The Hamlet at the Edge

A small hamlet exists at the western edge of the Black Forest. Home to four families of Halstatt Celts, they have lived there for generations. The majority of folks make a living of small scale farming, hunting (especially in the forest), helping with the local timber trade, and gathering plant material (for use in food, medicine, and folk magic). They are quiet, reserved, and generally friendly. Most young here eventually move away to larger settlements to work, and regularly return for the festivals of All Hallows Eve & the Winter Equinox. These seem to be their most important religious dates.
The hamlet was built about three hundred years ago, by parts of a small Halstatt tribe to use for resupply, and for helping the tribe in general, due to them travelling around the local region. They speak a version of Brythonic Celtic, and are rumoured to practice animal sacrifice, with the odd human being sacrificed as well.
There is a set of strange wooden carvings in the hamlet, and in the part of the Black Forest they are beside. It seems like a set of strange glyphs, and carvings of a warped humanoid goat-like figure. It appears like some strange old pagan deity but not known outside of the local Celts. They usually refer to it as 'The Black Goat of the Forest, with One Thousand Young'. Sometimes during religious festivals the local druid and chieftain wears facemasks carved in the shape of a half-goat, half-human face with goat horns attached. Other groups & tribes have noticed the tribe going in procession into the forest during the rituals, and after a short while strange drumming & lute sounds coming a short while later. This is always followed by a scream, and a strange unearthly language being spoken. Usually about he same time, a child of the hamlet or a stranger disappears, yet the inhabitants of the hamlet always denies knowing of such a person.
The same witnesses also feel that the ground at times seems unstable around the area, and there are caves rumoured below. Sometimes strange noises & smells emanate from around the same area. There had been small mining operations about, making use of the wood available to help with this. A recurring rumour from outsiders states that the hamlet is built over the main cave system, and when the Celts mined it, they found something they shouldn't have.

Demographics

Four families of humans from a Halstatt Celtic tribe can be found living here at any one time. It seems to change about once a year, and consists of a mix of elderly, young, or anywhere in-between.

Government

Led by a Halstatt king, and looked after by a custodian nobleman at any one time. The custodian follows whatever law the king deems necessary for the hamlet to function.

Defences

Small rickety wall, and much of the village can fight to some degree.

Infrastructure

Four houses stand on the site, with small fields present for farming, and a stone set in place to cover up a hole to caves. Also, a small worn path leads into the forest.

Assets

Timber and useable plant material (medicinal, food, and spell components).

History

The hamlet was set up roughly 300 years ago as a permanent waypoint for a tribe of Halstatt Celts that roam the region west of the Black Forest. They had used the place to mine iron when an underground cave was discovered. The Celts found something in there, awakening an ancient spirit tied to the Black Forest. From there they set up the hamlet, and use it to worship the being they discovered.
From that point it has been in constant use, and besides the rare case of disappearing individuals, it doesn't initially strike anyone as important. Sometimes strange noises & smells are heard around the area, and rumblings from below ground has been noted over the years.

Points of interest

Due east, there is a set of carvings on trees, in the form of strange glyphs. These lead to a small clearing with a moss covered wooden statue about three foot tall. It appears as a warped human / goat hybrid, twisted in form.

Geography

The hamlet itself is is on a meadow, and has rocky terrain here & there around it. To the east is the Black Forest.

Natural Resources

Timber and medicinal plants, plant based spell components, and food stuffs.

Founding Date

402 AD

Type

Hamlet

Population

20

Location under

The Black Forest

Ruling/Owning Rank

King

Owning Organization

Celts