Hald, the Ghost Village
The Haunted Hills lay south of Soojun town. They have copper and were mined but something was always off. Some hills have rough rings of stones, weathered and worn to rounded lumps, surrounded by small chips and gravel, they hint at once having been tall pillars. The stories say that up on those hills, when the stars are right, whispering and sighing voices can be heard speaking no known language. Locals know to stay away and why these are called the Haunted Hills.
Still, the mining and rich copper ore drew those seeking wealth. Most only stayed a season or two but the village of Hald stayed and grew between the hills. The people were of Eseret and Moon People with a few The Fae. The Fae most of all avoided the hilltops, except the Unsealie who went there seeking power and frequently vanished in the night. The village prospered in copper and traded for it's other needs. The unsettling voices in the night made the village a bit isolated and scared away newcomers. The long icy and snowy winter nights made underground dwelling easier. It was also safer from the warring nobles of surrounding territories. The long times underground in the mines and homes, the smelters and fires moved into abandoned mines, the smoke and haze over the dell made the residents pale - that and the mixed blood of the Stone Moon People, Esereti and increasingly Darker Fae, Goblin and Dark elf. The residents of Hald became a breed apart, pale and averse to the bright sunlight. And then the copper ran down, less and less each year. Times became harder and trade dwindled. The Unseelie said the voices would bring back the wealth and on those dark nights the people would climb the hills to pray to the voices and make offerings. And something came.
The tales in Soojun say the Hald residents sacrificed those that wouldn't climb the hills. Some started to come to Soojun with strange gold and silver coins, taking back wagon loads of supplies and animals. One night a small group in rags arrived in town, the village was said to be given over to demon worship and sacrificing unannointed and the animals bought in Soojun. These were the last who refused the Thing from the Hill. The Lord of the Citadel was long gone and the Merchant council wouldn't help. But a group of towns people set out to find out what was going on.
They arrived at the village and found five families gathered and celebrating. They had meat on spits, and barrels of wine and wore jewelry of gold, and gowns that coiled and twisted around them on their own. The young ones had mishapen heads, flattened and elongated, with sharp teeth and long spidery fingers. They welcomed the Town's people and offered them food and drink. But the wine tasted of blood and one curious townsman found the chewed bones and butchered bodies of other people. There was a battle then between the groups. In the old smelter one old hag sat on a throne of bones and called down the Thing from the Hill. A bellowing shriek gave answer and booming thundering steps were heard on the hill. The Soojun people killed the Hald villagers where they could and set everything on fire in the storeroom caves, sleeping tunnels and mines. They fled, lighting every building and the grass behind them. They say the ghosts of the Hald villagers still roam the ruins and caves hungering for blood and vengance and the Thing waits in the Haunted Hills for new worshippers to summon it.
Still, the mining and rich copper ore drew those seeking wealth. Most only stayed a season or two but the village of Hald stayed and grew between the hills. The people were of Eseret and Moon People with a few The Fae. The Fae most of all avoided the hilltops, except the Unsealie who went there seeking power and frequently vanished in the night. The village prospered in copper and traded for it's other needs. The unsettling voices in the night made the village a bit isolated and scared away newcomers. The long icy and snowy winter nights made underground dwelling easier. It was also safer from the warring nobles of surrounding territories. The long times underground in the mines and homes, the smelters and fires moved into abandoned mines, the smoke and haze over the dell made the residents pale - that and the mixed blood of the Stone Moon People, Esereti and increasingly Darker Fae, Goblin and Dark elf. The residents of Hald became a breed apart, pale and averse to the bright sunlight. And then the copper ran down, less and less each year. Times became harder and trade dwindled. The Unseelie said the voices would bring back the wealth and on those dark nights the people would climb the hills to pray to the voices and make offerings. And something came.
The tales in Soojun say the Hald residents sacrificed those that wouldn't climb the hills. Some started to come to Soojun with strange gold and silver coins, taking back wagon loads of supplies and animals. One night a small group in rags arrived in town, the village was said to be given over to demon worship and sacrificing unannointed and the animals bought in Soojun. These were the last who refused the Thing from the Hill. The Lord of the Citadel was long gone and the Merchant council wouldn't help. But a group of towns people set out to find out what was going on.
They arrived at the village and found five families gathered and celebrating. They had meat on spits, and barrels of wine and wore jewelry of gold, and gowns that coiled and twisted around them on their own. The young ones had mishapen heads, flattened and elongated, with sharp teeth and long spidery fingers. They welcomed the Town's people and offered them food and drink. But the wine tasted of blood and one curious townsman found the chewed bones and butchered bodies of other people. There was a battle then between the groups. In the old smelter one old hag sat on a throne of bones and called down the Thing from the Hill. A bellowing shriek gave answer and booming thundering steps were heard on the hill. The Soojun people killed the Hald villagers where they could and set everything on fire in the storeroom caves, sleeping tunnels and mines. They fled, lighting every building and the grass behind them. They say the ghosts of the Hald villagers still roam the ruins and caves hungering for blood and vengance and the Thing waits in the Haunted Hills for new worshippers to summon it.
Demographics
The village was never large, maybe 20 families and a few dozen single folks. They say that it was five families of 5-8 people in the end.
RUINED SETTLEMENT
1331
Founding Date
Approximately 1134 Imperial Reckoning the cluster of miners became a village
Alternative Name(s)
The Ghost Village
Inhabitant Demonym
The Cursed
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