Ravensford
Ravensford is a small town in Stormfell of approximately 1000 people, named after the elven Lord Erlathan Ravensford. It is situated at the bottom of Raven's Hill and along a tributary of the River Ehr. Bordering it to the west is Littleforest, and to the east is Horizon Moors. It has multiple amenities, including several shops, and is of medium wealth. Its primary exports are the various crops produced by the surrounding farms. It has a very low crime rate, in part due to the presence of a sizable Town Guard, but primarily due to traditions of charitable giving and community support.
Although it began as a simple farming village, Ravensford's population has steadily grown thanks to its central location - with direct roads to Fairvein, Littleshade, Pondwich, Old Mudbourne, and eventually Honeymere, it became a popular resting place for travellers and traders alike. It has also become a popular place to live for those who work primarily in the capital, but desire a more rural and peaceul home life.
Geography
History
Ravensford is one of the oldest towns in Stormfell. It was founded at least four thousand years ago by a small group of settlers from Fairvein, looking for better land on which to grow their produce and raise their cattle. The first mention of Ravensford was found in records written and kept by a nearby temple in 1894 BA, stating that the nearby farmers had caused an increase in the goddess Demeter's presence in their halls. The collection of buildings was still unnamed at this time, and was referred to simply as "the farmhouses by the river". Within thirty years, a combined post-office and tavern was constructed, but the village remained nameless, and over one hundred years later in 1773 BA, the temple officially dedicated itself to Demeter.
Lord Erlathan Ravensford
The settlement grew and was peacefully governed by the temple and its inhabitants until the year 348 AA, when a young lord from Fairvein, named Erlathan Ravensford, marched in and seized control. The temple, having been weakened in both faith and numbers due to the end of the Age of Feasts, could not counter his threats and surrendered in return for peace. Although it is largely written that he honoured their request, there are conflicting records of ensuing violence from resisting townsfolk and power-hungry aides to the lord, and many accounts of his leadership being unfair and selfish.
Soon after taking control, Lord Ravensford ordered the construction of a grand manor house for himself and his wife, now known as Erlathan Hall. It was constructed entirely using slave labour, despite the availablity of local tradespeople, and as such was highly controversial within the town for many years. He resided in Erlathan Hall until his death in 917 AA, and it remained in his family until 2302 AA when his descendants donated it to the people of Ravensford to instead be used as a town hall, where is still in use today. There are numerous plaques at the front of the building honouring the slaves that built it, but as records detailing most of the individuals have not been found - or were prehaps not kept in the first place - they are largely symbolic.
Lord Ravensford also introduced heavy monetary and grain taxes on the people of the town in return for 'protection from the wilds' - a service which was increasingly vital due to the town's continuing expansion into monsterious territories. However, the effectiveness of his protection was debatable, and these taxes continued for hundreds of years past the last sighting of a monster - so when his granddaughter Bronwyn Ravensford came into power in 1889, the mandatory taxes were scrapped in exchange for optional donations.
These donations were strictly only used to provide for those in need, or as sacrifices to Demeter, although Lady Bronwyn remained in control of their storage and distribution until the founding of the town hall. This practice is still honoured today, with the townsfolk continuing to donate varying amounts of gold and/or food directly to the hall on a monthly basis.
Town Guard
Originally introduced by Lord Ravensford, both to keep the townspeople in line and protected from wild mosnters, the town boasts a significantly larger armed force compared to other settlments of a similar population. Since they haven't needed to engage with monsters in several centuries and the people no longer answer to a lord, the force largely continues to exist out of tradition, as general peacekeeping, and as training for new recruits to the Royal Guard.
The guards make up approximately 35% of the population, and have their own dedicated housing district near the town jail, with additional dormitories for new trainees located next door. The vast majority of guards are professional and dedicated, excited to serve their people, but the peacefulness of a rural town doesn't suit everyone.
It is not uncommon for guards from other towns, including the Royal Guard, to be sent to Ravensford for several months at a time. This is normally a practise resrved for new trainees in order for them to gain further training or experience in a relatively predictable environment, but also an opportunity for experienced guards and soldiers to be re-trained after significant leave - or during investigations into misconduct.
Unfortunately, it is increasingly common for insubordinate soldiers to be sent to Ravensford as a punishment. Furthermore, in situations where a soldier or guard has broken the law themselves and would normally be fired and/or arrested, they are sometimes instead sent to Ravensford until the politics of the situation are sorted out, a process which can take anywhere from a few weeks to years. This results in a few reckless guards who resent their placement, and actively seek out trouble and aggression - and if they cannot find trouble, they make it.
Party Involvement
The original party began their journey a long time of go in this small, innocuous town. Like many adventures, theirs started in the local tavern, where they were quietly enjoying their drinks before the town guard entered and locked everybody inside. They had received inside information that there was somebody in this building that was an assassin plotting to kill the King of Stormfell, and everybody was under arrest until they worked out who was guilty.
Those nearest to the bar noticed the tavern owner, Eryn Siannodel, gesturing for them to follow her. Inside the pantry was a secret trapdoor, which lead down into a small system of tunnels that would help them all escape. Eryn explained that she was a retired assassin, and although she hadn't worked in over a hundred years, she always liked to keep an escape route ready in case of emergency. She didn't know who in her tavern was the assassin the town guard were after, but knew that if they were caught before they had even gotten to Fairvein they couldn't be very good.
Whilst in the tunnels, two of the party members encountered a ghostly dog. Whilst the dog made no move to attack, it was terrifying to witness, so its message was only remembered by one of the adventurers - "They are coming."
Unfortunately, by the time the party found the exit from the tunnels, the town guard had already discovered it from the outside and they were immediately arrested. They were taken straight to the town jail as they had attempted to escape questioning, and were now prime suspects. The other people detained were the staff from The Golden Thorn, and a couple of patrons.
After a couple of fruitless attempts to interrogate the staff and patrons themselves, the party decided to break out of jail and make a run for it. Using magic, they distracted the guards and unlocked all the cell doors, releasing everybody. Eryn offered to lead everybody west, where she had a contact that still worked for The Assassins' Guild. They would be able to help clear their names, since now they were all definitely guilty of at least jailbreak and resisting arrest (despite it being wrongful arrest). Whilst the party took her up on this offer and began the journey, the staff of The Golden Thorn and a couple of patrons decided to stay to prove their innocence to the local guard themselves.
On their way out of town, the entire party was greeted again by the ghostly dog. This time, it simply watched them all cross a stream before disappearing.
Maps
-
Ravensford Town Centre
A peaceful town with a long history, close to the capital.
Kingdom
Stormfell
Type
Town, rural
Founded
Circa 1894 BA
Population
~1000
Wealth
Medium
Climate
Temperate
Notable Buildings
- Government
-
- Erlathan Hall
- Town Jail
- Guard Dormitories
- Commercial
- The Golden Thorn
- Farm Fresh Fancies
- Threads and Treads
- By Hammer and Hand
Known Inhabitants
- Staff at The Golden Thorn
- Eryn Siannodel - owner
- Theo Pearson - head chef
- Mornak Lambug - waitress
- Sophie Reynolds - waitress
Comments