Grimholt
The thorp of Grimholt is a small, eerie settlement nestled in the shadow of a crumbling, centuries-old forest. Despite its remote and unsettling atmosphere, Grimholt is known for its fine craftsmanship, particularly in woodwork and metalwork. The village has existed for 153. The population fluctuates between 5 and 20 people, all of whom live in a state of quiet unease.
There is no clear leader in Grimholt. The closest thing to authority is Old Arn, a confused, elderly man who most of the villagers assume has always been there. Though Arn can sometimes offer sound advice, his mind wanders, and his memories of past events blend together in an incoherent jumble. The villagers tend to look to him out of habit more than trust, and decisions are made more by consensus or inaction than by leadership.
The village is haunted by a ghoul or perhaps a ghost, and its presence casts a pall over Grimholt. At night, strange sounds echo through the woods—unearthly wails, rustling leaves, and the snap of twigs as unseen things move in the dark. Several villagers claim to have seen a pale figure skulking around the outskirts of the village, its eyes glowing with malevolent hunger. Whether it’s a vengeful spirit or a restless ghoul, the creature has already claimed the lives of a few villagers, and fear has driven the others to the brink of despair.
Despite the haunting, Grimholt is renowned for its craftsmanship. The villagers, though few, are exceptionally skilled at woodworking and blacksmithing. Their tools and decorative pieces are prized in the nearby towns for their precision and artistry. It is said that the fine quality of their work is due to some mysterious technique passed down through the generations, though none of the villagers will speak of its origins.
Grimholt is home to a grand, decaying building that seems utterly out of place in such a small and humble village. Grimholt Manor, once an opulent mansion built by a long-dead noble family, towers over the other humble cottages and huts. The manor is now little more than a derelict ruin, its windows shattered, and its doors hanging ajar. Few dare enter, as it is rumoured to be connected to the hauntings that plague the village.
The village's small mill still functions, powered by the slow-moving stream that winds its way through the settlement. The mill is one of the few places in Grimholt that maintains a sense of normalcy, and the villagers use it to grind grain and produce what little food they can. However, even the mill isn't free from the village’s curse—there are whispers that strange things have been seen near the mill at night, and it sometimes operates on its own, even when no one is around to tend to it.