Locations: Willowdale

Though not as important in the High King's Sword series, Willowdale is a fine little country village which doesn't seem to grow any larger in the three thousand years from the time of the Chosen.

This village has an inn, a general store, a stables, and a blacksmith. Comprising of only about three dozen houses, the village of Willowdale is the home to mostly farmers and foresters. About one hundred people live here, the inn doubling as a school room during the winter when there are few travelers.

North of Devonshire but near the Tsalagi Mountains, this village doesn't see a lot of traffic, except for seasonal lumberjacks, trappers and gold miners. Sometimes the King's Men will do training excersies nearby. Supplies are shipped in from Devonshire or Varanath once a month, usually just staples which can not be made or found in the village, like sugar, flour, iron ingots, silks, even writing materials. Wool is turned into cloth here, so boys are always shepherding sheep around because they provide not only clothing, but meat as well.

Travelers are looked upon with suspicion, though their coin is accepted. Bartering is actually the best way to get a good deal here, since coin is not needed so far from civilization. A group of adventures fresh from discovering a "haul" might find that jewelry box they thought was worthless, might be worth a warm meal and bath instead.

A healer is available (in games terms usually a druid or cleric of level 8-12th level), but he or she will ask for a favor to help the village in turn for his or her service. Whether it is getting rid of a monster problem or just clearing debris from the only road in, the healer will make sure his work helps the village in some manor, since he taken care of by the village.

Stories and news are always welcome. Magic is not shunned, but certainly frowned upon (save the healer) since the village was the target of the Black Wizard Shaniko in the time of the Chosen (and his descendants on and off through the years).