Bourbon's Way (Village)

The village of Bourbon's Way sits in the very center of an isolated and diverse province. It is not the most populated settlement in the province, nor is it the most successful, but its central nature causes it to be incredibly well known. Locations are often described with distances and directions related to this village, even amongst those who have never been there themselves.

The people of Bourbon's Way are hearty and diverse; Tall, rural and strong. Folk of all kinds choose to settle within its short walls and humble homes. Natives of the village often have simple names, with obvious inspirations, such as Fen, Buck, Root, Maize or Barley. Today, although the true population is rather small, flocks of adventurers are ever-present in the village's great inn, and some camp closely in the surrounding terrain.

## Important Places

### The Safeway Inn

The oldest building in the village houses halls of rooms often stocked with adventurers. The Safe family, Faendal and Audra, run the inn with their three young daughters, Fenna, Reigh and Shyh. The middle of the great common room is dominated by a single vast live-edge wooden table, and in the corner is a knife throwing game. Always the inn is full of traveling parties and migrating families, always distinct and diverse.

### Manny's Manys

Manny's Manys is the village's primary general store, run by a Rhyth Manny, a stout halfling fellow with a wardrobe of red, open-chested, shirts. The storefront is small and unadorned, with the inventory hidden away in a large back storeroom. Vendors and carters from all about the surrounding lands know that Manny is always willing to buy, for those willing to sell, and he always manages to flip for profit. Among his wares can be found the either the most basic of supplies, or the most foreign of treasures.

### The Temple of Faiths

The Temple of Faiths is a community project, dedicated to no single faith. It is a large circular structure, more an awning than a building. Pillars hold up a roof which traces a whole circle about the complex. Under this simple arc are dozens of shrines and altars, some as small as single stones and candles, and others as large as the great statue of Lathandar which overlooks the courtyard. Opposite the front archway is a singular closed structure, inside of which are housed the ill.

### The Hoard

The Do'Parc clan, a family of gold-dragonborn, own several such businesses across the province. This regal building was the first, originally constructed by Orla Do'Parc, who is now retired comfortably in a cabin north of Anchorage. The Hoard are money-lenders, money-counters and purveyors of fine and wonderful things. About the walls are tapestries woven in the finest threads, and neatly sorted on shelves are gemstones of all shapes and sizes. This branch is currently seen by a regal, gentle dragonborn man, named Seryc Do'Parc.

The Hoard is known to purchase the finest of the provinces treasures from anyone willing to sell. This has also caused them to become quite familiar with some arcane individuals, who use The Hoard and its affiliates to broker the trade of artifacts and oddities.

## Important People

### Asper the Rad

A famous adventurer in his day, Asper the Rad constructed his tower West of Bourbon's Way due to his wiry personality and love for fine ales. Now he serves on the Watchful Council as the province's foremost expert on divination and enchantment. Asper is an 80 year old human man, who dresses in long-fitting blue and pink robes. Atop his head sits a widebrim hat, often decorated with small flowers he grew himself. He is more often called upon by the people of Bourbon's Way for his wisdom, than for his wizardry, but he does offer enchantment, identification and transportation services to those with gold and a good reputation.

### Father Reinhardt

A master cleric of Lathandar, Father Reinhardt stations himself in the Temple of Faiths, a large circular building within the Northern walls of Bourbon's Way. The temple itself is dedicated to many minor gods, with altars and shrines arraying themselves all about the grounds, though the father's primary altar is large and central, and about which sits a great stone statue of the Morning Lady. In recent times, Reinhardt has been known to perform marriage ceremonies, and rituals regarding the dead.

### Rikke the Whitewarden

Rikke is the last of her fire giant clan, adorned with the furs and helms of her tribesmen. Within recent memory Rikke was a warden to Abraxus, a Great White Dragon in the Northern mountains, who had eliminated her clan, and demanded her servitude in exchange for her life. When she was given a chance to escape Abraxus, she took it, and vowed to protect the village of Bourbon's Way, who had drawn Abraxus' ire. Now, though the dragon has fallen, Rikke remains in Bourbon's Way, a defender, and leader of the militia.

## History

### Prehistory

Generations ago, traveling families began to camp in the relative safety of this clearing, fed by a small stream. Cloth tents and thatch structures littered the area, housing people struggling to persist. A single wide building, crafted of wood and brick was built directly off the Old Road, providing shelter during winter months and summer storms. This building would eventually become The Safeway Inn which still stands today.

Eventually, a clan of dwarves known as the Hilltop Clan would descend from the foothills to the North and settle a days walk away. The dwarves were kind, and in need, and very quickly a relationship was crafted between them and the settlement. The settled land would be farmed for ale-makings, and the dwarves would provide metalworks, and gold to the struggling people. Enriched by this relationship, Bourbon's Way would be so named, and grow to the size it is today.

### Modern History

In recent times, Bourbon's Way has experienced a surge of growth. The Safeway Inn is ever-expanding, and the old wooden walls which surround the town central are being regularly replaced with strong brick and stone. A permanent squad of armed guards have been established under the command of a Fire Giant officer named Rikke, causing Bourbon's Way to become more official and successful than it has ever been.