Intro
This is the 54th story in the Smallville Series. It takes place east of story 53's Forest Haven and the Winter Woodlands, it is on the east edge of the Northern Highlands overlooking the open moors south of Crystal Canyon and Misty Meadow, stories 36 & 37. The group that settled here were of Elven descent from those areas but they were not purebred elves skilled in Elven magic nor were they wood elves skilled with living off the land and communing with nature and wildlife. They settled here in year 63 SVT in the dark days of winter when you wonder if spring will ever come. They named their settlement Darkmoor Haven, but after they settled, it only got darker.
Map # 325297580 Harsh Plateau, Small, Harsh, disasters On, Medium (5 Families)
Mods enabled in load order:
Starting and Map Changing Mods: Banished UI Maps, Labor Window, RK Minimized Status, CC Light Rain, doDaylight Cycle, DS Terrains and Climates, Kid Tree Replacer Xlight, New Flora Edit, New Trees, Family Starts
Tweak Mods: Bigger Wheelbarrows, Increased CC, 1:1 Alternative, Rocks Respawn
Major or Must Have Mods: An Empty Square, Nomad Sign Complete, Storage Crates, Jinxie Bitty Rabbit Hutch, Kid Ghost Flowers, Kid Gothic Fantasy, , Kid More Haven (newly released), Kid More Houses, Kid More Houses Dark, Kid Workplace
Supporting Mods: Idle Small Fisherman, Kid Coven, Kid Farmyard (newly released), Kid Garden Shed II, Kid Gothic Farm, Kid Gothic Tithes and Tributes (new, testing), Kid Market Carts, Kid New Pump, Kid Old Fence, Kid Washing Mod, Kid's Workshop, Tiny Chopper
Mod info:
Kid More Havens has been released, you will not have to wait. It consist of haven houses and platforms, but not the extra pieces of Kid Forest Haven. Kid More Havens have 3 variants made to match Kid More Houses mods original, dark, and vanilla. The dark texture matches Kid Gothic Fantasy.
Kid Gothic Tithes and Tributes (testing) consists of several pieces in 3 textures. The main piece is a collection dock where storytellers and role players can pay taxes or tributes when the riverboat comes to collect. Others can dispose of excess items. Each will get a totally worthless receipt in exchange. The release version will have a regular trading post added. It will not be in this story.
So, Welcome, weary traveler, come sit a while and I will tell you all about those dark days here at Darkmoor Haven.
Find picture and link to Kid More Havens download here:
http://worldofbanished.com/index.php?topic=3654.0
Chapter 1
Yes, weary traveler, those moors are not the most welcoming place to be especially in the dead and dark of winter. When our group reached the wooded highlands we decided to settle. We named our settlement Darkmoor Haven and thought our struggles were over. Little did we know.
There were 14 of us, 10 adults with 4 children. We arrived in the wooded plateau with some supplies. We had no herd of livestock, only a few chickens, goats, and sheep. We had no seeds for fields and orchards just enough for a few farmyards. We gathered resources and some wild foods and branches and set to work building houses.
Gardo and Elaynellama being of elven descent built a tree topper house for themselves and their 2 children by the river. Gardo began fishing from the river bank immediately.
My husband Averich and I were from farm families, we had chickens and 2 goats that took up residence under our apple trees. We built a spacious farm house and planted oats, carrots, berries, corn, and potatoes. We would tend the farmyard and animals together and Averich would cut the firewood. My name is Emmalynn but you can call me Emma.
Hesteban and Berty built another tree topper house by the river east of us. And Adon and Suzetter build a pretty house on the main road behind our house. A short way to the west Juliano and Marandy built another spacious farm house. They had 2 children and 3 sheep. There would be wool and wool clothes. They planted oats, potatoes, and carrots. Like we did for our chickens, when the days got short and dark and cold, they built an awning covering for the sheep. We both mulched the crops with hay to prolong the harvest into winter. If the winter was very bad we planned to bring our chickens into the house.
By late autumn 3 couples, including Averich and I, had our first child. We named our daughter Hessi. Gardo and Elaynellamae's daughter had just turned 6. Averich thought it best that we build a school right away. Averich was the eldest and it was he who organized the group and suggested we settle here together so we were in charge of our Darkmoor Haven, for now.
Chapter 2
The winter was not as harsh as we expected although there was an early snow and some very cold days. In late winter the temperature hovered around the freezing mark and we took the opportunity to gather branches and what wild foods and herbs we could find. There were a number of coughs and colds but nothing too serious. We began building a cemetery just in case. That early warm spell sprouted new growth in the farmyards.
Marandy only had time last year to make 2 wool coats but there was a nice little surplus of wool in the general storage now. We thought it best to build more storage and get more things out of the carts and crates. We also set up a tiny chopper by the main stockpile in case we quickly needed more firewood. We needed more hides for warm coats but the hunter was not having much luck. The deer herds were small and few. The moors were not known to be fertile lands to attract wildlife, our rocky farmyard soil was proof of that. We spent a lot of time picking small stones out of the soil in order to grow nice straight carrots.
With so many items in carts and crates it was difficult to estimate just how much we had of what, Averich wanted a town hall built where inventory and family records could be kept in one place. When he choose to built one next to the school was when we realized that Gardo and Elaynellamae's daughter missed starting school because we failed to assign a teacher. I said I would gladly teach the students but the next child to reach school age was now only 3 years old. Averich and I just had our 2nd daughter who we named Shastity.
By early autumn there was more wool in storage and workshop was built to make warm coats and tools when needed. It snowed again in autumn and we knew it would be another cold dark winter.
Not sure if i am allowed to post here (dont want to disturb your story telling).
Just wanted to say that i like the idea of telling a story and I would like to do this myself but always get lost in the process of planning, building, decorating and forget about taking screen, story writing. :'(
Keep up! :)
:) Thanks for encouragement
@banishedsanni It is fine to post here :) It takes a bit of planning and note taking, story often develops as I go along. One story often leads to another. :)
Chapter 3
Juliano and Marandy had been having a bit of trouble with wild rabbits in their farmyard so they built a small hutch to shelter them. Rabbit meat and hides would be a nice addition to our supplies. Our hunter was not providing enough hides needed for making warm coats. The workshop was now making iron tools.
We had a nice variety of items in storage and decided to build another storage shed to make it quicker and easier for our few laborers to do their job, especially in the snow. We only had 3 laborers and 1 builder at the time. We had a thaw in early spring of year 3 but as soon as the crops came up and the leaves opened on the trees, it snowed again. It made it difficult to collect branches to replenish our firewood supply. A small gatherers hut was built in late summer but our food supply was good so it would not be used this year.
Several times during the year there were reports of strange sightings across the river. Glimpses were brief and no one could say if they had seen animals or people. Averich though we should investigate and construction of bridge began. With only 3 laborers and 1 builder it took until late autumn to complete it, by then it was snowing heavily. Investigating would have to wait.
It looks like it is winter most of the time - the light.
:) The terrain, and the rain, and the dark of night help add to the dark atmosphere, and it is winter, for 16 more days ;D The first day of spring is a day early this year because of leap year. :)
Chapter 4
It was a harsh winter and we used a lot of firewood, our supply was quite low by the time we could get out into the woods to collect branches. Still it was not enough so we assigned one of our 3 laborers to cut firewood. Another laborer became teacher because Juliano and Marandy's daughter turned 6 and we did not want another child to miss school. We had enough warm coats for the winter so our workshop worker began making iron tools.
It was a very warm and rainy spring with one dark dreary day after another but one was very dark indeed. It was raining heavily the day 23 strangers came over the bridge, 13 adults with 10 children. With the bad winter, firewood shortage, and lack of laborers we had not crossed over the bridge to investigate. The strangers came to the town hall and informed us that they were elves and this was the land of their ancestors. They were claiming the land and settling across the river. We were welcome to stay. Welcome to Stay! Well, we had no claim to the land, we could not stop them from settling across the river, but we were not going anywhere. They said they knew we wouldn't mind if they helped themselves to some supplies. Well, what could we say to that, they had young children with them although most were older than ours and past school starting age.
They immediately got busy building houses but did not hesitate to help gather wild foods and branches on both sides of the river. We wondered what kind of elves so indiscriminately cut so many trees. They built 2 tree topper houses, a ground house, and a haven platform for 3 more houses. We were not happy when they had a worker come with a wheelbarrow for supplies for their haven storage unit. We wondered about the house that was build farther back in the woods. The couple's names were Bostoney and Hilliam, they seemed to be the spokespeople of the group. That last house was completed just before the first snowfall.
Chapter 5
We were happy to see our new neighbors build a gatherer's hut and a herbalist, at least they did not plan to live off us entirely. Our menfolk did not like the situation at all and began making more tools, axes and pitchforks, in case there was trouble brewing. When our dark neighbor built a school we had a strong suspicion of what we were up against, dark elves with dark magic. Some would call them witches. The Coven Hall they built confirmed our fears. An axe or pitchfork was no match for dark magic. Without magic, they already succeeded in doing what dark elves do best, instilling fear and terror.
Our dark neighbors showed no sign of aggression or hostility and continued to help gather wild foods and branches for our stockpile and storage units. They built a dark hunter near their dark haven to provide more meat for all. Everyone was polite but not overly friendly but our children played together.
Early winter was dark and dreary. The moon cast eerie shadows on the river. It was then that the dark elves built a large dark cemetery. When they came to us with a request, if you could call it that, we wondered if that grim cemetery was meant as a means of persuasion or intimidation.
"The moon cast eerie shadows on the river."
:) :)
8) :)
Chapter 6
Bostoney and Hilliam came across the bridge with their builders and informed us that they were building a special dock on our side of the river. Since we were living rent free on their land it was only fair that we contribute our fair share to the Dark Elven Council Capital City hidden away in the Dark Forest. The Council would send a ship to collect the tithe. A tallyman's office would be built next to the collection dock to help calculate 10% of all items in inventory except for wood, stone, and iron. The required number of items were to be stored a the dock until the ship arrived to collect them. The first tally should be done as soon as the dock and office were completed. They trusted there would be no trouble over this matter.
The dock and tallyman's office were completed by early spring. What choice did we have but to comply other than packing up and moving away. This was our home and we had young children to consider. It was not as if we did not have a good surplus of items we could contribute.
We immediately began tallying the number of items required, it was not difficult to calculate 10% and then round the number up if need be. The dark elves sent 3 workers who verified our calculations accepting that some numbers varied because items were constantly being taken from and added to storage. The 3 workers took wheelbarrows to gather the items, many from their haven platform storage unit. We wondered how long before the ship came to collect the items.
The months came and went but no ship arrived. The dark elves again came to help gather wild foods and firewood. The head elf and I both had baby girls and she sent their herbalist over to check that both I and little Florancesca were doing fine. The populate of Darkmoor Haven combined was now 55, 29 adults, 3 students, and 23 young children. By the end of the year our inventory totals were slightly more than they were a year ago.
Well I guess it is too late now, but there is a mod on nexus, that makes your bannies look like dunmer - because u wrote your bannies of this town are of Elven descent.
(https://staticdelivery.nexusmods.com/mods/617/images/30-0-1453629712.png) (http://nexusmods.com/banished/mods/30?tab=description)
maybe for another map :)
@banishedsanni Kid has also made override clothes mods, black, brown, white, buckskin, Ice Castle, and Christmas. These mods change the clothes of all bannies on the map - I only have dark elves on one side of the river but thank you for the tip on dunmer clothes. It looks interesting :) maybe for another map.
Chapter 7
We were totally taken by surprise when we were informed that another 10% of our goods needed to be taken to the collection dock before the ship arrived. We were not at all happy about this but the fear of dark magic being used against us was always present. It was not as if the donation would cause shortages or hardships and the dark elves did contribute most of the wild foods and venison.
Averich and I began tallying the amounts need. We had only just finished our calculations and were waiting for their workers to come to verify our numbers and move the items to the dock when a riverboat was spotted coming down the river. Close behind was a large ship with dark sails. The sight of those sails got us wondering if we were dealing with pirates rather than dark elves. The men said pirates would raid and pillage not ask for help. Still we wondered.
The river boat pulled up to the collector dock but the large ship maneuvered past. The river boatman, Estefanie the Collector, said it would anchor in deeper water and wait to be loaded from the riverboat. There was a deep lake not far down river. Meanwhile the 3 dock workers were busy bring the required goods, a 4th worker was added to help. The workers would help load the goods unto the river boat which would probably need to make several trips back and forth. There were 3070 units of goods for which we received a receipt. Averich was quick to note that the receipt was for the trade value of the items not the total number of items.
The dark elves' laborers did not hesitate to come to collect wild foods and firewood branches to help replenish our supply.
Chapter 8
The dark elves were always willing to help. When we were short of iron and finding little on our side of the river, they collected iron on their side then built a market cart and assigned one of their workers to bring the iron closer to our workshop. They built another cart and assigned a worker to bring the logs closer too. It was a tremendous help because it snowed in early autumn that year.
It was not only the winter that was dark but the mood of the people too. There was always the unspoken fear of dark magic and now a possible connection to pirates. There was no sign of magic being used and there were no threats but there was always doubt and fear. It was troublesome that the children who got along so well and played together when younger were now often fighting and name calling. One of the first students at the dark elves' school was in tears because one of our boys asked if she was studying to be a witch. We wondered what would happen when more of the children reached marriageable age. The first new dark elf couple moved into their new house on the other side of the river. The oldest children on our side of the river were ages 12 and 10 so we had a few years yet before we need worry if there would be problems.
At the beginning of year 8 we were told to tally our goods again, the ship would be returning soon. There was no incentive for our people to expand the farmyards and production when they had to give away a percentage to some unknown cause. The tallying was done but it was discovered there were goods that had not been picked up last year, 20% was apparently more than the ship could hold. We felt we were given a reprieve when told to include what was already at the dock in the required 10%. In early summer the ship with dark sails went past on its way to anchor again in the deep waters of the lake and the riverboat was right behind. We were given a receipt for 2,632 units and all units were taken to the waiting ship.
Chapter 9
We were given a reprieve by the weather that year too. The temperatures hovered just above freezing until early winter when we had the first snow of the season. I still had wash out on the line. The snow soon melted and it stayed mild throughout the winter, it was near 60 degrees in early spring of year 9. Camerilyn, the woodcutter, said sure the winter was mild when the logs were now closer to go to get. People seemed to always look on the dark side of things instead of the bright side.
Camerilyn was Cardo and Elaynellamae's daughter who missed starting school. She was now 14 and still living at home. Across the river, a young man that age just moved into his own cabin near the Coven Hall. Camerilyn's parents and Hesteban and Eberty in the other tree topper house each had 2 children. Adon and Suzetter in the pretty house and Averich and I both just had our 5th child. Our oldest child was 7, theirs was 6. Juliano and Marnday in the other spacious house had 6 children, their oldest was 11 and still in school. Our school now had 7 children, the school across the river had 3.
There was still some name-calling and fighting among the school children. The words witches, pirates, and peasant farmers were heard. I went across the river to discuss the problem with Hilliam. Her daughter Ailerra was the same age as my Flora, both would be starting school soon. I was concerned that the dark elves' school was teaching dark magic. Hilliam was concerned about the children's behavior also and assured me that the only dark magic was the spell that protected their books from the elements. Those books contained pictures and descriptions of wild food plants and herbs and their uses, and which ones to combine for healing. They teach their children survival skills like they do back in Smallville. This was not the first time herbalist healers were called witches. The dark magic spell book was sealed and used only to teach dark elven history. I told her that our school also teaches survival skills, and about plants and animals that can be grown and raised. We also teach reading and math. We agreed it would benefit the children to learn each other's skills. Averich and I set up a rabbit hutch and farmyard with chickens near their school and she and Bostoney would bring the children to the tallyman on counting day.
The collector ship returned in late summer and our count was much lower, 1641 compared to 2632 last year. Our production was up so whether this drop was due to more mouths to feed or being closer to fall when pantries were being stocked we didn't know. All the school children got a lesson in collecting wild foods and harvesting crops. It snowed in autumn. Although tensions between our two sides improved somewhat, in winter, everyone was a bit relieved that Bostoney and Hilliam's son, Burrel, took a dark elf girl for his bride.
Chapter 10
In early spring of year 10, the dark elves began doing some fishing, and they were growing more crops and raising baby goats across from their outdoor classroom. One of their gatherers came to join ours to give some tips and pointers. We expanded our farmyard and now had more sheep being raised in front of our school. It was tally time again and the dark elf teacher brought her students to the tallyman's office to learn the value of math. The children on both sides of the river were learning a lot. So were we.
I was surprised to have learned that Hilliam knew about the outdoor survival school in Smallville. She said river boatmen were a good source of information. She would say no more about it or exactly where they had come here from. Averich had no luck getting information from Bostoney either. Averich not only wanted to know where they came from but where the collector ship was taking our goods. Were we aiding the pirates? We had a lot of questions.
We got an opportunity to have some of our questions answered when the ship arrived and the riverboat had to wait at the collection dock. Both sides were now short of spare workers and since the tally was even less this year, only 1 worker was assigned to take the goods from storage to the dock. The goods were not all at the dock even though it was early autumn before the collection boats returned. The river boatman had to wait. While the dark elf dock worker was away getting goods, Averich had a chance to talk to the boatman.
The boatman would not say who he worked for or where the ship was going only that he was lucky to get the job. There was a shortage of river boatman so routes were long and time away from families even longer. There was trouble with bears in the north and crocogators in the south. They lost many river boatmen to the giant frog invasion in the swamp. The rivers have changed but there are now maps circulating. There is no regular riverboat route in this area at the moment that he knew of. The dock worker returned so Averich could learn no more from the river boatman but we knew more than we did before.
Chapter 11
The temperature dropped very rapidly and it began to snow in late autumn, the boatman could wait no longer, the still water of the lake where the ship waited could freeze over. We got our receipt for all but 60 pieces of venison. We would need to add them to next years tally, he just couldn't wait. Again our tally was lower than the year before. If the extra products were going into pantries instead of storage, it sure wasn't our pantry.
Dark elf Haly said some of the venison could be made into sausages, the venison would go farther and the sausages last longer. She set up a butcher cutting table on our side of the river not far from where most of our venison was stored. She didn't mind the long walk from her haven house and both of her children were now in school so she had time to help out here.
With the ship coming and going so late, it was soon tally time again. It seemed like that was all we were doing - tallying and worrying that we would be left short. It was still cold and snowing in early spring. First thing that went to the dock was the 60 units of venison. The dark elves send over 2 dock workers this year so we would not again fail to have the tally waiting at the dock.
We had a new worry this year. Once the snow melted the weather turned hot and dry. We were afraid of fire. We could not risk one of the storage units being destroyed, we began building stone wells nearby. We were short of firewood in spring and then short of stone to build the wells. We only had one builder, and until the dock workers were done stocking the dock, we only had 3 laborers. By the end of summer we assigned a woodcutter rather than collecting branches with so few laborers, they were still collecting stone. Autumn was cooler with rain and in late autumn the rain turned to snow. The ship still had not returned.
It was early winter when Adon, the hunter, spotted the riverboat and ship approaching. We were all surprised when the ship pulled up to the dock instead of sailing on to the lake to wait. It did not take long to load the ship and we received our receipt for 1718 units - up 443 units including the venison. The year was ending by the time the ship sailed away with the riverboat close behind. It would soon be tally time again.
Chapter 12
While the ship was being loaded, Averich spent some time at the dock trying to get a chance to speak with the ship's crew but with no luck. He did notice that several of them had wooden peg legs. The black sails and peg legs seemed to convince him that we were indeed dealing with pirates. There was no time to worry about that now, it was again tally time. Gardo and Elaynellamae's daughter, Camerilyn, would be the only trader restocking the collection dock. She was now 17, still living at home, and not happy to have to do all the restocking work herself. Where were the dark elf workers?
One of them had been working at our workshop making iron tools. In spring, that worker, Hamilo the blacksmith died after being burned in the forge. He was badly burned and buried immediately in the wrong cemetery, ours on this side of the river. No one seemed to mind, we all grieved the loss. He left behind a wife, 2 school age children, and a 2 year old. We were concerned when Tamathaly took her husband's place at the workshop. We at least managed to convince her to make warm clothes instead of tools. The school children were sad for their friends, their school had 8 students, our school had 13.
We tried to cheer Camerilyn up by building her a house by the collection dock. We hoped to have it finished by the time she was done restocking. She was done a bit sooner but promptly moved into the house just the same. It was the very last days of year 12 before the ship and riverboat approached the dock.
:) I agree, the lighting of that mod is very nice, especially the dark night. :)
Chapter 13
The ship arrived too late for it to be loaded and gone before we did another tally and restocking of the dock. Averich and I went across the river to discuss the matter with Bostoney and Hilliam. They agreed that it was too late. Averich was hoping to talk to the crew of the dark ship but instead he asked Bostony if these men were pirates. The answer was "not any more". Instead of a direct answer to where the ship was going, Bostony said where it was going the people were in need of hide coats and iron tools. Instead of the yearly tally we should have 100 hide coats and 100 iron tools waiting for the next ship. It could be done, we already had more than enough tools and there was plenty of leather in storage to make coats.
Averich himself would become blacksmith making iron tools in the workshop. Widow Tamathaly was now working the farmyard across from her home across the river by the school. I was now teacher in our school. We set up a workplace tailor near the workshop and one across the river by the haven storage unit. Dark elves, Hely and Garet would be tailors.
The collector ship was loaded in late spring and we received our receipt for 1749 units, up only slightly from the year before. The ship hoisted its black sails and was soon on its way. The 100 iron tools were taken to the dock in early autumn and the 100 hide coats by late autumn. We were told to tally up the regular 10% as soon as the ship picked up the coats and tools next years.
Chapter 14
Year 14 began with shortages of iron, firewood, and logs. The dark elves began gathering iron from their side of the river and we began gathering branches. We built a garden shed forester north of town to have a steady more reliable supply of logs. We reassigned a woodcutter.
In early summer the ship arrived to pick up the 100 iron tools and 100 hide coats, the value was 2,230 trade units. We received our 7th receipt. The items were easy and quick to load and the ship was soon on its way. We immediately did the tallying for the next shipment. We were not happy about this and the lack of information. Again there was talk on our side of the river about migrating to a different area, a less harsh climate and more fertile soil might be nice. But then the inevitable happened, Quentice from our side of the river married Honoree who was expecting his child, he moved into the Haven house with her. Both sides of the river celebrated when baby Bryle was born.
Reinal from our side of the river married Quentice's sister Camerilyn, and moved into the house by the dock with her. A single female from the other side of the river moved into a tree topper house by our garden shed, and a single male moved into a snug house by the bridge across the river. There would be more new couples soon. Somehow it no longer seemed to matter from which side of the river they were from. We were all part of Darkmoor Haven, population 70, 36 adults, 19 students, and 15 young children.
Chapter 15
It may not have mattered much anymore to us which side of the river people came from, but it mattered to the new couple Quentice and Honoree. Apparently, Quentice was questioning Honoree about where she came from, and about the Dark Elven Capital City, and about the ship. The questions were causing problems in their marriage. I heard it from Hilliam who heard it from Honoree, and I told Averich. He and I went to talk to Bostoney and Hilliam. We asked if it would not be better to just answer some of our questions rather than let the secrets come between this couple and others. After all, it has been over 10 years since they arrived here. We had 7 receipts from the collector ship. Bostoney and Hilliam said they would give the matter some serious thought but they wanted us to know that the goods that were loaded on the ship went to people who really need them.
It was late summer when the ship arrived once again to collect our goods. We got our 8th receipt, this time for a value of 2116, but this time we also received something else in return. They brought some seeds and tree seedling for us, not enough for crop fields or orchards but enough for a farmyard or two. I was called to the dock to get the seeds and seedling. As the ship pulled away I waved and several of the crew members waved back. I was eager to learn where these men came from and where they were going.
Where is that ship from? Is it a deco piece?
Hi.
The ship is from new mod 'Gothic Tithes and Tributes'. I will upload it soon.
I found the ship on the internet and worked with it to have it as decoration.
QuoteHi.
The ship is from new mod 'Gothic Tithes and Tributes'. I will upload it soon.
I found the ship on the internet and worked with it to have it as decoration.
(https://66.media.tumblr.com/2dbf560f3bcf93fd232be0f7694c7507/tumblr_n2hvmxUmxc1qci23co1_400.gif)
Good news? :)
There can never be enough deco pieces!
The deco ship also come with white sails. :) Deco ship is great, I placed it over the riverboat at the dock, it appears as if the ship is being traded with.
Chapter 16
We were busy the rest of year 15 collecting branches and preparing the rocky soil for more farmyards. There were pear tree seedlings, and corn, cabbage, and beans seeds. We prepared a 7x8 farmyard on both sides of the river. We were told next year's tally would again be tools and hide coats and apples, so we transplanted some apple trees and set up bee hives to help better pollenate our fruit trees.
It was a busy time. We needed more iron for the extra tools and we were again low on firewood and reassigned the woodcutter. There were more seeds and seedlings to plant. By spring of year 16 the new farmyards were growing well and we built one new house. In early autumn the collector ship arrived. We had 100 iron tools, 100 hide coats, and 600 apples which was half of what we had in storage. It was our choice how many needed apples we wanted to donate. We received our receipt for 2900 units and the ship was on its way, and finally there was time to talk.
Chapter 17
Averich and I met with Bostoney and Hilliam at our town hall. They would tell us what we wanted to know. They came from the Dark Forest in the south near Monkstown and Pirate's Cove, their dark elven settlement is much older though, older than even Smallville. They are not pirates but have been helping the pirate captain of Pirate's Cove, more accurately helping the swamp dwellers that Captain Kylandro has been helping. He was a river boatman turned pirate helping the poor, struggling to survive, swamp dwellers. In year 62 SVT, a few years before the dark elves arrived here, Summerset Swamp was invaded by giant mother frogs seeking revenge. Kylandro was one of the survivors, he rescued a young woman he would marry, and they established Pirate's Cove. The dark elves helped treat many of the swamp survivors with their herbal medicines, but no one helped them more than Kylandro and Jacalynn. There was a crack down on piracy in that area and the dark elves came here, a safe distance away, to help provide needed goods. The river boat and collector ship's crew are Kylandro's men and survivors he helped and gave jobs to. Some help is still need but with our help and yearly tally most survivors are now self-sufficient. There would be no more required tally after this one but we could still donate items if we wanted to. Hilliam said they would tell us more about the Dark Forest settlement later if we wanted to know.
It was a lot to take in but the information could not have come at a better time, we had 2 more couples with spouses from opposite sides of the river. We had 3 more houses under construction.
Our tally that year was a donation of 100 iron tools, 100 hide coats, 370 apples which was half our inventory of apples, and we added 144 pears which was half of our pears. The ship arrived late, it was a frosty autumn. The ship again waited in the lake while the river boat collected the goods and gave us our receipt for 2814 units.
Shortly after the ship left, our daughter Shastity married Hilber from across the river and they built a tree topper on this side. Our 1st grandchild was born that winter. Although the days were short and dark, winters in Darkmoor Haven didn't seem quite so dark anymore.
Chapter 18
In early spring of year 18 we did another tally voluntarily, the same as last year, 100 tools, 100 coats, and half of our apples and pears, and again it was dark elves who came to do the work of hauling the goods to the dock. After giving it some thought, I realized that over the years it was the dark elves who did most of the work. Certainly they did almost all of the heavy work, tree cutting and log hauling, stone and iron gathering and hauling. They even made it easier for our wood cuttter and blacksmith by providing market carts and workers to bring those heavy material closer to our workers. They hauled heavy building materials to building sites on both side of the river. They built their own houses and haven platform and coven as well as help build our new houses. We tended our farmyards and did some hunting and fishing. I wondered now if we would have survived here without their help. Our yearly tally now seemed a small price to pay.
The ship returned in late autumn that year and again anchored at the dock on a bright snowy day. It did not take long to load the waiting goods and give us a receipt for 2,955 units, the highest total so far. Our production had increased as well as our population. At the end of year 18 Darkmoor Haven had a total population of 90, 51 adults, 13 students, and 26 young children.
That last picture really tells of hardship. Nice story :)
Thanks :) I thought the picture of the ship in the snow looks really good. I really like that ship :)
Chapter 19
As you know, weary traveler, we just had another long dark winter, with long dark nights, and long dark shadows on the river. And now suddenly it's spring and we receive a wonderful surprise. The flowers, bulbs, and tree seedlings the ship brought us a few years ago are all blooming for the first time. There are purple and white lilac trees and bright yellow daffodils and multi-colored ghost flowers blooming on both sides of the river. What was once dark and dreary is now bright and sunny. The birds are singing and the bees are buzzing and children from both sides of the river are playing together and laughing and singing in the schoolyard's playground. The farmyards have new baby chicks and the hutches have new baby bunnies. Many of the house have newborn babies too.
Hilliam will be here soon to tell us about the settlement in the Dark Forest that the dark elves came here from. Until then, have a Happy First Day of Spring, weary traveler.
To Be Continued
Thanks :)
I also wish all a Happy Spring.
:) Moral of the story, there is light after darkness :)
Find info and link to Kid Gothic Tithes & Tributes here:
http://worldofbanished.com/index.php?topic=3678.0