Amberbark Village

Amberbark Village is a settlement located within the forests of the Southern Wildlands of Pyalea, ten or so days travel east of The City.

Amberbark is a small community nestled in a quiet valley within the forests of the Wilds. It draws its name from the grove of trees found in and around the small valley, with orange-gold trunks, and crimson-red leaves.

The trees are carefully looked after and revered, with only extremities and fallen branches ever being taken for use, and even then historically only used for their most important works. In recent years they have begun exporting the wood, which makes for an excellent construction and carving material, primarily through the trade hub of the nearby town of Baybluff.

The village is overseen by an entity they refer to as "Care", and is embodied in the several-storey carving of a feminine figure that curls around the main building of the village square. The true nature of the entity is unclear, but the locals consider her to be a matronly protector, and akin to a “mother nature” figure in keeping with their own respect for the forest around them.

Occupants

The spiritual leader and ultimate authority of Amberbark rests in the position of their sage. The position is currently occupied by Sage Brutar, an eccentric and somewhat prickly human man. The sage's primary responsibility is to maintain relations with the local spirits, ensuring their needs and desires are met, and communicating the village's own needs to their spiritual benefactors.

The current de-facto leader of the population of the village, as well as their day-to-day operations, organisation, dispute resolution, and diplomacy, is the human woman Lilith. She’s straight-spoken and no-nonsense. While she isn’t hostile to outsiders, and happy to accomodate trade and hospitality if deemed appropriate, she has little time for those who would bring outside troubles to their door.

Amberbark Village was home to the only other official chapter house of The Order of the Ancient Heart within the region, having been established within the last two years by Bishop Nurest. While Bishop Durand of The City had received scattered updates, there had not yet been any real contact made.

Amberbark is the former home of Bartleby, who was banished from the village for his association with a group of outsiders that ran afoul of the local spirits. Shortly after leaving the village, Bartleby was used as a refuge for the spirit of the druid Ash, co-occupying his body in order to escape spirit realm and the clutches of The Void.

Recent Events

Recent experiences suggest that "Care", or the local spirits that reside within and interact with the village, are connected or affiliated somehow with an entity referred to as "The Void" that resides within the spirit realm and seems to be able to exert direct and strong influence over the residents of Amberbark.

The druid Ash was spiritually abducted by The Void, his body taken over by an aspect of the entity, and used to assassinate Bishop Gaspar Nurest during an incident in the nearby village of Crystalcombe.