Emberwood Village

Safe haven outside the city

A few miles south of Drakkenheim lies Emberwood Village, a humble crossroads along Champion's Gate surrounded by forsaken farmsteads and dark pine forests. Many residences are abandoned and slowly deteriorating with their windows and doors nailed shut. However, the village center is alive with activity. Conversation, laughter, and music resound from several taverns along the main thoroughfare. Amidst a bustling market square, a small crowd of adventurers, merchants, and prospectors busily traffic all manner of weapons, equipment, coins, recovered treasures, and a few strange glimmering crystals. Even the light of the Sacred Flame still glows within the modest stone chapel at the heart of town.

Background

Two decades ago, Emberwood Village was little more than a farmers market, blacksmith, pub, a small chapel, and a few dozen cottages. The local businesses served the farmlands and logging camps surrounding the capital, and the town was an occasional rest stop for merchants to stop off on their way to Drakkenheim. As the town lies some five miles south of the capital city, it was not directly damaged by the meteor shower, though the impact shattered the windows of every building, caused some weaker structures to collapse, and left some in the village blinded or deafened. Unfortunately, the aftermath was all the more terrible. Over the past fifteen years, the Contamination in Drakkenheim has affected the countryside for miles around. The once fertile fields and dense woods are now barren and dying. Gradually, most folk gave up, departing for safer and more prosperous places. A few people remained behind, determined to hold onto their family homes and salvage their livelihoods. After the Von Kessel Civil War, adventurers began showing up in the town. Explorers heading towards the dark city needed a safe place to tend their wounds and rest, and so Emberwood Village gradually became a sort of boom town on a new frontier for adventure.

Interactions

Emberwood Village is home to only about two hundred permanent residents, almost all are commoners who endured years of hardship after Drakkenheim was destroyed. However, the recent flow of coin from explorers scouring the ruins allows many to live modest or comfortable lifestyles. The common folk tends to keep their dealings with adventurers friendly but professional. They give rough-looking warriors a wide berth but enjoy hearing news, gossip, and stories about daring exploits in the ruins. As long as interactions stay peaceful, the villagers will deal with anyone regardless of their faction allegiances. The villagers live in strange times and are used to seeing odd-looking folk and weird magic. They can recognize Delerium, severe Contamination, and mutations, and encourage such individuals to seek magical aid.

Selling Treasure & Delerium

Most merchants in Emberwood Village will trade or purchase found treasure, salvaged equipment, gems, or art objects at half their listed value. Only a few intrepid and wealthy purveyors can afford to trade in Delerium. These include Aldor, Orson Fairweather, and Riverof the Amethyst Academy Typically, most Delerium is bought and sold for about half its regular value. However, some traders may offer more preferable rates for proven associates. Due to their rarity, crystals and geodes typically command their full market value.

Law and Order

Although the The Hooded Lanterns claim otherwise, there is no established law and order in Emberwood Village. Most businesses provide their own protection and security, and the villagers look out for each other. Word travels fast, though. Services, supplies, or shelter aren’t available to adventurers with a violent and antagonistic reputation — for any price. Belligerent curs who disturb the peace are beaten. Those who commit robbery, fraud, and property damage are driven out of town and never welcomed back. Murderers and arsonists are executed. Crimes of any sort involving magic are punished by hanging. On the flip side, there’s little the villagers can do when perpetrators aren’t caught red-handed. There’s no authority willing to investigate crimes or search for missing people, so the villagers must petition adventurers or the Factions for help. There are no trials; the mob becomes judge and jury. In this respect, people who make themselves villains may be targeted by the Hooded Lanterns, the Knights Of The Silver Order, or even the Queen of Thieves should they directly threaten the immediate safety of Emberwood Village. Alternatively, a an adventuring party might even take up the bounty or intervene in a crisis.

Adventuring Equipment

Most weapons, armour, and adventuring equipment are available in Emberwood Village. Emberwood Village relies entirely on trade for goods and supplies, since all other settlements for miles around are now abandoned and local food production has become impossible. As a result, weapons, armour, and adventuring equipment are sold for double the normal price. Food costs five times as much, and water isn’t given freely. Instead, it is priced like alcohol.

Lodgings

Though there are many taverns and public houses in Emberwood Village, the only actual inn is the Red Lion Hotel. However the Bark & Buzzard can make arrangements for characters to bunk in one of the abandoned homes and cottages in town.