| Overvale | |
|---|---|
| |
| Vitals | |
| Government | High Council |
| Leadership | |
| Population | |
| Established | EE 4,646 |
| Languages | High Vinthish, Valish |
| Industry | |
Overvale is a hidden village located deep inside the Atlicas; it was founded in EE 4,646, which they mark as OY 0. The village is completely isolated from the rest of the world, only accessible through a series of caverns guarded by a creature called the korix that only three people know about. Inhabitants of Overvale all speak strict High Vinthish, a dead language to the rest of the world which is elsewhere only taught to the intellectual elite, although some of the youth also speak a laxer dialect they call Valish.
Overvale is also somehow extremely fertile and lush with plant life, while the rest of the world seems to be dying. It is also shielded from the magic hounds because the mountains surrounding it have a high degree of byrridium deposits.
Local Geography
The village is surrounded in all sides by the Atlicas, and bracketed by two massive caverns on either side. The northernmost one, called the Forbidden Caverns, leads to the Verges. The other on the south side beyond the Overvale Barrows, is the residence of the hermit, Ald. The village center contains all of the locations related to industry, to include the Council Chambers which also house the secret starglass. The domiciles of the inhabitants lie outside the village center. Beyond the village itself are open fields used for recreation and livestock grazing.
Culture
The culture of Overvale is unique, as it has been isolated to itself for over 6,600 years. Because of this, several strange practices and customs have been implemented in order to maintain peace, safety, and order. The most significant of these are the superstition regarding reflections, The Transfer and the Starglass, along with an ancient prophecy of the arrival of the More-walker.
Perhaps the most notable feature of this society is that gazing upon one's reflection is strictly forbidden, and punishable by blinding with a hot iron. Because of this, they take measures to inhibit reflective surfaces, and also refrain from looking into each other's eyes. Reflections are thought to be bad luck. Twins are also thought to be bad luck, a living embodiment of a reflection. If twins are born, one of them is given a scar. In the past, twins were killed at birth.
The Transfer refers to the practice of culling the herd to prevent overpopulation, but primarily to feed the korix. The people do not know this; they believe it is a transcendence to the Afterglade.
The Starglass is the only reflective surface in the whole village, originally meant as another means to keep the magic hunters from finding Ald. It is kept and controlled by the members of the council, who use it as a way of testing people who are worthy of learning the secrets of the village (that the Starglass is a tool for control).
Key Inhabitants
Key inhabitants of Overvale:
- Ald - oldest inhabitant; hermit
- Kellam
- Haley and Gerrodine Marswan - twins
- Dreya Helvidge - born in Overvale
- Serika Swiftmaker - only outsider to enter Overvale
- Mister Helvidge - a fictional character