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==Overview==
==Overview==
The Weirwater Vales are located in [[Weirwater#Wickmoor|Wickmoor]] in the [[Dawn|Dawnish]] [[territory]] of [[Weirwater]]. Custodianship of the Vales grants an [[Imperial title]]; a seat on the [[Imperial Bourse]]; and a seasonal bounty of valuable weirwood
The Weirwater Vales are located in [[Weirwater#Wickmoor|Wickmoor]] in the [[Dawn|Dawnish]] [[territory]] of [[Weirwater]]. Custodianship of the Vales grants an [[Imperial title]]; a seat on the [[Imperial Bourse]]; and a seasonal bounty of valuable weirwood


==The Resource==
==The Resource==
Weirwater is named for the forests that dot this landscape and the rich supplies of weirwood they produce. Legend claims that the first weavers made a pact with the Eternals to make the land fertile, but that the magic has slowly dwindled with time.
Weirwater is named for the forests that dot this landscape and the rich supplies of weirwood they produce. Legend claims that the first weavers made a pact with an eternal to enchant the woods, but that the magic has slowly dwindled over time. Yet there is still magic here, of a sort.


According to stories handed down through generations of workers, some unknown force decorates trees within a circle with wild flowers, ribbons, and small knicknacks made with twine and sticks. Whenever such trees are found, workers will take undue care removing it all, and pack all of the decorations in a box made of some of the best weirwood harvested that season.
The workers of Weirwater Vale are used to it, but every so often visitors to the area make an unsettling discovery. Colloquially known as a Bone Hanger, it is a tree decorated with wild flowers, ribbons, and small knicknacks made with twine and sticks. Whenever such trees are found, workers will take undue care removing all the decorations, and pack them in a box made of the first weirwood harvested that season. The workers then fell the weirwood tree, knowing that it will be the best wood of the seasons harvest. The box of decorations is left in a certain place, an old ring of black stone, for the mysterious owner to collect. By the next season, the box will be gone, and perhaps another tree will be decorated.
The workers will then fell the weirwood trees, knowing that it will be the best wood of the seasons harvest. The box of decorations will be left where the circle stood, for the mysterious owner to collect.
By the next season, the box will be gone, and a new circle will be decorated.


Every so often, according to the same stories, a worker will take some element of the decorations.  These stories never end well, as the worker is found as a decoration on one of the trees; usually they are packed in a different box...
Visitors to the area are sometimes unaware of the traditions. Some are unlucky enough to take one of the knickknacks, possibly as a keepsake, or some sort of memento. If one of the workers discovers the accidental crime, they make every effort to return the trinket to the Bone Hanger. As long as it is returned before nightfall, there will be no tragic consequences. Every so often someone will come to the Vales intending to stop the "idolatrous" reverence for the Bone Hangers. On one occasion, an [[ambition|ambitious]] priest from [[Holberg]] tried to make a name for themselves by stripping a tree of its decorations and burning them.


* Reference lack of Dawn resources?
Disrespect for the Bone Hangers always ends in the same way. The transgressor will be found a short time later, serving as a grisly decoration on another weirwood tree. The workers will draw lots as to who will remove the body - it is gruesome, bloody work.


***
The nature of the spirit that haunts the Weirwater Vales is a matter for debate. But there is no doubt that there is ''something'' in the woods here, and that it will not tolerate disrespect.
Weirwater is named for the forests that dot this landscape and the rich supplies of weirwood they produce. Legend claims that the first weavers made a pact with the Eternals to make the land fertile, but that the magic has slowly dwindled with time.
At least, it’s assumed that the magic has slowly dwindled in time.  There is still magic here, although it might not be what was originally agreed all those years ago.


The workers of Weirwater Vale are used to it, but every so often visitors to the area make the discovery; colloquially known as a Bone Hanger, it is a tree decorated with wild flowers, ribbons, and small knicknacks made with twine and sticks. Whenever such trees are found, workers will take undue care removing it all, and pack all of the decorations in a box made of some of the best weirwood harvested that season. The workers will then fell the weirwood trees, knowing that it will be the best wood of the seasons harvest. The box of decorations will be left where the circle stood, for the mysterious owner to collect. By the next season, the box will be gone, and a new circle will be decorated.
Of course, visitors to the area usually aren’t aware of the rules.  Some are unlucky enough to take one of the knickknacks, possibly as a keepsake, or some sort of memento.  Every so often a Priest will try and make a name for themselves by stripping a tree of its decorations and burning them because of the likely association with an Eternal.  And once in a generation a worker will break the rules through wilful stupidity and become a cautionary tale.
All of their stories end in the same way; badly.  All will be found a short time later, all as the sole decoration on a tree.  Usually the workers will draw lots as to who will remove the body, as it is gruesome, bloody work.  Bones will be hanging away from the skin that should surround them.  Blood will paint the bark a dark red-brown.  And sometimes, just sometimes, there is a spark of life left in the mess that used to be a person; it fades fast, but the screams linger long in the memory.
***
{{Bourse Seat|the Weirwater Vales|weirwood|23 Imperial wains|Winter Solstice|As an Imperial seat, any Imperial citizen may participate in the auction and hold the title.}}
{{Bourse Seat|the Weirwater Vales|weirwood|23 Imperial wains|Winter Solstice|As an Imperial seat, any Imperial citizen may participate in the auction and hold the title.}}
[[Category:Steve]]

Revision as of 11:06, 30 April 2016

Overview

The Weirwater Vales are located in Wickmoor in the Dawnish territory of Weirwater. Custodianship of the Vales grants an Imperial title; a seat on the Imperial Bourse; and a seasonal bounty of valuable weirwood

The Resource

Weirwater is named for the forests that dot this landscape and the rich supplies of weirwood they produce. Legend claims that the first weavers made a pact with an eternal to enchant the woods, but that the magic has slowly dwindled over time. Yet there is still magic here, of a sort.

The workers of Weirwater Vale are used to it, but every so often visitors to the area make an unsettling discovery. Colloquially known as a Bone Hanger, it is a tree decorated with wild flowers, ribbons, and small knicknacks made with twine and sticks. Whenever such trees are found, workers will take undue care removing all the decorations, and pack them in a box made of the first weirwood harvested that season. The workers then fell the weirwood tree, knowing that it will be the best wood of the seasons harvest. The box of decorations is left in a certain place, an old ring of black stone, for the mysterious owner to collect. By the next season, the box will be gone, and perhaps another tree will be decorated.

Visitors to the area are sometimes unaware of the traditions. Some are unlucky enough to take one of the knickknacks, possibly as a keepsake, or some sort of memento. If one of the workers discovers the accidental crime, they make every effort to return the trinket to the Bone Hanger. As long as it is returned before nightfall, there will be no tragic consequences. Every so often someone will come to the Vales intending to stop the "idolatrous" reverence for the Bone Hangers. On one occasion, an ambitious priest from Holberg tried to make a name for themselves by stripping a tree of its decorations and burning them.

Disrespect for the Bone Hangers always ends in the same way. The transgressor will be found a short time later, serving as a grisly decoration on another weirwood tree. The workers will draw lots as to who will remove the body - it is gruesome, bloody work.

The nature of the spirit that haunts the Weirwater Vales is a matter for debate. But there is no doubt that there is something in the woods here, and that it will not tolerate disrespect.

Template:Bourse Seat