Staraya Sloboda

This settlement is one of the oldest in the region, with deep-rooted traditions. It is a hub for local artisans and craftsmen, producing goods such as pottery, textiles, and metalwork.
The village is located 15 - 20 versts north of Bychii Brod, at the confluence of the Valui and Serna rivers. The village has modest fortifications like a wooden palisade and a couple of guard towers, and perhaps a small ditch or earthen rampart. 
Artisans in Staraya Sloboda: Blacksmiths: Skilled in forging tools, weapons, and agricultural implements essential for daily life and defense.
Potters: Crafting clay vessels, containers, and household items for storage, cooking, and trade.
Weavers and Textile Workers: Producing fabrics, clothing, and tapestries using locally sourced materials like wool, linen, and hemp.
Carpenters and Woodworkers: Constructing furniture, barrels, carts, and structures from timber harvested in nearby forests.
Leatherworkers: Tanning and crafting leather goods such as footwear, belts, and pouches for everyday use.
Jewelers and Metalworkers: Creating intricate jewelry, ornaments, and decorative metalwork using precious and semi-precious metals.
Concentrating artisans in a compact village fosters economic synergy and collaboration. Close proximity allows for easier trade, sharing of resources, and collective defense against raids or threats. It also promotes:

• Resource Accessibility: Staraya Sloboda's location near natural resources like clay deposits, forests for timber, and access to trade routes facilitates artisanal production without extensive transport costs.
• Market Access: Being centrally located within Rurik Halfdansson's domain ensures artisans have access to local markets, where their goods can be traded or sold to villagers, travelers, and neighboring settlements.
• Social and Cultural Exchange: Living closely together encourages cultural exchange, skill-sharing, and the preservation of traditional crafts and techniques.

Forms of tribute/taxation:
Craftsmanship Products: Tribute: 15% of goods produced by artisans (pottery, textiles, woodworking, etc.). Value: Estimated at 50 pieces of pottery, 20 rolls of fabric, and 10 pieces of furniture annually.
Labor Services:
Corvée: 15 days of labor per artisan household for upkeep of local workshops and communal artisan spaces. Coinage or Barter:
Tribute: 10 silver coins per artisan household annually, or equivalent value in goods (leather, jewelry, etc.).
Notable residents:
Svetlana Pavlovna: Role: Head of the Smiths in Staraya Sloboda. Description: A master smith who oversees the crafting of metal goods in the village. Known for her skill and artistry, she is a central figure in the local trade and production.
Boiana - priestess and head of the weavers (Vasilii's superior).
Population: 200 - 250 people