Barrowborough

~From the Cartographers' Guild notes:

"Pronounced 'Bara-bura' in the northern Hael accent"

The town of Barrowborough (officially Barrowmarl in census records) existed for roughly two hundred years as a quiet hamlet of around a hundred summer elves, quietly living on an island on the River Burr in the Gaola Highlands. It lies just a few miles upstream from the Albermarr pseudo-downfall. While it lies within the boundary of the dravon-dominated Marran Empire, the demographics rapidly changed when a yuan-ti archerald from the Holy Kingdom of Zantaashi made a discovery…

Geography

The town sites upon a small island in the River Burr, a large southern river in the Marran Empire. Flat in elevation, it nevertheless provides shore for willows and tall oaks that the hael tend to. Apple trees and small, family farming plots take up some space on the eastern side of the island, providing vegetables and fruit to the populace.

The barrow, the center of the town, is the source of both the name and the recent influx of citizens. Formerly a hill, the Yuan-ti excavated then paved over the site and constructed the stone buildings of Barrowborough nearby.

The shores on either side of the island are connected by large wooden bridges.

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Notable Locations

The Barrow

Formerly a hill, an archerald and cartographer discovered the entrance to ruins in the side. An ancient grave from Sigil, it had a portal within. Linking it with the capital, the Holy Kingdom of Zantaashi established a small settlement treaty with the Marran Empire to excavate. Now it's surrounded by an amphitheater with a half dome on the south side, leading down into the portal. For one reason or another, it's now deactivated.

The Ziggurat

The yuan-ti constructed center of the town. On top are the administrative building and the Fahrstone building. Inside are massive storehouses for incoming supplies. Culturally, this part of town is most similar to the HKZ, rather than the Marran Empire it lies within.

The Karma Houses

South, behind the barrow, lie three of the five typical Zantaashi houses of karma. Life, Chance, and Change are already present in the town, and space has been cleared for the other two. Several enterprising elves have bought into the karmic system.

Bridges

The large wooden bridges on either side of the town are solidly built against the river currents.

Eastern Farms

The 'old town' where most of the elves still live. Goats are common as a meat source, as well as chickens.

Docks

Burr is a major river in the south, and gets substantial traffic. Barrowborough is not a trading port, however, and serves only as a stopover for supplies and repairs. A few miles downstream, a Marran immigration station checks visas for those attempting to enter Albermarr.

Scrivas’

A local cartographer who established a shop within town. He was one of the party that first discovered the buried ruins.

Waterside Inn & Supplies

a dockside inn, tavern, and supply shop frequented by travellers. It’s the only true inn from sixty miles upriver to Albermarr. Villagers and sailors can buy tack and bait here as well.

Diggerdodger

“Lychee” Tartani, a summer eladrin from Ginwil, moved to the borough when the expeditionary force arrived. He paid a hefty fee to import the Zantaashi berries that gave him his nickname. It’s paid off. His tavern’s unique beers earned him the patronage of the Yuan-ti and locals alike.

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Holidays and Events

In addition to standard Marran holidays, these events are notable within the town:

Excavation Treaty

Fifteen years ago, the Holy Kingdom of Zantaashi traded a sum of platinum and fahrstone to the Duchy of Albermarr for the right to settle a certain amount of citizens and soldiers in the town.

The Biannual Migrants

The autumnal migrant forest (or at least a section) is currently on its way by the town along the river. This far south, it visits only once every two years.