Harbor

Harbor is a village tucked away in an unmapped location within the Lluvia Forest. It is lead and occupied by lost children who retain their youth within Harbor's bounds. It is both a sanctuary for its inhabitants and a target for any seeking to harm the lost and vulnerable. Residents of Harbor usually have no recollection of how they ended up in the village, but as long as they remain they do not grow up. Leaving the village for long enough resumes the aging process, though the exact time frame seems to vary from person-to-person.

Demographics

Because its residents can seemingly come from anywhere, its demographics are mixed and vary greatly as departing children are replaced with new lost and wandering souls. Ancestries have included, among others, elves, humans, goblinoids, gnolls, gnomes, kobolds, vanara, catfolk, and shoony.

Government

One of Harbor's "oldest" residents was an elven girl named Luska, whose knowledge of the forest and its surrounding area has made her the village's natural leader and representative. Any stranger who enters the village must speak with Luska before others will interact with them, and she represents Harbor as a whole in discussions with Xanter Andrumar.

Defences

Harbor is guarded by enchantments that both disguise the city and subtly fill any approaching it with a sense of dread an unease. An illusion presents a particularly dark, foreboding scene depicting shadowy creatures that shift ominously among the landscape. It looks vast and imposing, and only by interacting with and disbelieving the illusion successfully does one see the sanctuary for what it truly is.   A nearby pond is jealously guarded by a rusalka, who preys upon unwelcome visitors lured by the children's assumed vulnerability. As long as the residents leave her alone, she has little interest in bothering them, apparently preferring to take advantage of the fact that their presence lures much more compelling prey close.

History

During the Caelsimil Crusade against Teme-Rasadar, the residents of harbor fell victim to the presence of a bogeyman. It was thanks to a group of spymasters traveling from Caelsimil to Teme-Rasadar that the entity was defeated. Using one of their own as bait, they lured the creature away from the heart of the village and into a trap. They met with the village leader, Luska, afterward, who agreed to guide them to Xanter Andrumar in thanks.

Points of interest

Silver Blossoms is a combined flower shop and cafe serving edible flora. It has a serene interior decorated silver and blue, and notable dishes include teas, baked goods, soups and salads. Much of its menu is created from plants that offer minor, magical effects upon consumption.   Magical Menagerie sells magic items and components, such as potions and oils, scrolls, and magical trinkets.

Architecture

Bridges made of rope and wood stretch among 8 tall trees, with houses constructed with leaves, vines, and wood tucked within the branches. Rope ladders reach down and around to the trunks below so any on the forest floor can climb to the heart of the village, but access can be quickly denied by cutting them away or drawing them up into the trees. Long vines just thick enough to support a child's weight hang down from the canopy above, so residents may swing and climb among them to easily move through the village without touching the forest floor. Harbor's architecture is amateur, but built with the protection of its vulnerable citizens and its primary focus.
A Haven for Lost Children.
Alternative Name(s)
The Village, Haven
Type
Village
Location under


Cover image: by Kal V, Canva Licensing Agreement

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