Wolfden

Wolfden is a small but tightly woven town, with a population made up primarily of Aurelian, along with a notable and historically marginalized Mbali community. Generational families make up the majority of residents, many of whom have lived here since before Buzatia claimed administrative ownership.

The town has a noticeable social, economic, and cultural divide between the residents of Old Wolfden/The House and those living in Bright Village. That said, younger generations have started crossing those boundaries, slowly shifting the town’s future.

Wolfden is administered by a Mayor, chosen through public election every five years. While nominally autonomous, the town answers to the Duchy of Buzatia, with its taxes and larger decisions often scrutinized or shaped by the Duke or Duchess’s envoys.

The House district serves as the administrative center. The mayor governs with the aid of a small council, consisting of:

• A steward of commerce
• A local magistrate
• A representative from Bright Village
• A liaison to Buzatia

While the mayor has executive authority, tradition weighs heavily—major decisions are usually made with consultation, especially where old customs or superstitions are involved.

Wolfden’s economy is modest, relying primarily on:

• Timber and charcoal from nearby woods
• Hunting and trapping
• Local herbalism and spiritcraft, including charms, salves, and incense
• Small-scale farming and livestock

A few families run trade caravans between Mesch and Tenby, selling local goods like wolf pelts, rare herbs, and spirit-touched wood carvings. The Mbali artisans of Bright Village are known for their intricate beadwork, masks, and spirit drums, which are slowly gaining recognition outside the town.

Wolfden is modestly developed, maintaining cobblestone roads, a small aqueduct system that channels mountain spring water into the town, and a market square that operates three days a week.

Electric light is absent; oil lanterns and hearth fires still illuminate most homes and streets. A few watchtowers and a stockade fence mark the edges of town, originally built to keep out predators—natural and otherwise.

Recent years have seen investment from the Duchy in restoring bridges and reinforcing The House, but many areas, especially Bright Village and the outskirts, see little funding or development.

Old Wolfden

The heart of the town and its oldest quarter. Winding lanes, leaning cottages, and timeworn buildings give Old Wolfden a moody, nostalgic charm. Local legends are told around hearthfires here—tales of werewolves, forest spirits, and long-buried secrets. This is also where you'll find the Old Bell Square, the town’s unofficial gathering place.

The House

More than a district, The House is the name given to both the governing estate and the few surrounding manors owned by wealthy landholders. Set on a small rise with iron gates and pristine hedgerows, The House is imposing and aloof. The mayor lives here, as do visiting officials from Buzatia.

Haunted Hills

To the west lie the Haunted Hills, named for the whispers and fog that never seem to leave. Local children dare each other to climb the slopes at night. Hunters, herbalists, and loners still make use of the woods and hills, but they travel in pairs and rarely after dark. This is where The Hanging Tree was located.

Bright Village

Built decades ago during a politically tense period, Bright Village was established as a separate housing district for Wolfden’s Mbali community. Though smaller and less maintained than other areas, it has developed a character all its own—vibrant murals, communal gardens, and tight-knit households. The district holds its own festivals and traditions, and despite systemic obstacles, has grown into a space of strength, culture, and resistance.

Old Bell Square: Community gathering space and market area.

The House: Center of governance, also used for public trials and celebrations.

The Fogstone Path: A winding trail through Haunted Hills, used for foraging and pilgrimage.

Founded in 1775 AR, Wolfden started as a hunting and logging outpost. The name came from the packs of wolves that once roamed freely—some say they still do, in a form both furred and cursed.

When the Duchy of Buzatia expanded northward, Wolfden was absorbed for its timber resources and strategic location. Since then, it has remained mostly quiet, with occasional flare-ups due to land disputes and internal tensions—particularly over the treatment of the Mbali population.

A major incident in 1812 AR involving a fire, a hanging, and a vanished envoy from Buzatia led to a deep mistrust between locals and outsiders. Some believe the hills took him. Others say he never left.

The Wolf’s Den Tavern: Built from the original hunting lodge. A favorite haunt.

The Murmuring Stone: A standing stone behind Old Bell Square that whispers on the solstice.

Mayor’s Archives: Contain handwritten records going back to the town's founding.

Wolfden’s architecture is practical and sturdy, with steep-roofed wooden houses, fieldstone chimneys, and iron-forged latches. Homes in Old Wolfden are close together, sometimes built into the terrain. Bright Village uses wattle and daub, with homes painted in rich earthy colors and decorated with personal and communal symbols.

The House, in contrast, is a two-story stone mansion with leaded glass windows, spiked gates, and ornamental ironwork—a stark contrast to the rest of town.

Wolfden sits on the southern edge of a dense forest, with rolling hills to the west and a clear freshwater stream that runs down from the mountains to the north. The landscape is lush but often shrouded in morning fog. Narrow trails and wooded paths connect the town to the outside world.

Cool, mist-heavy, and damp. Fog blankets the town in the early hours, and rain is frequent year-round. Winters are cold but manageable; summers are brief and filled with birdsong and blooming moss. Moonlight is bright here, and stories often begin with, “On a night when the fog didn’t lift…”

Timber and charcoal

Medicinal herbs and roots

Spirit-touched flora (highly valued by alchemists and spiritualists)

Wild game

Cold spring water