Halawak

Halawak is a small trading village near the Southern border of Kharsaag. Founded fifty years ago, and situated about thirty miles inland from the seaside, this village has been growing at an increasing rate over the past five years thanks to an increase in trade with neighboring towns, as well as its proximity to the Ravenwood forest, the Drallast Sea, and the Emerald Hills where large deposits of gold and copper have been found recently.
A town of only 75 people three years ago, Halwak has ballooned into a village of nearly 400 people and it continues to grow. The Cult of the Source has increased their presence in town, upgrading their temple from a small two room shack to a larger building more reminiscent of the temples found in larger cities. They have even brought in a small contingent of their troops to provide protection for local workers as the Southlands are wilder and filled with more dangers than the Central and Northern parts of the country.
The Yiggithians have always had a presence in Halawak, and the Cult of Yiggith was the first of the three main cults to move here. Because of this, their influence can be greatly felt. Lately the Followers of the Flame has started increasing thier presence in the town due to the fact that it is quickly becoming a booming hub of trade and opportunity. Mysteriously, the Kratlings do not seem interested in this soon to be booming village.

Demographics

Halawak is mostly made up of laborers including smiths, miners, and lumberjacks. There are also hunters and craftspeople. There is a small community theater that doubles as the Town Hall. The majority of the population lives along the Northern edge of town where the Ravenwood ends, and the grassy Emerald Hills begin. Deep in the Hills, toward the West, are the mines and processing plants for the raw materials. The processors are the product of Yiggithian magic and planning, and are thus maintained by the Cult, though the local government controls them on behalf of the Empire.

Government

The town of Halawak maintains the general government structure of the rest of Kharsaag. There is a town mayor, a deputy mayor, a Sheriff and constabulary, and other public servants. In a town as small as Halwak, some of these positions are held by the same people. The Mayor is appointed by the regional Governor, and then the Mayor appoints the rest of the government bodies, but the people have a chance to vote on whether or not to accept the appointments. This helps reduce nepotism and ensure that the people will be governed at the local level mostly by people of their choosing.

Defences

The Ravenwood protects the Eastern border of town, and the rest is lightly guarded by spiked fences, and the inhabitant's homes which create a protective border around the town. All able bodied members of the population age sixteen and older are also part of the town militia and will defend their town when called upon.

Industry & Trade

Farming Fishing Textiles Blacksmithing Mining Trade Hunting

Infrastructure

Halawak has several deep wells that provide drinking water to the population. They have also carved out a few lakes and reservoirs along the edges of the Ravenwood. When the Yiggithians founded the settlement, they recognized its potential as a trade hub and important local because it was near the sea, the hills, the forest, and only a few days ride from Xelathin lands--a rich and prosperous nation always in need of trading partners. The Yiggithians knew the town would need water for personal use as well as farming.
Additionally, they cut inlets from the ocean, creating inland tidal pools that were good for trapping a wide variety of seafood. These human made pools are about five miles out of town, and are a bountiful source of food for the town as well as shells for crafting and trading.
In the lands where the Emeral Hills begin, the Yiggithian plowed the earth, smoothing it and making it suitable for farming. The soil is arid and loose, though, so crop growing has been difficult. The arrival of the Cult of the Source has begun to change that though, as they know more about farming than the Yiggithians, and have some magic that can manipulate the soil, making it more fertile and appropriate for crop growing.
The Yiggithians and the Followers of the Flame also worked together to clear portions of the Ravenwood forest to expand the usable land around the settlement, but that proved to be a fruitless endeavor. When a tree is removed from the Ravenwood, the ground which held it turns to lifeless dust, a barren dead patch of earth. Parts of the tree can be harvested, but if the roots are removed, the land dies. Both cults have studied this phenomenon, but so far have not been able to discern a reason for such a reaction.
The town is home to a stable that grows larger with every new addition to the town. Several blocks of houses scattered around the borderlines. The location of these houses help make the town easier to protect from any bandits or other threats.
The Storage District is situated on the East end of town, near where Halwak juts up against the Ravenwood. This is where materials from the mines, extra food, and other valuables are stored. Under the town runs a complex series of drainage pipes, courtesy of Yiggithian ingenuity, coupled with the Cult of the Flame's technological expertise.
The streets and many of the outlying areas are lined with spark stones for guiding light at night. The Stockade is a large building in the center of town. This is where local law enforcement operates, and there is the Sheriff, the deputy, and anywhere between 6 and 10 constables on patrol at any given time. Halwak is small and peaeful, but their citizens remain vigilant against potential threats.

Guilds and Factions

All three cults have a presence in town. The Yiggithians, as the founders, have the largest influence. Their Den is located toward the south, near the tide pools. It is a squat circular building on the outside, with two chimneys protruding from its roof. Inside is a large series of rooms and tunnels that extends in all directions under Halawak, in the traditional Yiggithian fashion. The Den has many exits all over town, making it possible for them to spring up from seemingly nowhere.
The Cult of the Flame has razed their old temple and constructed a new one more befitting their increased presence in town. It is located not far from the Stockade, and has a side barracks that can house up to 50 members of the cult's army. The temple itself has enough room to house ten members of the Cult, as well as beds and sleep chambers for those in need of shelter.
The Cult of Kratling has the weakest presence in Halawak, with a single Official member performing duties at the Stockade, as required by Imperial law. The Kratlings recognize the importance of a place like Halawak, but for now they are content to let their Expiriy watch the town as it develops. She has already marked a spot where the House of the Dead can be built. Many people in town have wondered why the Kratlings haven't attempted to establish a larger presence in this up and coming settlement, including the few adherents of Kratling who have come to town, but there has been no answer from the Cult officials as of yet. It is a mystery, which is not surprising when it comes to the Kratlings.

History

The founding of Halwak was more or less an accident. An exploratory group of Yiggithians were seeking land in the South at the behest of Emperor, Gulfsrad who was also a member of the Cult of Yiggith. The deep Southern regions of Kharsaag had remained unexplored for several years, due mostly to fighting with its northern neighbors, and the Recva Canyon, but Gulfsrad wanted his legacy to be that of the first Emperor who was able to send a expedition to discover what lay in the South.
And so he sent a large group of his trusted followers and advisors on their way, leaving it up to them how to cross the Recva. Well, they figured it out, and three months later, they came to the place that would become Halawak. Within a year, the town was built and a government installed. Not long after establishing the settlement, the founders made contact with emissaries from the Xelthins. This was a dangerous time for the Yiggithians in Halawak, and the meeting could have led to bloodshed and the end of their new town. However, the Xelthins were more interested in meeting new peoples and sharing cultures. They explained that their lands lay to the West across what once was a vast desert, but they had tamed most of that wild place, and were now exploring the lands beyond. They didn't know what they expected to find, but were pleased to encounter the Yiggithians, a free spirited and loving people. A treat was struck, borders drawn, and Kharsaag and Xelthin have remained at peace ever since. Some Xelthin have even moved into Halawak, becoming permanent residents, another reason the town is growing.

Architecture

Most of the buildings are made of wood and stone, with inlays of seashells, gold, copper, and silver. Much of the initial material harvested from the Ravenwood and obtained through trade with the Xelthins. Some

Geography

Halawak is bordered by the Ravenwood, rolling hills, human made lakes and rivers, natural lakes and rivers in the Ravenwood, and the sea is not very far away. They have also changed the ground to create lands for farming. They mainly grow crops such as squash, carrots, potatoes, some rice. They do not have any grazing animals yet, but are in the process of discovering ways to make that possible.

Type

Village

Population

400

Inhabitant Demonym

Halawakian