Downditch
Named after the adjacent bog, Downditch was ordered to be settled by the Merchant Princes of Westermarrow to survey the practicality of mining the resources found within Downditch Bog. It became very apparent that it wasn't going to happen anytime soon, if ever. The western reaches of the Auchland River Basin is a nasty wetland and moor, teething with foul monsters that prey on the town. Auchlanders are not warriors, and are always on the lookout for anyone who wants to make some coin to help them out. While the population is small, since John arrived, he has trained up a formidable force of 40 well trained soldiers, equipped with good arms and armor he purchased from Freebridge with the diamond money.
In early 1633, a man came to Downditch on the back of a great black griffon. They call him John the Oathswearer, who has spent years protecting the village from the monsters deep in the bog. When he came to the fledgeling village, it was under attack at that very moment, with dozens of undead creatures battering against the wooden pallisade walls. The militiamen screamed in terror as they tried to slash at the climbing dead. Just then as the early sunlight creeped over the horizon, a great screech was heard coming from above. Then a flash of silver and a black shadow dove from the sky, cutting and tearing the dead to pieces, only a few were able to flee back toward Downditch Bog. After the battle ended, the man flew to the town square and declared himself the protector of Downditch and its people, swearing an oath right there and then. Since then, John the Oathswearer has resided in the currently still constructing keep, known as Oathswearer Hall. He is the warden and protector of the village, and has made many positive changes to the village in a short time. Things were already going well, and then they struck diamond. A massive reserve that was found a mile south of the village in the bog-lands. Quickly, the villagers built a palisade around the mine, and garrisoned it. The Merchant Princes of Westermarrow attempted to gain control over it, until John refused them, and disputed their control so far west from Westermarrow. This has made John the Oathswearer at odds with the princes, and the village fears that the Merchant Princes would go so far as to attack the village and take the diamond for themselves.
With the Auchland River off limits to John, as the Merchant Princes wont allow the diamonds to be floated down to the port cities for further shipment. John has had slow profits for the village. The diamonds are floated by barge up to Downmorrow Fingers, where a group of experienced smugglers take the diamonds by horseback, all the way north to Freebridge for sale. To fulfill the shipping needs of the diamonds, John ordered a small port to be dug from the existing river strand, making it large enough for three large river barges to dock at anytime.
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