Oldhedge
| settlement name | duchy | district/province | type | population | founding year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oldhedge | Toreen | Province of Qidra | village | 2,417 | 4479 |
Oldhedge lies deep in Duskwood, on the banks of the Hawk River. It lies just to east of the Duskwood watershed, and the ground is therefore seasonally swampy.
The settlement is remote: it is connected to Themesk, Lorcastle, and Upper Whitehall by narrow trails only. From time to time, these trails disappear.
Oldhedge does not have extensive farmlands; instead, small livestock roam freely in large sections of the forest. Certain portions, however, are set aside for the cultivation of mushrooms, which thrive in the wet and dark tree-shrouded environment. Near the village’s edge, harfy, simper reed and grimble are grown. In recent years, attempts have been made to cultivate umber. In the runs of the Hawk River, resiyen and river lichen are grown.
The mayor, Haenna Potts, is on good terms with the druids of the Circle of Light, and is a much-loved leader of her community. Her first councillor, Eryck Ailes, is a brusque Razimite, who makes ropes and nets for a living, but is also an adept at planar geography.
The remnants of the original defensive thorn hedge, planted centuries ago, can still be seen, demarcating the western edge of the village. The hedge forms a part of the perimeter of a restful chapel of Salaah, overseen by Father Huntyr Iles and supported by Holiness Aaryn Pickler.
The retired explorer and now independent scholar Prof. Dreia Woodyn, lives in Oldhedge. Her specialist understanding of anthropology and the law is sometimes called on by senior aristocrats. She has a small training facility and library, and occasionally mentors students.
The popular bard Evyn Porter Redtide arranges an annual Hawk Festival, dedicated to the river that flows through the settlement. Redtide’s new compositions are performed at the festival for the first time, after which he travels Kalderesh presenting his creations.
An unfinished castle stands about 2 km outside of the village. It is thought to have been the first building in Oldhedge. Its construction was halted when the Royal Road was built some 40 km to the north.