Noclehad

A view of Noclehad's outskirts

Noclehad is a large town in the county of Chrichheim, part of the Empire of Man. With a population of a little under 4,000 it is one of the few larger towns that is exists in Chrichheim and for this reason it is of particular significance in local trade and government. Noclehad's name comes from the old and forgotten language of the Chrichheimer clans, which linguistic historians believe translates roughly into 'green hill.' This makes sense, given how the town is built on and around a particularly large hill.

It is believed that the area that encompasses Noclehad has hosted settlements for millennia. For much of this time, the local population has been reliant on cattle and sheep farming as their main sources of income and trade. This reliance persists to this day, although there are newer industries that have emerged in more recent centuries - most notably brewing.

## **Characteristics**

Noclehad is a town found in the north-eastern parts of Chrichheim, south of the county capital of Dunedyn. The town is constructed on and around the base of a large hill, which is where the town gets its name, and is considered a vital centre for the surrounding hamlets and villages due to Noclehad's size and importance in the county's local trade.

The most recent estimates place Noclehad's population at around 3,800 which makes the town quite sizeable, especially within Chrichheim. Much of the town's population are fourth or fifth generation migrants that travelled to the town from across the county and its immediate neighbours due to Noclehad's economic expansion at the time. The local population has remained more-or-less static since. Like most Imperial settlements, a majority of the town's population is comprised of Imperials and Demi-Humans, but there are also notable minorities of Tabaxi and Halflings. Bizarrely, despite the town's relatively safe location and modest lifestyle, many residents have a lower life expectancy than a lot of similar places in the Empire. This strange phenomanon is known as the 'Noclehad effect' and there is no explanation for it to date.

Noclehad boasts a few cultural buildings that have given the town, as well as the surrounding area, a unique cultural identity. To give a couple of examples, the town is home to a large local library, an outdoor theatre, and a town park. As well as its cultural buildings, the town also hosts several festivals that are popular both locally and across the wider county. The two most famous of these festivals are the Garden Festival, which takes place in spring, and the Mod, an autumn festival that celebrates local music and dance.

Like nearly all of Chrichheim's settlements, Noclehad's economy primarily revolves around agriculture. In particular, the land surrounding the hill is perfect for sheep and/or cattle herding - which the nearby farms utilise well. As a result, the town itself has a flourishing market for leather goods, milks, cheeses, meats, and wool. More recently, there are also growing industries for different types of textiles as well as brewing and distilling.

## **Behind the Scenes**

Noclehad is loosely based on the Scottish city of Glasgow.