Ockenfel, a towering sentinel of basaltic pillars, rises above the salty waves like a giant redwood looming above the delicately pedaled flowers of the forest floor. Commoners have called Ockenfel home for nearly a thousand years, as the written word tells it. Elder scholars tell of an emptiness, a time where nothing existed, a darkness, the beginning of Ockenfel.
There sits atop a small hill, near the center of Ockenfel, in Windham Village, an abandoned empty keep, stark of any furnishing, once occupied by Ferros Windhammer, a Tinker Dwarf; or so the tales say. Windham, named over 900 years ago by its founder Ferros Windhammer, has led a very uneventful existence. Ferros, as it is told, single handedly led the Commoners in a mining effort that gave Ockenfel and all Commoners access to the salty seas. His engineering prowess was renowned and unmet in all of Ockenfel. Also known for his thirst for adventure, he was always out in search of secrets and treasures, and would not be seen for weeks or months at a time. Many suspected he was hoarding treasures in his keep, mining deep into the earth creating passages and bunkers to store his treasure hoard. No one knows for sure what he was doing, then one day he never returned.
Rumors have always run rampant on Ockenfel. Of monsters, hidden treasures, of secret tunnels and magnificent Dwarven castles beneath the placid surface of fields and farms and forests where the Commoners carry out their daily lives with disinterest. Occasionally a rusty shield, a tarnished sword or dagger, a single gem would be unearthed in the fields, which only fueled the rumor fires.
On the surface Ockenfel appears to be nothing more than an island of Commoners stranded in an ocean of salty waves, carrying out their simple lives with simple pleasures, nothing more challenging than a broken wagon wheel or rusty spade, with no other signs of life or land to be seen or heard of in the history of Ockenfel. Sure, Ferros had boats crafted, and sailors trained, and expeditions mounted, but nothing was ever found; that anyone knows of. For thousands of miles there is only salt water. But for all the mining and searches for the past, nothing of significance was ever found. But it hasn’t stopped the occasional adventurous mind from setting out in search of treasure.
Very near Windhammer keep is a tavern known for its generous conversation, plentiful mead, and salacious fare. The Salty Tusk has comforted generations of miners, farmers, cowherders, trappers, and blacksmiths. IF a tale was to be had The Salty Tusk is where it could be found on the lonely Isle of Ockenfel, amongst the sparse houses of Windham Village.
Windham Village
Villagers
Rumors- John Talvers (Farmer)
- Jeb (Blacksmith)
- Silas (Beekeeper)
- Tobias (The Salty Tusk Cook, deceased)
- Henry (The Salty Tusk Souphand, presumed deceased)
- Werner (Stable Owner)
- Location: 300 yards north of the village
- Contains 3 resting souls, 3 empty stone vessels, 4 empty coves
Ferros Windham stirred up some ancient evil in the ground all those years ago and now it’s finally got out! I can’t say if that’s it, but it makes a man think I tell ya! My great great great grandfather used to tell stories of the earth rumbling beneath this village. He was a bit crazy in the head so no one ever believed him. Lots of kids and old men have come searchin’ that keep up on the hill there (he points toward Windhammer keep) but they never found a thing, not one of’em. Just an old keep is all. If there ever was something, it’s long since buried and forgotten. (Werner, Windham Village Stable Owner)