Intro
This is the 55th story in the Smallville Series and is a continuation from Darkmoor Haven story 54. It is a continuation only so far as this story is being told at the end of story 54 back in Darkmoor Haven in year 82 SVT. The story is being told by Hilliam, one of the dark elves who came to that settlement in year 67 SVT, she is telling the past history of the settlement in the Dark Forest that she and the other dark elves came from. It is located much farther south along the same river, down near Monkstown #7 and Pirate's Cove #33. It was an old settlement dating back even before Smallville.
Map # 270756305 Valley, Small, Mild, disasters Off, Medium Start 5 Families
Mods enabled in load order:
Starting and Map Changing Mods: Banished UI Maps, Labor Window, RK Minimized Status, CC Light Rain, A8 Japanese Trees (vanilla), Jinxie Natural Decorations, Kid Tree Replacer Only Pines, New Flora Edit, New Trees, Family Starts
Tweak Mods: Fishing Dock 25%, Increased CC, 1:1 Alternative, Rocks Respawn
Major or Must Have Mods: An Empty Square, Nomad Sign Complete, Storage Crates, Jinxie Bitty Village Set, Kid Abandoned Places, Kid Gothic Fantasy, Kid Gothic Fantasy Deco, Kid More Houses Dark, Kid Old Town, Kid Old Town Ports & Pirates, Kid Workplace
Supporting Mods: Kid Coven (update, testing), Kid Deco Plants, Kid Gothic Tithes & Tributes, Kid Market Carts, Kid Washing Mod, Smuggler Cave, Tiny Chopper, Tiny Quarry
Mod Note: There is no new mod in this story only a small update to Kid Coven mod, one new building has been added.
So, weary traveler, like Averich and Emmalynn and the others, you want to know about Darkstone Castle in the Dark Forest. Where shall I begin?
Chapter 1
The settlement in the Dark Forest was there long before I was even born so of the early years I can only tell you what little I learned from old hall of records and church records, and from what I was told by my parents and grandparents and other old timers.
Five families made up a small fishing village. They were descendants of the two original couples that built the bigger cottages to raise their families. There are two sets of gravestones in the cemetery engraved with only the words Ma and Pa. Their 10 adult children paired up, built 3 more smaller houses, and had families of their own. Some old inventory records showed they existed mainly on fish and gathered foods. Several old hedgerows were still providing apples, berries, chestnuts, flax, and firewood when my husband, Bostoney, and I left. The old anvil was still there but the tailor's rack and wood chopping block had been replaced several times over the years.
There were some old school records where the children signed their names when they learned to read and write. The school was built a safe distance from the river, the river was a lot swifter before the rivers changed. The school was built of stone and had a dark stone slate roofs like many other building. My grandparents and Bostoney's named the village Darkstone after they arrived.
Yes, the original families knew the rivers had changed, even way back then there was an occasional river boatman who stopped by. They knew about the tragedy that happened to the village over on the main river and were happy to later learn that some of the children had survived and founded Smallville. Yes, it was a long time ago, weary traveler.
Chapter 2
Indeed that river had been dangerous. Old church records showed that Maniel, the fisherwoman, drowned. She left behind a husband, a young child, and a newborn. She was buried in the old cemetery by the new chapel. The old records consisted of a wooden box of notes that had been posted on the old bulletin board near the storage barn. The box was kept in the barn before the chapel was built and it was later moved from the chapel to the Hall of Records that was built near the school.
The younger generation did a better job keeping records. There were old inventories and production records stored in the Hall of Records, no doubt recorded by the school teacher next door. There were records of new houses, and new couples, and new babies. The records showed there was a variety of foods but perhaps not a steady supply, the overall health of the people was low. A herbalist began working collecting herbs and healing. Health slowly began to improve. Perhaps it was that herbalist that made my ancestors more acceptable to the people here when they arrived.
Chapter 3
The river boatman not only brought news of droughts and floods in the surrounding area but he brought farm animals that had been abandoned. One of the old timers remembered the day they got the milk cow and laying hens, the rooster did not want to get out of the boat. They did finally get him into the animal shed they built and he adjust quite well to his new home. Remiah married Ellene who was the herbalist and he tended the animals. The following year the boatman brought sheep. An animal shed was built for them near the storage barn where the tailor could easily get the wool to make warm coat. The river boatman said people far west of here and east in the swamp needed cooler linen clothes because the weather was so much hotter there. If a small trading post was built here, he could bring other types of foods grown in nearby small villages like this one to trade for linen clothes. Inventory records showed there was a lot of flax, then linen clothes, then a wider variety of foods, indicating the trading post was built then, approximately year 15 SVT by my estimate.
Most of the old records were not dated, if any specific time was mentioned it was the year it snowed in spring, or the year so and so was born, or the year the chickens arrived. The year the trading post was built there were 2 new houses built and 2 more newlywed couples. At the end of the year the population was 35, 22 adults, 2 students, and 11 young children.
Heh, that chicken on the boat. Cute :)
:) Deco is such fun :)
Chapter 4
After the trading post was built began the times of trouble, or more than likely it was just that the village began hearing about the troubles. What I know was again recorded on notes from the notice board found in the wooden box. Millice, the general goods merchant, was waylaid, beaten, and robbed by smugglers. Mabela, the resource merchant, had not been seen or heard from. Jeralyn, the seed merchant, threw seeds overboard to escape smugglers. Neva, the livestock merchant, not wanting to throw animals overboard, won't come this way anymore. Corne, the food merchant, also threw merchandise overboard. He spotted a riverboat by the smuggler's cave upriver but saw no sign of the boatman. There was also several notes of small villages being raided and abandoned. You can still see the remains of one of those villages across the river and the old smuggler's cave further upriver.
The information no doubt came from the river boatman but whether any trading was done is hard to say. I found no early trade records and keep in mind, weary traveler, the old timers I spoke to were only children at that time so there was not much they remembered. There were records of 2 more houses being built for young newlywed couples and a lighthouse by the river to oversee the approach to the village.
Smugglers were not the only trouble in those times of trouble.
Chapter 5
In those days there were many fears and superstitions. There were fears of droughts and floods and food shortages and diseases. There were suspicions of those who could cure those diseases and of those who they blamed for causing the disasters with magic or curses. Elves in particular were suspect because of their knowledge of nature and herbs and communing with nature and wildlife. Herbalists were considered to be witches and in some areas were hunted down and even burned at the stake.
It was the fear of witch hunters that caused our Elven ancestors to flee into the forest and settle. There were 2 groups that met at the river, our grandparents came from the areas that soon after would be settle as Monkstown and Haunted Hollow. There were 23 of them, 15 adults with 8 children and the size of the group made it too dangerous to travel along the river. They crossed over and entered the forest which consisted mainly of pine trees. The thick pines caused the forest to be dark and shadowy but it provided good cover. The group came over the hills and found a clearing near a smaller less traveled river and decided to build a Coven settlement there. Grandma told me that it was year 20 SVT when they arrived.
Chapter 6
The elves did not know at first that they had neighbors. From the hilltop they had seen the smuggler's cave and the abandoned village across the river but they trusted that the thick pine trees would keep them safe and hidden from view. It was when they began building and collecting resources and wild foods that they discovered the villagers. Perhaps it was because they were honest and upfront about being hunted elves who knew magic and herbalism that won the villagers' trust, the group was made welcome and told to help themselves to whatever they needed until they were settled.
The elves gladly began filling their hoarding cart with needed food and supplies while building a large storage barn and houses for their 7 families. So as not to rely too heavily on their gracious new neighbors, they built a gatherer's hut in the center of the settlement. They set up a learning tree school and cast a protective spell over their books of knowledge. A wise owl came from the forest and perched in the tree above, a sign from nature that all was well. By fall, Grandma had transplanted some of the plants and herbs the students would study. She also planted other bulbs, seeds, and seedling she had brought with her to their new home. The elves named their settlement Darkstone Coven after checking with the villagers. They could not help but notice that the village buildings were built mainly of the dark stone that was abundant in the area. They agreed to become know as Darkstone Village and Darkstone Coven in the Dark Forest.
The elves could not help but notice that their arrival and the villager's generosity took its toll on the supply of food and resources. They helped collect wild foods but firewood was still very low. They helped the villagers cut trees and collect branches throughout the cold winter months.
Chapter 7
Grandma said that first spring was beautiful with many of the plants and tree seedlings she planted blooming. There were still shortages of food, logs, and firewood, but at least it was spring. The villagers set up a forester just south of their village and were busy collecting wild foods. The elves found a hedgerow while cutting trees and their gatherer was doing well but a little extra magical help wouldn't hurt. A conjurer's workplace was built and Maddie and Magdalian, who were both skilled magic users, began conjuring tools, coats, apples, and walnuts.
The villager's forester and branch gathering helped to alleviate the log and firewood shortages but the food supply was still low. They set up a gatherer's workplace by the forester which helped somewhat but what was really needed was the return of the food merchant, Corne.
Chapter 8
Little was seen of the riverboat traders. The resource merchant was still missing. The seed merchant came by twice with no trouble, the smugglers were not interested in growing vegetable. The villagers were no farmers so they were not interested in seeds either. There was a note in the wooden box saying an order for leather was given to Millice, the general good merchant. Neva, the livestock merchant, returned after being chased by smugglers in a small boat. She escaped by coming down this river. She had one cow with her that she gave to the villagers so she could quickly make her way back to Riverboat Junction. Corne, the food merchant, still had not returned.
Another animal shed was built for the cow and several hatchling chickens were moved in with it. Nearby the villagers built another hunting cabin and the elves set up a butcher table to make venison sausages using Grandpa's secret recipe. The elves shared the sausages with the villagers just like the villagers shared the venison and other supplies with the elves. A 2nd fishing pier was built providing a workplace for 2 more fisherman but still the food supply remained low. It must have been a relief when the food merchant finally arrived. A note from the notice board said potatoes, cabbage, and cheese now in storage.
Chapter 9
Records showed that by late spring of year 25 the supply of logs, firewood, and food was good. Records also showed that the health and happiness of the residents of Darkstone Village and Coven was at 100%. There was some trading done. The problem with smugglers must have subsided, there was no mention of smugglers other than a notice board note that said "no activity at the smuggler's cave, boat gone".
Life in Darkstone Village and the Coven must have returned to normal. The population was 75, 41 adults, 24 students, and 10 young children. It was around that time that the first elf and villager couple paired up . Katha, the single female in the small Coven house, had taken up with villager Lymani. They had 2 children. When the children were old enough and in school they would not be taught Elven magic, only pure-bred elves are able to learn and use Elven magic. Their parentage was recorded in one of old Elven school record books. At the time, there were 6 Elven students in the Coven school but they were too young to be taught any Elven magic, dark or otherwise. The students were only being taught about plants and herbs and combinations used for healing. Later when they were older they would learn basic spells and conjuring. At the time the only things being conjured up were tools, coats, apples, wheat, and walnuts. In year 27 villager Rodolf married elf Magdalian.
Chapter 10
I found a note in the old wooden box that said "more rain, old pier washed away." The old timers remembered those years. There was heavy snow late in spring and early in fall and there was always rain, not just rain but heavy torrential rain. The river was running fast and high and most of the old fishing pier by the abandoned village across the river broke up and was washed away. The river boatman were having a hard time navigating the swollen rivers. The problem was not just here but all over, there was flooding and mudslides and washed out and abandoned towns, farms, and animals. Wild animals trying to find dry land were attacking. Corne, the food merchant, said he could bring wild boar meat if the villagers wanted some.
The villagers wanted to build another lighthouse so they could keep an eye on the river and a lookout for wild animals. The elves did not want one built in their Coven. The trees by the river kept them secluded and hidden from view, they did not want them cut. They compromised. First they planted a oak tree seed and cast a rapid growth spell on it. They soon had a tall thick oak tree in which to built a haven tree topper house. The villagers were not happy with the use of a magic spell to build the house and the elves were not happy that young villager, Hobertrude, moved into it.
Fearing another mixed breed couple, the elves advised the villagers to build more houses on their side of the valley. The villagers had too many young singles that were not of marriageable age that would move in alone. More houses needing firewood was not something that was needed, with the cold wet weather firewood was often in short supply. There seemed to be no solution to the problem.
:) :) Nice way of using a Tree Topper!
:) Thanks, it was built with a little Elven magic. :)
Chapter 11
The problems only worsened in the years 30 to 33. The elves built another house and young elf Wellyn moved right in and took an elven bride. Problem was it was his sister Belinor. Parents, Omarien and Jammi, had no problem with this. They said at least the babies would be purebred elves, but the villagers and the other Coven elders did have a problem with it. The villagers were scandalized and the elves then suspected they were behind tree topper villager Hobertrude, suddenly taking a villager bride. In year 32, my husband, Bostoney, was born to mixed breed couple Rolf and Magdalian in the house next-door to the sibling couple.
The Coven elders were now concerned not only with half breed children attending their school that taught magic but there would be purebred villager children attending also. The spells and enchantments have been kept secret for hundreds of years. To make matters worse the river boatman brought news of smugglers operating nearby on the main river near Monkstown and there was again talk of witches and witchcraft and of ghosts and a Haunted Hollow. The years of rainy weather caused wide-scale flooding and Smallville sent expeditions that established an Animal Refuge and a Refugee Camp. And in year 33 a mud and rockslide blocked the river north of Smallville causing the course of many rivers themselves to change. The whole world was changing.
Yes, weary traveler I do know a lot about world history and those times, and I wasn't even born yet.
(Story Note: Storyteller, Hilliam, and her husband, Bostoney are not physically on this map.)
Dramatic! I hope this wont happen in my town. It is a shame that the game itself does not prevent this.
oh, no problem, it is just more to write about. :)
Chapter 12
Following the principle of the tree topper house, a platform was built by the elves farther to the east closer to the smuggler's cave. Three houses could be built on the platform and the hills and the trees would hide it from view. The residents however could keep a watchful eye on the cave and the river. While clearing the trees from the area before building, the workers found several strange holes that had been dug in the soil. They wondered if some wild animal like the wild boars they heard about had been in the area digging holes.
The villagers began building a few house too. Elf Ally moved to the village and everyone was surprised when elf Maddie joined him. The couple had just had their first child when one of the platform houses was completed. They did not hesitate to move into it. The Council of Elders, as they were now called, approved, not only of having another purebred elf child but that the couple moved back to the Coven. A newlywed village couple moved into the village house they vacated.
The Council of Elders were the adult members of 5 of the 7 founding families, Bostoney's grandparents and mine included. They considered Katha too young and she was married to a villager. They also did not think Omarien and Jammi would be able to make sound decisions for the Coven when they approved of the union between their 2 children.
Chapter 13
The 2nd Haven house was occupied by another couple where he was a villager and she an elf. Their 1st child was expected soon. The Council of Elders were again thinking of the school situation. At the time there were only 4 students, 1 in the village school and 3 in the coven school but there would be many more starting soon. One of the students was in the coven school was villager Lymani and elf Katha's son Mearling. Mearling wanted to be a magician, from little on he wanted to be a magician. My mother remembered how he would run around the village and coven with a stick he pretended was a magic wand casting spells to make the trees grow like the Haven oaks. He became very unhappy attending the coven school where others would be taught magic but not him.
The Elders decided that to protect magical secrets and make teaching easier the coven school would only teach magic and herbalism to purebred elven children. A new school would be built between the village and the coven and children from both side could attend. Both Bostoney and I went to that school.
A coven herbalist was built near the platform houses, the overall health of the people had again dropped slightly. The 3rd platform house was completed and villager Blaire moved in with elf Patrinidad. My grandparents Hobertie and Tressandis were disappointed that their youngest daughter did not marry an elf like her sister Maddie did, but at least both girls were living close by in the haven platform houses.
Chapter 14
Corne, the food merchant, returned with cheese and boar meat. He knew that wild boars will burrow into the soil after roots and other edibles but he did not think they dug the kind of holes we described finding when the haven platform was built. He said he would ask around.
Millice, the general goods merchant, had the answer. He had several pirate treasure maps and one of them looked to be here where the village and coven were. The map wouldn't be cheap, he would take trade goods rather than a cut of the treasure, trade goods were a more reliable source of income.
The trade was made for the map. The location marked with an X on the map was found and an X was marked on the ground. Indeed the spot was near the haven platform. Someone had been here digging for treasure, perhaps the smugglers from the cave. It was Blaire who got to work digging for the treasure. It was not long before he unearthed a large chest. He carried that heavy chest to the storage barn where it was opened by the Council of Elders and elders from the village. There was gold and treasures inside were worth 2,500 trade units. When Blaire retold the treasure hunt story in the years that followed, he always said the real treasure was my brother, Ranco, who was born that year, and myself who was born 2 years later.
Chapter 15
It was a good thing that the treasure chest had been taken to the trading post for the boatman to estimate its value because the storage barn was rummaged through one night. Smugglers were suspected. There was no activity seen during the day but several villagers and coven members reported seeing a flickering light at night across the river. If the smugglers had a boat, it was kept inside the cave.
River boatman reported drought in the south and more floods and food shortages elsewhere. People were migrating from the south to the north and from the north to the south. Smallville continued to send out expeditions and migrants were being turned away because of lack of space and provisions. There were again reports of pirates on the main rivers and villages being raided.
There was concern for the safety of the treasure which the Council of Elders decided should be saved for a time when it was really need. There was also concern for the magic books which must not fall into the wrong hands. The protective spell only protected the books for the elements and the passage of time. A safe and secure area was needed and the Council decided on such a spot near the Haven Platform. The area was back from the river and in a populated area. There was room for a small castles with guard towers. Work began immediately.
Chapter 16
A gate and 2 guard towers were built first. Two villagers and their elven wives moved in. The men would take turns on night watch. A keep was built where the Council of Elders could meet and the treasure chest and magic books could be stored until needed. Copies were made of the herb and plant books so the originals could also be kept secure. Work on the castle walls was slow. Stone was always in short supply and had to be hauled from farther away. With the number of laborers available it would not have been a problem except that food and firewood were often in short supply also. The overall health dropped from lack of variety when the workers did not take time to gather wild foods. The gatherers did their best to keep up. The villagers began smoking fish and another abandoned cow was found by one of the river boatmen. Chickens were again moved to the new animal shed.
The river boatmen's visits were fewer and farther between due to longer routes since so many rivers changed course, more stops at new settlements, area shortages, and increased pirate activities on the main rivers. The Council and the villagers agreed that some goods should be stored for emergency use. A sturdy secure warehouse was built within the castle walls and the first thing moved into it was the treasure chest. Completing the castle walls was still a problem due to lack of stone. No one wanted a bridge built across the river. There was stone to be had over the hills to the south.
Chapter 17
Grandpa remembered well the building of the tunnel from the castle to the stone. The stone was in a valley surrounded by high mountains, the castle would remain secure. To be on the safe side, a stone gate would be built on the castle side of the tunnel. In that valley they found much need wild foods. The food supply was dangerously low. Another conjurer workplace was built and my Aunt Maddie gave magic lessons to the older students.
Inside the castle walls was a safe and serene place for people to gather. The fear of discovery by witch hunters and the fear of pirates was always present. The castle guards eased that fear. The Council decided a hostel should be built inside the castle walls in case of attack. The Coven folks agreed but thought it should be reserved for the Elder Council members. The hostel was built in the center of the castle and was called The Core. The warehouse already had some iron tools and warm clothes. Foods with good keeping quality would be added when the food crisis was over. Another guard tower and a tunnel gate were completed.
In early autumn and again in early winter both Darkstone Village and Darkstone Coven mourned the loss of 2 of the Dark Elf town elders. Jammi, the sibling couple's mother, and Garnelius, a Council Elder, both died of old age. They were both in their mid sixties. The population was 128 after their passing, 88 adults, 22 students, and 18 young children.
Chapter 18
The low food supply got a tremendous boost when the general goods merchants arrived in the summer of year 45. Records show that several trades were made over a 2 month time period. Grandpa said they did not have enough room at the trading post and had to wait for one purchase to be taken to storage before the next purchase could be made. The villagers traded for thousands of apples, potatoes, wheat, and wild oats. All the old timers remembered that trade. They also remembered that shortly after one of the small storage sheds in the village was pillaged one rainy night, tracks in the soil lead to the river.
There had been other shortages at that time too. Surface stone was extremely hard to find and what little there was was too far away to collect in the cold and snow of winter. By early spring, as usual, firewood was in short supply. A 2nd wood cutting block was set up inside the castle walls next to the warehouse. When the merchant returned with more wheat the following year, the villagers built a mill and bakery. The coveners contributed their best herbs for herb bread.
The river boatmen brought more stories of smugglers and pirates and even kidnappings. Mothers were especially worried about their young single daughters who like many others wanted to move out on their own. Two houses were constructed within the castle walls with a third one waiting for stone. House building was lagging behind the need. Parents worried their adult children would want to migrate. A tiny quarry would be dug not far from the village cemetery where more village and coven elders were laid to rest, my grandma included.
Chapter 19
By year 50 riverboat traders were arriving more often. There was more food available now and the canal built in Riverboat Junction shortened travel time considerably. The town of Riverview was becoming a resort town where boatmen could meet and spend time with their families. The villagers was concern that the amount of trade goods they had would not be enough for future food purchases. Linen and wool clothes and iron tools brought in a lot of wheat, boar meat, and apples. A market cart was built so a worker could bring iron closer to where the blacksmith needed it.
To increase food production the villagers built a 3rd fishing pier. A new house and storage barn were also built near the cemetery. A tailor was built across from the barn to make warm coats for residents while the original tailor made coats for trade. The hide coats we conjured up were also traded. We all continued to gather wild foods and branches, especially in fall.
Another house or two would be built but fewer were needed. Several of the original village houses were now occupied by young couples. The Coven too had no pressing need for housing, another tree topper was hidden in the pines by the river. There would be vacant houses available soon and there was room in the mountain valley to expand if need be. Bostoney was 18 but still living at home, he was in no hurry to move out and take a wife. I was only 11 but I was glad to hear that.
Chapter 20
There was more seeds and seedlings available for trade from towns like O'Leary's Farm. The villagers brought up the subject of growing wheat in the mountain valley but none of them were farmers, they were fisherman, and the Coveners were conjurers and gatherers. The Council of Elders was now made up of mostly 2nd generation purebred elves. A cemetery had been built just outside the castle wall. Both, Bostoney's elf mother and mine were council members, our fathers were villagers. The remaining original Council Elders convinced the younger generation that the old ways were best. The mountain valley was rich in wild foods and firewood but they saw no reason why a few houses could not be built there. A small market was set up on the other side of the tunnel but house building was not immediately needed. More house in both the Village and the Coven became available as more families suffered losses of elderly loved ones. It was some time before 2 gothic houses were build in the valley.
Iron was in short supply at the time but there was still surface iron to be had in the valley. Bostoney was a laborer and suggested that a bridge be built to collect stone and iron across the river. The old abandoned village could be scavenged for needed materials. The Council was against the idea. Bostoney said they would have to do something soon about the situation if they wanted to continue to trade iron tools for food. Trading for iron would not be dependable since few merchants would come down the main river with a boat heavily laden with resources. They would have a hard time outrunning the pirates.
Chapter 21
Corne, the food merchant, said there were a lot of other boats on the rivers now. There were houseboats, small sailboats, merchant ships, and pirate ships. We got our first look at one of the sailing ships in spring of year 54. The river was high and running fast and the ship with full sails appeared and was soon out of sight, nimbly maneuvering our winding river. When told about it later, Corne said it was a merchant ship which probably came from Riverview Resort and may have had passengers. It would have been headed for Riverboat Junction and came down our river to outrun pirates on the main river.
The 2nd sailboat was not so lucky, it failed to make the turn and crashed into the shore by the abandoned village across the river. A large pirate ship was in fast pursuit. The survivors of the shipwreck fled into the forest while the pirates ransacked the ship. We tried to keep our movements to a minimum to avoid detection. The women and children made their way to the castle for protection as soon as that pirate ship was sighted. What? Oh, that was year 55, I know because that was the year Bostoney and I were married. We built a small gothic house in the valley behind the castle. I loved the peace and quiet of the forest and the wildlife.
The following year in early spring there was an outbreak of scarlet fever. The first case was Elber who tended the castle hedgerow. The villagers quickly built a bitty hospital outside the castle walls and all 7 patients quickly recovered. What did not recover was our dwindling food and firewood supplies. The number of new houses built did not help.
Chapter 22
Bostoney spoke to the villagers and the Council of Elders several times. More houses required more firewood and took away forest land and gathering spots. When another house was built in the valley he spoke to them again. Our food supply was not keeping up with the increase in population and trading had again slowed because of increased pirate activities. The villagers did trade for potatoes, apples, and cabbage and later much needed wheat. Iron was collected but there was not much left on this side of the river. At least the castle warehouse had iron tools and warm coats stored for emergencies.
In year 57 Bostoney and I had a son we named Burrel. When he got a bit older he loved to play with the baskets outside my gatherer's hut. I too was concerned with the dwindling food supply and the number of houses still wanted. At the end of year 58 the population of Darkstone Village and Darkstone Coven combined was 244, 117 adults, 57 students, and 40 young children. The villagers and elder council were finally convinced that something must be done. A bridge was built across the river to the west. There were resources and room to expand.
:) Nice to see you are here too, stay well :)
Chapter 23
The villagers decided they would try to grow wheat on the other side of the river. Jeralyn, the seed merchant, came from a family of farmers and said it would not be that difficult for the villagers to do. She would bring wheat seeds next time. Two 10x12 fields were cleared and ready to plant but Jeralyn did not return in time for spring planting that year. A lot of wild foods had to be collected and luckily Corne, the food merchant arrived with apples, potatoes, and wheat. The mill and bakery again had the supplies they needed. The food supply was better when Jeralyn arrived with the wheat seeds early in spring of year 61. The fields were planted and the crop thrived. The harvest was good.
In late summer of year 62 another ship was sighted. I remember it well. My first thought was what a beautiful ship with white billowed sails and my second thought was fear for its safety and that of anyone on our bridge just around the bend. I need not have feared. As if it knew the bridge was there, the ship adjusted its sails and nimbly turned itself to come to rest along shore near the lighthouse. The captain of the ship had bad news and a request. In spring there was an invasion of giant frogs in Summerset Swamp. Many swamp dwellers were dead or seriously injured, left limbless from the attacked. The herbal healing powers of the elves were widely known and the ship's captain was asking for our help. We were not aware that our presence there at Darkstone was known but the captain assured us that our secret was safe, could we help?
Yes, weary traveler, of course we could help. I used some of my gathering baskets to help gather the special herbs needed. We showed which herbs needed to be combined and crushed before applying to such wounds. Infections would be cured and the wounds would heal. We agreed to have more of these herbs ready to trade with the river boatman. When the wind was right, the sails were again adjusted and the ship sail away against the current back the way it had come, but along the way before it would reaching the main river, the white sails were lowered and black sails were raised in their place. Pirates!
Chapter 24
Yes indeed, weary traveler, they were pirates and so were our river boatmen, or at least they worked for a pirate as well as working for Riverboat Junction. When next Corne, the food merchant, came he told us about his boss Captain Kylandro of Pirates Cove, who was once a river boatman but turned pirate to help those struggling to survive in the swamp. He was a good man and so were the men working for him. The pirates that attacked river boatmen and raided and pillaged villages were not his men. Anything we had to trade, especially the special herbs, would be a big help. We were not helping pirates, we were helping the poor swamp dwellers.
We would do our best to help but we were still struggling with our own needs of food, firewood, iron, and overcrowded housing. There were 89 families but only 58 homes. Two more houses were built in the Coven's valley despite Bostoney's protest. The villagers planted more wheat across the river and began building houses and a gatherer there. They just finished building another windmill and bakery when there was an outbreak of mumps in the main village. The hospital was reopened and the only patient was soon cured. Darkstone's population at the end of year 64 was still 243, 157 adults, 46 students, and 40 young children.
In year 65 we received another request from the pirate Captain Kylandro via the river boatmen. Thanks to our help many swamp dwellers have survived and healed but most were physically unable to provide for themselves and their families. Trade was important but hard to provide for them. There were many more towns and smugglers and now talk of river patrols to crack down on pirates. Captain Kylandro wants to establish a settlement in the north solely for the purpose of providing needed goods to the swamp. Transport would be done out of the mainstream of riverboat travel. The river boatman had a copy of the latest World map and indeed there were many towns. The map was marked with 2 red Xs, one where we were in Darkstone and one where the Captain wanted to establish the settlement in the north. We were not far from Pirate's Cove but we were now one of the few who knew its location; the crates of new maps mysteriously disappeared from Riverboat Junction's warehouse. Would we be interested in helping to establish such a settlement?
:) :) :) Ah, a new story! Great! :)
:o What? No?
Chapter 25
The villagers and Elven Council were not interested in establishing a new settlement no matter what the reason but Bostoney had other ideas. I argued what did we know about establishing a town, we were gatherers and conjurers and since we were half-elves we would not even be conjurers. He said I would know a lot because I had always spent so much time going through town records. Even though we were Dark Elves, being half-elves, we would never be decision making members of the Council of Elders. Bostoney and I and our son would only be laborers and gatherers for the rest of our lives. Bostoney was 32, I was 25, and our son was almost 9. Bostoney found 5 other half-elf couples that felt the same.
I had my doubt about how much help we could provide to the swamp dwellers and wondered if we could provide for ourselves. I wondered if our ancestors would have survived here without the villagers help. The center of the Coven settlement was a gatherer's hut. I was still the gatherer in the Dark Forest valley. We had 3 hedgerows we gathered from, one inside the castle walls. The villagers, on the other hand, hunt and fish and raise farm animals, they grow and mill wheat and bake bread, they make clothes and tools.
The population in autumn of year 66 was 258, 167 adults, 43 students, and 48 young children, 23 of us would be leaving. We may not survive but we would give it a good try. The pirate captain would send the ship to take us upriver as far as the big lake near Lakeland. The ship would fly whichever flag was safest to fly at the time. We would make our way from there to the settlement site.
So, weary traveler, here we are. We arrived in Darkmoor Haven in spring of year 67 in the poring rain with little more than a handful of seeds and seedlings and magically protected books. We did not expect to find other elves here already, but they welcomed us and we all got along. We learned a lot from the Darkmoor Haven half-elves and tried to make their lives easier by doing what we do best, laboring and gathering, the heavy work, tree cutting and log hauling, stone and iron gathering and hauling. We provided market carts and workers to bring those heavy materials closer to their woodcuttter and blacksmith. With their help we were able to do what we came to do, to help the pirates help the swamp dwellers.
I often wonder if the shipwreck survivors back in Darkstone were as lucky as we have been.
The End