Difference between revisions of "Windhorn Hamlet"

Revision as of 06:54, 1 April 2008

I have a map of this place.

Perched on the corner of two dangerous frontiers, Windhorn Hamlet has more or less thrived, despite the tendencies of adventures, to bring near-catastrophe to our peaceful village, before saving it again and expecting our accolades--which we usually give. Formed in year two of the occupation, 2A4, it was founded by Julius Cai, an elf, with his wife and four other families in an effort to get away from the politics of the plateaus and to profit by being on the edge of the civilized lands and near the north dragon sentinel.

After an initial period of adjustment and repelling several goblin and orc attacks, Windhorn Hamlet settled into a 350 year period of peace and prosperity. Every year the town grew slowly as moral families, mostly worshipping Mittiri, moved in at the rate of one or two a year, while the more ambitious moved on to the plateaus. Adventurers were tolerated and encouraged to move on after a brief stay.

Once a year, a little excitement was permitted during The Festival of Renewal when several hundred “city folk” came down from the plateaus to see the renewing of the North Dragon Sentinel and to view a dragon in the flesh even if it was at a distance. This provided the needed yearly trade so that taxes have never had to be levied on the good people.

Then came Grog. His coming led to what is known as the First Adventurer’s Crisis. He was a half-ogre: a retired adventurer who built an inn the outskirts of town declaring it a refuge for all races. A place where no creature would be denied a warm fire or cold drink.

Julius Cai, founder of The Hamlet and owner of the original town inn, rounded up the locals and gave Grog 1 week to leave or he would be forced. The denizens in Grog’s wanted to set up defenses, but Grog refused. On the last night of that week, an assassin hired by Julius set Grog’s place afire. Grog, his employees, and a young band of adventurers managed to get everyone to safety.

Grog’s bouncer ran, during the night, to the clan of Grogs father and told him the story of Grog’s honor and civility. His father brought the whole clan to watch and enjoy his puny son’s antics.

When the clan arrived, Grog had been arrested for assault upon a young halfling girl who was inadvertently hurt while Grog rescued her from drowning. Julius and the local militia had him trussed in the town square and were administering a whipping to him. Fatherly instincts took over and the clan was ordered to slaughter the town. Grog easily broke his chains and saved the town before turning himself in once again.

During the following night, strange hammering noises could be heard from the direction of the burned down Grog’s place. When Grog was released the following morning, the town held a parade leading him to his folly restored and enlarged tavern and inn.

Two of Grog’s associates from his adventuring days also later settled in Windhorn Hamlet: Bearclaw, who became head of the Volunteer Militia, and Lothar of the Hill People who ran for mayor and lost 3 times before being finally elected.

The Second Adventurer’s Crisis occurred, to put it succinctly, when the entire town of Windhorn was taken into Ravenloft, the demiplane of evil, due to the lust, jealousy, and hatred of Julius Cai towards two things: the town, because of their disdain of him; their founder; and Grog, the being who now received the town’s accolades. The original Gold Dragons, then known by another name, “The Company of Wayward Saints”, saved them despite the designs of Julius and the powers of Ravenloft.

The Third Adventurer’s Crisis occurred during the Sentinel Festival a few years back. Everyone knows that Dragons can never cross the magical boundary between New Elenna and Dragon Bay, because of the Sentinel’s power, but since nothing had ever came from Dragon Bay, no one had expected a Sahuagin attack right during the renewing of the Sentinel during the time of the Festival. The requisite adventuring group, this time known as The Chosen, chose not to attend, choosing instead to explore a nearby cave. When they returned the next day, everyone was dead, slaughtered near the Sentinel. The gods wept and eventually were instructed by Alemi to go down in physical form to bury the heroic citizenry.

Two things occurred during the godly burial. First, Caeroldra mated with one of the dead heroes after raising him from the dead, because she couldn’t force herself to bury something so beautiful. Second, the other gods became so moved, by the useless slaughter, that the entire town was rebuilt as it was and the citizenry raised from the dead.

The effect of these three Adventurers’ Crises, is that this quiet village has become quite legendary. Festival time now brings in over 1000 “city-folk” to see the Renewal of the Sentinel and hoping that something else legendary will occur. The high priestess of Mittiri, who now calls Windhorn home, promises it will and soon.

If you want a good look at the Hamlet, take a look at this map. Lovely job of work, this.