Burfell
Along the cold shore of The Nevermelt, Burfell marks the first Ehrethiran outpost on the highlands. The settlement is situated against the low cliff boundary of the Ehrish Highland, just north of the town of Stillport. The denizens of Burfell often take to ice fishing, trapping, or hunting, returning in small caravans to Avatayne to sell their wares and restock their supplies. Sometimes territorial beasts wander close to the village, so rotating squads of guards are assigned to protect the people. The small docks have been recently expanded to accommodate the increased interest in heading northwest toward The Nevermelt . Burfell has become a launching point for northern expeditions, leading to growing trade and a pressing need for more inns.
Demographics
61% humans, 32% dwarves, 3% gnomes, 4% other races
Government
The village is guided by Ilvras Adalautar, a weathered elf ranger who helped found Burfell roughly sixty years ago. Stoic and humorless, Ilvras showed a knack for leadership when the fledgling outpost was beset with danger on a near-constant basis. Ilvras earned the trust and respect of the residents, and they asked him to govern Burfell. He begrudgingly accepted, and has since overseen the expansion and protection of the village. Ilvras generally has sixty to ninety guards at his command. He delegates tasks to proven friends and trustworthy allies.
Defences
Ilvras commands a small force of guards. Some civilians are willing to take up arms to defend the city in moments of crisis. Occasionally large beasts wander close to the village, so rotating squads of guards are assigned to protect the people. The people of Burfell must work together to survive in this frigid land, and there is little room in the small community to conduct any worthwhile larceny or immoral activity. What crimes do occur are born out of necessity and punished accordingly by Ilvras.
Industry & Trade
The denizens of Burfell often take to ice fishing, trapping, or hunting, returning in small caravans to Avatayne to sell their wares and restock their supplies. The small docks have been recently expanded to accommodate the increased interest in heading northwest toward the Nevermelt. Burfell has become a launching point for northern expeditions, leading to growing trade and a pressing need for more inns.
Infrastructure
Burfell would be a sleepy place without much excitement were it not for the presence of eager explorers and the settlement’s importance as a waystation between Avateyne and the islands of The Nevermelt.
Assets
Basic supplies can be purchased or traded at the small general stores or trading posts.
Guilds and Factions
There are two humble temples to Sola and Drothé, respectively. The Empire of Avateyne governs from afar, while the Guilds of Coldhaven send agents to seek more information about The Nevermelt.
History
Burfell was originally established as a small frontier hamlet, which then grew into a village supported by fishing, hunting, and trapping. The settlement was originally named Burr's Fall, for the omnipresent spiky seeds that can be found in nearly every farm, field, and garden in the area, but the name was fairly quickly shortened to Burfell. Ilvras Adalautar, a newly retired adventurer looking for a place to settle down, was among the first residents of Burfell. He quickly gained the trust of his neighbors and was appointed their de facto leader.
Forty years ago, the town was attacked by a flock of ice harpies from The Nevermelt, who had been forced to hunt much further south than usual due to an extended blizzard. Ilvras led the defense against the harpies, and the villagers were able to repel them.
Architecture
Most of the town's buildings are little more than cabins or shacks. Fir trees are plentiful around Burfell and most buildings are built from local timber. Burfellians are a spartan, practical lot, and there are very few colorful buildings in town. Most structures remain unpainted, or are stained various shades of brown and gray. Most windows are covered in wrought ironwork, which serves to keep large creatures from breaking through the windows and getting inside.
Geography
Surrounded by four watchtowers and a ten-foot-tall palisade of sharpened logs, Burfell is a ramshackle village locked in eternal winter. The village is made up of over a hundred cabins and shacks. It’s too small to have distinct neighborhoods, so most businesses and residences were established wherever they could fit at the time, creating a meandering layout, which rises up to the top of a large hill that ends in a cliff. The houses and buildings built on the hillside create a multi-layered look to the village. Off the northern cliff, about fifteen feet down to the sand-and-snow beach, the docks hold around a dozen ships, ranging from fishing vessels to small cargo ships that carry expeditions to and from Burfell.
Climate
The climate in Burfell is best describes as "subarctic". This translates to long, bitter winters that last from early autumn to late spring in most other lands. Temperatures often drop into the low -30s and rarely climb past 50 degrees. These winters are punctuated by storms that howl in off the bay. Heavy snows often fall and blizzards frequently blanket the town in deep snow drifts.
Natural Resources
Fish, animal pelts, and lumber are Burfell's primary resources.
Founding Date
1254 EM
Type
Village
Population
690
Inhabitant Demonym
Burfellian
Additional Rulers/Owners
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
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