Scabberdale
On the northern end of the Rhynn Valley lies Scabberdale, a small fishing village near the delta. Once a booming mining town, the settlement fell on hard times after the ore veins within Toadstool Cave dried up. Though long past its prime, Scabberdale remains the final port of call on the river before Briarwood. Recent developments in the village have brought about a turn of good fortune, to the delight of the beleaguered denizens of the dreary hamlet. Seemingly overnight, an exotic restaurant popped up in place of Sigurt's Spellcraft, and the village tavern inexplicably gained access to a regional favorite ale, once only available exclusively from Bristlebeard to the southeast. In another turn of good fortune, minor issues regarding the awakening of the dead recently seem to have resolved themselves. With a bit of luck, Scabberdale may yet return to its former glories.
Demographics
Scabberdale is inhabited primarily by fishermen and woodworkers tending to the maintenance of the docks. The dominant demographic in the area alternates between humans and wood elves, depending on the season.
Government
Scabberdale, like many small villages in the Rhynn Valley, has no formal centralized government aside from minor appointments made by the local noble. A semblance of order is held by the local militia under Watch-Captain Ulric Hearthorne, a former Briarguard officer who retired to the countryside to escape the discord of the city. Despite his best efforts, Hearthorne constantly finds himself delegated new tasks by Baron Vatch Klotzy, a low-ranking young noble charged with the governance of Scabberdale and the surrounding hamlets a few months back. Reluctantly, the Watch-Captain does his best to look out for Scabberdale's eccentric, if not slightly neurotic, governor.
Defences
A thin outline of palisades surround the town, though they have not been repaired nor maintained in years. The abandoned buildings that surround the inhabited interior act as a form of natural defense against strangers-- the commoners that make up the militia know the layout much more intimately than a gang of would-be brigands, and are able to use guerilla tactics to their advantage when necessary.
Industry & Trade
Scabberdale was once a booming community built upon the foundations of a productive silver mine. In recent years, the ore dried up, leaving the village a hollow shell of its former glory. Silversmiths gave way to fishmongers and dockworkers, relying on riverboat trade to sustain the settlement. A spark of hope has presented itself in the form of Señor Salazar's, formerly Sigurt's Spellcraft, breathing fresh life into the local economy.
The Mannered Bear, a no-frills tavern toward the central "hub" of the village, has partnered with the new purveyor in pursuit of the same degree of success. Owned by Finn Laurelark , a charismatic young half-elf, the Mannered Bear is a must-stop for visitors to the village.
The Glamor Hammer, once run by the mountain dwarf Grunbad Kazarak, is now the charge of a promising young blacksmith by the name of Odeon Hammersmith.
Aside from the establishments mentioned above, the town is home to a small general store that carries primarily farming equipment and feed.
Infrastructure
Scabberdale consists mainly of no-frills housing, open air market stalls, and small leatherworking and blacksmithing stations. Each component of the town is connected by a rough network of cobblestone paths, each leading in some way shape or form to the docks. In addition, the village features several prominent watermills, churning along with the currents of the River Rhynn. The outskirts are comprised of abandoned buildings and half-structures that have been thoroughly scavenged by the remaining residents of the inner village. While these derelict homes and barns present a fire hazard, as well as provide refuge to unsavory pests, the villagers of Scabberdale have resigned to accept their presence, albeit typically from a safe distance.
Assets
The village posesses no great hoards of wealth or weaponry, instead relying on the Adventurer's Guild for protection from the blasted Goblinwood and beyond. The "city guard" in this case is comprised entirely of volunteer farmers and fishermen, save for Watch-Captain Ulric and one or two official deputies. Despite the village's proximity to the nearby Goblinwood, Ulric and his militia have managed to keep order in the settlement for the better part of a decade, dealing with the occasional thief or wild animal attack personally.
Guilds and Factions
Scabberdale houses no major guildhouses or mystic colleges, but is closely linked to the nearby Adventurer's Guild meeting hall, Bristlebeard Brewery.
History
After the discovery of silver in Toadstool Cave, travelers flocked to Scabberdale to extract the ore from the damp hills. A vivacious trade economy popped up nearly overnight, sending troves of mastercrafted silver jewelry down the River Rhynn to the massive marketplaces of Briarwood. Despite warnings from the local Druid populace, the miners delved deeply and greedily until finally the ore dried up suddenly. Devastated, much of the populace scattered to the winds in search of new opportunities. Those who stayed behind learned to fish the shorelines and repair the riverboats en route to Briarwood.
Tourism
The grand opening of a brand-new exotic eatery seems to have revived a once dead tourist industry. The village elders quickly began to capitalize by offering "haunted mine" tours throughout the Toadstool Cave as well as establishing street festivals to celebrate Dragonborn culture.
Architecture
Much of the infrastructure in Scabberdale was, as the name suggests, built hastily to support an explosion of population following the discovery of silver in the northern caves. Mass housing was "scabbed" together, along with many market stalls for silversmiths to peddle their wares. Unfortunately, much of the construction was not built to last, and abandoned buildings from the outer reaches of the city are cannibalized constantly to make repairs on the dilapidated residences toward the core of the city. With the arrival of Señor Salazar's, a demand for fresh accomodations may yet revitalize the architecture of the village.
Geography
Located just upstream from Briarwood, Scabberdale sits comfortably on the River Rhynn, offering refuge to travelers from the North. To the south, Bristlebeard offers protection from the mangled Goblinwood.
Natural Resources
The primary exports of Scabberdale include fish, lumber, and magical fungi harvested from Toadstool Cave.
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