Brost

As of the year 1370 DR the town of Brost was referred to as the "Mushroom Village", at least that is how it came to be known by many to the south. Brost was a trading town with its most of its commerce in mushrooms and attending to the caravans on the Tethir Road. Most older natives enjoyed the idyllic peace and their alliance with the elves of Wealdath, whereas, the young the young of the town began leaving Brost in swarms and heading south to larger cities. Outsiders observed the town of Brost was generally pleasant and agreeable.

Geography
The town of Brost was situated beside the Tethir Road, a trade road between the port city of Murann and Riatavin. Brost is also the first town to the south on the track that goes around to the west past the mountain range known as the Small Teeth heading south from the city of Esmeltaran.

Government
Official decisions for the towns were made by the Mayor. The Mayor had the use of the upper level of the Rangers Refuge. This part of Rangers Refuge was used for the town offices after the town hall burned down. The Mayor was one of the primary contacts between the elves of Tethir and the town, and the role of Mayor was noted with approval at the elven court.

Trade
The town farms and local businesses produced and traded ales and ciders, mushrooms, peaches bound for markets in larger cities but also supported wainwrights, saddlers and sellers of horses and donkeys. However, much of the economy ran on hospitality and resupplying the caravan's that pass through the town along the trade route that it is situated along.

History
Brost was named for its first settler, a hunter and forester named Kehlad Brost, in the early days of the Lion's Dynasty. At first Brost was just a hunters lodge, the location became a caravan stop and small farms began to pop up around it. Solitary and relatively autonomous, Brost was similar to other self-sufficient small towns farther north, though with its closer ties to an elven duke the town's isolation was diminished.

A few years after the fall of the House of Tethyr, Brost's citizenry briefly considered separating from Tethyr and becoming an Amnian city. While the political boundaries were more feasible, Brost was of little real value to Amn, except as another caravan stop. The proposal was rejected, and Brost remained an isolated Tethyrian outpost. Some merchants of Brost cultivated small trade relations with the Elmanesse elves, trading weapons of forged metal, some provisions and provender for rare herbs and other elven items from the forest.

These connections served to make the town of Brost a springboard for human-elven relations in the country Tethyr. Furthermore, the towns location near the Duke of Noromath's stronghold made it an ideal meeting place for those wishing an audience with the Elven Duke.

Notable Locations
There were several notable locations in the town of Brost as of the year 1370 DR.

Oakfather's Glen was once a living oak, but it was petrified centuries ago, after that the tree was carved and shaped into this temple and safehold for the faithful of Silvanus. Its stone leaves and boughs still provide shade in the surrounding park and glade at the citys center. The druid Acrull Northshield was the ranking priest of the glen, and he was attended by four others druids and a score of lesser attendants.

Ranger's Refuge was a three-story manor that served as the main temple to Mielikki as well as the town hall and central meeting hall for all town business. Within the walled courtyard there was an elaborate stone garden with a field of white, blue, and black pebbles arranged like a mosaic into Mielikkis symbol; a Kozakuran craftsman made it over 15 years ago in thanks for a ranger having saved his life from brigands.

Alix Wagons and Caravans was a warehouse and wheelwrights workshop that never seemed to cease its labors. The owner, the Calishite Hakamir ibn Alix, enjoyed his craft and created many unique and custom-ordered wagons with minor touches of magic, such as plank seats comfortable as cushions.

There was an inn known as The Whippoorwill that had at the time been recently renovated after a fire. The food was exceeded only by the fare found in Esmeltaran's finest eateries, but it was of decidedly Northern bent rather than local cuisine the inn took great pride in its quiet reputation for quality food and lodgings in this isolated area.

The Oakbarrel Tavern was the tavern of choice for the locals, though it was still considered friendly enough to caravan travelers. This tavern was attached to the Oakbarrel Brewery, which sold beer and ale to caravans running north or east.

Inhabitants
There were usually about three-thousand people in the town proper (85% human, 10% halfling, 5% half-elf), and an equal amount of people in the surrounding areas. However the population in the town and surrounding areas can reach up to seven-thousand during the caravan season.