town_centre

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A little girl running errands for her father zooms through the streets of Little Avoning. As she does, she brushes past the bakery, smelling of bread despite being closed, and the greengrocer's, making a face at the taste of Brussels sprouts she encounters. None of these, or the lingering haze, stay with her; it's just the background to her everyday.

The Town Square

The fountain at the centre of the town square is the metaphorical heart of the town. The fountain has an unusual design; it has a sundial on top, meant to allow someone looking from a window on the top floor of the town hall to tell the time. The town square is a social hub, and it's not uncommon to see two friends sitting on a bench gossiping between errands.

sketch of a fountain topped with a sundial

The Town Hall

The town hall is the administrative centre of Little Avoning and the surrounding farm villages. It is the place of the work for the mayor (elected, but with the support of the local lord of the manor), along with everyone else involved in local government. Everything from trade regulations to festival plans go through the town hall.

photo of a typical English town hall

The Archives

Any town is proud of history – something only made more true by the constant presence of its history in the form of echoes and hazes. Little Avoning is not exception. A collection of echo-objects considered important can be found in the Little Avoning Archive, run by archivist Susannah Ellerby.

The Toasty Mink

The Toasty Mink is not the only pub in town, but it is The Pub in Town. Named after the town's heraldic animal and run by Salome Scott, the Toasty Mink is the place to go for a pint, a celebration, or a casual meeting with friends. The pleasant atmosphere is only improved by the general haze of good cheer.

photo of a pub on a leafy street

Market

Little Avoning is the market town for the surrounding area, and hosts a bustling market a few times a week, regardless of weather. This serves a number of purposes. Farming from the surrounding areas can sell their goods to other locals or in bulk to the traders at the docks, and goods imported at the docks can be sold to the local community. Additionally, local craftspeople who don't have a permanent shopfront may set up a stall at the market to hawk their wares. Market Square is usually a lively and cheerful place on market days, and due to the transient nature of the stalls and goods, has a noticeably less dense haze than other parts of the town.

photo from the middle of a market with temporary stalls and striped fabric awnings

Businesses in Town

An uncounted number of businesses can be found in the town of Little Avoning. There is not clear distinction between residental and commerical districts (expect perhaps the docks), and shop fronts can be found underneath and between houses, often with the proprietors living close by. For example May Cooke owns a bakery in the center of town and lives above the shop with her son, and customers can visit John Talbart's house if they require his services as a shoemaker.

The majority of characters will live most of their lives within town boundaries! Some of these roles could include:

  • The mayor will be a role open for a PC to claim, for those who might be interested in taking a leading role in the community.
  • An assistant, administrator, or official in the town hall or the archives would be an integral part of keeping the bureaucracy of the the present and the past ticking in Little Avoning.
  • A significant proportion of the town will be tradespeople or shopkeepers, providing services to those living in Little Avoning and the surrounding areas, or even to traders passing through. This could include anything from butchers and bakers to seamstresses and haberdashers to candlemakers and carpenters – or anything else you can think of.
  • Alternatively, a craftsperson might run a cottage industry out of their house but sell their wares at the market rather than directly from their house.
  • A merchant might go through the docks to sell their wares, or help local farmers trade at the market and further afield.
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  • Last modified: 2025/09/15 18:52
  • by gm_liana