Pine Brook
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History: The town of Pine Brook, located in northern Drillian, has existed in some form or another for many centuries. It is only in the past century or two that is has gained a name, and some fame, for itself. Sitting on a tributary of the Chandler Cowles River and surrounded by forest, Pine Brook has become known for its lumber operations and small sawmill. With a ready source of cut wood, many carpenters and would-be carpenters have gradually found their way to the area; however, this is not what Pine Brook is best known for, but is rather known for the peculiarly large chair that sits near the town entrance to greet any and all who visit the town.
The story of the chair, as told by any willing town inhabitant, is one of a simple, and admittedly humorous, misunderstanding. As the town started to become better known for its skilled carpenters, more traveled there to request commissions. One such individual came seeking a chair made from larch, or, as he told the carpenter, a larch chair. When the individual returned a week later, he was presented with a large chair. Unsatisfied, the individual tried to clarify his request, but unbeknownst to him, larch was unfamiliar to the carpenter. When the individual returned again, he was presented with an even larger chair. One more attempt at clarifying his request resulted in the largest chair the carpenter could construct, now proudly displayed in the town square.
Each year the town holds a contest to see which carpenter will win the title of chairperson. It is considered an honorable title and honorable position. The crowned chairperson will spend the year, until the next champion is crowned, maintaining the chair, protecting it from the elements, and fixing it up as they feel needs to be done. No one else is allowed to work on it.
In many ways the chair has become more important to the town over the past few decades. Rumors says The Mist is creeping ever closer to their town and it will inevitable swallow them up. Every day at least one townsperson can be found climbing the chair in hopes they will be able to see when The Mist arrives. They know it is only a matter of time
Details: Pine Brook is part of the Drake Estates and is a regular supplier of lumber to the domain. Individual carpenters are often sought in the town for commission pieces (with clarification on all orders). While the town supplies little else, they regularly trade with other nearby towns and villages, especially farmlands as they do not have any farms of their own.
Respecting the strength of a triangle, Pine Brook is run by a triumvirate system. The chairperson occupies one of these positions, and in many ways is most respected, while the other two spots, often called the seat and the leg, are elected to their position. While the chairperson often changes each year, the remaining two hold their positions for two (seat) and three (leg) years each.
Notable Individuals:
- Gerald Woodruff, human male, current chairperson of Pine Brook, and respected carpenter. Coming from a long line of talented carpenters, it is no surprise that Gerald once again holds the position of chairperson nor that he is most often sought for commission pieces.
- Genovefa Woodruff, human female, daughter and apprentice of Gerald. Although still considered young for a carpenter, Genovefa is already producing impressive work. She wants to do her family heritage proud and will not let her focus or talent waver from her apprenticeship.
- Skylar, human female, sawmill owner, and current "leg" of Pine Brook. She coordinates most of the lumber exports and has good working relationships with their buyers. When it came time to elect a new "leg" one year ago, Skylar immediately came to the mind of the residents. Although she can be stern, she is fair, kind, and generally well-liked.
- Harlon, human male, blacksmith and current "seat" of Pine Brook. While he isn't a fan of being elected into the position of "seat", again, he is considered as sharp as the tools he creates and maintains, even if he seems disinterested in what he considers political nonsense.
- Marwood, human male, tree enthusiast, proclaimed forager, and town sap. Contrary to his belief, he was actually born as Milton Cooper, son of the Cooper family in a nearby town. He came to Pine Brook seeking an apprenticeship as carpenter, but lacked the talent. No one is quite certain what happened, but Milton soon changed his name to Marwood (more wood - in honor of the larch chair joke) and decided to spend his days communing with the trees, trying to peddle his questionable foraged goods, and fight off The Mist (from a distance) with whatever item is of interest to him that day.
- Violetta North, human female, tavern worker, mother of Bromley and Piper. She is one of the few whose jobs have nothing to do with the lumber operations of the town. Unfortunately, she is kept just as busy at the tavern and often loses sight of her children.
- Curtis North, human male, sawmill worker, father of Bromley and Piper. One of the sawmill workers who is kept almost constantly busy as he is one of the senior workers and has recently been training new ones.
- Bromley North, human male, child, chair climber, and watcher of the Mist. He and his sister Piper can be found running around town while their parents work, often climbing the large chair to try to spot the Mist. Charming as Bromley can be, the chairperson often doesn't not mind the chair becoming their playground.
- Piper North, human female, child, chair climber, and watcher of the Mist. The younger sister of Bromley who almost never leaves his side. When he climbs the chair, she climbs the chair. Where he leads, she follows. She is shy and sweet, and makes it all the more impossible for the chairperson to scold their chair climbing escapades.
- Tyra, human female, Suomi priestess of rank Earl. Unlike others of her religion, she became a Suomi priestess not because her faith called to her, but because her skills as a whittler demanded it. After seeing some of her work, Rowan requested a wooden death mask, and soon initiated her into priesthood so she could focus solely on making beautiful, elaborate death masks as a livelihood rather than a hobby.
- Rowan, human male, Suomi priest of the rank Duke. He became keenly aware of his mortality recently and soon sought out a solution to it in the form of Tyra. With his death mask ready, he is training Tyra to take over temple duties for when he departs this world.
