Stagmoor
Stagmoor is a market town, in a strategic position on The Coast Road. The local moorland isn't particularly fertile, but it is good for grazing sheep, cattle and goats. Unsurprisingly, it exports wool and preserved meats.
There isn't much in the town itself, a farmer’s market, a few crafters and a small garrison. Most people live out in the country, tending their herds and small fields. These country folk are tough and many are members of the militia, and they can often be seen on the grazing lands, carrying a spear and sling, ready to drive away hungry wild animals that might be after their stock.
Administration: You will find the Mayor's Office and local Garrison inside the stockade of an old fort. The garrison is quite small, consisting of a few guards who have little to go except keep an eye on the market and Tavern. They may, occasionally, be called on the help deal with trouble in the hinterland, but generally the farmers take care of that themselves. The Mayor, who is appointed by The Governor, collects taxes and runs the market, while the Garrison Commander acts as the Deputy Governor for the town.
The Garrison Commander, the Mayor and the Senior Priest from Maruma's Chapel act as the town court, when required. Most cases are resolved in the Mayors office, although one of the warehouses might be used for a case that attracts a lot of attention.
Religion: The chapel is dedicated to Maruma (Patron of Women, the Countryside and Community), the shrine in the middle of the market square is dedicated to Azan (Mistress of the Market) however, ‘The Green’ is the most commonly followed Philosophy/faith among the people who live here.
Shopping: This small run of shops covers the necessities of life. There is a shop selling farm supplies, another selling countryside gear (including a few minor weapon ammunition and armour). A blacksmith's workshop (which is often busy repairing farm equipment or shoeing horses) A tailor (who sells material, as well as making simple clothes for men and women) and a Herbalist (Selling pot herbs, potions, lotions and other herbal solutions)
The Inn: The unimaginatively named Stagmoor Arms, sells simple food and drink and has a few basic rooms for visitors. It isn't particularly inviting, or busy, except on market days.
The Market: Normally has a few people selling farm produce, such as milk, cheese, jam, pickles and fresh meat, for sale to the town's residents for immediate use. On Market Day, almost every hamlet sends a few people to trade - so you might find Knife Sharpeners, people selling three-legged milking stools (and other minor furniture), homespun cloth and just about anything else that be made on a farmstead, when work is done for the day. When the trade caravan in town, you will also find a number of itinerant traders, selling all sorts of imported items. The only permanent structure is the Shrine to Azan.
The Warehouses: A couple of warehouses (overseen by The Mayor) hold wool, cheese and preserved meats ready for sale to merchants from Westhaven. One of the warehouses is used for the town's larger gatherings - such as The seasonal barn dances or well attended court cases.
The Caravan Ground: is really just a patch of open land, where the scrub bushes are kept under control, which is handy for the Market and the Warehouses. Caravans park there when they come to trade, but might also be used for the summer games, as an impromptu camp site, or used as a playing field by the children.
The Hinterland: Small farms, gathered together to form hamlets, are dotted across the landscape, ofter accessed by smaller lanes branching off of the main roads. The farms all have a few small fields, although they are mainly stock farms, and the moors are dotted with communal herds and flocks overseen by small groups of herders - all armed with spears and slings to drive predators away. There are occasional disputes over grazing rights, between the different hamlets, most are resolved peaceable, although some are taken to the town court for resolution.
The farms are, generally, small family run affairs - a couple of small fields, a few chickens - and a few animals (mainly sheep and goats) that graze the surrounding scrubland. Each hamlet has a communal barn (Sheep shearing, wool & crop storage) and a communal workshop (cheese and preserving meat, according to season).
