As a girl, I recall stories of a time before we were all prisoners, but those tales grow scarcer by the day, and the elders of our Village now saw that this is as it always has been, and that the rains always twisted the earth it bathed, and that there is no escape from this place.
I used to know that those were lies. Now, I can only hope that they are.
Leadership
The Village Elder is the last word of things in our community. Entrusted with the well-being and safety of all those who live within Hallondry’s borders, the Village Elder is a figure of great respect and authority. Currently, Elder Galleo is tasked with this burdensome responsibility.
Protection
The town Militia is a small band tasked with keeping us safe and secure. Their number is not impressive, and their equipment is not what it could be, but what they lack in arms is made up for with loyalty to the community they serve. The Militia patrols the surrounding area when they are able, investigating the strange happenings around us.
The laws here are very simple. We do not steal or injure each other. Anything against the spirit of community and trust that we cherish is heavily frowned upon, and those who break our sacred trusts find themselves ousted from the Village, forced to make their own way in the grim land. This rarely happens, but it has in the past. Those who are banished from Hallondry rarely last long before they meet a gut-wrenching end, or succumb to starvation and far less savory fates.
Religion
In Hallondry, we revere The Fates, an assemblage of fickle spirits of fortune and random chance. Sometimes The Fates smile upon you, but more times than not, they turn a cold gaze away from the struggles of those who do not work to better their own predicament. The Fates do not care for worship or adoration. They make no promise of an afterlife or respite from the woes of the mortal world. We can only entreat their aid and hope that they listen.
The Fates are depicted as three majestic stallions, each one facing a different direction. They snort strange, roiling mist into the sky through their proud, flaring nostrils.
Culture
A stranger to our home might be confused as to its make-up. We consider ourselves an extended family, no matter where your origin may actually lie. Humans, Dwarves and Halflings all live together, side by side, without clinging stubbornly to matters of ancestry. We do not have the luxury of those sorts of cultural attachments. Once you are accepted by our Village, you become one of us, shedding your previous culture behind and working towards the betterment of your fellows, who, in turn, are working for the betterment of you. This is the reason why Hallondry stands as the largest and most peaceful place inside Lady Rookstride’s horrid borders.
Among us, Dependability is the most prized asset one could possess. We do not care if you are kind or sweet or pretty, we only care if you can be counted on when needed. If you are dependable and willing to lend towards the greater good of Hallondry, you are welcome to join us. The alternatives to sticking together for mutual benefit can be...unfortunate.
Threats and Dangers
Our most immediate threat is ever-hungry Rotsplinter Woods, which teem with living, starving plant life and insane natural creatures. One would be wise to make visits there brief. While the place teems with troubles, the herbs and roots found there can be used to make useful, fantastic salves and other concoctions, for those who have the knowledge to use them. An Elf named Paristal has made a home there, and I have befriended him to some extent. Elves are not native to this place, and he tells me tales of his homeland and is teaching me how to read and write and speak his beautiful language. It is difficult, but I am a stubborn student.
Due to the contaminated land around us, starvation is a massive concern to the populace. Hallondry has chosen to barter with Lady Rookstride, offering her monthly tribute in exchange for her miraculous Salubrity Ash, which can cleanse food and drink, making it fit for consumption. I do not like having to make deals with devils simply to enjoy food, but the alternatives are even less palatable. Some desperate souls have retreated to the isolated Gristlewick caverns, where a cruel cult of cannibals feast on flesh and meat and gore. Their dark appetites have warped their bodies into gruesome Caliban, and we clash with them on occasion. Their leader is a hideous, black hearted monster who calls himself Sharptongue. It would be his finest wish to devour each and every last denizen of Hallondry.
Swillig Lake is strangely serene and beautiful, with its gloomy and dark waves, but horror swims beneath the surface, and it is not uncommon for warped fish-things to intrude upon the land. Luckily, they are unable to stray too far from the waters. Old Man Royvos has built his cabin here, and he fishes the Lake every day, plucking free all manner of strange aquatic life. He has quite obviously lost his mind, but he is dependable and claims us as his People. Therefore, we claim him right back.
All other threats pale in comparison to the dark sovereign of this land, however, and the damnable Lady Rookstride dwells in her majestic manor house in the picturesque Kolphesh Hills, concocting her gruesome potions and using her calculating mind to devise what sort of outrageous price she will place on her ingenious Salubrity Ash. Monthly, she demands tribute from us, exchanging a cask of her powder for items and tokens of ever-increasing personal value. I would kill her if I knew how it could be done.
A Guided Tour
With great pride, I can state that Hallondry is the largest, most populated, and prosperous place in all of Rookhelm. Yes, we are simple and do not lead lavish lives, but we have a strong community and a bonded peoples who all work together. With our combined talents and skills, we have assembled a place that does not quite thrive, but survives. In Rookhelm, that is an accomplishment...
Town Square
The center of Hallondry is the grand hub of our community. This is where the Village Elder keeps his home, and where the majority of our Village’s activity commences. Our proudest monument lies at the heart of Hallondry, where a breathtaking, large sculpture of The Fates watches over us. Simply called “The Fates in Marble”, this monument acts as a Shrine to the forces of Fortune as well, and it is often a place where offerings are left by those wishing to court their favor. Somehow, a never-ending stream of foggy mist roils from each of the Steed’s nostrils. It is truly a marvel to behold. The sculptor of this masterwork was a Dwarf whose name is lost to time.
The Farmsteads
Outside of Town Square is a lengthy stretch of farms and rural homes. The soil itself is fine for growing, but the twisted rains warp the crops, and sometimes foul, nefarious things sprout from the seeds sown. We are excellent Farmers here in Hallondry, and grow all manner of crops to sprinkle our damnable Salubrity Ash upon. Even as the land beneath our feet goes insane, we pride ourselves on our ability to still bring forth its twisted bounty.
The Outstretch
We claim the lands around Lake Swillig as the outlands of our Village. We take our fish from the Lake and battle against the strange, gilled beings that slither from its depths. The Outstretch isn’t particularly populated, but some of the less sociable Villagers of Hallondry set their homes there. Nonetheless, we claim them as our own.
A Very Special Place
Talk of the Village of Hallondry would not be complete without special mention of the gem of our community: The Three Steeds Tavern. Located prominently in Town Square, the Three Steeds is owned and operated by Blorn Bayl, whose welcoming atmosphere and sensational cooking has made this establishment the sole respite from the horrors that swell around us. As a communal treasure, you are bound to find any of Hallondry’s residents spending time at the Three Steeds, which also offers some cozy rooms for rent.
A massive, comforting hearth blazes at all times at the Three Steeds, and the air is always sweet and filled with song thanks to the ever-present Halfling known as Pharlynn. Always filled with kind words and a welcoming smile, Pharlynn can always be found rocking in her chair near the blazing fire, where she hones her expert tailoring skills for the benefit of the Village, often gifting its members with her well-crafted wares. She is every bit as beautiful as she is kind, and it is no wonder that all the Men in the village adore her. I am ashamed to admit it, but she fills me with jealousy.
In a land filled with mystery, starvation, danger and ominous evils, it is as if the cozy walls of the Three Steeds Tavern is the sole respite from the troubles of the world. I do highly recommend that you do all that you can to visit there whenever you are able.
Current Events
-There is a ghost roaming the area around Hallondry who has been reported by several frightened villagers. Each describe a demure, pale woman draped in a shimmering silver gown, holding a bundle that appears to be a baby in her arms that does not move or cry. Personally, I have never seen the so-called “Mother Ghost”, but I am adventurous, and would not shy away if I did.
-Thurder the Stable-Master is in love with Grivelda the Shopkeep, and intends to ask for her hand in marriage. The two are involved in a whirlwind romance that always seems to end in a dramatic fight, only for the two to make up for a short time, only to lead to another fight. He has recently managed to find a suitable ring for her, but one of his horses ate it.
-The newest addition to our Village is the Caliban known as Eggrick. He was formerly a member of Sharptongue’s band of savage Cannibals, but fled them to try to atone for his foul crimes. At first, the people of Hallondry did not think that he was sincere in his desire to join our family, but he bravely saved one of our number from a fire in the Outstretch. Since then, he has proven himself remorseful for his past deeds. It is hard to look at him sometimes, but I see a delicate soul in Eggrick, despite all the cruel things he has done. Ever trying to remove himself from his gore-filled former life, the Caliban takes great care to present an air of civility and properness, despite his twisted appearance. It is as if he is doing all he can to forget what he has done. Eggrick uses his great strength to aid Hallondry however he can, whether it is plowing fields, or carrying cumbersome things. He will agree to aid in any task that is asked of him, but begged the Village to never ask him to hold a weapon or harm anyone again. He would make a formidable member of the Town Militia, but Elder Galleo honors the Caliban’s request and new pacifistic outlook on life.
-The new Month draws near, and soon, Lady Rookstride and her cruel Knights will arrive in Hallondry. We will perform the ceremony of Tribute and offer her the finest things we have found for the month. We will stand there like beggars, offering up all we have for the honor of enjoying a full belly. The process disgusts me and fills me with anger, but I must stand there like a good girl and endure it for the good of our people. We have toiled tirelessly for the entire month, trying to find an item that will satisfy her morbid curiosity. I do hope that we have succeeded.
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