Barstow
Barstow is a small village of about 50 dwellings located on land owned by the covenant of Stranggore. It is entirely fictional and does not correspond to a real place. Most of the villagers are serfs but about a dozen households are free tenant farmers. The covenant owns all the land and the serfs' produce, plus the tenants' rents, are the primary income of the covenant.
Features
Barstow has no church of its own; the village is not big enough. The villagers belong to the parish church in the neighboring village of Shepton Mallet.
The village is located on the Fosse Way so there is a small, somewhat dingy road-house with two guest rooms.
The village has a blacksmith.
Aura
Because it lacks a church, Barstow has a very weak Dominion aura of only 1. This is replaced by a Magic aura of 1-2 on auspicious nights
Residents
Most of the villagers are members of Merewen's extended family. This gives them some ties to the covenant and also means they are more likely than most to be touched by magic.
The village has existed in the shadow of the covenant for a hundred and fifty years. Indeed it was founded by an overflow of covenfolk when Stranggore was large and thriving. This historical bond and even the family ties to Merewen are not enough to counteract the social effects of the Gift, so while the villagers are familiar with the wizards, they are generally no more open or friendly to them than other mundanes would be.
Specific Residents
- Angus the Dragonslayer lives in the village with his family.
- Eustace
- Laurence, the reeve, is a white-haired elder who is a bit full of himself. He is in his mid-sixties (born c. 1140)
- Gilbert is the village smith. He is skilled at making metal tools, including some laboratory implements like forceps, but not fine weapons (like swords) or armor. He takes pride in being a respected member of the community.
- Arnold is the richest yeoman. He is a gregarious fellow, fond of ale, and always ready to buy his fellow villagers a drink. The poorer villagers resent his wealth and his tendency to display it.
Militia
Angus has been training the village milita since 1196. Bloody Bill is the captain. There are about a dozen able-bodied men, armed mostly with spears.
Godfrey is the best militiaman. He trains with a bill hook and certainly knows how to handle it.
John the Carver is a militiaman and the village wrestling champion. He is a sturdy as an oak stump and has a big brood of sons and daughters.
Shrovetide Football
Since Spring 1202, Barstow has competed in an annual game of mob football against the neighboring village of Shepton Mallet.