Xandarin

The village’s mix reflects both its history and Esmerelda’s open hand:

• Humans and halfling are descendants of the Aul’Daran rangers, refugees as well as natural woodsfolk and gatherers, welcomed in the early years.
• Infernal-blooded born with in the village due to the infernal corruption of the very land within the empire.
• Orc-blooded once strong hunters and scouts for the area; some lineages trace to the Aul'Daran rangers who stayed.
• Dwarves consist of a few families of salvagers and masons.
• The remainder are made up of scattered wanderers, outcasts, or fey-touched souls.

The village is overseen by a Council of Four:

• Huntmaster: Leads hunters, defends the town from beasts.
• Hearthmaster: Oversees crops, buildings, and food stores. (Currently Esmerelda, after the last Hearthmaster’s death.)
• Watchmaster: Rotates each year, tasked with keeping order.
• Lodgemaster: Acts as mayor, final say on town matters.

Law & Taxation: Laws are simple—harm no neighbor, keep the Oath of Silence, respect the ward. Offenders are fined, set to labor, or exiled. A small tithe (10%) of food, hides, and craft goods is pooled for communal use.

• The Veil-Ward: Esmerelda’s enchantment twists paths, confuses eyes, and blinds scrying.
• In emergencies, the wardline itself can lash with thorny roots, though Esmerelda rarely invokes this destructive magic.
• Militia: Roughly 40 villagers can fight, with 15 serving as regular scouts.

Most survive by hunting, foraging, mushroom farming, leatherwork, and woodcraft. They trade rarely, only with trusted merchants, selling arrows, salves, and rare herbs. Imports are iron, salt, cloth, and alchemical supplies.

• Heartstump Lodge: The center of Xandarin, carved into the stump of the great tree. Houses Esmerelda, the council hall, infirmary, and archive.
• Ring Paths: Homes and workshops built in a circle around the Heartstump.
• Hearthfields: Small gardens and mushroom terraces for food.
• Edgewatch: The outermost homes and hidden ward-markers.
• Slipway: A secret dock on a feeder stream, hidden by reeds.

• Weapons: About 60 bows, 100 spears, 20 shields, a handful of heirloom steel blades.
• Supplies: Mushroom caverns, smokehouses, and a shared granary.
• Valuables: Esmerelda’s warding lore, old Aul’Daran relics, and the Heartstump Lodge’s hidden vault.

• 60 Years Ago: Aul’Daran rangers and refugees, trapped during the Pale Wars, sheltered by Esmerelda.
• The Hidden Stump: The community grew around the great fallen tree.
• The Oath of Silence: Outsiders allowed in must swear secrecy.
• 21 years ago: Vaerishrys appears at the River Heart and began corrupting the surrounding land.
• Today: Xandarin thrives quietly, but the River Heart grows restless.

• Heartstump Lodge: Central hall and Esmerelda’s home.
• Wayfarer’s Rest: The only inn and tavern, famed for its stew.
• Ashen Forge: Small smithy, salvaged tools and weapons.
• Glowfields: Mushroom terraces that feed much of the town.
• River Shrine: Cairn at the ward’s edge, where oaths are made.
• Hollow Watch: Hollow tree tower with lookouts.

Buildings are made of split cedar, river-stone, and moss sod roofs. Doors are painted in bright colors: red for workshops, blue for homes, yellow for healers. Wards and charms—braided cords, shells, and driftwood carvings—hang from eaves. The Heartstump is decorated with spiraling knotwork, half art, half ward-script