Singlebrook Halflings

The broad, rolling Singlebrook Valley is home to the sprawling town of Singlebrook. Settled by Makas Singlebrook over three hundred years ago, it is home to a few hundred Halflings. Farms and homesteads are scattered throughout the valley. Only recently has anyone acknowledged there is a town proper with most believing the traditional mayor’s house is at the center. Its wide porches have sheltered many a furious debate. During harvest season a farmer’s exchange spreads from the mayor’s and down the lane. While Singlebrook is not the direct path of merchants’ route, those in the know consider the detour well worth the time. At the wide foot of the valley wheat that had been growing in the rich soil turns golden in the fall. This wheat is prized for its nutrient content especially when used to make long-lasting foods for travel. The halflings of Singlebrook are loath to venture beyond the valley and never considered such use until a lost merchant stopped in town. Every year they have returned to purchase all the farmers would part with. Sunny morning slopes bear terraces of grapes that are pressed into an especially fruity wine not found anywhere else. It took many years of convincing before the stingy vintner would let any bottles be pried from their fingers. A story is told in the town about the King’s seneschal personally selecting casks for the royal table. A better known, and proven, story is about the large dogs that chase trespassers in the vineyard. Children venturing there in hopes of snatching a sweet snack are more likely to return with their britches needing patches. Miraculously no one has been bitten. A less known delicacy is a sweet seed paste made by the Brownlock family. While they refuse to give up the recipe, claiming it’s a family secret, they have admitted it contains ground sunflower, poppy, hickory, hazel, and other nuts and seeds sweetened with honey. Every year the flavor seems to change, but no one is complaining as almost every picnic basket in the valley has a crock of it.