Heartsford Cliff

Heartsford Cliff is a town located on a cliff at the edge of Sil'va. It is a large settlement with a rough estimate of 10,000 residents. The populations is a large mix of races from all walks of life, but Elvaaris are the most common amongst them. The area around the town is covered in think foliage, driving the town into a narrow corner of the cliff. The Oulieus Manor sits very near to the cliff's edge, the only thing separating the two being the town's communal graveyard located behind the manor.

Town's appearance

[TBA]

Residents

General Residents

The residents in Heartsford come in many shapes and forms, ranging from races from all walks of life. Many residents of Heartsford Cliff are farmers, tending to livestock and vegetation plants. However, there are the few who run their own businesses within the town itself. Examples of which being librarians, innkeepers, tailors etc.

Major Families

The Oulieus Family

The Oulieus Family and Manor has been part of Heartsford Cliff for the past several centuries. They would be the reason why the town existed in the first place. The head of the family are usually known as the High Elder and they hold the most important role. From being the backbone of the town itself, handling the main trades between business partners and keeping the secrets of the tea to themselves.

The Ballahast Family

The House of Ballahast is considered as Heartsford's core military force. Acting as the territory's main security system for many occassion. From guards to exporters, anything that requires protection within Heartsford, there is a Ballahast along side it. The Ballahasts are also the most loyal to the Oulieus family, their history dating to centuries of servitude. The main branch is located in Heartsford Cliff, however there have been rumors of Ballahasts being seen outside of the Sil'va, their most recognisable trait being their 3 toned eye color. Only the family head and their direct offspring know of the Oulieus family secret.

Note worthy Characters & Families

[TBA]

Heartsford Cliff's Economy

Heartsford Cliff is like any territory settlement, raising their own livestock and growing their own vegetation. The town has been exporting their goods out to the rest of Sil'va as a way to make income along side their own inner economy. But what really put this town on the map was the discovery of a very rare aether stimming tea plant, only found and grown in Heartsfords Cliff, named the Tehmos by its people. The effects the tea has on a person's aether restoration were phenomenal, making it a popular item through out Castrella. The Tehmos would soon be what the town is known for, as well as its biggest economy profit. As to where or how they grow this special plant, is a secret only the head of major families know.

Heartsford Ecosystem

• Bloomoos
  • A type of oxen that spreads a special kind of fertiliser wherever they walk, they are often used as towing cattle. Used to plow the fields but also fertilise them at the same time.

• Aetherpids
  • These little bugs are the main pollinators of Tehmos. In exchange for a small amount of aether they will defend and pollinate between Tehmos.

• Purrtôme
  • These creatures are feline in nature, they comes in all shapes and sizes but the ones in Heartsford tend to be very large. Thier bodies made of some kind of dark smog that isn't easy to destroy. These felines wander graveyards and are hyper sensitive to forms of life that wander in. They are a form of pest control against rodents, but are also pests themselves.

• Cluckertoos
  • A species of avian very similar to that of a chicken. However, these birds were built for combat and are very adaptive creatures, often evolving and gaining traits with each generation. Many have taken to breeding Cluckertoos as a hobby to create the most unique, beautiful or deadly breeds. In Heartsford, Cluckertoos are used in their anual 'Cluckertoo Fight' during the 'Heartvest Festival', where competitors bring in their strongest Cluckers to duke it out over who gets to be crowned the number one cluck!

• General Livestock
  • Chicken [Eggs + Meat]
  • Dairy Cows [Milk + Meat]
  • Sheep [Wool + Meat]
  • Horses [Transportation]

Facilities

• Inn
• Library
• Clinic
• Town Hall
• Food Alley
• Market District

[More info on each tba]

Festivals

Heartvest Festival

The Heartvest Festival, is also easily known as a harvest festival, is celebrated to appreciate the year’s bountiful harvest whether it’s tea or other harvest from on the soil of this very town. The festival is held during Glimmer (Summer). The festivities will run for a whole month. As much as everyone should be involved in the festivities, they should not forget their tasks. “Those who don’t work, shan’t eat for the day” or so the saying goes.The festival is decorated with oranges, yellows and greens. The festival celebrations go as below;-

• Tea brewing ceremonies
  • The main point of the festival is to celebrate the year’s harvest of their tea that has helped build their town from centuries ago. Try out new mixes of tea! Do not fall for the fake tea some people might try to trick you with. The tea should only be made by Tehmo leaves.

• Pumpkin growing competition
  • Pumpkins have been a huge hit on these lands several centuries ago with how big and healthy they grow. This competition won’t be held until it’s nearing the end of the festival. It will be part of the closing ceremony.

• Water activities
  • Glimmer is the season where its heat can be unbearable for some folks. Grab a bucket and start splashing to the nearest person!

• Cluckertoo fight
  • Chicken fight. Go against the all time top competitors that has been against each other for the past 400 years!

Also during this festival, there are stalls and an open market for townsfolk to sell their harvests and items. Outsiders are very welcomed to come over and enjoy the festival! You might find some festival specialties such as the heartcake, a heart-shaped pastry, often filled with pumpkins. Other flavours come from the people’s own creativity. It is also the time where everyone should drink their wine and beer! Since it is not a common practice, some folks may have low tolerance so please be careful, especially with the heat of the season!

The Path of Remembrance

The Path of Remembrance is a celebration held to pay your respects to those who have left. A reminder to those who are still alive that life is temporary. A reminder that those who departed will always be remembered. Being thankful to their contributions. They were once a living being, part of the society, walking among us all. This celebration is held for two weeks during the Frost (Winter) season. On these two weeks, the town will be decorated with blues and whites, flowers and ribbons, crystals and ice motifs to fit the season. What do the townsfolk do? They are encouraged to visit the graves of their loved ones or those who are still alive.

Culture

• The people of Heartsford view their elderly in high regard. Heavily influenced by the Elvaari hierarchy system and biology, the elders are respected due to their larger aether pool and knowledge. However, over time it became the norm to respect the elders in Heartsford no matter the race they originate from.

• The residents of Heartsford all have one thing in common, a strong wariness of outsiders. The town's resentment towards outsiders stems from a past event where outsiders disrespected the death during 'The Path of Remembrance' which sprouted a long generation distrust between its residents and outsiders. This resentment much over time but the people are still wary till this day.

Rumors

• There is a rumored tradition in which traitors are punished in Heartsford, but it is only a rumor which many residents can only speculate. However, there has been word about a mysterious woman standing by the cliff's edge, waiting, always. "Traitors walk the cliff." were the words she spoke.

• Rumour has it that since it’s a town filled with Elvaaris on the majority, there must be someone centuries ago who discovered or tinkered with Aether to create the Tehmos. It is their “secret recipe” that they will not share! Speculated to be a member of the Oulieus family.

Tehmos Tea Trivia

• The tea leaves themselves are heart shaped, a symbol of Heartsford. These leaves are pink in color but take on different color tinges depending on the type of aether they restore.

• They require a special method of harvesting. Just plucking by hand would decrease the tea's overall quality and cause the aether to leak out. Thus, farmers in charge of Tehmos harvest are required to have skill precision and mastery of wind and water aether.

• Upon consumption of Tehmos, consumers will feel an increase in their aetherflow, allowing them to quickly recharge their aether glands and seemingly use their aether abilities at much higher power levels. These teas are widely popular amongst wayfarers and even the elderly, said to give them the strength of their youth back.

Tehmos Flavours

Other than for aether enhancing effects, some individuals prefer to drink Tehmo as is, a drink. Depending on the aether type the flavour changes

• Fire - Warm with cinnamon like notes. Heating is not required for brewing these leaves as they self-heat the water over time
• Water - Fruity taste, like a tropical mix
• Earth - Earthy notes, almost similar to coffee but with a thin and lighter taste
• Ice - Tastes like peppermint, leaves the consumers with a cooling after taste
• Wind - Very bold and sharp flavour, tastes like lemongrass with ginger
• Light - Those who have drank this rare flavour have noted it tasted like an angel’s kiss. With a strong vanilla flavour and milk
• Dark - Heavy, recommended for dark coffee drinkers. This Tehmo is pitch black like night and it’s thickness is no joke. Most avoid this flavour but it's popular amongst adventurous people.

Heartsford's Secret

[TBA]

General Trivia

• The colour red is always associated with the Oulieus family which symbolizes passion while the colour green is often associated with the Ballahast family, symbolizes loyalty.
• There is a passage that connects between the Oulieus Manor and the House of Ballahast.