The Lowhouse family

Matteus Lowhouse: A tall slender man, Matteus is a farmer who owns several pastures and fields in the immediate area which he works along side his brother and several young men (who all live outside the village). He is quiet, middle aged and some what shabby in appearance but generally well liked both for his generous nature and ability to play the hurdy gurdy. Married to Tineke Lowhouse who is the daughter of the regions richer farmers, he is considered something of a rising star in the region and his voice, though seldom raised, carries weight. He is Pieter Garrisons Cousin.

Tineke Lowhouse: A firebrand of a woman, much given to haranguing her husband over trivial matters, Tineke is feared by most of the children, especially since she is the village school teacher. Though she has no other qualifications than that she can read, write and do basic arithmetic, she teaches the children of the village for four hours every morning in her house. Middle aged and with a ‘belligerent face’, she has never been considered a beautiful woman. She is however quite astute and can spot deceit faster than most. Middle aged, she has two sons named Arnaud and Klaas (she has also lost two children during child birth). She is unkempt and seldom bothers to keep her hair untangled, but is not a dirty person. She is also famed for her baking abilities.

Vonneke Lowhouse: Though old, Vonneke has maintained a certain smoothness of skin that makes her look twenty years younger than she really is. She wears clean, simple clothes and is always seen wearing a head scarf. She claims this is because it is ‘proper’, but the rumour is she is going bald. She is one of the ‘three wise women of the village’, mostly because she is the village midwife. She is well liked and given much respect, especially by the female villagers. Vonneke is determined to find her youngest son Jarolf a wife, but all her efforts have been in vain and Jarolf himself seems indifferent to the idea

Jarolf Lowhouse: Brother to Matteus. Jarolf is generally considered something of a good natured dim wit by the villagers. He is younger by a good ten years, but seems older, mostly due to his beard and his disinclination towards washing. Happy to just work in the fields, or with animals, he is known to have a good way with cattle. Most of the time he lives out of the village, but often he can be found sleeping at his brothers house, enjoying his mothers company. Jarolf is unmarried and is not considered the marrying type.

Slapershaven map

High on the great river Verdu is Slapershaven, a small village of some 30 souls with a further 100 or so local farmers, trappers and hunters situated on the southern bank of a lake called Slapersmeer where the slow moving Verdu meets the fast moving Ems running from the mountains to the south. Getting to Slapershaven from Takshendal is difficult as there are no direct overland roads. Travellers must follow the coast of the Starshine Sea and sail up river, a journey which usually takes two to three weeks, depending on the season.

The people of Slapershaven belong to the same ethnic group as the people of the Salten Reach and have a similar general appearance and linguistic traits. They are an independent group of people who have no need of defined borders beyond their fields and pastures, yet they accept the legal authority of Takshendal as do most other people in the region. For the most part however, they are an ignored and largely unknown community. The headman of Slapershaven is considered the guardian of the law in the region and he is often called upon to judge in any disputes. Slapershaven is fortified with a stout log wall and employs a guard to maintain a night watch. It is also the only place where supplies from the outside world can be bought and boasts the only inn on the entire river Verdu. Slapershavens only exports are agricultural goods, animal furs and fossils. The only currency accepted is the Takshendal Crown.

Farms in the surrounding area

1. Tenant farm belonging to Mattheus Lowhouse. Consists of two buildings surrounded by a palisade, and several external fields and pastures. Three farm labourers live here, tending a herd of nineteen cows and one bull.

2. Tenant farm belonging to Herluf Brethouwer. Consists of three buildings housing seven farm labourers, tending a herd of thirty two cows and two bulls and is surrounded by several fields and pastures.

3. Tenant farm belonging to Herluf Brethouwer. Consists of one building housing three farm labourers, tending a herd of seven cows and nine bullocks. Is surrounded by pastures and a forest.

4. The farm of Geert Brinkerhoff. Three buildings and a palisade housing nine human beings, four horses seventeen cows, one bull, eight goats and four swine. Surrounded by fields and pastures.

5. The farm of Verity Hacker. Two buildings housing six human beings, five goats, two horses and a swine. Surrounded by fields, pastures, the river and some forest.

6. The farm of Herluf Wetherwax. Four buildings housing fourteen human beings, five horses, twenty two cows, twelve bullocks, two bulls, four goats and four swine. Surrounded by fields and pastures.

7. The farm of Arnt Metternichen. One building housing Arnt, four goats and four cows. Surrounded by pastures and one field.

8. The farm of Samuel Hoogenboom. Three buildings housing eleven human beings, two horses sixteen cows, four bullocks and one bull. Surrounded by fields and pastures and the river.

9. The house of Mikkel Brinkerhoff (cousin to Geert). One building housing five human beings, one horse and three goats. Surrounded by pastures, two small fields and the river.