Greenwillow Household


When Established: Essentially ab initio, or at least about the time the Household system first came into being (around NH 5). Those humans with weaving and other textile skills naturally congregated around Peysol, the most skilled weaver among the immigrants, and those with interests in sailing and fishing around him and Seahawk. In addition, Shadaln had assigned three Torcs as a personal guard for Leravie; these Torcs and their families also became part of Greenwillow Household. The Household was named for the two large willow trees that shade the main house, and because of the connection between willow bark and healing (Dove, New Hope's senior healer, being another well-known member of the Household). It may also be noted that a willow slip cut from the parent tree and stuck in the ground is quite capable of sprouting into a new tree.

Household Members: The elf elders of Greenwillow are Peysol, Leravie, Dove, and Raventongue. Known human elders and their terms of office have so far included Trika (NH 10 - NH 65), who also acted as the Household's chatelaine from the beginning up until she could no longer handle the work involved, and Arista Fire (NH 50 - ?). Other Household members include the families of the above-mentioned elves and founding humans. Most of the Tribe without Name initially moved into Greenwillow upon their arrival in NH 30, because of their connection with Seahawk, though some later dispersed to other Households. The crew of the Cowrie (Calypso, Nightdancer, Crystalmoth, Nightowl, and their families) were residents of Greenwillow until about NH 30, when they started their own Household, Sea Runner.

Location: The main house is located near the base of the small peninsula that juts out from the north shore of the Bay of New Hope, toward Bay Isle. The front of the house faces the bay; behind the house is the beginning of the main path that runs west to the docks. A smaller footpath leads from Greenwillow east along the bay shore to Piet's Watch. Across the path from the main house are a number of smaller buildings: additional sleeping quarters, storage and work sheds, stables, etc., set among gardens, orchards, and small groves of trees.

Physical Appearance and Layout (see attached floor plan)

  • First floor
  • Second floor
    • The ground floor of the main house was built first and is mostly of stone: rockshaped foundations, the walls built up by hand and then sealed by a rockshaper. The second floor was added later and is mostly wood. The porches are also mostly wood, with stone supports. The house sleeps about ten families, depending on how chummy they are.

    Ground Floor: The front of the main house has a porch running its entire length; the ground slopes down from back to front, so the front rooms are a bit raised from the ground in comparison with the back rooms. There is a set of steps at each end of the porch and one in the middle. The porch has a roof and a waist-high (on an adult human) wooden railing across the front. From the front porch a roofed-over breezeway leads straight through to the courtyard and inner porch; large double doors lead off the breezeway to the dining/common room on the right (east wing) and the large workroom/common room on the left (west wing).

    The dining/common room is where the Household members gather for meals and after-dinner conversation or entertainment. It has trestle tables and benches that can be shifted or stacked against the wall to make room for other activities. It has a large fireplace, windows on the south wall, and sliding doors in the north wall leading out onto the courtyard porch.

    The kitchen also has a fireplace, whose flue is shared with the dining room's. It has a back door as well as doors into the dining room and the rest of the east wing. The small rooms nearest the kitchen are the stillroom and food storage rooms. Past the stairs to the upper floor are four sleeping rooms. The sleeping rooms here and elsewhere do, obviously, have doors and windows, but the placement of these will be left up to the eventual inhabitants of said rooms.

    The large workroom/common room is set up for weaving and related crafts. It has a large fireplace. It also has windows in the outer wall and sliding doors on the inner. The bath shares its flue; the fireplace can be used for heating water as well as for warmth. The smaller rooms nearby are marked "storerooms" but can also be used for small workrooms or even sleeping rooms if needed. The four sleeping rooms at the end of the west wing, ground floor, are where Dove, Raventongue, Seahawk, Feather, and their families live.

    Second Floor: Mostly sleeping rooms, with some storage. A recessed balcony overlooking the courtyard runs around the inner edge. (Note that this is set back from the porch rather than straight above it.) It is reached by sliding doors leading onto the hallway on either end, and onto Peysol and Leravie's sitting room. This sitting room doubles as a meeting place for the Household Elders, a place to receive visiting VIP's, and other such social functions. The sitting room has a fireplace in the west wall that shares a flue with the common room/bath. Another notable feature of this room is the large tapestry map that hangs on the wall opposite the fireplace, depicting the lands known to the New Hopers. The attached bedroom has at times been divided into two when Peysol and Leravie's family arrangements required it.

    Activities

    Weaving: Done by many Household members, including Peysol (Leravie does a little of this as well, but often joins Trailingstar Household for leatherwork). Greenwillow Household makes much of New Hope's cloth, especially anything fancier than plain homespun, both for the community itself and for trade. Even when thread is carded and spun in other Households, it is often collected and brought to Greenwillow for weaving.

    Agriculture: Greenwillow grows some food plants and herbs in gardens (like most of the Households) and provides its share of warm bodies to work the common fields; since NH 30 the addition of the Tribe without Name has expanded this aspect of the Household's activities. Greenwillow also specializes in fiber plants (e.g. flax) and dyestuff.

    Livestock: Greenwillow raises and breeds woolbearing animals such as goats and sheep; Raventongue is heavily involved in this activity. The Household also has other livestock (riding horses, chickens, etc.) but doesn't breed them specifically.

    Fishing and Sailing: Greenwillow's other major activity; Peysol and Seahawk are both sailors. Initially Greenwillow performs or directs most of New Hope's fishing; later this task is shared with Sea Runner Household. Of the two, Greenwillow specializes in small-boat fishing and sailing, closer to home, while Sea Runner specializes in larger ships, deep-sea fishing, and long-range voyages. Of course there are individual exceptions. Greenwillow Household is responsible for keeping the docks, main harbor, and fishing fleet in good condition.

    Hospitality: Something else Greenwillow Household is known for (they took in the whole Tribe without Name, after all!). The Household is responsible for the upkeep of the community guesthouses (those which are not attached to a specific Household).

    Barter Goods: Cloth and clothing; fish and other seafood, sea products. Some boatcraft and shipbuilding, though Sea Runner Household does more, especially of ships proper.

    Household Character: Spacious, gracious, always busy but never hurried; the sound of looms and conversation, windows open to the sea air. Orderly, organized, things get done with a minimum of fuss. Attention paid to the amenities. Guests are treated as guests rather than as "one of the family."

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