Ade

Settlement Type: Town

Region: Forest/Grassland

Population: 4821

Description:

The town of Ade lies north of the Suntouched Desert, near the southern base of the Zabe Mountains. Ade is a heavily fortified town, surrounded by stout stone walls. There is a single gate that controls access to the town, and it is closed from sunset to sunrise.

Ade's population is almost entirely Human, with a smattering of dwarves and elves. The town is governed by a leader, chosen once every seven years by the town's residents. The leader is always a woman and usually a mother. Because of this, many travelers believe the town is a matriarchy, but this is not so. It is just that governance and administration are considered the provence of women, while war, industry and the arts are viewed as more manly pursuits. This sort of thinking is common among the local dwarves and seems to have been absorbed into the local culture.

Speaking of culture, Abe is very proud of its local art scene, particularly their storytellers and poets. They host various festivals all year long in their Poet's Yard(02) that attract visitors from all over the region. Storytelling contests and poetic recitations can go on for days, and the participants, even if they don't win the sizeable purse, can earn a positive reputation among locals. Many well-known bards got their start in one of these contests.

Hospitality is an important part of local culture, and everyone agrees that the best place to stay in town is The Resting Hammer(01) on Garland Street. This three-story stone inn is owned by Master Mawneris Yehar, a cheerful Human male also known as Three-Pins Yehar. Both of his legs, below the knee, and most of his left arm were lost in an accident several years ago, and were replaced with wooden pins. Despite this, Master Yehar can be a formidable foe and a useful ally. He knows a great many useful people in the town.

In addition to its poets and hospitality, Ade is also known for its Ironworks(03). This large industrial yard produces some of the best quality metal tools and weapons in the region, and is an essential part of the town's economy. The Ironworks are owned by three families: the Ialachis, the Machainers and the Sietais. The families get along fairly well, and exert tremendous influence over the rest of the town. They have been known to use this influence to shut down potential competition, and there are rumors that they have employed underhanded and illegal tactics to do so. However, most of the town turns a deaf ear to these rumors, all too aware of how important the Ironworks is to the community.