Noclais

Noclais is a hamlet and the largest settlement in the Pig Meadows area.
The name Noclais is a modern reworking of the Old Chrich name Cnocaglais ("Church Hill"). The hamlet was originally founded during Kylune's uniting for the human tribes, over 2000 years ago, and has remained relatively the same size ever since. Across it's history Noclais has been a settlement focused on the rearing of sheep.
== Characteristics ==
=== History ===
For the most part, Noclais' history has been largely uneventful.
Evidence exists that suggests a pre-Empire tribe once settled the land that Noclais now sits on. The Pillared Earth-House, which sits on the hamlet's eastern edge, is an underground passageway and pillared chamber which historians date well before the founding of the Empire. Nevertheless, little is known about it and, when compared to similar structures, this one is unusually deep. It is hypothesised that the passage once connected to a now-destroyed surface structure, or perhaps that it held some kind of religious or ceremonial significance.
Noclais as we know it today is first mentioned in writings dating back to Kylune's life, during her uniting of the humans. In this text, the hamlet is acknowledged as the land of Clan MacGunn. Noclais comes up again in writings during the Emergence War, where it is said a battle took place between the Arachi Swarm and the local militia. The story tells of how the untrained militia stood for 4 days against overwhelming attack before each and every human in the hamlet was killed.
=== Geography ===
Noclais, nestled within the verdant expanse of the Pig Meadows area, possesses a certain pastoral charm. The geography of Noclais is marked by gently rolling hills and fertile land, with the hamlet perched atop a modest elevation that historically provided a panoramic vantage point over the surrounding meadows and farmlands. This terrain, predominantly composed of rich, loamy soil, has been meticulously cultivated for generations, predominantly for sheep rearing, which thrives under the temperate and somewhat mild climate characteristic of the area. Weather patterns in Noclais are consistent with the broader Pig Meadows area, featuring mild winters and cool summers, with ample rainfall distributed evenly throughout the year, fostering lush pastures and healthy crops that support the hamlet and its outlying estates. Even still, Noclais' climate tends to be on the colder side, due to air currents that flow down from the mountainous Spine of the World. As a result, it is generally cooler than much of The Impireacht during the summer months.
=== Economy ===
The economy of Noclais, deeply rooted in its pastoral heritage, revolves predominantly around sheep rearing. The fertile lands of the hamlet and its surroundings are utilised extensively for grazing, supporting a substantial population of sheep which provide wool, meat, and dairy products as the cornerstone of the local economy. Many local families raise their own sheep herds, which vary in size. Wool, in particular, is a prized commodity, with local weavers transforming the raw fleece into high-quality textiles that are traded both within the Pig Meadows area and beyond. The largest of these weavers, Jack & Foster, specialises in tweed production. This trade in wool and woollen goods has fostered a modest but stable economic environment, encouraging a self-sufficient lifestyle amongst the inhabitants. Additionally, the hamlet benefits from the cultivation of crops such as barley and turnips, which supplement the diet of both the community and their livestock. The small scale of agricultural and textile production ensures that Noclais remains a close-knit community.
=== Culture ===
Noclais's culture is steeped in tradition with a strong emphasis on pastoral life and community events. Central to the hamlet's cultural identity is the annual Sheep Festival, a celebration of the wool industry and sheep rearing heritage, featuring shearing competitions, wool crafts, and traditional music and dance. This celebration is also known as the Mata Festival and is named after Mata MacGunn, an old chieftain of Clan MacGunn who is seen as a kind of local folk hero. The architectural landscape of Noclais is dominated by the old stone Church of Domovon at its heart. This building, alongside the scattered stone cottages and barns, embodies the hamlet's long history and serves as a focal point for community gatherings. Historical significance is also found in the ancient standing stones on the outskirts, believed to mark the boundaries of early settlements and serving as silent witnesses to the hamlet's enduring connection to the land. These elements are also coupled with a strong oral tradition of storytelling and folk music.
Every Yule Day and New Year's Day, Noclais holds what is locally known as The Ba' Game. This is a large match of football between two sides of the hamlet (called the Lefties and Righties), except the rules are derived from a much older variation of the game and so matches tend to be a fair bit more violent than contemporary football.
== Trivia ==
* Noclais is loosely inspired by Kirkwall, the largest town in Orkney.