Easthallow

## History of Easthallow

Easthallow started as a Keep and docks. It was an attempt to colonize and expand. Clearly this attempt was successful, leading to the large town that it is today. Overtime, the town grew up around it, as more came to colonize, expand their influence, or try to completely start a new life.

   Today, Lord Dougal Shaw is one of few people actually residing in the keep. He and the few servants that stay in the keep with him are rarely seen outside the keep's walls. Most do not expect much from him, since he married into the position, elevating his own status. Those that ask around about it, find that it has been this way since his wife and child both died during the birthing process 3 years ago. Some speak of some curse placed upon her ancestry (the true Lords and Ladies of Easthallow) finally coming to pass. Some of those same voices speak of this predicting horrible times ahead for the town.

Since the days of Lady Shaw's grandfather (Lord Fleischer), the typical day-to-day operations have been in the hands of the merchant families and the Lord. Now, they continue basic operations without the Lord's input, consulting him (or his servants if you believe the rumors) only on the most important of matters. There are no traditional nobles, except the town's lord, within the walls of Easthallow. However, 3 families have traveled with much of their wealth in hand, and have managed to at least not squander the wealth they had yet - Astle, Belasco, and Stornello families. Very little seems to happen around the town without them eventually hearing about it. The large bulk of Easthallow's population is honest people trying to live an honest life.

Most residents at the very least pay lip service to the only religion represented, Astarah. Astarah has many titles and honorifics (The Creator, The Giver of Life, The Protector of All Creation, and many more depending on who you speak with), but there is very little that this deity does not seem to encompass. Most believe that this ascended being will one day allow their champion, Adelena the Undying, to descend back into the realm of mortals to beat back the darkness and evil, ushering in an eternity of peace and prosperity.

## Trade Goods

Fish are the main staple of food for the general populace of the city. Grain and vegetables grown on the farms help add to most people's diets. Sheep are used for their wool to help supply clothing. Cows are used for both dairy and meat purposes, however cow meat is typically enjoyed by those with a more wealthy lifestyle. Pig and chicken meat are used to off set the primarily fish diet. The more inland you go, however, the more rely on pigs and chickens.

## Districts of Easthallow

### Narrow Steps

The streets of Narrow Steps lead to most of the typical housing found within Easthallow. These streets are usually busy with people coming and going from the market during the day, quieting down quickly once the sun sets. This is one of the largest districts within the city.

### Smalldocks

The streets of the small docks are usually busy in the early morning, before the sun rises, with those gathering on their boats setting off for the daily catch. There is a nice quiet calm until mid-afternoon when the boats return with the fresh catch of the day. Then the streets are busy with people ready to purchase what is available, from the daily catch. The small docks are only busy when the fishing is good. Rarely do trade ships come through here.

## The Surrounding Area

Venturing out of the civilized areas is dangerous. It's a known fact that the people of Easthallow now deal with that while the traveled path stays the same, the landscape out of that may change from one day to the next. There are many stories of people venturing to explore the forest and find some landmark of interest, only for there to be no sign of it anywhere they last saw it the next day. One rule that everyone lives by however, is that once the mists start rolling in, you'd best find yourself indoors. Many travelers have been lost to the mists never to be seen or heard from again.

A few days travel by land, there are hamlets and other small dots of civilization, though they do not interact with Easthallow as often. While it is exceptionally rare, there have been stories of whole hamlets disappearing never to be seen or heard from again. The only claims giving any bit of validity to these stories are claims of ancestry to those hamlets. The pockets of civilization close to Easthallow, within a couple day's hike, are under loose protection and governance of the city. Further out and they are left to their own devices.

## View on Magic

In Easthallow, the common folk are usually suspicious of magic, regardless of the source. Miracles performed in a deity's name can still bring problems to the day-to-day workings of the everyman. This being said, they're usually not going to make a big fuss about it.

Magic can become a problem when it starts causing big disturbances for a majority of the population. Seeing things that are not normal such as unnatural beasts moving about the population is sure to make people nervous enough to want something to be done. Desecrating the dead by animating their bodies is certain to draw unwanted attention of many, including the Church of Astarah.

That being said, the general populace will work harder to tolerate any miracles performed in Astarah's name. Their complaints usually only made in private. Those miracles performed in Astarah's name that cause a great deal of disturbance are certain to come under the scrutiny of the church.