which can be obtained from normal animals.
Founding Date
The 15th of Janikrad in the year 2347 of the Miandrag calendar
Founders
Type
Village
Population
578
Inhabitant Demonym
Kaerin
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Additional Rulers/Owners
Ruling/Owning Rank
