Tarvosa

A view from the outskirts of Tarvosa, including the headwaters of the River Chrich

### Industry

Fish, Linen, Tanning

Tarvosa is a village in the county of Chrichheim, built on the shore of Loch Mor. With a population of about 830, it is considered one of the larger villages in the county. As well as it's position on the shore of Loch Mor, Tarvosa also marks the headwaters of the short-lived River Chrich, which flows into the larger River Konig. The village was originally established as a trading port for the many settlements built on and around Loch Mor, but overtime has established a few additional industries - including fishing, linen-weaving, and tanning. Some of the notable constructions in Tarvosa include: the ruins of Tarvosa Castle (also known as The Arch), the beach, the harbour, and the North Mor College.

## **Characteristics**

Tarvosa's geographical features come two-fold. First, the village is constructed on the shore of Loch Mor, the largest lake in Chrichheim. As well as this, the village also marks the headwaters for the River Chrich, with Loch Mor itself being the source for this river. The River Chrich runs twice through the village and multiple bridges keep the inhabitants connected. Though several roadways connect Tarvosa to other settlements within the county, perhaps the most efficient means of travel is via the water - as several ferries offer their services.

It is believed that the area around Tarvosa has been inhabited for thousands of years, as cairns found around the countryside date back at least 5,000 years. It is likely, then, that the pre-Chrichheim tribes settled the area in order to access local waterways. It is believed that the village as we know it today was originally founded and governed by Clan Sinclair of Week, but they lost it to the then newly-established Clan Ross - who control it to this very day. A popular legend from this time tells how a member of Clan Ross killed the leader of Clan Sinclair in battle after a button from his coat became snagged on a bush.

Tarvosa's economy is mainly tied to fishing, which is not surprising given the village's location. As well as this, the village also has a notable tanning industry as well as a pretty decent linen-weaving industry. Tanning as, interestingly, been another traditional industry for the inhabitants of Tarvosa - typically involving the creation of leathers from nearby livestock farms. As well as these major industries, there are also a wide variety of smaller businesses scattered across Tarvosa. These businesses include: a carpenter, a tailor, a doll shop, a book shop, and a shop for trinkets and curiosities. These businesses are almost exclusively owned by local families and have existed in Tarvosa in some form or another for generations.

## **Layout (WIP)**

### **Doll Shop**

Currently owned by Charles O'Neill, a middle-aged half-elf.

### **The Rising Tide Inn**

The Rising Tide is an inn and pub located on Stickleback Square, in the south-west of the village. Unlike the square that now surrounds it, The Rising Tide has been a part of Tarvosa for generations and is one of the communities main social hubs. Many of the locals flock to the inn for food, drinks, and music but The Rising Tide also offers comfortable rooms for passing travellers and visiting outsiders.

The current owner of The Rising Tide is Felix Shaw, a 23 year old imperial. His family has owned the inn for hundreds of years, something he takes great pride in, but he himself came into ownership of the inn after his parents were killed in an unfortunate boating accident. Nevertheless, he has incredible business sense for his age and is loved by the village for his friendly and welcoming attitude. Felix enjoys sharing a drink and participating in the occasional card or dice game with his patrons.

As well as Felix, another notable member of The Rising Tide's staff is Epeigeus. Epeigeus is a high elf and serves as the inn's main chef. A friend of Felix Shaw's father, he acts as both a close friend and a sort-of uncle figure to the orphaned owner of his workplace. Interestingly, much of Epeigeus' past remains a mystery to even his closest confidants. Some say that he served briefly as an agent and spy for the Elven Dragon Dominion, but this has never been proven and Epeigeus laughs off any who questions him about it.

### **Stickleback Square**

Stickleback Square is the name given to a fairly recent addition to the village. Only built about 60 years ago, the square derives it's name from the pond that used to exist there and the good number of stickleback fish that could be found there. In modernity, the square is (appropriately) the location for many of Tarvosa's larger fisheries and ferry services.

One such business owner, and one of the more notable ones, is Amelie Welsh - a 41 year old imperial. Though Amelie operates a fishing business like many of her neighbours, it is her ferrying service that provides her with the majority of her income. Amelie has been sailing boats for as long as she can remember, and knows Loch Mor like the back of her hand. All of this time on the water, however, has had the side effect of making Amelie smell slightly like seaweed at all hours of the day.

### **Police Station**

Like most Imperial settlements, Tarvosa benefits from the presence of a dedicated police force. These men and women dedicate their lives to protecting and serving the community (at least on paper) and are tasked with maintaining order, tackling crime, and generally maintaining order. The police headquarters in Tarvosa is a standard building for a settlement of this size. It sports offices, an armoury, a small jail, and other law-enforcement necessities.

The current captain of the Imperial Police Force in Tarvosa is Albert Morgan, a 42 year old imperial. Captain Morgan has been in his position for years and is known to reliably and loyaly serve his community. However, he is also known as being a bit brutish and quick to resort to violence - when dealing with criminals. He is also a heavy drinker and high functional alcoholic. A popular in-joke for citizens of the village is how, one day, Captain Morgan will name a rum (his favourite drink) after himself.

### **Tarvosa Adventurers' Guild**

Being a village on the larger side, it was decided by the Adventurers' Guild that establishing a proper guild building was justifiable. This stands in stark contrast to how the guild normally operates, merely renting out an office or a room in smaller settlements. Regardless, the guild's headquarters in Tarvosa is a fairly simple building. It contains a bar area and reception, an office for the guild's head representative, and several rooms that travelling adventurers can stay in.

The Adventurers' Guild's head representative in Tarvosa is a wood elf named Niabi. She is on the younger side for her people but is significantly more experienced than any of the other adventurers in the area, which made her a logical choice for the position. Niabi herself is considered a true savant of the adventuring life and takes her job seriously. However, she doesn't actually care much for Tarvosa and the Empire as a whole, for she originally comes from Danu Celta and is merely gaining more experience before returning to her homeland.

### **Turning the Page**

Turning the Page is a bookshop found in the south of Tarvosa, near the beach. Unlike a majority of Tarvosa's shops, who have existed for generations and passed down from parent to child, Turning the Page is a fairly recent addition to the village. It offers a variety of books and other texts in a variety of subjects and topics: from farming techniques, to fictional folklore stories, to Imperial history, to even Elvish language colloquialisms.

The bookshop's founder and owner is Fernando Toledo, a 70 year old imperial. Like his shop, Fernando is a newcomer to Tarvosa. As far as the village knows, he is a traveller from Oroheim, that amassed a collection of books during his travels and has retired to Tarvosa to sell them. In reality, Fernando is an exiled minor nobleman who fled to the village after being accused of financial malpractice. The books he set up his shop with are the remnants of Fernando's collection, books he is now forced to sell to survive.