Mosstone

The village of Mosstone, deep in the heart of the Weald, is named for its moss-covered walls that keep the dangers of the wilds out. Straddling the river Avainn, it acts as a trading hub for a variety of more isolated communities, allowing goods and people to be ferried north to more populated lands.

The people of the village vary widely, as travelers often elect to settle down within the safe mossy walls. Humans and halflings are the most common, but several Vae'Nadas elves and surface dwarves live in the village too. The Allmoot of the orcs was held within a day's travel a decade ago, and one orcish smith chose Mosstone as her new clan, providing sturdy ironmongery to those that need it.

The heart of the village is The Flower and Cups, an inn that at times houses as many people as the rest of the village put together. Run by the sweet and affable Faygrace Cobbletoss, the inn provides private rooms to those that can afford it, and floor space to all that need it. Simple meals and thin beer are cheap and plentiful, luring travelers and traders well out of their way for a good night. Known locally as the Flower, the inn makes sure to buy in rare bottles whenever they pass through the village, meaning that the bar is surprisingly well-stocked with drinks to please even the most refined palate. All in all the Flower is all things to all people and forms the heart of village life.

The rest of the village either serves the inn or its patrons, proving smithing, shipping, appraisal, or guiding services to its clientele.

The Massacre at Guilded Ford
A half days travel up the Avainn river of Mosstone lies the Guilded Ford, a broad and shallow crossing named for the soft yellow sand in the rivers' bed. The ford provides the easiest crossing over the river in the area and was commonly used by all sorts of folk, from dwarven caravans to Skylfling travelers. The Order of the Shining Hand used the ford as the measure of their southern border: the limit of how far they were able to patrol.

The rebels of Falconhand Heights saw the Order's use of the ford as a deliberate attempt to control and tax trade in the region, a display of force meant to demonstrate that no travel in the region was possible without their protection. They were also concerned that the Order would use their control of Guilded Ford to push deeper into the Weald, carving out more territory and using the river to link the lands under their rule back to Fivespire keep.

The rebels sent a warning to Duke Giovanni Di Argenti that trolls were massing to the west of the river, waiting for the soldiers sent to deal with the problem to be knee-deep in the river before unleashing a hail of black-flighted arrows. The entire company was killed before they were able to respond, and the river was choked with their bodies.

Unfortunately, the barbarism shown at Guilded Ford has poisoned the river, making the water that flows through Mosstone highly dangerous to drink, and forcing the residents to seek water elsewhere. The Flower and Cups imports barrels of water from the well at Redleaf Dale, spending a lot of coin to ensure that travelers into the town are still able to drink as bathe as they please.



Old Mag
The woman known only as Old Mag has been Mosstone's protector for as long as anyone can remember. Her sod hut only seems to appear to those lost in the woods, meaning that those that wish to seek her out must deliberately leave the safe trails and hope that they stumble across her clearing.

Old Mag appears to be an ancient woman, her gnarled features leaving onlookers unsure of her race or origin. She is often found cooking in a large stew pot or pruning the plants that surround and even grow over her hut, and is quick to provide food or drink to anyone who stumbles upon her. Locals suggest that Old Mag played a large part in keeping Mosstone safe from harsh winters, poor harvests, and, most recently, the ongoing skirmishes between the rebels of Falconhand Heights and the knights of Fivespire Keep

While she is kindly, Old Mag is very strict about promises, making it clear that any promise made to her must not be broken. The children of Mosstone tell scary stories of what might happen if someone broke a promise made to Old Mag, but the stories are probably to horrible to be true.