Collinwood is a hidden halfling village of approximately 80–100 households nestled within the King’s Forest in Cormyr. Protected by halfling illusion magic and the divine favour of Tymora, the village cannot be discovered accidentally. Entry is only possible when guided by a halfling resident, a cleric of Tymora, or through sheer luck. It is the last remaining halfling settlement in Cormyr following the destruction of Hultail. Notable inhabitants include Merrit Thistlewick and his family, Elder Mary, and the village’s other halfling residents.
Collapsible Infobox
Collinwood
Basic Information
Type Stat Aliases The Hidden Halfling Village Region King’s Forest, Cormyr Population Approximately 80–100 halfling households Races Halflings (predominantly) Religions Tymora (Goddess of Luck) Imports General supplies, Dhedluck mead, travellers’ trade Exports Local mead, halfling crafts, hospitality Family
Type Stat Rulers Village Elders; Elder Mary (Spiritual Leader) Guard Leaders None (Relies on concealment and Tymora’s protection) Merchants merrit-thistlewick’s Parents (Innkeepers), Barnaby Important Names merrit-thistlewick, Elder Mary, Zik zik zik (Kobold Scale Priest)
Appearance
Collinwood is arranged in a wide ring surrounding a central village square. Its quaint, halfling-sized cottages are constructed from stone and timber, featuring painted porches, rocking chairs, and flower boxes. At the centre of the square stands the enormous sacred Money Tree, the spiritual heart of the settlement.
Two larger buildings accommodate taller visitors: The Lucky Cup tavern and the Chapel of Tymora. The village has a welcoming, peaceful appearance, deliberately concealed from outsiders by powerful illusion magic.
Events Contributed by the Party
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Arrival and Money Tree Ritual: Guided into Collinwood by Merrit Thistlewick, the companions visited the sacred Money Tree and placed gold coins upon it to invoke Tymora’s blessing for safe passage.
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Investigation of the Collinwood Thefts: The party met Merrit Thistlewick’s family at The Lucky Cup and consulted Elder Mary about a two-week spate of thefts. Gold coins had been removed from the Money Tree, while unattended household belongings mysteriously disappeared overnight.
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Stakeout and Tracking: The companions conducted an overnight vigil at The Lucky Cup, but no thieves appeared. Myravyn subsequently discovered three-toed, clawed tracks near the village perimeter.
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Raid on the Kobold Lair: Following the tracks, the party discovered a hidden rocky crag concealed behind a weak illusion. Inside, they encountered Kobold Scale Priest Zik zik zik and his followers, who hailed Merrit Thistlewick as the “Great Scaled One” because of his secret black dragon scale. Deep within the cavern, beside an ancient black dragon skeleton partially submerged in acid, combat broke out over the stolen village treasure. The companions ultimately slew Zik zik zik and cleared the lair.
Shops and Markets
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The Lucky Cup: Collinwood’s principal inn, tavern, and social gathering place, owned and operated by Merrit Thistlewick’s family. Run by his parents, brother Barnaby, and sisters, it offers food, halfling mead, and specialty mead imported from Dhedluck. Guest rooms overlook the Money Tree, and the establishment provides boot-cleaning amenities for guests.
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The Money Tree: Although not a commercial establishment, the sacred tree serves as a communal shrine. Residents and visitors leave gold coins upon its trunk and branches in exchange for Tymora’s blessing and good fortune.
Quests and/or Opportunities
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Recovery of Collinwood’s Stolen Property: The kobold lair has been cleared, but the stolen village property still needs to be recovered and returned. This includes the Money Tree’s gold coins, household belongings, tools, and a child’s wagon.
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Scouting Mission Clearance: Complete the third leg of Warden Garen Marston’s secret 1,000g scouting contract in the King’s Forest.
Landmarks
Collinwood’s most notable landmarks are concentrated around its central village square, with the hidden kobold cavern situated beyond the settlement’s perimeter.
The Money Tree
A massive, sacred tree standing at the centre of Collinwood’s village square. Its soft bark and branches allow villagers and visiting travellers to press or hang gold coins upon it as offerings. These offerings traditionally invoke Tymora’s blessings of luck, protection, and safe travel. The tree is the spiritual heart of the community and an important symbol of Collinwood’s divine protection.
The Lucky Cup
A prominent two-storey tavern and inn overlooking the village square. Operated by Merrit Thistlewick’s parents, brother Barnaby, and sisters, it is the primary social hub for residents and visitors. It provides food, accommodation, and local and imported mead, with guest rooms overlooking the Money Tree.
Chapel of Tymora
A white chapel decorated with gold trim, situated opposite The Lucky Cup. Served by Elder Mary, it is the primary spiritual centre of Collinwood and an important religious sanctuary for Cormyr’s halfling population. The chapel is dedicated to Tymora, whose divine favour helps protect the village from discovery and outside threats.
Subterranean Kobold Lair
A hidden cavern located near Collinwood, concealed behind an illusionary rock face. The lair contains the remains of a black dragon skeleton, partially submerged in a pool of acid. Kobold Scale Priest Zik zik zik established his den here, using the dragon skeleton as an altar and storing the stolen village offerings and belongings within the cavern. The kobolds were responsible for the recent thefts that plagued Collinwood.
Origins
Collinwood was established as a hidden sanctuary for halflings, protected from outside threats through powerful halfling illusion magic and the divine favour of Tymora. Its secrecy ensures that outsiders cannot stumble upon the settlement accidentally, preserving the safety and independence of its inhabitants.
Years ago, the halfling town of Hultail was destroyed after being infiltrated by changeling agents to Beshaba, Tymora’s opposing goddess. Following Hultail’s destruction, Collinwood became the last remaining halfling settlement in Cormyr.
Despite its isolation, the village maintains a welcoming attitude towards those fortunate or trusted enough to find it. Its people continue to honour Tymora through their traditions, particularly the offerings made at the sacred Money Tree. The recent kobold thefts threatened this peaceful existence, but with Zik zik zik and his followers defeated, the village has an opportunity to recover its stolen belongings and return to its quiet way of life.