From A Small Threat (1996) and A Small Problem (1998) by Cisco Lopez-Fresquet:
Lying at the juncture of the High Trail (connecting Ravens Bluff to Sarbreenar) and the trail connecting Ravens Bluff to Portsoy (locally referred to as Ravens Bluff Road), Burrowbluff is home to just over 500 inhabitants. The populace is comprised of mostly halflings and gnomes, sustaining themselves on an agrarian economy. The village exports some of the food it produces to Ravens Bluff. The coast of the Dragon Reach in this area is very rocky and rough; compounded by a pounding surf, this makes landing a boat or even swimming quite dangerous, which suits the village's populace just fine.
Burrowbluff is ruled by a council of elders, whose speaker is an old gnome by the name of Kiernan Goristantagonistiglianzo. The extremely ancient-looking Kiernan has held this position for over 20 years. In a few exceptional instances throughout the decades, the council has bestowed the notable title of Friend of Burrowbluff to heroes who have performed a great service to the village. A Friend of Burrowbluff is never forgotten by the village.
Local features include:
- The Bluff
- Located five miles to the southeast of the village, Burrowbluff derives its name from this escarpment. The Bluff is broken cliff between 40 and 50 feet high, near vertical in some places. After searching for several rounds, a suitable place for climbing can be found (+20% to all climbing attempts).
- The Happy Belly Inn
- This establishment, run by Roger Happybelly, is a good place to rest and is used as a gathering area by the locals. Roger is quite jolly, talks quickly, and laughs often. He appreciates having adventurers stay in his establishment, knowing how free they tend to be with their gold. Roger is often known to proudly proclaim that his kitchen is of a quality to challenge the best in Ravens Bluff. Such boasting is well-founded, though not even The Happy Belly Inn is on par with The Worried Wyvern in Sevenecho or The Wizard's Hand in Maskyr's Eye.
| Prices at the Happy Belly Inn |
| Lodging: | Food & Drink: |
| blanket and a space in the loft | 1sp | house ale | 1sp |
| share a room with 3 others | 5sp | dwarven ale | 1gp |
| share a room with 1 other | 1gp | house wine | 2sp |
| private room, sleeps 2 | 3gp | elven wine | 1gp |
| private suite, sleeps 3 | 15gp | mulled wine | 2sp |
| common bath (per person) | 1gp | mutton soup | 2sp |
| private bath (per person) | 3gp | light dinner (3 courses) | 15gp |
| Stabling: | full dinner (5 courses) | 3gp |
| per horse (hay included) | 1sp |
| oats | 1sp extra |
| warm mash | 2sp extra |
- The Silversmith
- The gnome Gustav Gorastampastiphon is well-known for his high quality work.
- Lone Pine
- A local landmark, the Lone Pine is rumored to be over 200 years old.
- Watch Hill
- An old abandoned watchtower sits atop Watch Hill. The tower had been used to guard this crossroads, but has been vacant for 50 years. Though only 100' at its peak, the hill is surrounded by a flat landscape and thus affords an excellent view of the surrounding area. Watch Hill is covered with blueberry bushes. These sweet morsels are harvested annually by the villagers.
- Green River
- The Green River descends from the mountains and spills into the sea. It is quite narrow - about 25 feet wide, usually - and can be crossed anywhere along its length, except the rapids, in the summer and fall months. During the winter and spring, the river is safe to cross only using the bridge in the village proper or the ford to the south.
- The Ford
- Other than the bridge within the village, only at this location can wagons safely cross the Green River.
- The Rapids
- Southeast along the Green River, before reaching the Bluff, the Green River picks up and becomes too difficult to ford.
- Sugar Hills
- These are a low set of hills to the south of the village, through which the High Trail passes. Neither people on foot nor those mounted would have difficulty traversing these gentle slopes. A hermit by the name of Stratos (N hem D7) lives in a hut near the westernmost peaks. Stratos watches over this area with druidic sensibilities, attending to all tasks purposefully and confidently. A quiet man, he firmly believes that animals are the paragon of life, free from the problems the lesser "civilized" beings create for themselves.
- Sugar Falls
- Sugar Falls is an impressive 40' waterfall down the Bluff into a large pool of water. The immense roar of the falls can be heard throughout the vicinity.
- Green Woods
- To the east of the village is a light woods known as Green Woods. Comprised of birches and other deciduous trees, it has thick undergrowth but little deadwood - kept well by the local charcoal burners.
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Map of Burrowbluff |
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