Woolforde
Overview
Nestled deep in the sun-dappled hills of the countryside, the village of Woolforde is the very picture of halfling contentment. Far from the noise and hubbub of major roads and the bustle of large settlements, Woolforde is everything one would expect from a halfling village - and that's just how its residents like it. The village is home to around seventy halflings, all who know one another by name, and whose main idea of adventure is heading to another nearby village for market day.
The landscape surrounding the village is one of soft green hills, with the River Wool passing through the settlement. There exist two tranquil ponds: Deepmere and Mirrorpool. Economically, village life revolves around farming, the sharing of sheep for wool to be spun, and the two Inns.
The landscape surrounding the village is one of soft green hills, with the River Wool passing through the settlement. There exist two tranquil ponds: Deepmere and Mirrorpool. Economically, village life revolves around farming, the sharing of sheep for wool to be spun, and the two Inns.
Demographic
Demographically the village consists entirely of halflings, of a mixture of ages. The village is moderately 'well-off' with a happy populace that fends for itself, growing their own food, brewing a local ale and a local cider, and generally existing comfortably.
Architecture
Much of the settlement exists in tradition hill-built homes and occupancies. There are only a handful of 'above ground' buildings, namely the Mill and a Brewery.
Points of Interest
The Woolsack Tavern: The older and slightly more respectable of Woolforde's two taverns, the Woolsack is a warm, low-ceilinged smial with a roaring hearth and mismatched chairs worn smooth by generations of halfling backsides. It serves hearty meals — thick stews, fresh bread, and roasted root vegetables — alongside a fine selection of ales brewed locally. The walls are decorated with woven wool tapestries depicting scenes of village life and the surrounding hills.
The Tipped Pint: The Tipped Pint is Woolforde's livelier, more raucous tavern — the kind of place where songs get sung, games get played, and ales get spilled. It's smaller than the Woolsack but what it lacks in size it makes up for in noise and laughter. A long-running (and entirely friendly) rivalry exists between the two taverns, most often expressed through competitive pie-baking and arm-wrestling at the seasonal festivals.
The Brew House: Woolforde's pride and joy, the Brew House is where the village's ales, stouts, and ciders are crafted. It sits along the riverbank, taking advantage of the clean water that flows down from the hills. The building is always warm, always slightly damp, and always smells magnificent. It doubles as an informal social hub, with halflings often wandering in to "check on the fermentation" and somehow staying for an hour.
The Mill: An essential part of village life, the Mill grinds the grain from Woolforde's modest fields into flour for bread and baking. It is powered by a clever diversion of water from the River Wool and runs for most of the day. The sound of the millstone grinding is a familiar and comforting backdrop to daily life in the village.
Deepmere: The larger of the two ponds, Deepmere is a favourite spot for fishing, cooling off on warm days, and lazy afternoons spent doing absolutely nothing. The water is clear and cold, fed by an underground spring, and a few stubborn trout have made it their home.
Mirrorpool: Smaller and quieter than Deepmere, Mirrorpool is known for its eerily still surface and the way it reflects the sky. Halflings consider it a peaceful, almost slightly mystical spot — a place to sit and think, or to simply watch the clouds drift by (both the real ones and the ones below).
The Tipped Pint: The Tipped Pint is Woolforde's livelier, more raucous tavern — the kind of place where songs get sung, games get played, and ales get spilled. It's smaller than the Woolsack but what it lacks in size it makes up for in noise and laughter. A long-running (and entirely friendly) rivalry exists between the two taverns, most often expressed through competitive pie-baking and arm-wrestling at the seasonal festivals.
The Brew House: Woolforde's pride and joy, the Brew House is where the village's ales, stouts, and ciders are crafted. It sits along the riverbank, taking advantage of the clean water that flows down from the hills. The building is always warm, always slightly damp, and always smells magnificent. It doubles as an informal social hub, with halflings often wandering in to "check on the fermentation" and somehow staying for an hour.
The Mill: An essential part of village life, the Mill grinds the grain from Woolforde's modest fields into flour for bread and baking. It is powered by a clever diversion of water from the River Wool and runs for most of the day. The sound of the millstone grinding is a familiar and comforting backdrop to daily life in the village.
Deepmere: The larger of the two ponds, Deepmere is a favourite spot for fishing, cooling off on warm days, and lazy afternoons spent doing absolutely nothing. The water is clear and cold, fed by an underground spring, and a few stubborn trout have made it their home.
Mirrorpool: Smaller and quieter than Deepmere, Mirrorpool is known for its eerily still surface and the way it reflects the sky. Halflings consider it a peaceful, almost slightly mystical spot — a place to sit and think, or to simply watch the clouds drift by (both the real ones and the ones below).