Heart's Hollow
Heart’s Hollow is a small but thriving community of a few hundred people living in the walls of a deep crater. No one in the village knows the community grew from the lair of Nezrah, a bronze dragon who has
lived in hiding in the region for centuries. The first residents of Heart’s Hollow were wanderers she rescued while disguised in human form. Over time, others lost in the Northern Wastes joined the community
and carved dwellings into the cavern’s walls, gradually creating a unique hidden village.
Heart's Hollow Locations
Most structures in Heart’s Hollow are carved out of the wall of a deep crater. Patchwork fabrics scavenged from the wastes decorate each home, and lanterns hang in every window.
Breakwater Landing. Breakwater Landing serves as the town square and bartering place. A slate column marked with chalk serves as a community message board.
End’s Odds. Run by Grandit “End” Pike (neutral good, hill dwarf commoner), End’s Odds sells “slightly used” goods and equipment found in the wastes.
The Fort. Secrecy is Heart’s Hollow’s greatest defense, but the town also maintains the Fort, a communal warehouse and armory. Should danger arise, the locals arm themselves here.
Lavender’s. Lavender Jalls (lawful neutral, human mage) is a renegade wizard who hasn’t taken the Test of High Sorcery. He specializes in casting helpful cantrips and brewing alchemical tinctures.
The Mosaic. Spiraling through Heart’s Hollow is the Mosaic, a sloped pathway lined with colorful stones. Every person who visits the village is invited to add a stone to the path, symbolizing the beautiful mark they leave on the community.
Salt Lick. The Salt Lick is a popular tavern suspended over open air by a web of sturdy cords. Ness (see “Nezrah” below) can often be found here at a table jokingly called “the Mayor’s Office.”
Heart’s Hollow Residents
The lively people of Heart’s Hollow are mainly humans, hill dwarves, and kender. Most feel they were given a second lease on life when they were rescued from the wastes or found their way here. Nezrah’s desire to keep her community a secret from other dragons has rubbed off on the residents, and they are wary of strangers. However, once someone proves they care for the community’s needs as much as their own, locals welcome them for life.
Nezrah
The secretive dragon Nezrah (neutral good adult bronze dragon) goes by the name Ness. She uses her magic to disguise herself as a middle-aged human woman, and no one knows she’s a dragon.
Nezrah has made it her life’s mission to build and protect Heart’s Hollow. Over a hundred years ago, she came to the Northern Wastes seeking clutches of good dragon eggs hidden in the region, but she hasn’t found any yet. Although she focuses on protecting the people of Heart’s Hollow, she still hopes to find dragon eggs in the wastes one day.