The expedition from Garne, after more than five years of travelling, founding Mumblemack after a number of The Graced received visions of a prosporous settlement in the location, and further divine feathers falling upon it, which seemed to urge them to settle there. There was debate as not all the travellers wanted to just stop, and felt that some of the Graced were just tired of travelling, but agreement was eventually reached.
The History of Mumblemack
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836 SC
The Founding of Mumblemack
Founding -
837 SC
Heavy Flooding cuts off the Settlement
Geological / environmental eventEarly in 1637 SC, heavy rainfall caused the Kerfar Lydd River to swell significantly for a couple of months. This cut off Mumblemack from their early attempts to find neighbours to trade with, and made fishing very dangerous, and crossing the river even more so. This led to food being scarce, and they were heavily dependent on eggs gleaned from the nesting birds on the cliffs. Tensions developed between those members of The Graced who had had experienced the visions telling them to settle down there, and the rest of the settlement, but there was little choice but to buckle down and weather through. Eventually, late in the Spring, the river returned to its regular limits, and fishing and normal crossings could resume.
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842 SC
A Councillor is Taken Down a Peg
Life, Failure / MishapBy 1645 SC, The Plumed had established themselves as the rightful leaders (according to them), on the basis of their powerful divine magics, which they had practiced since birth. They formed a council, which was generally respected by the rest of Mumblemack. However some of these Plumed allowed their arrogance to dominate them. Lady Dualla Fetsiver De Cael was one of the councillors who had no real respect for anyone outside The Plumed. She particularly felt that The Circle of the Jewelled Wing were foolish for nuturing their magical bird companions, who she felt had no relation to Gemogha of the Graced Feathers, and who were just taking advantage of the extra food. These druids grew fed up with her dismissive treatment and disrespect and negotiated with several families of the cliff-nesting birds, who began to follow her, defecate on her, and sit on her hut and caw continuously. After a week of this, and of being laughed at by other members of the settlement, her pride broke and she begged forgiveness. The birds left her alone, but she resigned from the council and was far more subdued in her work. This led to other members of The Plumed becoming more cautious in how they treated the rest of the community, and they were a little more willing to share power, at least with The Scattergrace.
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867 SC
Invention of the Glimmer Moss Engine
Technological achievementAfter years of expending a lot of energy and time trying to traverse the powerfully flowing Kerfar Lydd River, and struggling to cross at all in winter months, in 1667 SC two goblins, Grabble Quipsnapper and Zena Erycrag invent a basic engine for their boats. It's fuelled by glimmer moss, a faintly magical moss found in the local Snaptrap Marsh. The engines aren't perfect, but enable the goblins to cross the river far easily, transport more goods further, and visit neighbouring civilisations more often.
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868 - 1002 SC
A Golden Period
Era beginning/endA long period of peace and prosperity for the settlement, as life becomes easier after the invention of the glimmer moss engines. Travel and trade improve, exploration of the area leads to new discoveries, and the faith of Gemogha of the Graced Feathers becomes more established.
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1003 SC
A Disasterous Rockfall
Disaster / DestructionA minor earthquake causes intense rockfall, which destroys a large area of the settlement on the cliffside of the river. Thankfully it occurs during the day when most people are out and about, so fatalities are few, but many buildings are destroyed and citizens become nervous at living next to the cliffs, leading to more people building their homes across the river.
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1004 SC
The Vision of Spippa Nestfinder
Political eventIn the aftermath of the rockfall and the destruction of much of the settlement, and the deaths of a number of beloved residents, there is some discussion about whether it would be wiser to move to another area. At a town city discussing the possiblities of leaving or rebuilding, a woman, Spippa Nestfinder has an intense vision of a huge, softly glowing blue bird, who she recognises as Gemogha of the Graced Feathers, flying over a rebuilt and prospering Mumblemack, and coming to perch on the entrance of a silvery temple entrance built into the side of the cliff. As people watch, they see a blue tattoo-like mark in the shape of Gemogha bloom on Spippa's cheek. Spippa was not one of The Graced previously, and this new public blessing, coupled with the positive vision, sways the meeting to vote in favour of staying. The Scattergrace are pleased at this new public blessing of a new member of the Graced, and see it as a sign that Gemogha truly sees them all as equals, with no special regard for The Plumed. When the following summer results in a higher than usual number of eggs granted by the nesting birds, more fish, and some excellent trade deals with other settlements, there is much gratitude to Spippa Nestfinder for her vision and prompting them all to remain. She ends up being voted as the head of the council, where she proves pleasantly astute, though her visions in later years lack the intensity and impression of her first.
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1055 SC
Invasion of Kyra Lizards Leading to Food Supply Issues
Geological / environmental eventThe appearance of kyra lizards on the cliffs causes serious problems for Mumblemack's residents. Their bite carries a paralytic, and they're aggressive in biting any citizens who try to retrieve eggs, and many fall from the cliffs and sustain serious injuries or die. Unsure how to deal with the species, who refuse to cooperate even with the druids of The Circle of the Jewelled Wing, and unwilling to risk further fatalities, the council orders the community to stop going after eggs from all but the lowest reaches of the cliffs. They become a rare treat, often one enjoyed at services dedicated to the worship of Gemogha of the Graced Feathers, instead of a daily staple, and cease to be a viable trade good for the settlement, which causes trade difficulties for a while
Species
Kyra Lizards -
1115 SC
Construction of the Featherfoot Bridge
Construction beginning/endTrade with the settlement of Zeno leads to the discovery of a new innovative building material. Sun Shoots and Sienne Resin, when mixed together, can be used to create bricks of incredibly lightness and durablity. These materials are used to construct the Featherfoot Bridge, which eliminates the need for boats whenever citizens want to cross the river, and helps build community between the two sides of the town.
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1142 SC
The Night of Deepest Shadow
Military: BattleOne winter night, a second crater opens up next to the Fistfall Crater and a rift to the Underdark opens. A number of wraiths crawl out, and invade the mostly sleeping settlement. The settlement had little in formal defense, only a semi-trained as-needed local militia, but The Graced came together and were able to repel the wraiths with their divine gifts. Several dozen people died before the wraiths were defeated, and the rift could be closed by the most powerful among the Graced, but most citizens were saved. As a result of this night, the nightwatch duties were replaced by the more formal Starwalker Watch, who patrolled the town with more rigor during the night, and always included several members of The Graced. Worship of Gemogha of the Graced Feathers also increased in intensity as a result of this event.
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1143 - 1145 SC
A Market Forms for Fake Charms and Relics
MiscellaneousAfter The Night of Deepest Shadow, worship of Gemogha of the Graced Feathers intensifies, as does fear within the settlement. Admiration of The Graced and curiousity about the origin of their talents also grows in neighbouring settlements who hear about the attack. As a result of these things, an unsanctioned market in supposed charms and relics related to Gemogha of the Graced Feathers, or even of Their better-known prophets like Spippa Nestfinder, grows. While some of The Graced geniunely spend some time creating protection charms to comfort scared citizens, or to make some extra cash, most of these charms and 'relics' are fakes. The council tries to stop the practice, but it proves hard to stomp out, especially since even the more skeptical need comfort during this time.
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1167 SC
The Midnight Migration
Celestial / CosmicOver the course of a night, every bird nesting on the cliffs in the vicinity of Mumblemack begins to glow a soft blue. The Starwalker Watch notice this, just as every bird rises, begins to circle the settlement, before flying away. For days, no birds are seen, and fear spikes in the settlement, as people wonder if this is a sign that Gemogha of the Graced Feathers is abandoning them. However The Graced retain their powers, and over the course of the next few weeks, new birds arrive and start to nest on the cliff, and the event doesn't repeat, so the fear eventually fades.
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1170 -1177 SC
The Grace Bloom Library is Constructed
Construction beginning/endWhen siblings Gnombul and Lumbla Stoneskip join the council, they bring their passion for education. Both were lucky enough to spend several years in Zeno during their youth where they attended a good school, and want the citizens of Mumblemack to have a similar chance to learn about things beyond the skills needed to run the settlement. They talked to still-privileged members of The Plumed on the council, and encourage them to donate to and support the building of a library, in order to boost their own reputations. After several years of hard work, the Grace Bloom Public Library is opened. Located within one of the caves, the librarians grow Nowl Blossoms throughout the shelves, which drain moisture from the air and keep the books in excellent condition. The scattered teachers of Mumblemack are able to build more a structured programme of education and improve access to all by holding regular classes in the well-equipped library. Literacy in the settlement improves significantly, and more and more citizens start to study the beginnings of subjects like arcana and medicine, as well as improve their knowledge of subjects like engineering.
Location
Grace Bloom Public Library