Oakminster

The town of Oakminster is well established in The Midlands sitting on the road between Human Capital and Rivermeet. It earned its status as a place of note for The Oakminster church, where pilgrims travel from miles around.  

The Oakminster

An impressive church, dedicated to the local deity. Ceiling-height windows of stained glass depict saints and heroes in their most desperate hours, and gods descending to treat with mortals. Alcoves occupy the space between these windows, and within each stands the towering statue of a heroic figure. Rows upon rows of pews—two dozen at least—lead to a raised dais, upon which stands a squat altar of marble, inscribed with ancient rites. It’s clear that this is a destination for worshippers from many miles around.   The Bishop - Rowena Fireforge.  

Tavern – The Laughing Axe

  Traditional tavern. Patrons chat, tell stories, and laugh throughout the tavern. Chairs move. A fire crackles in the corner and the artful playing of musicians adds to the welcoming ambience. Behind the bar hangs a well worn, well used and well loved axe. That’s clearly seen a lot, and I mean a LOT of action.   Proprietors - Drakk Ivarsson and Avola Ivarsson   

Town Hall

A building larger than most others in town sits behind the market and near the Laughing Axe. Long woven tapestries featuring the town’s seal hang above every entrance. The large double-doors are designed to admit crowds all at once in times of celebration, meeting, or emergency.   Inside the town hall, stout iron chandeliers hang from the support beams of a vaulted ceiling, filling the hall with a steady light and a pleasing warmth from their oil lamps, which cast flickering shadows on the cut stone floors. To one side, tables are stacked neatly for use in times of festival, as well as long benches cut and polished from old-growth logs. At the far side of the hall a platform has been erected, on which, front and centre, sits a lectern adorned with the town’s seal.   Mayor - Lucretia Redmond   

Market

The market sits just across from the Frostwater Bridge, thrumming with the rustic hum of calm dealings. Two tents combine to form an array of wares, dried goods, and produce. Farmers and merchants dressed more like nobility sweep behind the stalls, giving bulk prices on rations and offering various packing options—from beasts of burden to shopping-bags of holding.   Notable Traders Baker - Lila Moonshadow - Her stall sells delicious pastries, cakes, and bread. The stall is adorned with colourful cloths and the scent of freshly baked goods wafts through the air.   Jeweller - Seraphina Goldleaf - Her stall sells exquisite jewellery and enchanted trinkets. The stall glitters with precious gems and shimmering metals. Trained as a jeweller in her elven father's workshop.   Butcher - Rag’Nosh Bloodbane - Takes pride in providing the freshest cuts of meat (which may or may not be from animals). His stall sells various cuts of meat, both common and exotic. The stall is filled with the smell of roasting meat and the sound of sizzling.   Market Manager Gideon Ironheart - Gideon is responsible for maintaining order in the market, resolving disputes between vendors, ensuring that the stalls are up to code, and managing the allocation of stall spaces. He also organises events and festivals to attract more visitors to the market.   Gideon's "stall" is more of an office near the heart of the market, where he can keep an eye on the activities and be readily available to address any issues. The office is decorated with maps, schedules, and a bulletin board with announcements and updates for the vendors.  

Smithy

The air shimmers with heat from the forge, and the clamour of hammer on anvil is nearly deafening. The smithy is little more than an angled roof set over a workshop to keep out the elements. Hammers, tongs, and chisels adorn the wall beside blades, axes, spears, and the more mundane metal of farming implements and horseshoes.   Blacksmith – Garrett Blackstone   

Alchemist / Herbalist

A magnificent adornment upon a hanging sign catches light and attention in equal measure. A gleaming golden dragon scale, its shape and size similar to a heater shield, hangs on the otherwise ordinary wooden slab. The scale is marred: a cut from a sword here, a divot from a piercing dagger or arrowhead there. Whether pried or shed from a golden dragon’s hide, the scale is an impressive display for the shop—and begs the question of what might be bartered within.   Inside it’s chaos, which you hope is organised in some way. The crotchety gnome alchemist moves quickly from table to table, checking first on a bubbling beaker, then an overflowing vial. He stirs something in a cauldron and wipes up a nearby spill. His speed and focus among all of the odds, ends and knick-knacks is much as you expected, though you were not expecting quite so many spoons strewn all over the place.   Alchemist – Fizzwick Bramblebur   

Oakminster General Goods

This general store is packed full of odds and ends that any adventurer might need. Even the lanterns that light the dimmer corners of the store are labeled with tags that read For the right price in a flowing script. The owner, a halfling with skin the color of tanned leather, stands atop a stool behind the counter. He is garbed in fine clothing—a stark contrast to his cluttered shop. He wears a purple jerkin fitted with gleaming buttons and dark leather pants that tuck neatly into a pair of hide boots, which are dyed to match the tone of his trousers. A couple of employees help restock and tidy shelves: a half-elf woman and a human man who smile sheepishly at their boss's bawdy jokes. The hide of a chimera, a mix of wheat-blonde fur and sickly green scales, adorns the back wall, its hideous head and spined tail still attached.   Owner – Bartleby Longfellow  Assistant – Kaelith Starwhisper  Assistant – Gareth Thorne   

Town Watch Barracks

The watch loiters a bit, leaning on buildings, nodding hellos to women and children, and muttering quiet threats to some of the harder-looking men. At the bridge into town, the guards watch for incoming heralds, couriers, or supplies. A short distance away at the docks, the guards squint for incoming ships and keep their talk to a minimum.   Master of the Watch - Captain Reginald “Reggie” Fitzwilliam.   

Wizard’s Tower

A gleaming tower of stone rises high into the air, topped by a round structure of wood and plaster. A door in its roof lies open to the sky, and from it projects a gleaming brass tube. The only other apparent entrance to the tower—besides a few arrow loops—is a small door painted bright green. But it stands in the rounded wall of the tower about twenty feet above the ground.   If wizard is welcoming guests then the door magically appears at ground level.   Inside, the base of the wizard tower is spare, with only a few unremarkable chairs and a sideboard. Upon the sideboard sits a crystal decanter full of some amber liquid left out for invited guests. A tasteful painting of the tower's owner presides over the foyer from its place above the blazing hearth, which emits heat into the room.   The Wizard - Valandor Nighthaven   

Farm

The first thing you hear is the bray of a mule followed by a cacophony of snorts, squeals, and bleats joining a chorus of protest as you encroach on the farmstead. Two draft horses shift forward, staring at you through soft eyes, their tails flicking nervously against the confines of a shared pen. The unpainted barn that houses them is cornered by thick stone pillars supporting a slanted shingle roof. Behind it, neat rows of barley, wheat, and oats grow as far as the eye can see. Turning to face a small farmhouse, you prepare to call out a greeting, taking in the rich scent of manure and fresh cut hay.   Farmer - Bartholomew Oakfield  Farmer’s Wife - @eliza Oldest Son - Thomas Oakfield Oldest Daughter - Margaret "Maggie" Oakfield Younger Son - Samuel "Sam" Oakfield Youngest Daughter - Emily “Milly” Oakfield  

Mansion

Seemingly out of place in the town of Oakminster, is the Manor. Gargoyles glare stonily down from the pitched roof of the stately structure, suggesting this place is protected by dark forces, even if the statues don’t spring to life. Tall, narrow windows give the impression of hauteur, and the great crimson entry doors bear iron bracing, painted a glossy black and fashioned to look like thorny vines. It is as impressive as it is unwelcoming.   Owner - Lord Alistair Thornwell.