Hofn

Hofn

**Hofn** (pronounced *HOFF-in*) was a village on the southern shore of Arda's Lake in the Northlands of Yulia. It was home to the most powerful of the Goliath lake clans as well as the largest permanent settlement in the area. It served as the social, religious, and political focus for the tribes and was the site for their yearly celebration of Sjooffer. During the week of that festival, all of the nomadic tribes and those with other villages around the lake would converge on **Hofn**, increasing that village's population considerably.

## History

The actual date of the founding of **Hofn** was lost to the dustbins of history. The village and clan records were almost entirely oral in nature and thus prone to both hyperbole and inaccuracies. It was known that famed adventurer Samuel Destmalchian once spent a few years living among the lake clans, making his home in **Hofn** for a time in the year 9802 AR. What little history known by those outside the region is generally gleaned from Samuel's research.

## Geography

The village was located at the northern edge of a pass leading to Arda's Lake and the valley and hills surrounding it. As such, **Hofn** was a gateway to the region.

## Demographics

**Hofn**'s population was almost exclusively made of Goliaths. A handful of regional Firbolgs also made permanent homes there. Other races were generally accepted though would be expected to assimilate into the clans' culture if intending to stay for long periods of time.

## Government

**Hofn** was ruled by a tribal council made up of the eldest members of two Aettins, those of Lake-And-Claw and Mead-And-Hall. The chieftain of Lake-And-Claw, Thoguf, acted as the de-facto ruler of the village, his Aettin, and the rest of the Goliath lake clans.

## Defense

Like all the Goliath lake clans, a healthy portion of its populace were ready and willing to fight. There was no organized standing army or town guard, but the villages' warriors could be mobilized with just a word from their chieftain or in the case of **Hofn**, his daughter Amkra. The village's culture valued honor and the warrior code so it was understood that every able-bodied dweller could be called upon to defend their home from threats within or without.

## Commerce

**Hofn** was the largest and most important village of the Goliath lake clans, yet it was still relatively small. Its "commerce" was simple barter trading between residents, the other clans, and the random itinerant traveler, gold would occasionally be accepted but that was not the norm. Due to the regions harsh climate, certain foodstuffs and metal goods were seen as more valuable than other methods of payment.

## Organizations

More extended family groups than traditional organizations, two or most powerful Aettins in the Northlands are based in **Hofn**, those of Lake-And-Claw and those of Mead-And-Hall.

## Notable people

* **Amkra -** Eldest daughter of Thoguf and heir of those of Lake-And-Claw.
* **Gansi -** The holy man of **Hofn**. He was known to regularly have visions. He was of Mead-And-Hall.
* **Thoguf -** The chieftain of **Hofn**, or Lake-And-Claw, as well as the over-chief of the lake clans.
* **Sesi -** Youngest daughter of Thoguf and of Lake-And-Claw.