Calmgrove
Where the past speaks in faint whispers and faded lamentations.
Calmgrove is a hamlet found in the eastern reaches of the Duchy of Arakhet, located in the northern part of the Kingdom of Crendameth. Its name derives from the silence surrounding the grove where the settlement was built.
Built between the Titan's Spine and the Lake of Whispering Waters, Calmgrove is widely considered to be one of the continent of Ar'Nuhûn's oldest settlements, with its inhabitants playing important roles in how the country it finds itself in nowadays was shaped.
The hamlet is most famous because of the events that took place during the Massacre at Calmgrove, where Vonlir vil Vexinor caused the deaths of an estimated fifty people and nearly burned the settlement to the ground. Since then, Calmgrove has been rebuilt, yet with far less inhabitants than before.
Built between the Titan's Spine and the Lake of Whispering Waters, Calmgrove is widely considered to be one of the continent of Ar'Nuhûn's oldest settlements, with its inhabitants playing important roles in how the country it finds itself in nowadays was shaped.
The hamlet is most famous because of the events that took place during the Massacre at Calmgrove, where Vonlir vil Vexinor caused the deaths of an estimated fifty people and nearly burned the settlement to the ground. Since then, Calmgrove has been rebuilt, yet with far less inhabitants than before.
Demographics
Calmgrove is mostly comprised of humans and elves in the adult phases of their lives. The young tend to leave the place as soon as they can.
Most of the people here are near poverty, yet the taxes demanded of them are so small they tend to ignore this fact completely, usually fishing to make ends meet.
The individuals here present are members of a distinct ethnicity, having sharper features, paler skins, lighter hairs and more unusual eye colors than most of the Kingdom's inhabitants. These features are usually classified as settlers' marks.
Most of the people here are near poverty, yet the taxes demanded of them are so small they tend to ignore this fact completely, usually fishing to make ends meet.
The individuals here present are members of a distinct ethnicity, having sharper features, paler skins, lighter hairs and more unusual eye colors than most of the Kingdom's inhabitants. These features are usually classified as settlers' marks.
Government
The hamlet's administration is largely left to its de facto chief, normally chosen by virtue of old age, who oversees the Whispering Council. This individual is responsible for collecting the inhabitants' tax money, giving it to Duchy officials once they come for it. Other responsibilities include organizing town meetings, performing yearly censuses, holding religious rites and other miscellaneous tasks. The few who remain in Calmgrove after everything that's happened to it tend to abide by these customs with something akin to zeal.
Defences
A single row of palisades defends the town from would-be intruders, though these are mostly decorative. Calmgrove's inhabitants know the hamlet's reputation is more than enough to drive people away. Should someone disregard these and enter the hamlet with malicious intent in their hearts, they will be met by the Silent Specters, Calmgrove's ghostly defendants and the remains of those who were slain in the Massacre while defending their hometown.
Industry & Trade
Most of Calmgrove's inhabitants are fishers living off the Whispering Waters' available animal life, usually maintaining a farm as a secondary profession to generate slightly more income, where livestock produce and fireherbs are the most commonly sold commodities.
The town has a single smithy, which has always worked for the town and not for exporting purposes.
The town has a single smithy, which has always worked for the town and not for exporting purposes.
Infrastructure
A small, paved road was built prior to the Massacre, which can still be found today. Near the hamlet's entrance, a monument to the victims of Elmeyon's Rebellion was erected not long after the fighting was over.
Fisherman's Overlook, one of the two taverns in the hamlet, was established as a way to pay for drink without needing coin. Rather, one can pay with the fish that one catches, which would then be sold off to a merchant or someone else.
Fisherman's Overlook, one of the two taverns in the hamlet, was established as a way to pay for drink without needing coin. Rather, one can pay with the fish that one catches, which would then be sold off to a merchant or someone else.
Assets
Calmgrove's most valuable objects are stored within the local temple to the god Celestian, with these being ceremonial jewels, gems, trinkets and other items needed to perform the rites of the Nightsky Wanderer.
The hamlet's greatest value lies in the history of the place, not the object that can be found therein, as evidenced by the First Bastion around Settler's Point, where one of the first waves of settlers descended from the frigid wastes of the northern waters and landed in Ar'Nuhûn.
The hamlet's greatest value lies in the history of the place, not the object that can be found therein, as evidenced by the First Bastion around Settler's Point, where one of the first waves of settlers descended from the frigid wastes of the northern waters and landed in Ar'Nuhûn.
Guilds and Factions
The hamlet is mostly influenced by its Whispering Council and its chief, who oversee the settlement's overall expenses and maintain cordial relationships with nearby towns, villages and cities. The Council's name is derived from the small island where the meetings take place, one found a few minutes into the Lake of Whispering Waters. Several times a year, or under extraordinary circumstances, the town is summoned by the island to partake in a meeting where current events are discussed and what measures are to be adopted because of them.
History
Calmgrove is widely considered to be the Kingdom's most ancient settlement, being founded around 1500 years ago by the people who descended from the frigid north. Around their First Bastion, built atop the point where they first settled, grew a small town that would eventually adopt the hamlet's current name. Over the years, this town would grow in size and in population, attracting the attention of others inhabiting the land who were interested in living alongside them and the unwanted attention of dangerous beasts and monsters that had inhabited the land for far longer. Through guile and sheer willpower, such creatures were consistently driven away, yet not before the townspeople grew wary of these ancient terrors.
Throughout the years that followed, Calmgrove became a center for all northern culture within what would later be known as the Kingdom of Crendameth, presenting important advancements in art, technology and politics. It was when Arah the Grand decided that the people living within Calmgrove could easily negotiate more breathing room with the neighboring settlements to form a great khet (a word that roughly translates to union or confederacy) that the Arakhet was founded, spanning the territories its modern day counterpart occupies today.
The Arakhet thrived during its early years, establishing cordial relationships with other such associations found in the continent. However, because of the growing unrest found southwards and the frequent raids and conquests done by said groups of individuals, the Arakhet would find itself divided into those who wanted little to do with the conflict and those who would fight back. Eventually, this led to internal conflicts that resulted in the secession of many towns from the Arakhet, reducing it to no more that ten villages spread throughout what was once a larger whole.
The inhabitants of Calmgrove did play a large role in the Founding Pact, the signed document which gave birth to the Kingdom of Crendameth, with the remaining members of the Arakhet serving as mediators and interpreters for all the participating parties. Not long after its founding, the Kingdom would find itself at the mercy of the Sunseeker Empire and the Empty Lord, with the Arakhet being next to powerless to stop the invaders from taking the recently unified lands and submitting themselves before losing any lives. The Arakhet was then officially disbanded, leaving Calmgrove as the Empire's northern foothold.
Centuries later, word of Elmeyon Crendameth's rebellion reached the town. Because of their role in his Kingdom's foundation, they played an important part in attempting to overthrow the Empire's hold in the country's northern reaches. Little did they know that it would be this event that would lead them to the Massacre caused by Vonlir vil Vexinor, where soldier and innocent alike fell to a blade covered in ruby red flames and the settlement would be burned within an inch from being completely razed.
In the 30 years that have followed, Calmgrove has been able to rebuild from the ground up, albeit being a far cry from what it once was and with far less inhabitants. The echoes of the blows exchanged by the now Duke and the scores of people that died by his hand are still heard today.
Throughout the years that followed, Calmgrove became a center for all northern culture within what would later be known as the Kingdom of Crendameth, presenting important advancements in art, technology and politics. It was when Arah the Grand decided that the people living within Calmgrove could easily negotiate more breathing room with the neighboring settlements to form a great khet (a word that roughly translates to union or confederacy) that the Arakhet was founded, spanning the territories its modern day counterpart occupies today.
The Arakhet thrived during its early years, establishing cordial relationships with other such associations found in the continent. However, because of the growing unrest found southwards and the frequent raids and conquests done by said groups of individuals, the Arakhet would find itself divided into those who wanted little to do with the conflict and those who would fight back. Eventually, this led to internal conflicts that resulted in the secession of many towns from the Arakhet, reducing it to no more that ten villages spread throughout what was once a larger whole.
The inhabitants of Calmgrove did play a large role in the Founding Pact, the signed document which gave birth to the Kingdom of Crendameth, with the remaining members of the Arakhet serving as mediators and interpreters for all the participating parties. Not long after its founding, the Kingdom would find itself at the mercy of the Sunseeker Empire and the Empty Lord, with the Arakhet being next to powerless to stop the invaders from taking the recently unified lands and submitting themselves before losing any lives. The Arakhet was then officially disbanded, leaving Calmgrove as the Empire's northern foothold.
Centuries later, word of Elmeyon Crendameth's rebellion reached the town. Because of their role in his Kingdom's foundation, they played an important part in attempting to overthrow the Empire's hold in the country's northern reaches. Little did they know that it would be this event that would lead them to the Massacre caused by Vonlir vil Vexinor, where soldier and innocent alike fell to a blade covered in ruby red flames and the settlement would be burned within an inch from being completely razed.
In the 30 years that have followed, Calmgrove has been able to rebuild from the ground up, albeit being a far cry from what it once was and with far less inhabitants. The echoes of the blows exchanged by the now Duke and the scores of people that died by his hand are still heard today.
Tourism
Few people venture towards Calmgrove willingly, with the settlement serving as a resting point rather than a destination. The scarce who do find some interest in history, be it ancient or recent, find great interest in exploring the First Bastion and in visiting the Shrine of the Fallen.
Travelers and visitors alike find respite in the town's inn, simply called The Whispering Willow. If they belong to a religious organization, follow the teachings of Celestian or simply do not have the funds to pay for a night at the Willow, the temple usually has spare beds for those who need them.
Travelers and visitors alike find respite in the town's inn, simply called The Whispering Willow. If they belong to a religious organization, follow the teachings of Celestian or simply do not have the funds to pay for a night at the Willow, the temple usually has spare beds for those who need them.
Architecture
The hamlet's architecture is simple and practical, with most of its buildings being made out of the wood and stone that is readily available to its inhabitants. Houses are kept unadorned as a sign of respect to the place's history and as a way of showing the people's connection to the first settlers.
Geography
Calmgrove is found on a flat, arable terrain in the middle of a sparsely populated grove located between the Titan's Spine and the shores of the Lake of Whispering Waters, having access to a supply of fresh water because of the latter.
The views available from the village, which overlooks the other side of the Lake, are often described as one of the reasons as to why people stay in Calmgrove, adhering a sense of peace to the majesty of the snow-topped mountains that overlook the hamlet.
The views available from the village, which overlooks the other side of the Lake, are often described as one of the reasons as to why people stay in Calmgrove, adhering a sense of peace to the majesty of the snow-topped mountains that overlook the hamlet.
Natural Resources
The people of Calmgrove have access to fresh water from the Lake of Whispering Waters, the same place from where they obtain their greatest food source and bargaining tool.
The grove of trees that surrounds the hamlet and gives it its name provides wood for whatever needs the settlement's inhabitants may have, while the Titan's Spine supplies them with sturdier materials should they need them.
The mountain also provides the settlement with an assortment of animals that have proven to be domesticable, with these being the highrise goat, the mountain sheep and the giant yak.
The grove of trees that surrounds the hamlet and gives it its name provides wood for whatever needs the settlement's inhabitants may have, while the Titan's Spine supplies them with sturdier materials should they need them.
The mountain also provides the settlement with an assortment of animals that have proven to be domesticable, with these being the highrise goat, the mountain sheep and the giant yak.
Founding Date
First founded around 1500 years ago. It was rebuilt again 30 years ago, after the Massacre of Calmgrove.
Alternative Name(s)
- Settler's Point
- Massacre Garden
Type
Hamlet
Population
Less than 200 people
Inhabitant Demonym
Grovewalker
Owning Organization
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