Ravendean was a town located on the banks of the Blackburn River, in north west Osugbo. It was fairly unremarkable, save for a notable curse on the land causing perpetual darkness. Regardless, the town endured and became a tight knit community of farmers, craftspeople,and other townsfolk.
The settlement began originally as housing for the servants working at the Ravendean Estate. Over time the rich soil, abundant lumber supply, and a prime river crossing point, brought merchants through and outsiders began to settle. Trade and agriculture grew and the population swelled.
The town continued to thrive into the CR era, where it embraced it's reputation and marketed itself as the City of Light in the Dark, with grand lighting displays decorating much of the town centre. A sizable portion of the town was destroyed in 2368 by a great fire caused by clashing supernatural forces, however much was saved following a large ritual permanently dispelling all magic from the area.
The Curse
Much speculation surrounded the nature of the curse, however in a town composed mostly of humans reliable facts were long lost from living memory. Stories varied from occult rituals angering the gods, to evil wizards enacting revenge upon unfaithful lovers. One drunken bard even swore a Fiend lost a bet with an Archfae over who got to play with the population.
While initially many fled the area, a significant investment in public lighting infrastructure and the replacement of now unusable farmland, the population stabilised. The mycelial tunnels that took the place of grain turned Ravendean into one of the continent's top mushroom exporters.
Notable People
- The AVCLUB: Always Very Cool; Looking Under Beds. A ragtag group of small dweebs who banded together to take on the mysteries of the world and also of growing up. Consisting of:
- August: a plucky adventurous spirit who was rarely seen without their best friend September the Mouse. Definitely a bit goofy, definitely always down to whack monsters with a table leg, and DEFINITELY didn't have a crush on Ero.
- Erasmus (Ero): A book nerd fascinated with the occult, often seen with an ill-fitting robe and a Monster Manuel tome. Never knew when to shut up and also absolutely didn't have a crush on August.
- Jarrod: By far the creepiest of the group on first impression, however deep down was loyal and had a heart of gol- wait oh god is that a book bound in flesh??
- Kyra: A theatre nerd and fledgling magic wielder, Kyra was often the first to charge into danger first and worry about it later. Apparently once destroyed a ferocious wild beast in a spooky library.
- Captain Klim: The Half Orc captain of the town militia. Whilst coming across as a grump, he possessed a remarkable level of patience, and sought to serve his town to the best of his ability.
- Sergeant Meac: The ever-slightly younger twin brother of Klim. His arrival surprised both parents as they were only expecting one baby, and they failed to spell Cream backwards on the spot. Would often alternate patrol shifts with his brother.
- The cast of Secondary Characters
Places of Interest
PR Era
- Ravendean Estate: The estate the town inherited its name from. Once the prestigious home of the Ravendean family, it eventually was abandoned for unknown reasons and left to ruin. A moderate library lay within, however much of the room consisted of local records and history rather than hidden treasures.
- Barrowdown Orphanage: Home to August and Jarrod, as well as a dozen other of the area's orphans. It was staffed at night by the unintelligible caretaker Ahti.
- Town Hall: This large building was the centre of the town's bureaucracy, as well as a community hub. It's main hall and library hosted school classes for the children, as well as a stage area for theatre. Courtesy of Kyra and August's innovative spirit, it featured rudimentary lighting and fly pulley systems.
CR Era
- Ravendean Estate: Far from the dilapidated ruin it had become, in the 2330s the estate was bought and renovated to become the town's hottest tourist destination becoming a high class hotel and spa resort, including extra facilities for the more adventurous clientele.
- Ravendean Preparatory School: The town's leading educational institution caters for the brightest, most talented, and richest residences of Ravendean. A melting pot of privilege and hormonal drama such as this can lead to far reaching consequences.
- The Tunnels: After the decline of the town's mushroom industry many of the tunnels used were left and abandoned. Dark, twisting and endless, mystery lurks throughout these halls. However, it may not be alone...
- Scathe Theatre: A beautifully historic building situated near the centre of the town serves as the areas longest continually operating theatre. As with any ancient building, tales of ghosts and hauntings are rife; some say if you listen closely at night you can hear the sound of a bong lighting up.
- The Empty Bowl: A meeting ground for hipsters and breakfast nerds, this cereal café recently opened in the tunnels beneath the bridge and already got it's first bloody encounter during a karaoke event.
- Stuckey's: The realm's favourite infamous bar chain found it's way to Ravendean
- Glowy Town: Willamette Asquith's Memorial Bioluminescent Jardin is a large public park located in the centre of the town, celebrating the town's culture of botanical research by showcasing the diverse flora of the area, from man-made fruits to bioluminescent mushrooms.
- Dean’s Desserted Diner: A staple of Ravendean's hospitality sector, this 24hr diner has stood strong since 2318. It's owner Bodean Shmodean has been serving the towns loving customers with a smile the entire time, even if he's seeing few of them these days.
Important Notes
- The people who live here have standard lives... apparently.
