Faren's Point

"Waves crash against jagged rocks on the shore of Faren's Point. A widower who knows not her title stares out into the wall of fog coiling through the stony spires that barricade the northern shore of the port. A beam of light cuts through the mist, momentarily illuminating a shape within the mist. A ship's mast cuts through the sheets covering the ocean. The widower hurries to port, seeking her lost lover, due home to her a full two months ago. She greets a man whom wears her betrothed's face, but not his heart. They feast on the flesh of the whales that night; The town never hears her wails."

Faren's Point Founders

Faren's Point was settled in 1566 P.C. upon the orders of the Council of Innerith. They had heard tales from the elves of enormous fish whose meat is rich like cows, and whose fat can burn for days. The settlers, who were citizens of the city of Hazenfall, set out on the 5th of the Season of Rebirth, just after the thaw of Tide's Seize. They were sent via a fleet of 4 vessels, including a galleon, and three newly constructed whaleships. These vessels would sail around the deserts of Lazeen, making their landfall at Faren's Point on the 40th of the Season of Rebirth. For a whole season, the settlers lived in camps or on their vessels as the town's construction began. Some laborers were hired from Old Mathennor, but most work was done by the sailors. Construction of the town center, featuring a tavern, inn, and town hall was completed by the start of the Season of Decay.

Whaling

Faren's Point is a gold-gilded town. Due to the extreme demand for whale products, each successful voyage can nearly set a man up for life. That said, very little of quality is imported into the town. Many of the townsfolk have significant trouble with money, almost seeming to be cursed with how the dice roll when playing against out-of-towners in the gambling hall. Most sailors seem to do their best to avoid signing another contract to head to sea, yet they are always pulled back like the tide, finding themselves signing onto another captain every few years.

Each voyage seeks to fell only a single whale, as they are large enough to keep the crew busy for nearly a whole month processing the beast. It is grisly and dangerous work, with lost sailors being a common event for every vessel. Beyond this, the eastern ocean is particularly treacherous, having a nearly constant wall of fog that haunts it's rocky coasts. This would pose a serious threat to even the most seasoned sailor, yet there lies an even more insidious threat in the cold waves of Faren's Point. Vessels often will go missing for months, or even years at a time. The lucky sailors return only having lost memory of the missing time. The unfortunate return with haunted looks, or no longer recognize their loved ones. Despite these dangers many of the sailors consider it a point of pride that they remain in Faren's Point, even if they are reluctant to sign another contract until their pockets run empty.

The Widow’s Anchorage

Constructed with old weathered and waterboarded lumber, one can immediately tell that many shipwrecks have been cannibalized to maintain this sorry establishment. A single hearth behind the bar barely pushes back the bite of the ocean wind. A permanent stench of briny water and seaweed cuts through even the pungent tobacco smoke that constantly curls through the air. The tavern is nearly always full, but unnervingly quiet for the number of sailors who frequent it. Patrons tend to keep their conversations down to a mumble, unless they are doing particularly poorly at the dice table in the back. An out-of-towner will find many accusing looks sent their way, especially if they take a seat at the dice table. They will never be denied a seat at the table, but if they win too much, they may find a group waiting to jump them upon leaving. However, if a stranger sits at the table and loses most of their money, many of the townsfolk will become interested in getting to know them. Perhaps they may make a fine new neighbor.