Ashbury (Village)
Quick Facts
Country: Caelmere
Province: Marinth
Founded: 1805
Population: 462
Era: Victorian-inspired
Ashbury is a fictional 19th-century mountain village located in the foothills of Mount Veil, the primary setting of the immersive Halloween festival Spellbound. Though charming on the surface, Ashbury is a town steeped in superstition, grief, and mystery, most notably tied to the legend of the Voice of the Veil and the recent disappearance of a young girl, Arabella Thorn.
Visitor Experience
Guests entering Ashbury become part of the story. They may interact with villagers, uncover posted notices and artifacts, and join a search for Arabella via the Haunted Trail. Every encounter is a chance to uncover secrets—if they're brave enough to listen to what the mountain says back.
Overview
Ashbury presents itself as a quiet, if somewhat insular, Victorian-era village hosting its annual Spellbound Festival—a celebration of harvest, folklore, and community. However, this year's festivities are overshadowed by unease following Arabella's unexplained disappearance and the whispers surrounding the mountain beyond.
Geography
Ashbury is situated at the base of Mount Veil, a fog-prone peak believed by some to harbor supernatural phenomena.
Cultural Elements
The village is divided between those who believe in its darker folklore and those who dismiss it. Though Mayor Goodwright and Reverend Dray deny any supernatural activity, townsfolk like Tabitha Oswin and Dale Renford believe otherwise. Guests are invited to explore the town, converse with its residents, and uncover the deeper story beneath its festive exterior.
Prominent Characters
Mayor Elias Goodwright
Dismissive of supernatural rumors, focused on the festival and his reelection.
Benedict Morgan
Dutiful Town Clerk and staunch supporter of the Mayor. Rumor has it he has a secret crush on Jane Shriver, the local jounralist
Constable Dale Renford
The local enforcement official who suspects the mountain's curse is real, but doesn't like to get involved in politics. He is also the Town Tax Collector.
Tabitha Oswin
The clever Town Recorder and secret practitioner of folk magic.
John Oswin
Owner of the Fang & Dagger Pub; quiet, protective, and well-connected.
Jane Shriver
The town's plucky journalist, once she gets whiff of a story she never let's it go.
Notable Events
Disappearance of Arabella Thorn
Arabella Thorn vanished shortly before the festival. Some believe she entered the woods willingly; others believe she ran off with a neighboring farmhand; yet some fear she was taken by the Voice of the Veil. Her disappearance has divided the town and drawn guests into a haunting search through the mountain.
Legend: The Voice of the Veil
According to local lore, the mountain listens to sorrow and answers back in whispers. The Voice of the Veil lures the grieving with comfort, then takes something in return. It is believed to be strongest during the festival, when the boundary between the worlds is weakest.
“Long ago, before Ashbury was built, the hills whispered. But they say there was no echo. Something in the mountain listened—and if you spoke your pain aloud, it spoke back. Gentle at first. Sweet. And then it asked you to follow.” - Silas Talehart