Three Stones

Typical of small settlements in the western reaches of Older Sister, Three Stones is primarily a farming community growing potatoes and seasonal grains. A jarl oversees the village, providing leadership for the hundred families scattered around the area and loosely concentrated in the township, though this isn't a hereditary position. Capable warriors who prove themselves in raids on other settlements vie for this authority, though the raids are infrequent and political savvy is still important.
The soil is poor, but the draenach (local specialists in divination and lore) help guide the farmers. Pigs and sheep are the most common livestock here, as cows require too much care and upkeep to be worthwhile in the eyes of most families. Trade is common enough, but in times of hardship, some men and women take up arms and paint themselves in the colors of war and descend upon other settlements to take desperately needed food and other goods. These raids are seen as necessary and not to be undertaken frivolously; common stories in Three Stones tell of a jarl in ages past who tried organizing a raid for no other reason than filling his hall with baubles, and the assembled warriors instead tore him and his personal guard into pieces.

Demographics

All human. Some families come from the south, having moved with trade caravans and taken root, though the majority descend from families that have lived on Older Sister for generations.

Government

A jarl makes important decisions, though an informal council of elders informs him or her and sits in judgment when necessary. The town has little in the way of a strong hierarchy, and the laws here favor families defending their own honor and seeking retribution when necessary. Long simmering feuds are becoming a bit of a problem here, but no jarl has decided to step in on these matters yet.

Defences

A low stone wall surrounds the town, built with stones dug up in farmer's fields. A palisade tops this, though the wood is rotting in places and maintenance has slackened somewhat.

Industry & Trade

Three Stones endeavors to be a self-sufficient community, trading leather and wool for other goods as needed. There is little to exploit in the area other than the soil itself.

Infrastructure

Other than a handful of well-maintained roads and wells, the town has almost no infrastructure. Houses are generally low buildings built from wood and thatch, and sanitation is unfortunately at a minimum, other than what individual residents are prepared to do.

Assets

A few dozen pigs and sheep comprise the bulk of the town's assets. Steel is common enough, but the majority of residents content themselves with long knives called seaxes, with steel armor and full swords in the hands of well-to-do warriors only. Silver is the most common currency here, and the town has precious little of it compared to the cities on the continent.

Architecture

Buildings are typically built with logs and thatch, with dirt packed into the cracks to insulate. Even the jarl's magnificent hall is so constructed. The only exception is a set of three stone archways, built before the ancestors of the town's current inhabitants settled here. Most people (including the draenach) are convinced that these are grave markers, and the three figures have become a central component of the local religion.

Population

Roughly five hundred souls call Three Stones home, though only a hundred or so live in the town proper.

Inhabitant Demonym

Northerners