Fegfeuer

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈfeɡˌfɔʏ̯ɐ/ 

General Information
Fegfeuer is a small town on the South-Western border of the Einsgrad Kingdom, the last inhabited location before the mountain pass. The town is controlled by a King's Guard Garrison headed by Captain Oskar Saladin and it houses only a few citizens. Nevertheless, Fegfeuer is a thriving economic center based on tourism and sustaining itself on the passing adventurers and travelers. The town is crossed by a small stream, with two bridges connecting the shores, and a river runs on the outskirts of the village. Fegfeuer imports most of its food and materials, though the local environment allows for easy hunting and access to wood, and the river provides a sustainable source of fish. The village features an inn, with rentable rooms, stores, a market, a monastery, the local adventurer's guild, and the military outpost.

History
Fegfeuer is a naturally generated town, that saw its first inhabitants around 300 years ago. It originated from a band of merchants moving to the border of the valley, just before the mountain pass. As business was profitable there, more established themselves in the area, starting a period of commercial anarchy in the area. Einsgrad's Administration stepped in after a series of raids on the village, which caused it to receive the name of Merchants' Hell. A stable period followed, interrupted by a resurgence in popularity due to the military presence and security there. The oversaturation of the local economy drove the town's population and fame to stable levels, and it now prospers as a quiet forest village. The name Birchpond is a popular nickname for the town among citizens, due to the abundance of birch trees around the area.

Administration and Military
Due to the low population in Fegfeuer, no official governmental structure is in place. Instead, headed by the advice of the King's Guard Captain, the townspeople meet monthly in the inn to discuss, plan and simply talk. Though usually there are no important decisions to be made, the Fegfeuerins take the meetings very seriously.

The military presence in Fegfeuer isn't severe, but noticeable. Soldiers patrol the town at night or during days with severe traffic to prevent crime. Official military conduct isn't as strict as in Einsgrad, as most soldiers are conscripts from the Fegfeuer citizens, so during regular days, they perform their daily activities unless/until called upon for duty. They do, however, have higher legal power than regular citizens, meaning that they may perform arrests or use violence if they deem necessary. That rarely happens, as Fegfeuer is but a peaceful small village.