Fairhill
The small town of Fairhill occupies the largest in a cluster of gently sloping hills roughly 10 miles north of the Tradeway linking Fareme and Bard’s Gate. The town’s residents are predominately human with small pockets of elves, halflings, dwarves, and a handful of other races. Its diverse population lives off the land farming in the fertile fields beneath the hills as well as providing goods and services to merchants and other travelers venturing to either of the larger settlements on the nearby trade route. Two taverns, an inn, a central market, and several boutique shops cater to these visitors’ needs. Arlen the Magistrate, a retired captain in the Lyreguard and former adventurer, rules the town with a just and even hand. Shandril, the resident priestess of Freya, lends her aid when needed to Fairhill’s capable leader. The cleric embraces her role as the townsfolk’s spiritual guide and the earthly representative of the town’s patron deity. Although she personally founded Fairhill 90 years earlier at Freya’s direction, she happily defers all secular matters to Arlen as she wants no part in governing over her congregation’s daily affairs.
Arlen entrusts Fairhill’s defense to Baran the One-Handed and his company of 25 guards. These soldiers primarily occupy the stone watchtower in the town’s square, which gives them an ideal vantage point to monitor activity within the settlement and beyond. The balance of Fairhill’s military forces are stationed at other strategic locations scattered around the town. At Shandril’s insistence, Fairhill lacks any walls or other fortifications and instead relies upon Freya’s blessing to keep its people safe. Her passive defensive strategy represents one of the few bones of contention between Arlen, Baran, and the revered priestess. A recent spate of orc attacks on the Tradeway and the outlying farms and homesteads suggests a greater enemy may be coordinating these raids for an unknown purpose. Some townsfolk believe a vampire dwelling in a Ruined Keep outside of town may direct their activities, whereas others blame the recent killings on a witch Shandril exiled shortly after she founded Fairhill.
Settlement
Fairhill, Town of
Type
Town
Owning Organization
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