New Cresthill
New Cresthill is a timber-walled hamlet perched upon a small, desolate hill. It finds itself isolated in the oppressive embrace of the foreboding Blackwood Forest. A dwindling community of sixty villagers, predominantly human, clings to existence in this stark, unforgiving area of the Realm.
The specter of relentless undead threat casts a pall over New Cresthill's tight-knit community, binding them in an unending cycle of grim survival. They look to an elected elderman, a middle-aged human retired ranger, to provide guidance and hope amidst the shadows.
Within the somber confines of this hamlet, little solace can be found even in the natural world. Misty, rainy days blur the line between reality and despair, mirroring the creeping dread of the nearby Blackwood Forest. In New Cresthill, the grim specter of the past lingers, an ever-present reminder of the price paid for survival in this unforgiving realm.
Industry & Trade
In this harsh, unforgiving landscape, the villagers eke out a meager existence, relying solely on the relentless toil of logging to sustain themselves and their trade with Witherhelm Keep is their only tenuous lifeline.
History
The hamlet's origins harken back to the ruins of Old Cresthill, a settlement ravaged during the Great War four decades ago, abandoned by it's Exarch, its remnants still haunting the landscape. New Cresthill arose from the ashes twenty years past, a grim testament to perseverance born of necessity.
Points of interest
Gathering information can lead to rumors and rumors can lead to clues
| Gather Information DC: | Rumor |
|---|---|
| 6 | There is a bandit hide-out that preys on travellers in the Blackwood, ask Theron the Watcher |
| 8 | There are cultists of an evil old god conducting unholy rituals in the Blackwood, ask Lorna the Lame |
| 10 | There is a witch that can read your fortune using dark magic in the Blackwood, ask Elsbeth the Healer |
| 12 | There are several druid groves that are off limits to civilized creatures in the Blackwood, ask Alden the Lumberjack |
| 14 | There are a great deal of spiders that have moved into and began infesting part of the Blackwood, ask Marris the Trapper |
| 16 | The Scrivener Judge came to town and disappeared into the Blackwood. Afterwards the Hound Master Judge came to town asking about her colleague and she too disappeared into the Blackwood. Ask Garin the Ealderman |
| 18 | There might be embezzlement or theft of funds happening in New Cresthill, ask Jonas the Blacksmith |
| 20 | There might be a murderer in New Cresthill, ask Edderick the Innkeep |
| 22 | Lorna the Lame has inconsistencies in her recollection of what happened to her, ask Silas the Trader |
| 24 | There is a long fogotten magical forge deep in the Blackwood, ask Soren the Woodcutter |
Tourism
New Cresthill is a somewhat popular destination for adventurers who seek old ruins and forgotten crypts in the ebbing tide of the nearby Balemist. The main attraction for them is often The Hunting Witch; a inn/tavern that is built into a ruined manor. It is said that The Hunting Witch is haunted by the errant soul of an arch-wizard, the long dead Exarch that founded Cresthill. While not truly haunted, the inn thrives on the eerie ambiance of its haunted facade. The tavern's vanara proprietor employs tricks to maintain the illusion of the spectral company of Old Cresthill's founder, a macabre amusement in an otherwise bleak existence.
Architecture
Constructed from meager resources, New Cresthill stands as a testament to endurance and hardship. Its architecture, a patchwork of timeworn wood and stone, echoes with the bitter winds that sweep through its narrow streets.
Natural Resources
Type
Hamlet
Population
60 (mostly Humans)
Owner/Ruler
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