Springbrook

Springbrook is a small town at the western edge of the Elvara Forest.
Before its occupation and sub-summation into the Malvarron Empire, Springbrook was an independent and autonomous jurisdiction, led by an elected mayor and small council.
The town prospered from its rich orchards, its people’s mastery of hunting, and the plethora of resources found in the surrounding Elvara Forrest.
However, since the revolution the town has suffered greatly under the new regime, with a rise in poverty, declining working conditions and frequent attacks from creatures disturbed by persistent felling and logging in the area.
The town is now heavily guarded by The Vanguard who rule the town with an iron fist, preventing the use of unlicensed magic under Emperor's Decree IX & X: The Regulation of Magical Practice.

Geography

Springbrook is situated 30 miles due west from the City of Malvarron. Perhaps the easiest route to it however, is to approach from the town from Littleton.
Walking due south from Littleton and following the track along the banks of the river Derwynn for approximately 16 miles, eventually you will come to a small stone bridge adjacent to a water mill. To the west, vast orchards stretch as far as the eye can see with a large homestead, imaginatively named ’Orchard Manor’, visible at the top of a small hill to the north-west.
Crossing over the bridge, the first thing you will notice is the town’s antiquated clock tower, which sits at the forefront of Market Square. Next to the clock tower is a newly built guards' tower and officers’ club adjacent to one of three local taverns: ‘the white Boar.’
Rows of shops, houses and huts branch out to the North East and the South East.
With an increase in hostile activity from the forest and a spate of bandit related attacks ransacking trading caravans travelling along the road from the capital, an Emperor endorsed fortress has been built half-a-mile north of the town.
The town and its surrounding homesteads are currently home to around 4400 souls excluding temporarily based military forces.

Origins and development

Originally, the founders of the town of Springbrook were a group of elven and elvish exiles who had been cast out of their respective ancestral tribes. The exiles joined together to form their own nomadic clan of people living off the resources of the forest. The nomads wondered the area until a time when their travelling tribe became so big that it was impossible to keep all of their people safe without a permanent base settlement.
Consequently, under the leadership of Carriad Springbrook, a talented elvish Ranger, they settled on the banks of the River Derwynn around the year 9 AE. They built rudimentary homesteads and elected a small council to assist Carriad in the day to day running of the camp, whilst Carriad herself become the first official Mayor of Springbrook.
The small camp became a village which in turn became a town. But one aspect never changed. Springbrook was a home to anybody in need of one, whether they be elven or human, halfling or dwarven- even orcish! Springbrook became a haven for the lost souls, the rejected and the outcasts. A haven that existed peacefully, for over a thousand years, with very little outside influence.
Tucked away from the strict traditions of the world, Springbrook was free to carve its own path. The town gave social and political freedom to all its citizens by default. Citizens were free to worship whichever gods they wished, though the majority of its citizens were servants of the Twelve. Particularly revered in Springbrook were the Guardian of the Forest, Elvara and the Guardian of nature and wilderness, Silvana.
The town prided itself on its liberty. For those who took advantage of that liberty, or infringed the freedom of others, there was banishment. That banishment could either temporary or permanent depending on the type of crime or offence committed. Those suspected of more serious crimes such as rape and murder, for example, would be bound with twine and thrown into the river Derwyn to be judged by the River Guardian, Brigantis. If the suspect drowned they were considered guilty, if they survived they would be acquitted. All but one citizen, subjected to this punishment over Springbrook’s autonomous history, died from drowning.
As the town prospered, trade routes between D’aethron, Littleton and Whittlebay became more established, with the river Derwyn providing a significant solution to any barriers to trade. Springbrook’s orchard fruits, game meat and treated leather from the forest were popular bartering items.
Following the fall of the City of D’aethron during the Second Great Elvaran War 1382, Springbrook became home to many refugees. The mass exodus of Magi from D’aethron during its destruction prompted Emperor Augustas’ forces to give chase to the north-east town of Springbrook to seek out mages unwilling to surrender to the new regime.
The battle of Springbrook in the month of Arawyn 1382 AE, lasted only 37 hours before Mayor Brightman surrendered. 207 citizens of Springbrook are thought to have lost their lives in the bloody battle.
The small town which had existed as a haven became the latest addition to an empire set to reap its destruction on the island of Elvara. Liberty was replaced by dictatorship, separatism with expansionism and peace with white-knuckle violence.

Post-Occupation

Following the occupation of Springbrook, the town has become largely impoverished. The Derwynn Orchards, though remaining the main industry in the town, have been taken over by Lord Willets, a retired army general and Malvarri loyalist who now resides in the ex-mayoral house, Derwyn Manor. Wilts and his overseer Captain Maudlin ensures the profits of the industry are exploited on behalf of the crown. As a result, the workers of Springbrook now suffer from low wages and poor working conditions.
The town has slowly fallen on hard times with unemployment and homelessness on the rise. Trade routes from the capital are frequently plundered by bandits and constant felling and logging in the area on behalf of the empire is disturbing aggressive creatures who call the old forest home.
The town has become the 2nd largest army base outside the capital, with law and order in the town is overseen by Major Ridgley and his troupe of Black Cloaks.

Notable locations

If you are visiting Springbrook, there are several places of interest worth noting:

• The White Boar Inn: The Town’s original Inn, cider and ale brewed on site. Perfect for a no frills stay and honest homecooked food. Very popular with workers and occasionally subject to a shakedown by the Crimson Blades

• The Dancing Hippogriff: The Town’s ‘fancier’ inn. The Hippogriff is very popular due to its frequent entertainment nights with a variety of performers gracing its stage nicknamed ‘Bard’s Corner’. A slightly more expensive stay, often full of trendier citizens about town but plush and comfortable all the same

• The Victor’s Arms: A fairly new inn largely frequented by officers and Crimsons (best avoided unless you have a good reputation amongst the local guards)

• The Market Square: Many stalls are situated at the centre of the Market square behind the Old Clock Tower, mostly selling day-to-day items and trade goods. For something more specialist there is a Alita’s Clothier for garments and quality tailoring, Ugrun’s Smithy for Armor and Weaponry and ‘Rosella’s Bakery’ for the best Honey and Ginger Fudgecake on the continent

Type

Town

Included Locations

• The White Boar Inn