Are they dwarven distilleries, vessels for dark sorcery, hobbit homes, or a combination of all three?
The Battery in Newfoundland's St. John's has always struck me as a pretty cool inspiration for a small town. I like the style of buildings on top of each other, or in layers up the side of a natural wall, like a cliff or canyon, with wooden walkways (or metal in more futuristic settings) connecting them, and zig-zagging down between upper and lower levels.
Bah! Sweethaven (Malta) ftw!!The Battery in Newfoundland's St. John's has always struck me as a pretty cool inspiration for a small town.