HAYLEN'S FORD
The Basics: Haylen's Ford started life as a simple stone bridge crossing the Vistus River in the middle of the Surrim Forest. A community of bargemen, farmers, fishermen, and merchants grew up around this bridge, forming a hamlet known as Haylen's Ford four generations ago (Human reckoning, of course). Since that time, Haylen's Ford has grown from a small riverside hamlet to a full-blown town, with settlements on both sides of the Vistus River.
Recently, refugees from around the forest have been streaming into Haylen's Ford. The advent and rise of the Blackstag Cult, a group of bandits, assassins, and religious zealots, has driven many from their homes. Haylen's Ford, which has thus far been immune to the effects of the cult's advances, is seen as a beacon to those fleeing the cult's actions. For this reason, Haylen's Ford's population has swelled to a near-breaking point. The leaders of Haylen's Ford, concerned with continuing violence and terror in the forest, have started to talk about taking action against the cult.
Six major families are the de facto rulers of Haylen's Ford: the Finsanys, the Dolliers, the Sunns, the Foresters, the Coldsmiths, and the Haylens (descendants of the original founders of the town). Of these, all but the Haylens and the Foresters are farmers; Finsany Farm is located in East Haylen while Dollier Farm, Sunn Farm, and Coldsmith Farm are in West Haylen. The Haylen family acts as town administrators and also own the inn. The Foresters operate a river shipping concern and own the majority of the warehouse space near the docks.
Half-Elves are the most established of the non-Humans living in Haylen's Ford; there have been Half-Elves in Haylen's Ford for at least three generations and they are fairly well liked. Halflings, being river folks, have been a part of life in Haylen's Ford since the beginning, but Halflings have not lived in Haylen's Ford for more than two generations. Other non-Humans are much more recent immigrants. Dwarves, Elves, and Eladrin have purchased land in West Haylen and operate businesses there. Dragonborn and Tieflings are very new to Haylen's Ford and are sometimes on shaky ground, especially in East Haylen.
There is one religious structure in East Haylen: the Temple of the Vine, which is dedicated to Pelor and is also a small wine presser, fermenter, and bottler (they don't operate a vineyard - they buy wine grapes from Grand Valley and elsewhere). While the Temple of the Vine is focused on Pelor, three other deities are represented with small shrines within the Temple: Erathis, Ioun, and the Raven Queen. In West Haylen, small stone shrines to Avandra, Bahamut, Corellon, Moradin, and Sehanine can be found.
Commerce in Haylen's Ford is centered almost entirely around the river trade. Goods coming downriver from points north (including Vestingdale) stop in Haylen's Ford and are loaded onto caravans for overland travel towards Grand Valley and Vouchsafe and points inbetween. Goods also come from overland routes and are loaded onto barges heading south towards Port Hygalas. There are small forges in both East and West Haylen which produce weapons, armor, and tools. Wagons and ox-carts are built in Haylen's Ford, as are various sorts of storage (bags, crates, barrels, and so forth) to move commodities. There are very few other finished goods produced in Haylen's Ford, but there are plenty to be found in the marketplace. Prices in Haylen's Ford are fairly reasonable, although some merchants have been accused of hiking up prices in the wake of the Blackstag Cult's aggressions.
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I'm still working on this. Man, you must really be bored.
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