The Village of Alivilda

Overview:

Alivilda is the home to the Melrath largest producers of Beer, Ale and Mead. The village was founded in 590 when various expeditions began to explore rivers and valleys. Alivilda sits in a wide valley in the lower mountains with a tributary to the Vynmur River running through it. When Matron Alivilda came to the valley with her family she found it as a perfect place to farm as a recent forest fire had cleared much of the valley of the heavy forests that predominate the rest of the mountains. Alivilda settled in the center of the valley, and built her homestead from there.

Now it is a village of about 500 people, almost all of them descended from Alivilda and her children. The primary population is human, and everyone is close nit, but they are welcoming to traders from other parts of Melrath. New inhabitants are guardedly welcomed as long as they prove themselves hard workers.

The town is composed of highly decorated log and stone homes, with the main buildings all build in the longhouse style. The physical center of the town is the village green next to Wacara pond and stream which eventually flows down to the Vynmur and also at the center is Residence and the Great Hall of Alivilda. There are a few other public buildings but the main focus of the town is the family Holds. These are the areas where the various branches of village live around a hall dedicated to each of Alvilda’s children and their lines.

Most of the town is farmers and work on the family farms which are owned by the head of each Hold, but are governed by the voice of the clan. The villagers are friendly and laid back, expect during planning and harvest time. All help in the fields during these time so that the community has enough food, and more importantly enough ingredients for their beers, ales and meads.

Sub-Locations

The Green: Large green spot were cattle and other livestock are allowed to graze. Also home to community celebrations during the summer months.

Alivilda Great Hall: The cultural and religious heart of the village. It was built over the tomb of Alivilda. It has a long house design and has a stone foundation and wood upper structure. The wood part of the are beautifully carved and colorfully painted as the community takes great pride in the structure. All village meetings are held in the structure. It is also the local Mead hall when not in use for other reasons.

The Residence: A large home built by the members of the Great Hall. It acts as home to the permanent Aesir that lives in residence. It is also where school children gather to receive their lessons.

The Waystation: This is a simple but spacious four room wooden cabin that is built at the edge of town along the main road to the capital. These are used almost exclusively by visiting Aesir, although rooms are sometimes lent out of new inhabitants as they work to find their place in Alivilda. Occasionally needy travelers are also housed here if they cannot find shelter for the night. The Waystation is typically overseen by an Aesir priest who ensures that all inhabitants are cared for.

Alivilda Family Hold: Home to the descendants of Alivilda’s only daughter. At one point the Alivilda’s were on of the largest families in the village, and their compound reflects it. They have a large hall for gatherings, a smithy for farming equipment, and wagonshop, and most importantly the brewery itself. It is also the only Hold with a wall built around the homes and common buildings. The main line of the family was whipped out twenty years ago in a family feud, leaving the leadership in the hands of the Lynond Rel Ardeichy, husband to Asatia Rel Alivilda, the only daughter to the late Jasper Alivilda.

Ardiechy Family Hold: Home to the descendants of the oldest son. Always one of the larger families in the village. They always have large number of children and have the second largest fields. They have a large hall as well as the other standard public works building. They once had a wall around their compound but outgrew it and never rebuilt it. Though it didn’t start there the village mill is now situated among the homes of the Ardiechy family. They are run by the elderly Bryril Rel Ardiechy.

Wacara Family Hold: Home to the Descendants of the second son. The Wacara family has often as not sent their sons to join either the Ydaliri or the Raelia. So they never had need to build a lot of homes in their compound. Like all the Holds they have a family Hall, smithy and such. The current head of the Hold is Langley Rel Wacara

Taavetti Family Hold: Home to the Descendants of the third son. The Taavetii family is the most grounded family. They are good nature and excellent farmers. There hold isn’t the largest but they are the only family that has people living in the farther reaches of their fields to keep an eye on things. Of all the holds there is the least like a small community. They do have a family hall where they gather and it is surrounded by the homes of the most senior members of the family, but all the other houses are scattered where every someone wanted to build. The Taavetti are the most likely to welcome new comers into their numbers. The most senior member is Ogen Rel Taavetti

Pacifico Family Hold: Home to the Descendants of the fourth son. The Pacifico family is the most ambitious of Alivilda families. They are also the richest and poorest of the Holds. The Pacifico make sure that the wonderful beers and meads make it out to market and that a good price is paid for them. Unlike the other families though most of their family’s wealth remains in the hands of the senior members. Because of this the poorer members have been known to result to theft. They are also the family most likely to feud with itself. Everyone knows to avoid getting involved in their family fights. Like the others compounds there is a family hall, and other public buildings. But the homes of the senior member are also secured behind walls. The Pacifico is led by Lael Rel Pacifico.

Jabez Family Hold: Home to the Descendants of the fifth son. The Jabez family is a fairly small clan. The clan for some reasons has always suffered from a family aliment that has left them sickly. The family didn’t die off from the family ailment they just always had to work harder to achieve the same amount of work as the others. Their Hold is setup in a similar pattern as their neighbors, they are the only one with a smithy large enough to actually craft weapons and armor as well as farm supplies. The Jabez are governed by Onofre Rel Jabez.

Map

Map Credit: Brent Forrester

Credit: Gennadiya