Winterhaven

Map of region

Winterhaven is a village in Thorast.

Location

The unimposing village of Winterhaven is situated about 18 kilometres due east of Brindol (11 kilometres northeast of Blackroot) and 14km west of Retreat, roughly in the centre of the region known as the Kleinius Vale.

Population

Winterhaven is a smaller, but much more densely populated, settlement than nearby Blackroot. With an official population of just under 400 Humans (plus a handful of Dwarves) as of the last census, this stone-walled village is still often considered little more than a convenient stopping point between the much larger towns of Brindol and Wayfarer's Rest. As is probably obvious, not all of the population of Winterhaven can reside inside of it's walls at all times. Instead much of the 'populace' actually live immediately outside of the wall and only inhabit the village for work or recreation.

Unlike Blackroot though, Winterhaven's physical defences mean that it serves an important function in the area as a trading post/market, civic centre and retreat for the surrounding landowners.

Winterhaven. Image ©WotC 2008-2024

Description

Winterhaven is an example of a village that has grown 'organically' from a single structure: the manor house which dominates the north of the settlement. The village itself has only one tavern, one inn, one blacksmith, one butcher and one baker in permanent residence. On the upside though it does have a market square where most simple mundane items (of the sort useful to adventurers) may be obtained.

Winterhaven is about 2 kilometres north of the River Brind and has no aqueduct. Hence the village is reliant on wells for fresh water.

Defences

Winterhaven is noted for its heavy stone walls - a remnant from when the village was once a garrison for the Imperial Army (who have long since moved to superior fortifications at Shadowfell Keep - which both cements this village as a valuable defensive structure but also, sadly, heavily limits its potential for growth.

The walls divide the village into two distinct blocks. The larger area is the village proper and is where the main road enters. The northern end of the village has a further wall which separates out the barracks, village supplies and the manor house.

Like Brindol, Winterhaven has a "town watch" which currently consists of 25 local volunteers. Although larger than the watch at Blackroot, Winterhaven's Watch is funded by the village and, as the money is not readily available, it is pretty much only there for show. Its members have practically no combat training or equipment outside of the "barracks" (effectively a long shed). In fact, it is a common joke that Winterhaven's Watch makes Brindol's Watch look like epic heroes. To compensate, the Winterhaven Watch occasionally hires local "muscle" for extra guard duties outside of the village.

In the case where serious military might is required, Winterhaven is at the edge of the zone protected by the 62nd Legion at Shadowfell Keep.

Winterhaven. Image ©Brandon Kruse 2009

Inns and Taverns

Winterhaven only has enough people and visitors to support one tavern and one inn.

Inn:

• Wrafton's Retreat

Taverns:

• The Cowardly Prince

Both of these establishments sell the locally produced beer: Winterhaven's Pride.

Notable Places

Winterhaven is a small village but unusually 'full' of the basic amenities that adventurers might desire. Among the places of interest in the village are:

• Temple of Berronar
• Bairwinn's Grande Shoppe
• Cain's Tower
• The Winterhaven Manor

A full key to the map can be found here.

Notable People

Winterhaven has the following notable people:

• Lord Padraig Winterhaven
• Regus Cain
• Acolyte Linora
• Sorvin Wrafton
• Thair Coalstriker
• Bairwinn Monkton

Acknowledgements

The village of Winterhaven originally appeared in the 4th Edition D&D adventure: Keep on the Shadowfell by Mike Mearls and Bruce Cordell and is ©2008-2024 WotC. This version of Winterhaven is only crudely based on the version of the town that appears in that adventure. The isometric image of Winterhaven is from Brandon Kruse, a talented artist who submitted this version to his site, https://dandddoodles.blogspot.com/2009/.