Aeyo's Haven
"Scrubby grass has taken over the rocky ground, and snow-covered trees reach for the skies as if hoping for someone to lift them from the shadows of the mountains. The road covered by mud and slush leads from door to door like a snake, wrapping around the well in the middle. Above all stands a church with a golden roof, the only beautiful building in this ascetic village - and who knows what sins it hides underneath its luster.
"Outside the church on a cliff stands a winged statue, looking down to the village with a hood covering its face."
Aeyo's Haven is a remote Agerian mountain village that sustains itself with farmland and cattle, barely having any contact to the outside world. It's also the home of the Cult of Aeyo, and even today, one might run into its members in these lands. Children disappear from the surrounding areas every now and then, with the intention of sacrificing them to Aeyo, believing this will allow the village to live in relative prosperity and peace: not sacrificing would only lead to their undoing, bringing them sickness, death, discord, infertility.
For a long time, the village was plagued by a false hydra, and the children were actually given to it. Those lost were forgotten, making the cult believe that the honest intention seemed to keep their god satisfied. Thus, they kept taking children to it, repeating the cycle over and over during the years. A small group of adventurer's eventually took out the beast and threatened the cult leader into obedience, and one of them, the princess of Yusokalai, promised to visit every now and then to make sure the cult was causing no trouble and practicing their worship of Aeyo without taking lives.
The Church to Aeyo
The daily prayer prayers are held here every morning, and on the Spiritday, there is a longer service.
Jodgar Littlestep takes care of the church and its lands, and buries those who die in the village in the cemetary. He also keeps a record of all villagers, born, living, and dead alike.
Mountainhome Inn
A two-story, simply decorated building with three rooms upstairs and a common room and one bedroom downstairs. It's owned by Ven Ravo, who, like most villagers, doesn't treat strangers warmly, but is not hostile: he mostly refuses to talk about matters of the village.
Gerda's Lands
Gerda's lands are among the biggest in the village, and there are rumours of ghosts on its fields. These were the sounds of the crying, kidnapped children that were kept imprisoned in the cellar. After the cult was put in its place, the sounds have ceased, for now.
People
Below are listed some of the people who live in the village.
Azhal Bonqal, the mayor of the village, a nearly middle-aged, slighly overweight human man. He has a short, flat brown hair, receded hairline, and a weak jaw. His green eyes seem to constantly glance around, as if looking for danger and threats. He comes from an old family that's been in charge of the village for generations. He is aware of the cult, but seems to believe that their sacrifices were helping, so he turned his eye when they were still active.
Jodgar Littlestep, a dwarven man, the priest of Aeyo and the leader of the Cult of Aeyo. Visibly taller than most dwarves, could even pass for a short human, so it's possible he's of mixed blood. Black-and-white hair and an impressive beard, and simple brownish-orange robes. The first impression he gives is a faithful follower who wishes to uphold peace. He's not the first to greet strangers, but never turns them down if they approach him.
Ven Ravo, the owner of the inn. A human female, and the mayor's cousin. Her dark reddish brown hair is usually tied up, and she has green eyes, a narrow face and weak features.
Unfir Stonegallop, a dwarf with greyish skin and dark hair and beard. He usually works as a guide in these parts of the mountains. He lives towards the edge of the forest and rarely meddles with its people and matters. He was aware that there was something odd going on when the cult was active, but knowing he could not deal with it alone, stayed out of sight.
Itir Zanalok, a man with elven blood. Strict-looking, grey-eyed and grey-haired person who looks most people down his nose. One of the more hostile towards outsiders, and he was responsible for finding children for the cult to sacrifice.
