H O N E Y R E A C H

Honeyreach is a small village, a collection of cottages with hay-thatched rooves nestled among fields dotted with windmills and milling with herds of sheep which always seem to idle about right in the middle of the walkways. The land around Honeyreach is always laden with crops, the fields heavy and flourishing with different colors and scents depending on the season. Namely, the smell of honey also seems to always drift through the air, giving this village its name. Honeyreach exports heavy amounts of fresh produce, and earns a pretty penny for itself in doing so.

Though the folk here are usually busy, they don't let weariness seep into their hearts. Hospitality in Honeyreach is almost unmatched; it isn't often that they see visitors for any other reason beside traveling through. When fresh faces do linger, the locals have endless goodies to offer and share. The residents of Honeyreach would just about give the pelts off their backs to anyone in need, and strong bonds within the community run extraordinarily strong in this village. Honeyreach is the third village to branch off from Skyheimr. Eastern Fields's endless hills of rolling green proved to be fertile farmland, and those who were willing to toil the land flocked here, eventually forming a town. Honeyreach's current Chieftain is Buckley, a quiet and introspective dog who hopes to bring good to the village.

size: small
symbol: sheep
colors: yellow & orange
population: ~600
crime rate: low

♫ playlist: link

WHAT HONEYREACH IS KNOWN FOR

Produce & Grain

Honeyreach and the lands surrounding it, cultivated by the farmers of the village, provide vegetables, fruits, grains and other natural products to the Kingdom. They are renowned as the best place to directly get any type of produce or natural goods and they have perfected their craft over the decades. They have learned to live as each season allows.

Livestock

Alongside the growing side of Honeyreach's agricultural endeavors, they have learned to cultivate sheep, cows, pigs, chickens, goats and many other farm animals and critters for their naturally produced goods or for their meats. Honeyreach focuses more on the goods from the animal (eggs, milk, wool, etc) than the meat, and prefer to hunt outside of their paddocks for most meals.

Artisanal Goods

With knowledge of agriculture and livestock comes the benefit of learning what these lines of work can provide. Jams, jellies, cheese, milk, preservatives, jars, pickles, etc. -- all of these things are goods that Honeyreach has learned to perfect and thus sell in their farmer's market that they host each weekend for visitors and locals to sell and purchase goods.

TRADITIONS & HOLIDAYS

The Lamb's Care

In Honeyreach, there’s a cherished tradition that marks the coming of age for the village youth: The Lamb’s Care. During birthing season, young villagers who are 7 to 9 months old are each paired with a newborn lamb to care for and raise throughout the season ; parting ways once the lamb is ready to join the flock and young handler is ready to take on their apprenticeship.

The lambs are considered more than just animals: they are symbolic of the village’s future. The task begins learning responsibility and empathy, as well as tending to the lamb’s needs, such as feeding and grooming - as the lamb grows, so does the bond between youth and animal.

Each year during the Golden Harvest Festival, the lambs are presented to the village as a symbol of their transition into becoming a fully fledge member of Honeyreach and a tapestry is woven depicting the years reared ewes/rams. All lambs in this program that join the flock are fitted with an embroidered bell / neckpiece with the name of their handler, marking them safe from being utilized for profit/meat.

Golden Harvest Festival

Honeyreach’s Golden Harvest Festival is the proud bow that wraps up the busy summer season. The village is decorated with floral arrangements from the gardens and rowed with countless booths from those who wish to sell baked goods, preserves, and produce from their crops. Hayrides from pulled wagons glaze the high hills and other farmland sights for the young and old.

The cornfields, where there’s a small maze shaped into the crops and apple-bobbing games, are most appealing to those younger or filled with childlike curiosity. Those who pride themselves in the Honeyreach homestead life have the chance to participate in the yearly livestock and baking competitions — arguably the most notorious of activities. Whoever wins will receive from the chieftain a decorated ribbon (gold, village flag, taxidermy bee) and a gift basket (honey with comb, goatsmilk soap, decorated lasso) with the trademark treats from Honeyreach.

For those who desire something more athletic, the agility competition is held in large pastures, where villagers race to herd sheep, goats, or cattle, through a course. It is a thorough challenge that requires a bond with your livestock, and participants are rated by the judges on speed, composure, and creativity.

At the end of the Festival, when the sun settles down to the horizon and paints the sky a rosy hue, the rolling hills are covered with blankets, and a small group fills the air with Honeyreach’s bluegrass music while villagers dance, mingle, and drink to their hearts content. The Golden Harvest Festival is to cherish all that Honeyreach has to offer.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Architecture & Housing

Honeyreach's houses are quaint, white-walled structures with thatched rooves of hay. They're generally small and simply-built; however, large families often build onto their homes to make room for their younglings as they're born. Smoke stacks perch atop shops and homes, and smoke billows gently from each; this is a town that makes good on all the produce it grows, and so its ovens and fireplaces are often at work baking bread, and cooking up all sorts of delectable foods.
Many houses have their own gardens, and many sport small pens where families can keep and tend to their own sheep, goats, and other livestock. Windmills dot the landscape, and sheep wander the rolling green hills of the village like clouds. Fences have been implemented throughout Honeyreach in an attempt to staunch the flow of fluffy white sheep through the streets, but they seem to find their way in anyway.
All around the village, active bee hives can be spotted. Whether they be stationed in trees or in special boxes honey farmers hand-raise bees to harvest their honey, and so there's certainly plenty to go around and everyone is free to have some if they wish. Unfortunately, bee stings are common for those that don't know how to harvest the honey properly.

Bonus Info

An expected outcome of being the continent's biggest produce supplier, Honeyreach has to deal with a multitude of insects and animals alike that try to feast upon the crops when no one's looking. It became so much of a problem an effective deterrent had to be crafted. The preferred deterrent used for insects is a liquid mixture of citrus fruits that can be drizzled over the plant stems and the ground, while for animals, it's most effective to surround the crops with dried thorny bushes.
It's no secret that within the village there's an overabundance of sheep that like to wander through the streets and stand right in the way of anyone passing by, and it can be a little annoying and inconvenient for those that are in a hurry.

This has led to the youngsters of Honeyreach inventing a method to move the sheep while keeping themselves preoccupied in a fun game. Referred to as "Sheep Rush", the game requires one to have a basket of grains and try to collect as many stray sheep as possible and lead them somewhere else where the feed can be dumped onto the ground for them to eat.

HONEYREACH HIERARCHY

ranks with ☆ beside them are high ranks and must be approved by staff before creation!

VILLAGE CHIEFTAIN

Chieftain Buckley

The village Chieftain is entrusted by the Kingdom to oversee and maintain their village, keeping an eye on those who live there and ensuring that all of their needs are met. They are unable to create laws or punish large crimes against the Kingdom, but they do have a sense of independence and are given the authority to make smaller local decisions that are in the best interest of their home. The Chieftain works closely with the heads of each rank to form a sort of council that has the village's best interests in mind.

RESIDENTS
Residents in Honeyreach make up the body of the village, from the youngest child to the strongest of the guard. When it comes to the villages, most of the hierarchy is identical except for small editions or tweaks depending on what the village specializes in when it comes to their trade. Ranks are often chosen based on personal preference or their mental / physical prowess. Ranks are broad and characters can choose to specialize in one particular niche of their rank or have broad knowledge of it's entirety. When it comes to villages, the heads of the ranks all form a council to aid the chief in decision making and discussions. Any ranks that are exclusive to certain locations will be paired with an asterisk (*).

PROWESS TIER
☆ head: none

GUARD

Guards are those dedicated to defending their home, often keeping watch of a certain area they are posted in and making sure things remain safe and peaceful.

SCOUT

Scouts are those who patrol the streets or areas around their region to ensure that there is no questionable or sketchy behavior afoot.

HUNTER

Hunters are those tasked with feeding and providing provisions for their home. They can choose to either hunt, set traps or gather wild foods and foliage. They can hunt as groups or independently.

WRANGLER*

Wranglers are those who tend and ensure that the livestock and cattle of the village are taken care of and protected. They often herd them, feed, water, protect and train them to assist workers when needed.

PRODUCITON TIER
☆ head: none

FARMER*

The farmers of Honeyreach are skilled in raising, growing, cultivating, processing and preparing agricultural goods as per season. Beekeeping and floral farming is also a line of work.

BLACKSMITH

Blacksmiths are skilled craftsmen who focus their trade on working with ore and metals to pound them into workable sheets and substances. They make tools, nails, and other practical supplies.

ARTISAN

Artisans are crafters who are tasked with creating various crafts, apparel, furniture, jewelry, etc. Usually artisans can focus on a specific niche or be a jack-of-all-trades and make whatever is needed of them.

MENTOR

Mentors dedicate their work to helping apprentices train and pick their own line of work in the future. They are usually knowledgeable in most lines of work and either teach or set up learning opportunities for their apprentices.

PROFICIENCY TIER
☆ head: none

COURIER

Couriers are tasked with sending and receiving parcels, letters and packages to and from their destination. Either tasked with official or casual messages, they usually travel quite often to complete their duties.

MEDIC

Medics follow the more medicinal and healing path of work. Often making salves, treating patients or healing the common cold, they care for the people and ensure everyone is healthy and cared for.

CLERIC

Clerics are those who chose to follow a more religious line of work, acting as those who dedicate themselves to their chosen religion and guide others who are interested or give spiritual advice as needed.

VENDOR*

Vendors are those who are employed by their village and have little independently owned or village sponsored shops or stalls along the streets and marketplace. They do not travel from their location.

APPRENTICE

Apprentices are those training to find their career via a mentor, usually teens who are seeking their future job and calling. The length of their training depends on their path. Their graduation is decided upon once their mentor believes they're ready.

RESIDENT

Residents are those who live in their village and either work at their own small business in the village or simply just reside there. This includes retired workers and also just those who are unable to work physically or mentally. This includes the elderly & children, as well.

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