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Overview:
Situated on the southern border of Pilliga, just beyond the banks of the Fluvitae River, Narrowmere serves as a bustling trade post and cultural gateway between the arid interior and the lush expanse of the Great Dividing Forest. Originally little more than a waystation for cautious foragers and timber scouts, the outpost has grown into a thriving settlement. Narrowmere’s economy hinges on the careful acquisition of rare herbs, medicinal plants, and valuable timber from the forest’s outer fringe — a dangerous but lucrative venture.
Description:
Narrowmere is a town of timber and grit, built from the forest it borders and tempered by the dry winds that blow in from Pilliga’s interior. Long wooden buildings line its wide, dusty thoroughfare, their overhanging awnings and shaded porches offering respite from the heat and a place for stories to linger. Raised boardwalks connect most of the structures, and the scent of sap and sun-dried pine hangs heavy in the air.
Construction here is practical, favouring strong, locally sourced wood — rough-hewn planks, tall post supports, and slatted shutters to manage the elements. Despite its humble appearance, the town is well-organised, shaped by the steady rhythm of trade caravans and foraging expeditions. Central to its design is the longhouse-style trade hall, where merchants gather to barter, record shipments, and share news from both the forest and the plains. Scattered around it are supply stores, herbalist shops, stables, and a well-patrolled tavern that serves as both social hub and neutral ground.
Narrowmere may be small, but it is neither sleepy nor soft. Its people are weathered, practical, and well-acquainted with the demands of both wilderness and wilderness trade.
History:
While Narrowmere has long existed as a humble waystation — a place to rest, resupply, and trade sparse goods from the forest fringe — it is only in recent years that the town has transformed into something more. The closure of the Shadow Aisle Pass, a once-crucial trade artery to the east, forced a dramatic rerouting of merchant traffic through Pilliga. This shift breathed new life into Narrowmere, turning it from a forgotten outpost into a rising trade hub almost overnight.
With increased footfall came opportunity. The rare and potent resources along the border of the Great Dividing Forest — once overlooked or left untouched due to distance and danger — are now being actively harvested, catalogued, and exported. Narrowmere’s herbalists and timber scouts have become known across the region, and new families and guilds continue to arrive in hopes of carving out their fortunes on the frontier.
Significance:
Unlike many of the small towns and villages that dot the Pilliga route — whose only importance lies in offering rest between destinations — Narrowmere has risen beyond its origins. Its strategic position near the edge of the Great Dividing Forest, combined with its rapid expansion into the trade of rare herbs and timber, has granted it lasting value. No longer just a waypoint, Narrowmere has become a destination in its own right.
Notable Features:
- The Trade Hall: Built in the traditional longhouse style, Narrowmere’s Trade Hall is the beating heart of the settlement. Here, merchants from across Pilliga and beyond gather to barter, log shipments, and share news from the road.
- Timber Camp: Situated on the outskirts of town where forest meets settlement, the timber camp serves both as a vital resource hub and a launch point into the fringes of the Great Dividing Forest. Here, skilled loggers, herbalists, and foragers gather before setting off into the green depths
- Narrowmere Harbour: Like most settlements in Pilliga, Narrowmere owes much to the Fluvitae River. Its harbour — once a modest dock — has rapidly developed into a well-used port, servicing barges, rafts, and trade vessels. It now functions as a critical artery for food, goods, and people flowing in and out of the region.
- Jaren’s Ice House: Carved deep beneath the town and maintained by a cadre of experienced glacimancers, Jaren’s Ice House is essential to Narrowmere’s survival. This subterranean cold chamber stores perishable food, rare herbs, and heat-sensitive alchemical ingredients — safeguarding the town’s wealth and wellbeing against the arid pressures of the Pilligan climate.
Local Legends or Stories:
A tale found in virtually any settlement that borders a great and wild forest, the story of the Forest Guardian takes on a distinct form in Narrowmere. Here, the Guardian is said to be a great, unseen spirit of bark and bone — a silent watcher bound to the deepest groves. According to local lore, those who enter the forest with respect — taking only what is needed, treading lightly, and offering thanks — are silently protected. Their paths remain clear, their footsteps light, and no predator will stalk them. But those who harvest greedily, scar the land, or waste nature’s gifts? They vanish, swallowed by root and shadow, their screams muffled by the trees.
Whispered among herbalists and fortune-seekers is the legend of Tarethil, a rare and radiant flower said to bloom once every few decades, deep within the forest’s most secluded valleys. Pale blue with glowing veins and petals that shimmer in moonlight, Tarethil is believed to cure any illness — physical or spiritual — with but a single petal. Some claim to have glimpsed it only to lose it to mist and illusion, while others insist it is no plant at all, but a spirit in disguise, testing the hearts of those who seek it.
Current Status:
Narrowmere stands today as one of Pilliga’s most rapidly growing and strategically significant settlements. Fueled by the shifting trade routes and an increased demand for forest goods, the once-humble outpost now buzzes with the activity of traders, scouts, and settlers.