The Village of Herebury (Drafts)

[GreyWolfVT]

Serene River not serenity though that name does sound good to me

[MonkeyWrench]

Marcus was always seen as the big brother to the rest of the children in the village, he did whatever he could to make sure they were safe along with the village. When he heard that Jonas, one of the kids living in the village, was going out to the woods to pick herbs and berries Marcus never felt right unless he went with him. Over time Marcus learned the skill of Herbalism alongside Jonas as he helped him pick herbs over the years.

There was a grove, deeper in the woods, the berries there were always the sweetest and the plants seemed almost alive as they danced in the passing breeze that swept over the area. There was a tree that stood alone in the center of the grove, massive and ancient, almost as if it was the guardian of this sacred place. The grove was named Guardians Grove for that exact reason, the townsfolk never wanted to go there, for fear of angering some woodlands spirit or Dryad, but Marcus found the place to be a sanctuary of sorts; the plants creating a soothing song that could barely be heard, it was as if magic coursed through the land and air, breathing life into everything it touched.

Marcus would take the berries to the fishermen at Serene River, the fish couldn't resist them. And the wild flower he would give to Eight to be mixed into the ale to give it a delicious flavor that people loved.

I figured that since we are all in the same village that I would tie things together

[GreyWolfVT]

ha ha to be out done by the apparently hobbyist writer MW .....

Abel fished in the Serene River, and still does to this day. Not being a hugely popular kid growing up Abel kept to himself and never really got into trouble. The other kids did have a local big brother Marcus but Abel never really hung out with Marcus other than when he would bring berries to the fishermen, how the fish did love those berries it was the best bait in the area. Abel remembers a kid named Smokey who would venture off into the woods searching for herbs and the like. Tales floated through the town of some secret grove in the woods and one day Abel planned to go there if it weren't for the tales that it was guarded by spirits of the woods. Abel does recall listening to stories by Eighter a veteran of the goblin wars? Abel does not know much about the war except what he has heard from Eighter.

there that aught to add some details....

[MonkeyWrench]

Glad I could inspire you

[KingOfCowards]

The Forge of Hake Glennross - A short man with arms like an ox, the town blacksmith Hake Glennross was always short-tempered and prone to drinking heavily. Despite his misgivings, not a one could say that he didn't get his work done. He keeps the village supplied with tools, household objects, and the occasional weapon.

[GreyWolfVT]

Abel despite being semi-shy and quieter than most kids he never had a problem having folks like him. He was a very like-able child and made friends easily. Seldom did he have bullies or trouble.

[zebediah]

Ravengard's Library

The old historian and scribe Ravengard found a place to live his final days in Herebury, many years ago. His encyclopedian knowledge eventually caused the lord of the castle to retain his services, earning Ravengard a small cabin within the grounds of the castle. That is where he neatly organized his ancient tomes, scrolls, maps and other relics from the wondrous places he visited during his life.

Kids from the village were allowed in the castle to receive lessons from Ravengard. The old man's library was a favorite place for Jonas, even though the sage never allowed the children to touch the books, as it had an outwordly air that seemed to be filled with magic. The colorful atmosphere was fueled by the stories told by the old timer, telling tales of distant lands, brave deeds all but forgotten and secrets known to few other man who still walked upon the earth.

[Pulpatoon]

Here's a map of the town itself. I haven't started placing any locations, yet.

Some points of notice:
Herebury is not a walled town. Instead it has a ditch that has been dug around the border. There is probably a way to flood the ditch from the Serene and create a moat, but I wonder if anyone has bothered to maintain the floodgates?

The Castle, of course, has a real wall. Nobles know what they're doing.

Smokey's Cabin is up to the north, somewhere off the Old Salt Road. The Gaurdian's Grove is probably up North, too.

Bagenett Street: a bagenette is a kind of wicker basket with a wide opening at one end and a narrow opening at the other. It's used for fishing. I'll leave it up to GreyWolfe whether it is still in use by Herebury's fishers.

[GreyWolfVT]

yeah that can still be there but I'd like to say Abel lived there on Bagenett Street but moved to Fisher Row.

[mb.]

Eighter's largish plot of land and spacious home are just across Stone Bridge on the east bank of the river north of the road.

[Pulpatoon]

Eighter's largish plot of land and spacious home are just across Stone Bridge on the east bank of the river north of the road.

Sounds good. I haven't decided on the scale of the map, so Eighter's plot could be that whole parcel, or just a chunk of it, depending.

[mb.]

Sounds good. I haven't decided on the scale of the map, so Eighter's plot could be that whole parcel, or just a chunk of it, depending.

Okay. If it *is* the whole plot (probably even if it isn't), anyone looking closely into the ditch between the river & the Old Salt Road would notice quite a few sharpened spikes rammed deep into the mud at the bottom of the ditch, pointy ends up. Old habits die hard.

[mb.]

The Hedge Hovel (Hag Sal's)

Just south of town across The Ditch and The Beck is a patch of wildly overgrown hedges surrounding a grubby cottage. An old lady lives there alone, though she has a pet cat (or a lizard, or both, depending who you're askin). She probably has a proper name, but folk just call her Hag Sal.

Folk's fond of saying she's a witch, she's got the evil eye, she turned Durl's crops that year, there's unnatural lights in her windows a'night, and so on. But when Abel near drowned that time, his ma took him to Hag Sal. When Barton were after Gilly way back, folk say he bought a charm from Hag Sal. When the fever took so many during the wars, parents asked old Sal to do what she could for their children, and she brought Smokey out of it when he were just a babe.

If you're ailing, best go to Hag Sal. That barber surgeon from the monastery can't be trusted; he'll cut you as soon as look at you.

That's right, barber surgeon. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barber_surgeon

[Pulpatoon]

The Hedge Hovel (Hag Sal's)

Just south of town across The Ditch and The Beck is a patch of wildly overgrown hedges surrounding a grubby cottage. An old lady lives there alone, though she has a pet cat (or a lizard, or both, depending who you're askin). She probably has a proper name, but folk just call her Hag Sal.

From GreyWolf's background: The old witch in the village took a liking to you when you were still young, and you now keep her animals for her.

GreyWolf, it's up to you whether Hag Sal is the witch for whom you tend animals, or if there is another.

And, of course, if there is a second with, what is her relationship with Hag Sal?

[GreyWolfVT]

Incidentally it is not Hag Sal that Abel tends animals for. It is her sister Helga Sal. Apparently their parents liked names that started with the letter H. The two sisters get along well with each other. Helga lives on the other end of the town closer to Fisher Street. Sometimes Helga does have Abel do some errands for her that involve going to Hag Sal's home. On occasion Hag Sal has somethings for Abel to do for her as well, a favor for a favor type ordeal between the two sisters.

[Pulpatoon]

I'm keeping a document of the characters and places being created, and I'm editing them a bit here and there, just to keep things smooth. Since my assumption is that "Hag" is a title, and "Sal" is a given name, I'd like your permission to change the witch's name to "Tatter Helga," which keeps the descriptor/name pattern. I also wrote that people say they're sisters, but they're the two oldest people in town, and, honestly, no one knows if it's true of not. And they're both so cryptic that you can't get a straight answer out them, either.

I really like the idea of a witch who lives among fishermen instead of in some hovel out in the woods.

Next question for GreyWolf: What sort of animal/s do you keep for Helga?

[GreyWolfVT]

Yes you can change the name Pulp.

Next question for GreyWolf: What sort of animal/s do you keep for Helga?

Helga keeps goats, Pigs and llamas/alpacas. Abel likes the non-traditional animals she keeps they are quite interesting creatures.

[GreyWolfVT]

Kane Abel's childhood friend who lived not far from where Abel lived. Kane's father was one of the town hunters. Abel met Kane on one of the camping trips with the hunters. They slowly became fast friends. Kane being able to get Abel to open up and come out of his shell. Kane would sometimes go fishing with Abel and his father. Abel would sometimes go hunting with Kane and his. They had a lot of fun and did once in a while as boys do they did get into a bit of trouble. Mostly child pranks like tossing a dead fish into a neighbor's window and odd things like that. The one thing the two have in common is that they were born on the same day of the same year. They eventually would celebrate together their families got along well.

[mb.]

Yup, all good with Tatter Helga. It's turning into a pretty interesting little village.

[mb.]

Ernt & Bris Miller (and daughters)

Ernt is squat, broad backed, thick armed and bulbous bellied, as you'd expect from the village's miller. His mill stands by the river at the end of Bogenett and Ebbes streets. Ernt's a hard worker, even if he's always got a barrel of Eighter's latest ale beside his millstone and his tankard's almost always full. Ernt's wife Bris nags at him good-naturedly, but he laughs at her enough that she surely doesn't mean it.

Their five daughters are spread across eight years in age, and every one of them is tall, slim and surprisingly beautiful. Needless to say the village gossips (and even Ernt when he's in his cups) wonder if Bris met a handsome elf in the woods, and anyone who's seen Ernt wouldn't blame her for the dalliance, but Bris swears "me greatmam, she were just like them girls, gods strike me if she weren't!"

As you'd expect, most young men in the village have tried to get close to at least one of the miller's daughters, and more than a few have felt the miller's wrath across the back of their heads for it.