Year of Shadows 1358 Dale Reckoning (DR)
8th of Ches (March), early evening, cold with light snow
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As the sun begins to set on a cold day in early Ches, you see in the distance that lanterns are being lit in one of the most popular waystop towns in the Dessarin valley: Red Larch. Red Larch is a town of roughly 600 folk. Its about a seven-day ride north of Waterdeep. Red Larch stands atop a long, low ridge that serves as the westernmost edge of a region of monster infested hills.
The ridge was crowned by a landmark brilliant red stand of larches, but the trees were felled long ago by the towns first settlers. Today, Red Larch is a busy trade town. Its the site of the local farmers market, as well as a large and successful wagonworks, a buckle and lock factory, and a cattle market that attracts buyers from all over the North, and all down the Sword Coast.
Red Larch is also known for a nourishing, though unspectacular, table staple: savory crumblecakes. These are moist loaves of nuts, chickpea mash, chopped roots and greens, and turkey and wildfowl scraps, all baked together. They are wholesome trail food for the traveler. The local inns also serve them, accompanied by various strong sauces, and usually fried onions or gravy.
Three trails intersect the Long Road at Red Larch. One runs southeast through an area of small farms and ranches to Bargewright Inn; a second winds west through the hills to Kheldell, and the third runs east into the hills, to several abandoned, monster-haunted keeps. The keeps used to belong to adventurers and local ranching communities along the Dessarin. Regardless of which trail you came in on, Red Larch is a welcoming community and at least good for a warm bed and some hot food.
Buildings, shops, and homes are constructed fairly close together, and you see a couple of inns, one of which has a turret that looks as if it could fit atop a grand castle. There are several harness-making shops and a wagon works place as well. A few dwarves walk among the humans you see on the sides of the road, talking quietly or laughing jovially amongst themselves. Some are headed to a well-lit place that seems to be a tavern of some sort, while others head for what looks like a quieter place with a wrap around porch.
Here and there a chicken is being chased by a tow-headed child who has a bow slung across their back. A shaggy dog barks a greeting as you approach and try and decide where you wish to go first.
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Alright folks > time to sound off and introduce your characters, perhaps even decide if you are coming in as a group or in twos and threes or even solo. Regardless, there is plenty to see and do...but right now...it is really cold outside.
