Intro
This is the 53th story in the Smallville Series. It takes place in the wooded highlands north of Cottage Grove (story 42). Forest Haven was settled by three groups of people who met in the forest. Two families were migrating from the area because of the worsening weather conditions, but they did not think they could go much farther. Neither did the 2 families from Cottage Grove who were looking for their lost sheep that were scared away from their grazing area by wild dogs. The last group was the 4 families of wood elves that remained from those that were sent from the North Pole South Annex (story 21) to the Winter Woodland to care for the wild animals who were struggling to survive. Part of their group headed northeast to the polar region to help the animals there. They founded the Ice Mountain Nature Preserve of story 52. These wood elves and the 4 families they met would establish a Forest Haven in these northern highlands in year 63 SVT.
Map # 877396556 Plain, Small, Harsh, disasters Off, Easy Seeds (8 Families)
Mods enabled in load order:
Starting and Map Changing Mods: Call of Nature Soundtrack, Banished UI Maps, Labor Window, RK Minimized Status, CC Light Rain, override maps, Jinxie Natural Decorations, Kid Tree Replacer Deco, Kid Tree Replacer Xlight, Maritimes Riffle, New Flora Edit, Override Fewer Trees, Family Starts
Tweak Mods: Fishing Dock 25%, Hunting, Hunting Season, Increased CC, 1:1 Alternative, Rocks Respawn
Major or Must Have Mods: An Empty Square, Fenceless Pasture, Nomad Sign Complete, Kid Forest Deep, Kid Forest Haven (new, testing), Settler's Deco, Kid Workplace
Supporting Mods: Campfire, EB Small Storage Mod, Kid Fish n Ships, Kid Market Food, Kid Nativity Chapel, Kid's Workshop Deco, RK Ducks as Livestock, Tiny Chopper, White Picket Fence.
Mod info: Kid Forest Haven - Kid and I both like the wood textures of Kid Nativity Chapel and agreed there should be more of it. This mod has no special terrain, climate, or start conditions.
Welcome, weary traveler, come sit by the fire and I will tell you all about our Forest Haven.
i'm curious to see what the override fewer trees does.how much of an affect will it have on the gatherers? doubt it would work with other start mods thou.
Kid made fewer trees a little while ago and I tested several times and did not notice much difference even after it was adjusted. I thought to try it again and I do believe it did work this time - there are several spots on the map with no trees. I do not see much wild foods or branches in those areas. I am also using his override map mod though so maybe that is also affecting. It is an override like the tree replacer mod so it seems to work with other tree mods, at least with that one.
If you are between maps and would like to do some experimenting with it, I can ask
@kid1293 to release it now.
Chapter 1
Yes, weary traveler, Theador and Thaly were the first to leave the North Pole South Annex to go to the aid of the animals in the Winter Woodland. My husband Rollan and I were part of the group of wood elves that left next, my name's Mckaylan. Most of our group went further north to the polar region leaving our 4 families to look for animal in need of aid in the woodlands. What we found was 4 families in need of aid. Two families were farmers migrating from the area and two families from Cottage Grove were looking for their lost livestock. Earlier, we saw lost sheep and advised a group of monks to go after them. We headed in the direction of Cottage Grove but the going was rough and the families were exhausted. There were 24 of us, 16 adults with 8 toddlers and infants. The 2 migrant families had 2 carts containing all their belongings, and the cottagers had one cart of supplies. We elves travel light and live off the land. When we reached the main river we agreed to settle rather than travel on. Our town would be our haven, our Forest Haven.
There were several large herds of deer in the area, they would need thinning out. They and the weather were responsible for large areas that were lacking in trees and other vegetation. We being elves had the finest elven bows and arrow enchanted for accuracy and pain free hunting. We soon had venison in the supply carts with the vegetables.
We needed 8 houses and a school before winter. Rollan and I built a tree topper a short ways away with a porch where we could sit with our morning cups. The 2 migrant families built ground houses side by side. Being farmers, they had seeds with them and immediately planted wheat and cabbage. Another tree topper was built by elves near the river west of the stockpile. East of the stockpile a school was built and a house for one of the Cottage Grovers. Elves built another tree topper next to the school and another near the farms by the small stream. It wasn't long before the 2nd cottagers had a house built next to the 1st. Both were true settlers with a swing and a quilt out on the line, and hollyhocks planted and already blooming. The summer was hot with temperatures in the 80Fs. By late autumn it was near freezing but the crops were harvest in time. We built a storage barn and we gathered wild foods and branches. There were a lot of dead branches.
Chapter 2
That first winter was exceptionally harsh with freezing temperatures and lots of snow. The large areas lacking vegetation allowed the wind to pick up speed and snow, leaving huge drifts around the ground houses. Several times the occupants had to be dug out. No, they did not want tree houses, they feared for their children. Our elven children of course had a natural connection with trees and were climbing in them before they could walk. Not only do we elves have a connection with animals and trees but we know a fair amount of Elven magic and as soon as the snow melted in early spring Ramir and Pamaliya had a magic garden planted. Our farm families prepared another crop field, a bit smaller than the other 2 fields, but they wanted to get their bean seeds planted. Our food supply was further supplemented by fish caught from a fishing bridge built across the small north stream by the river.
A small storage barn had been build by the magic a garden and farm fields, and the carts still had supplies in them. We wanted inventory records kept all in one place so we built a town hall by the main storage barn and school. It was a beauty building with a nice view from the top deck with a nice breeze in summer. We were concerned with our food supply records but realized we were short of firewood, a situation that must be rectified before another winter set in. We set up a Tiny chopper near the main stockpile, and down past the farms we built a small branch gatherer workplace. We already cut more trees than we would have liked. We build a firewood storage shed so that firewood would be closer to the families living near the farms. They would have less far to go for firewood in the snow. We all welcomed the late winter thaw we had that year. Ground house dwellers only had to be dug out twice that winter.
The thaw allowed us to see how large the deer herds were becoming and they were doing a lot of damage to the newly sprouted tree. Something would have to be done about the herd sizes and the forest damage and regrowth.
:) The oak tree is part of the schoolhouse and is new to Forest Haven set. The tree houses are Kid Tree Toppers retextured to match.
Chapter 3
The woodcutter and branch gatherer increased our firewood supply and kept it stable. The magic garden did the same for our supply of wild foods. Our supply of coats was low now and tools would be need soon too. It was time to build a workshop. We had a good supply of hides for the coats and enough smoked venison but we needed to reduce the size of the deer herds. We used another of the beautiful sturdy oak trees to build a hunting platform with storage underneath. From the platform large herds of deer could be seen to the west and to the south across the stream. A sturdy rope bridge was built to cross the stream.
From our tree topper platform, Rollan and I could see a large herd of deer grazing nearby. The were a lot of new fawns. We had a new baby too, a girl we named Trica. Several more babies were born in Forest Haven that year. The population was 34, 16 adults and 18 children. One or two of them would be starting school soon.
We had the first snow already in autumn, the leaves had not even fallen from the trees yet, but we could see there were very few new trees sprouted in the forest. There were a lot of downed branches that would keep tree cutting at a minimum. It was cold work collecting them but we thought some hot soup would help. We had cabbage, potatoes, and fish but decided to start making mushroom soup. There's nothing quite as warming as a bowl of hot soup on a cold winter day.
I really like that hunter with storage!
:) The hunter is a unique piece. I did not realize until tested now that it had storage. Good use of beautiful oak tree too, very forestry.
Chapter 4
It was another bad winter with ground residents having to be dug out of the snow drifts several times. Several of them came down with very bad head and chest colds. We wished we had ingredients for chicken soup. Warmer clothing may have help them too, we elves were a bit hardier. Fearing the worst we build a small cemetery in the center of town and a small Nativity chapel. Everyone survived until spring.
Rollan and I agreed that something had to be done about reforestation. Last autumn I collected tree seeds from the forest, and by spring we built a potting shed and had seedling coming up in small pots. I also started pots of flowers from seeds picked from the cottager's plants.
That summer we began construction a trading post. We had not seen a river boatman since we got here but figured sooner or later one would come down the river. We hoped to get potato seed, chicken meat, and wool if not live chickens and sheep. We had plenty of hides and hide coats we could trade plus iron tools.
The trading post was completed by autumn. The leaves had fallen and the temperature was already dropping. As usual we went to the forest to collect wild foods before winter. I would gather more seeds. I came across some walnut trees in the forest east of town, the nuts were just starting to fall but by the time I got back to collect some of them the snow began to fall and the walnuts were buried somewhere beneath the snow. I had an idea I would tell Rollan.
(Mod note: a worker in the seedling shed produces seedlings for trade, there are no seedling on the map to collect.)
:) Good hint about the Seedlings. I had forgotten that.
I thought I should clarify. I read back what I wrote and it sounded like seedlings needed to be gathered but I didn't want to change story. Easier to make note. :)
Chapter 5
In early spring of year 5 I took Rollan into the forest to see the walnut trees, he liked my idea and sent a builder over to start working on it.
We could not believe our luck that the first merchant to stop at our trading post was a livestock merchant who had sheep to trade. We barely had enough trade goods for 2 sheep but he said he would gladly take as many seedlings as we had. He said there had been tornadoes to the southeast near Newport and drought to the southwest. Smallville was doing its best to supply seedlings to those areas but they only had the one greenhouse.
While he waited for our trader to bring the seedlings to trade for 4 sheep, 7 migrants arrived from the North. They did not think they would survive the winter and were very happy to find our Haven. There were 7 of them, 2 families with 2 young children, and 1 single young man. We warned them about the winter storms and snowdrift but they wanted ground houses. We built 3, one by the new pasture, one by the new fishing pier, and the 3rd one by the nut haven. Wooden platforms were built around the 3 walnut trees. When the nuts began to fall in autumn they would be easier to find on the wooden platforms then they would be on ground in the snowdrifts below. Nuts could easily be picked from the trees and there would be plenty fallen throughout the winter onto the platforms. They could be harvested from there all year long. The idea proved to be a good one when the snow began to fall at the same time as the nuts.
It was not long after that first snowfall of the season that our sheep produced the first bundles of wool. Our workshop worker immediately switched from making iron tools to making warm coats. Havenians would be much warmer this winter.
(Mod note: Thanks
@kid1293 for adding the matching fishing pier. Someone please comment how great it looks.)
You're welcome! :)
Havenians...? Is that a word? :)
;D Not according to Spell Check ;D
Those platforms that can built around trees are cool!
Chapter 6
As always we kept a close eye on our firewood supply. When spring came we stopped making soup to save on firewood. Our log supply was low also. We collected branches and cut some trees and began constructing a forester tower in the forest to the east of my seedling shed. When Casimeon, the food merchant, came to port, we ordered apples and chicken. Hopefully, we would be able to make chicken soup next fall and winter.
We would have more mouths to feed. In spring 9 more migrants arrived from the north. There were 2 single young men ages 8 and 11, one built a house by the nut haven and the another by the hunter. An older single man built a house by the new gatherer's hut that was built next to my seedling shed. A tree topper was built for a family of 3, the husband was elven, the wife was not. He became our forester and their daughter the gatherer. By autumn a house for the remaining family of 3 was built nearby.
We would have warm roasted walnuts to snack on this fall and winter. The fire crackled in the roaster that was built a short distance from the nut haven. We had a good harvest of walnuts the previous year and this one promised to be the same.
:) thank you :)
Chapter 7
When Mari, the livestock merchant, returned in spring of year 7, we ordered more sheep and chickens. He said he wasn't sure he could get chickens but he could get ducks, so we ordered those too. We really needed more sheep, our small herd was not providing enough wool for warm coats. We built a small pasture near the trading post.
When 11 migrants arrived that spring, Rollan had a surprise housing plan in mind that even a non-elf would like. It had been another snowy winter and we had 13 ground houses, 8 workplaces, the barns, and the school to dig out after almost every snowstorm. That was enough. Rollan designed a Haven platform on which 3 houses could be built on 2 different levels with a ground level storage market entrance. Rope fences would prevent falls. The house would be built around the oak tree supports in true elven fashion. A small wooden doorstep marked the direction the door would face.
The migrants agreed to give it a try and the 3 houses were soon built and the families moved in. The families loved it, they had a beautiful view and shade and a cool breeze up in the trees in summer. It was breathtakingly beautiful in fall, and in winter the snow tended to blow off the platforms rather than piling up in front of their doors. They only had to go down the rope bridges to the market for supplies.
Casimeon, the food merchant, returned in autumn with apples and chicken meat. The market soup stand immediately began making chicken soup with wheat noodles. The platform market vendor went with his wheelbarrow to the nearest storage unit to pick some up.
Chapter 8
Being wood elves we were always concerned with the condition of our woodland. Tree growth was still sparse in our nearby forests and across the river. It would be easy to clear land over there for farmlands with the least amount of forest destruction. On this side of the river there did not appear to be a lack of wild foods and herbs in the forested areas themselves. Our one gatherer was doing a good job collecting a variety of wild foods. Our foresters were busier cutting trees than planting, we assigned the 3rd and last forester to our forester station and made sure they would all be planting seedling. We built an herbalist nearby to collect the abundant amount of herbs. Although our overall health was 100% many Havenians stopped by for healing.
In Spring, 7 migrants stopped by but would not stay, they were going to Cottage Grove. In late summer, Jaquel, the seed merchant, stopped by our trading post. We ordered potato seeds. We could grow more food and still preserve our forest.
By the end of summer we built a wood cutter near the Haven Platform complex. Across from the woodcutter we build a special stockpile, a worker would see that it was stocked with logs for the woodcutter. We did not built another firewood storage, hoping firewood would remain available on all stockpiles and beside, the Forest Haven Platform market stocked firewood also. Our supplies at the end of year 8 were good although we still needed warm coats, We hoped our ordered sheep would arrive soon.
Chapter 9
We certainly could have used those warm coats that winter. It was a cold and snowy winter and when we thought it was finally over, it turned cold and snowy again in early spring. Everyone still wanted hot soup but we were out of chicken meat so we switch back to making mushroom soup. Our firewood supply was good but our log supply was low. We gathered branches to conserve our logs.
When the weather warmed and the snow melted we could see the new growth in our forest to the northeast. The forest to the east and to the south were doing well and receiving less damage since the size of the deer herds were being reduced. There were three very large herds across the river. When 2 families of migrant farms arrived in Spring we decided it was time to cross the river. We did not want to clear forest land on this side for more crop fields.
Our population was 71, 36 adults, 17 students, and 18 young children. We could certainly use a few more workers. Only 1 students would finish school soon, the others were still a year or two behind. Our young men were still living alone although we did have 2 teenage single girls still living at home.
We began building 2 bridges to cross the river. Both families said they wouldn't mind living in platform houses overlooking their farm fields, but they did think the large deer herds would damage the crops. The platform with a market was soon built and 2 lower level houses were constructed. A haven hunter was built out back behind the structure. A crop field was cleared for wheat and a small barn was built. We collected herbs and wild foods and firewood nearby to stock the shed and stockpile.
In late winter the ducks we ordered arrived.
Chapter 10
(Mod note: Kid's Workshop Farmyard has been added)
We set aside an area across the river for the ducks, there was a low spot that always had water after it rained. In early spring when the snow melted and ran off the haven platform there was a puddle underneath and a pair of wild ducks took up residence there. When Mari, the livestock merchant, returned we only had enough trade goods restocked for 4 of the sheep he brought. Just as well, they would fit in the small pasture and provide that extra bit of wool we needed.
The branch gatherer we built near the haven had been helping the hunter instead of picking up branches. By early spring we also had a new mill built by the wheat field and, when 8 more migrants arrived, one of the adult girls age 9 wanted a house built near it. Her family built a ground level house across the river and soon had vegetables planted from the seeds they brought and nests for their chickens. They were the self-sufficient kind and set up their own chopping block for firewood. With a fence and flowers and a rocking chair, their farmyard was very attractive.
The second family moved into a high level platform house and planted their farmyard nearby that they could see from their platform. They had a small apple tree, wheat and bean seeds, and some chickens. They too would chop some firewood in their farmyard for themselves and others. There was plenty of room yet in the platform market. They were still working in autumn when the snow began to fall.
Chapter 11
By spring of year 11, we had a bakery built not far from the mill, the smell of fresh baked herb bread filled the air. The new migrants added new potatoes from their farmyard to the general food supply and a stand was set up by the main stockpile to roast some of them. The cottagers set up a swing and planted flowers so laborers could sit and enjoy a roasted potato. Our 3 types of families got along well in our Forest Haven and the non-elves were quite taken with living up in the trees. We had 30 families but only 24 houses. We knew some students would graduate soon and other young people would want to move out on their own so we began constructing another haven platform for 3 more haven level houses. There was still a large clearing on the other side of the river.
At the end of year 11, Forest Haven had a population of 94, 51 adults, 24 students, and 19 young children, all 100% happy and healthy.
We were quite pleased with our Forest Haven with its tree topper and ground level houses, our seedling potting shed, our gatherer, herbalist, and forester. We had a nut haven and nut roaster, a wood cutter, a log supplier, and firewood storage. Our elven hunter had a stand in an oak tree with storage beneath. But best of all, we had 2 fantastic haven platforms with above ground level houses with rope bridges and a market entrance. As you know, weary traveler, a new haven is being constructed across the river. Your house will be ready soon. I hope you enjoy the view and the breeze up in the trees, and remember, spring will be here soon.
The End
Kid Forest Haven has been released. Info and link to download here :
http://worldofbanished.com/index.php?topic=3637.0