Hello, I’m Branwyn Two-Moon of Clan Lightridge, and these are the Ersatz Echoes of Eastfjord Harbor for the week of Undine Fading, 2019.

The end of Undine and beginning of Aura mark mid-Spring, and the weather forecast for Aura Resting reflects the approach of summer.

For starters, no snow below the treeline, and not much above it.  Foggy mornings are the norm, with days bringing short, light showers – unless you’re in the mountain passes, where you can expect, short, intense storms whose thunder echoing through the passes can briefly deafen you.

For those sensitive to the seasonal outbursts of plants, be aware that nearly everything is blooming. Sadly, science has not found a way to reproduce the filtering effects of a particularly complicated Wisp charm well enough to alleviate the side effects, nor has anyone developed a simpler Wisp charm.

The immigrant caravan has made it to Eastfjord Harbor without further issue, and both employers and immigrants seem happy about that.  The welcoming fanfare that usually greets such was even larger than was expected for the double-sized caravan and saw more than a few celebrations of life and living. If the valley’s new residents had any qualms about feeling like part of a community once they got here, those should be diminished, if not outright eliminated, now.

Those immigrants without firm jobs planned in advance are finding work easy to come by, at least if they’re willing to work in construction, docks, or warehouses. Trade is running at levels usually not seen until mid-summer and Eastfjord Harbor’s ports and merchants can barely keep up. Gnome and Dryad-casters skilled in construction are high in demand and it is only a matter of time before our smithies find their apprentices’ basic tool works tapped dry.

Fortunately for Pinecrest Valley, the Grand Council anticipated this growth, if not the timing, and had already taken measures to ensure that the valley will not lack in resources to meet its people’s needs.  Merchants, farmers miners,, and even the council tell me we can expect to run lean on resources, but there will be enough for everyone – just not excess for businesses for at least a year.

Of course, that estimate requires things to fall within a certain range of plans and expectations, and I don’t think anyone has anticipated both Feralix clans calling for groups of adventurers with mining knowledge.

In a rare joint statement, the White and Black Mountain Feralix clans have announced that they are aware of the location of several ancient vomba mining towns in the tunnels and caverns beneath the mountains that are considered their territory. They are looking for small groups of adventurers with experience in mining and subterranean exploration to visit these long-abandoned towns and evaluate the feasibility of returning them to life.

For those confused why the clans would make such decisions and not the Grand Council, that has to do with agreements between Eastfjord Harbor, the kingdoms before Gemrest that Gemrest agreed to be bound to, and the clans themselves.  Even when the two former kingdoms waged wars over Eastfjord Harbor, they were always respectful of the indigenous and long-term residents as they relied upon their knowledge of the region to survive.

The Ersatz Echoes of Eastfjord Harbor are brought to you by Red Wombat Tea Company, purveyors of fine and otherworldly tea. Red Wombat: We Dig Tea.

Also brought to you by Reynard’s Raptors: we’re hiring at both of our ranches in the valley and looking to establish two more, as well as stables throughout the region. Please visit one of our ranches to apply!

These have been the Ersatz Echoes of Eastfjord Harbor for the week of Unding Fading, 2019. Take care, and stay dry.