Hallowside

The settlement of Hallowside is a small religious community built on the worship of Arbos, the D'Nalsi God of the Forests. Originally founded as a holy site for Arbos worshippers, self-interested clergymen transformed the community into an aggressive isolationist colony, banishing all who weren't pure-blooded humans. In recent months, an unprecedented number of people have found themselves exiled from the community, and all have suggested that there has been a significant shake-up in the town's political structure.

History

Founding

The town of Hallowside was originally a small village for priests of Arbos, built around the Great Hallowed Tree. The Tree is of great significance to Arbos worshippers, and the initial intention of the village was to ensure there was always a priest nearby to welcome travelers of all types. During the chaos caused by the many wars of the Fourth Era, travel to the Tree became a perious voyage, and having an established rest site nearby allowed people to recover after their arrival and before their departure.
As the Fourth Era neared its end and the War of the Shattered Blades reached its peak, travel to the Tree all but ceased entirely. Those that were still on their pilgrimage found themselves unable to leave, trapped by the conflicts that isolated them from their homelands. Seeing the need for more permanent residences, the priests and able-bodied travelers worked together to construct a proper settlement, with permanent housings for those displaced. Over the years, more displaced survivors found their way into the town, welcomed in with open arms by the town's residents.
In the early Fifth Era, as the governments of the world worked to rebuild, the reformed D'Nalsi Empire underwent a substantial effort to overhaul how the empire functioned. To facilitate these changes, the empire implemented a provincial district system and established a national census. When Imperial officials inquired with the priests about the as-of-yet unnamed town, the priests told the officials that the town as a "hallowed site", and thus lacked a name. The officials, not paying attention and simply looking to complete their assigned task as quickly as possible, listed the town's name as "Hallowedsite", later simplifying the town to Hallowside. The people residing in the town would not learn of its newly assigned name until the provincial system was fully developed and the first maps were distributed.

The War of 46 Days

As the new D'Nalsi Empire worked to reinforce its control over the island chain, the Empire's polytheistic religion became a core aspect of maintaining the new order. The Empire encouraged towns which had long engaged in selective worship to build new churches and cathedrals dedicated to the other divines within the D'Nalsi pantheon. While most agreed, members of Hallowside's leadership instead viewed the requests as a threat to the town's well-being. A priest named Vaermosse Oridove saw the worries growing amongst the people, especially as the amount of pilgrims making the voyage increased considerably. Through his sermons, Oridove fed the seeds of worry in the town, convincing them that the "outsiders" were seeking to erode the town's culture, and wanted to force them to accept their other gods which, according to him, were an "insult" to Arbos. As his influence spread through the town, he began to work his way up the ranks, eventually claiming the position of High Priest, giving him unilateral power over the future of the town. He would even go so far as to drop his first name, simply declaring himself as "Oridove of Hallowside", something that his followers would adopt shortly after.
When an encounter between travelers and a group of locals turned deadly, the D'Nalsi Empire was forced to intervene, only further feeding into Oridove's narrative. When the Empire sent a group of officials to extradite the locals responsible for the murders, only a single messenger returned, delivering the heads of the officials and a declaration of war. The local commander of the D'Nalsi Empire's Red Crest, Gronnjar Kensteele, decided to take matters into his own hands, and decided the people responsible needed to be put to the sword.
The conflict, which would come to be known as the War of 46 Days, saw a number of small skirmishes during the Siege of Hallowside. The Ranger Corps of Hallowside, the closest thing the town had to a militia, were no match for the Empire's superior equipment and manpower, and eventually were forced to submit. For their crimes, Oridove and the rest of the town's leadership were imprisoned, and the Empire installed Commander Kensteele as the town's acting minister. Due to pressure from other religious orders in D'Nalsi, it was decided that Oridove and the others would be held within Hallowside, rather than being extradited.

The Night of Red Leaves

From prison, Oridove worked to further stoke the flames he had ignited. His imprisonment, he claimed, was "proof" that the people of the outside world were threats to their sovereignty. He had warped the town to believe that his rule was ordained by Arbos himself, and that him holding power was key to Arbos' will being carried out on the Prime Material. The Empire and their replacement would bastardize Arbos' teachings and destroy their faith, so that they could replace it with their own "false" religion.
On the night of 14 Octral, 5E 71, Oridove's followers took action. They stormed the prisons, freeing Oridove and his allies. Then, the horde turned towards the town's governmental office. Commander Kensteele and all other Imperial personell within the town were killed. Oridove had been restored to power, but he wasn't satisfied. He ordered his followers to "cleanse" the town, killing any who were viewed as "unworthy". Anyone who supported the Empire would face the sword, as well as every resident of the town who was not either a human or elf. Followers of Oridove who themselves were considered "unworthy" often either took their own lives, or simply waited for their fellow devotees to "cleanse" them. Thousands would be slaughtered, and the roads of Hallowside would forever be dyed a dark red. Those that survived were forced to flee from their homes, either seeking refuge in the vast caverns beneath the town or embarking on a perilous journey to the north. Within six hours, the population had been reduced to a sixth of what it had been hours prior.
With full control over the town and its people, and dissidents either killed or banished, Oridove and his children began transforming the town into a completely self-sustaining economy. Once the town could fully supply itself independent of the outside world, a massive wall of stone and wood was erected around the town, sealing it off from the rest of Yrnath. The town was now completely alone, free from the "unworthy" that Oridove's teachings had invented.

From Spirit to Strength

In a town that was now fully isolated, Oridove's great-grandson Vylkis realized a threat his predecessors had not accounted for. During the War of 46 Days, the Ranger Corps was ill-prepared to defend against a small detachment of Royal Guards. If the Empire were to bring their full might upon the people of Hallowside, they would not stand a chance. To ensure such an event would not come to pass, Vylkis began to overhaul Hallowside society.
First, he re-organized the Ranger Corps to become a true arm of the Church of Arbos, rather than its own separate organization. Second, he instated a mandatory conscription, requiring all men of fighting age to serve at least ten years within the Ranger Corps. He also ordered the discharge of all female Rangers, incorrectly believing them to be a weak point in the town's fighting force. Lastly, he handed authority over the Church to his brother Traellis, who was serving as Chief Ranger. In doing so, Vylkis merged the two roles, such that the Chief Ranger would also always serve as High Priest. Vylkis had hoped that with these plans in place, the culture would evolve to become more militaristic, which would lead to a stronger fighting force should the Empire or any other threat attempt to challenge their divine authority.

The Night of Forgotten Dread

Generations after the Night of Red Leaves wiped out most of the town's population, another racially-fueled identity crisis was brewing. Cyrus, the youngest son of Chief Ranger Garfield, knew that he would never claim the Chief Ranger position for himself, as his three older brothers would take precedence. Of course, Cyrus knew the history of the town well, and being the only pure human while his brothers were half-elves presented a convenient opportunity.
Over a period of fourteen years, Cyrus worked to strike fear into the hearts of the humans living in the town. He convinced many of them that the elves were simply waiting for a chance to eradicate them, and that it was their responsibility to purge those who had lost their way. According to what few records survived this period, much of the rhetoric from Cyrus closely resembled that of his ancestor Oridove. When his work was finished, he released his own horde of fanatics on the rest of the town, to predictable results. Hundreds would lose their lives in the Night of Forgotten Dread, and with the heavily-fortified wall trapping residents inside, very few would manage to escape the slaughter.

Modern Day

In the decades since the Night of Forgotten Dread, it has largely been difficult to say whether Hallowside has managed to survive the two massacres the town has experienced. Less than a dozen people had left the town prior to a year ago, and those that had were largely unreliable, their stories contradicted by the others that had escaped.
A year ago, however, nearly three dozen people from Hallowside had been forced out from behind their walls. Those that were willing to talk spoke of an increase in violence spearheaded by the Chief Ranger, a man named Jedediah, who has been punishing those who would speak out against him. Reports suggested the aggression began shortly after his daughter, whom many assumed would replace him, fled from the town after completing her initiation into the Ranger Corps. Some have even suggested that he has abandoned the ways of Arbos, turning to some nefarious sources in a desperate attempt to keep control of the town and its dwindling population.

Author's Note
There are reports that certain key figures in Hallowside society, such as the Chief Ranger, were spotted mingling with nobility at the recent D'Nalsi Imperial Coronation. I've yet to confirm these reports, but I have been able to confirm that his missing daughter was in attendance, so they may have simply gotten confused.

Notable Features

The town of Hallowside is surrounded by a thick deciduous forest, and sits at the intersection of the Varreus and Pinquet rivers. The town is rather sprawling, though it is completely encompassed by a large wooden and stone wall.
At the center of the town sits the Great Hallowed Tree, a large willow tree that stands roughly 140-160 feet tall and is surrounded by a number of similar, though significantly smaller, trees. A sizeable area around the tree is reserved for a park and worship space, which is utilized in a number of the community's rituals.

Culture and Society

Modern Hallowside culture barely resembles its past, as the centuries of false messaging about the outside world has infected and corrupted all aspects of life within the town's walls. According to those who have been inside the town, they lack many of the advancements and amenities that arcanotech has brought, giving those who have been inside the town a glimpse at what life might have been like in the mid Sixth Era, when Hallowside closed itself off for good.
Life in Hallowside is almost entirely centered around the worship of Arbos. Every day sees a different ritual incorporating the Great Hallowed Tree, giving thanks to their patron deity. Yet, reports suggest that the people who live in the town have never experienced any form of magic, let alone healing magic, suggesting that the town is completely devoid of clerics. This is of significant interest, as it suggests that none of the townspeople have been granted magic by Arbos, which some have come to interpret as his way of "disowning" those who have completely devoted themselves to him.

City Info

Nation: D'Nalsi Empire
Population: 2,704
Incorporated: 5E 274
Dominant Religion: Monotheistic (Arbos)
Leadership: Jedediah of Hallowside