Fowler
The village of Fowler sits along a descending ridge that connects the lower slopes of the valley with the thick forests of the south. The buildings are stretched out but at the lower end, there is a green with the temple of Liandra on one side and the inn on the other. A wooden bridge crosses a fast flowing river that floods with the spring snow melt but the houses are built out of the waters reach.
The Founding
When Elise and Dren carried Avani's baby into the marsh they had no idea where they were going, only that they needed to escape. Along with the survivors from the temple in Bend, they fell in with the mercenaries of The Red Fang and followed them to the south. It was a long walk through the reeds and deep bogs but eventually, they reached the Intraana mountains. It was there, by Liandra's grace and Dromae's blessing, that they met Master Smoo and his brothers.“As Dromae says,” Smoo said in a tone that brought a groan from Tam. “If you meet a thirsty traveller, you give them a drink, if they are hungry, you feed them and if they need a roof, you give them yours. For one day you will be a traveller on a road far from home and at the mercy of strangers.” “We’re all travellers today,” Elise noted with a smile. Cosi stirred and let out a little cry.
“Yes, we are,” Smoo agreed. “But we’re in the mountains and that’s our home. See those peaks.”
Smoo pointed to the south at the range of snow-capped mountains looming over them. Elise and the others had been aiming for them the past few days, marvelling at their size and almost losing hope that they would ever reach them.
“Those peaks are our roof, and you are more than welcome to share them with us.” Smoo puffed his barrel chest out and ran a hand over the small metal disks, making a clinking sound as he did so. Cosi made an appreciative sound and Smoo smiled happily. “The boy likes the sound of metal. That’s a good omen.”
“I grew up out there by the water,” Elise said nodding to the expanse of the marsh. “But I always wanted to see the mountains, ever since I was a little girl.”
“Oh, it’s a wondrous place,” Famor said beaming with pride. “With forests full of eagles and bears and rivers thick with fish. It’s a hard place but if you walked through the marsh you can survive up there.”
“I think I would like to live in such a place,” Elise said as Dren squeezed her hand in agreement. Neff, the priestess, nodded vigorously, along with those beside her. “Boden, what do you think, should we follow these kind dwarves to their home?”
“I think it’s a wonderful idea,” Boden said.
“Then it’s settled. Master dwarf, we will gratefully accept your kind offer,” Elise said and Smoo clapped his hands startling the horse into walking again.
The Red Fang, ch.41
Infrastructure
When the survivors of the marsh followed the Ironbeard brothers into the mountains, they did so knowing they were entering a wilderness. Only a few logging camps marked the way, but everything beyond was untouched by human hand. Fowler, before it took the name, was a stop on the way to the Brother's mine further into the valley.
A life of service to the temple in Bend had left the small band of humans with a strong work ethic, and they soon had the first of the wooden cabins erected. More soon joined the others, along with a lumber mill and a storehouse. Next came the inn and assorted buildings such as a stable for the hardy ponies favoured by the Dwarves.
In need of a new profession, Boden took to carpentry and constructed a workshop by the banks of the fast-flowing stream behind his home.
A temple dedicated to Liandra once stood to the north of the green, but with the pogrom against her worshippers it was abandoned, and later burned by drunk soldiers from Gan River Fort.
RUINED SETTLEMENT
478
Founding Date
458
Type
Village
Population
30'ish
Location under
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