Wessonton
Wessonton is a small community far to the north of the Kingdom of Alsona and the Shin Empire. In, until recently, unclaimed lands, the community was a refuge for its inhabitants, far away from those who would wish to do them harm or people they could hurt. Consisting entirely of werewolves, Wessonton has been a safe place for anyone afflicted with that curse. The population has grown slowly, and they tend to either maul or drive off anyone who could pose a threat. Although some neighboring states are aware of the situation, it seems unlikely that any force would be willing to launch an expedition so deep into the plains.
Demographics
The town of Wessonton consists entirely of humanoids afflicted with the curse of lycanthropy, with only a handful of exceptions in the community. Some are people who received it during battle, others accepted the curse willingly to be with their loved ones without risk. Most of these people are humans from the Sypi Confederacy, but others have migrated to the region over the years, and many races and ethnicities are represented.
Government
The town has very little organized government, and for most major decisions, the community meets together and comes to an accord. Everyone living in the village is allowed a vote on any matters of importance, but when it comes to personal debates and issues, most go to the founder of the town, Dan Wesson. As the original "pack leader," he is viewed as the final authority on most disputes and problems involving only a few members of the town.
Defences
The town has no wall or any natural defenses, besides the citizens themselves. On the rare occasion that bandits or centaur seek out Wessonton for trouble, they are likely to face the entire village worth of angry lycanthropes. Those who have attempted such an effort in the past have not lived to tell the story. A handful of concealed lookout towers and hunters' perches help keep the town informed of the approach of any appearing parties, allowing them to conceal the children and prepare themselves should the interlopers prove to be enemies.
Industry & Trade
There is little in the way of trade or industry in Wessonton, as the people work mostly to simply sustain themselves. On the rare occasion a trader makes it to the village dock, they typically offer jewelry made by a local artisan in exchange for whatever wares they require from the trader. Similar trading is done with a local gnome enclave who occasionally provide minerals and gems in exchange for crafted items or weapons retrieved from would-be raiders. Occasionally the gnomes leave gifts, and they seem to be aware of the affliction that besets the town's population.
Infrastructure
There is little in the way of infrastructure in Wessonton. The roads are mostly dirt, although a handful of wooden sidewalks have been built. These roads go out to the farms that surround the village, providing some communication with the outlying homesteaders. These are typically kept clear by communal effort in the winter. A dock has also been built by the town on the nearby High River, as traders occasionally make their ways down the river from strange and distant lands, offering a handful of goods not present in the area.
Assets
Wessonton has few assets of any interest to travelers or adventurers. There is no local inn or tavern, as most choose to drink or eat with friends, and the people do not like to encourage guests. Dan Wesson is a blacksmith who helps out his fellow workers, while his brother runs a general goods store for any wanderer and provides traded goods to the people around town. Another resident also offers some fine jewelry for sale for the occasional trader down the High River, using gems and minerals traded with a local hidden gnome enclave.
History
The town of Wessonton was established in 1022, when a party of adventurers led a number of lycanthropy afflicted souls from the Sypi Confederacy to the far north. Evading the patrols of both the tribes during the height of their civil war, and a similar conflict in the Kingdom of Alsona, they managed to fight their way beyond Alsonan borders. They then continued to wage a constant battle against tribes of centaur until they found a refuge in the distant north in a land a friendly centaur chieftain said was unclaimed. They built new homes and for the most part settled down into a life of routine. For the first few years, some continued to travel south, but when the war in Alsona ended, the travel stopped, for fear of an Alsonan expedition against the new community. After that point, new people began trickling in, having heard word of the refuge, and setting up their own homes free of persecution.
Natural Resources
The area around Wessonton has proven to be useful farming land, with a local stream that feeds into the High River. Irrigation has proven simple and easy and the farmers of the town have been able to produce more than enough food for themselves and their neighbors. The locals believe that there could be a valuable mining site somewhere nearby, due to the gifts and trades with local gnomes, but there's no real certainty of that fact.
Founding Date
1022 AF
Type
Village
Population
200
Inhabitant Demonym
Wessonites
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Characters in Location
Comments