Temple of the Holy Finger
Last Hope’s only temple, this stone and wooden building was once dedicated to the Old Faith. Ten years ago, a priest of the New God reconsecrated it to serve as a house of worship. Much of the structure acts as a great hall with a dozen smaller shrines against the walls. The icons of the old gods have been removed and now display plaques showing crude paintings of religious scenes. At the center of the hall stands the dais where an idol of the World Mother once stood. Now, there stands a statue of Astrid pierced by blades..
The Cemetery
A low iron fence surrounds the town’s old cemetery. Locals don’t use the cemetery often. Grass and wildflowers cover the grounds within and the crooked stone markers bear illegible text and symbols.
The Abandoned Workshop
Five years ago, an artificer from the Nine Cities drifted into town and set up shop here. Strange and reclusive, he rarely emerged from this old barn, but people could hear all manner of strange things sounding from within. Then, one day the noise stopped. The constable investigated and discovered the artificer had been killed by one of his creations. Not knowing what to do about the weird devices and other dangerous materials contained within, he had the place boarded up and put a sign on the door warning people to stay out. Other than a few inquisitive children, no one has gone inside.
Ribald Reeve (tavern)
Locals congregate at Last Hope’s only watering hole, a rundown tavern with accommodations run by Mercurio Blanche, a cigar-chewing, middle-aged woman who hasn’t said a kind word about anyone for as long as she can remember. She is thin with a pinched face and long gray-black hair pulled back in a bun, and commands a small army of servers, cooks, and servants to keep the place running despite its shabby appearance.
The Reeve caters to locals and the many caravans passing through town en route to someplace far more interesting than Last Hope. The Reeve offers standard fare, usually stew with bread, and has a full bar stocked with local ale and spirits. A common room in the attic with cots for up to twenty people is the only accommodation provided. All but Blanche herself live in and around town; Blanche lives in a small room off the kitchen.
The main floor appears worn and broken in, but clean. Eight tables with four or five chairs each are arranged around the middle of the room, with booths against the walls, and a bar with ten stools at the back. A fireplace warms the place and Blanche keeps a pot of brown bubbling on the flames for folks without the coin for something better. A staircase near the door leads up through the floor of the drafty common room above. There are usually 1d6 + 1 people staying at the Reeve on any given day.
Constable’s Office
Constable Harold Cray enforces law and order from his small stone building. Iron bars cover the four windows and the front door has a stout lock. Inside, there’s an iron cage at the back containing four cots and a bucket.
The Constable is a good man. He means well and he's got a reputation for being reliable. He has held the post of town constable for a few years, and before that he spent time patrolling the roads, fi ghting beastmen and stranger creatures. He’s well liked and good at his job. He’s tall, his muscle slowly going to fat, with thinning brown hair and dark brown skin.
Other Businesses
Last Hope has a few businesses that provide finished goods for the locals and for caravans looking to resupply.
(This is a good area for you to fill in if you want to expand on something related to your character).
Houses and Shacks
The rest of the town is made up of residences. Houses tend to be nice, tidy, and large enough to accommodate families of modest size. Shacks are smaller or are rundown houses.
You most live in one of these houses or shacks, depending on your lifestyle.
The Old Well
This ancient well is believed to have been the first dug in Verge, and the mortar between the stones forming its upper edge has all but crumbled away. Locals customarily write wishes on scraps of paper, then insert the folded scraps into the cracks between the stones.
Beyond Last Hope
Thick woods cover the lands for a few miles to the west and locals cut timber from them, though few venture too deep as most believe the forest to be haunted. To the south stands a large lake and the fish taken from it is a staple in the townspeople’s diet. Farmland and pastures cover the lands to the north and east. Small farms lightly populate these areas, and they help feed the nearby communities.
Standing Stones
A cluster of huge stone slabs arranged in a circle stands about a mile south of Verge. This site was once the main gathering place for worshippers of the Old Faith, and magic still lingers here
Other People In Town
Dade - the local blacksmith
Hartwig Pott - local notary, scribe, teacher, and book collector
