Holioke

Agoloni Abbey

Holioke is a small town in the Duchy of Nuna of Toemanshire, on the continent of Ethae. The town is on both sides of the Redhand River with a ferry used to span the river for crossing. Much of the town proper is built on the north sides of the river, built along the Zalpula Road. A day's ride out of Sagepoint, the town is largely known as a stopover point for travelers.

For such a small passing through type town, Holioke has many legends bases around it. The most talked about is the towns origin. Each local tavern regular has his own version of this, and each varies drastically. Some say the town is as old as the Human kingdom Toemanshire. Others, it was founded as far back as the Elf kingdom Zalpula. One will claim the town is named after an ancient oak tree that was planted by Alu , or some other divine being. Another will claim it was founded out of a order of priests who built an abbey at the location. A third will claim it was founded as nothing more as a roadside inn with a town growing up around it over time. There is a local legend that warns travelers to never go out at night when it rains. Another legend claims drinking rainwater that drips off the leaves of the trees throughout town will cure illness. More than one merchant has claimed all these various tales simply the fabrication of the bored locals to mess with travelers. Whatever the case, Holioke inns and taverns are lively places full of stories for those passing through.

The people of Holioke suffered greatly during the Orc invasion. The people fight and resisted, but the town was overrun. The men of fighting age that did not flee were slaughtered. The women and children that survived enslaved. The orcs saw little value in the town after the pillaging and left it alone, with only the elderly alive. These brave old souls kept their town alone, albeit lonely, for years.

After the orc defeat some survivors returned. Many of the children taken were lost. Those women that did escape returned with orc children they were forced to carry. The men that returned were shunned for being cowards and not fighting to the last to protect their women. They soon left.

Today Holioke is predominately a population of women and the elderly. It is run by a town council of six women. They maintain the inns and taverns, the shops and gardens. They welcome human travelers and hate the orc with a murderous passion. Men are not shunned or hated, unless they were natives from the time before the attack. The town will even encourage men to come settle the ideal location.

To settle the town a man must pay for the land they wish to dwell and provide a token of strength and bravery. This usually means an orc head, but the head of a greater beast could lead to offers of marrage along with the deed to a house.