TOWN LORE

  ORIGINS AND PURPOSE   Crescent Valley began as one of many “haven-towns” commissioned by the Veiled Council, the global governing body that protects monsterkind. More than two centuries ago, a cluster of wandering dryads, werewolves, and gargoyles petitioned the Council for a permanent refuge for monsters across the globe. A ward was woven into the land itself—an invisible shroud that bends light, muffles sound, and keeps the curious eyes of humans from ever finding these towns. Within that ward, monsters can live openly, hold jobs, fall in love, and raise families without fear of discovery.  THE WARDS   Crescent Valley’s signature enchantment doesn’t just hide the settlement—it twists time. For every single day that passes in the human world, an entire month drifts by inside the ward. That gentle distortion lets long-lived beings settle into a slower, more comfortable rhythm while ensuring the outside world never notices their extended lifespans. Locals mark two calendars: Council Standard (synced to human time) and Valley Flow (their accelerated seasons). It’s why flowerbeds seem to bloom overnight and why festivals feel like they arrive every other week.

  LANDSCAPE AND ATMOSPHERE   The town sits in a rolling valley ringed by towering cedars and Douglas firs. A clear river—nicknamed Moonthread for the way it gleams silver after dusk—winds along the eastern edge. Early mornings carry a fine gray mist that burns off by noon, revealing mossy walking paths, ivy-draped lamp posts, and cottages wrapped in carved wooden balconies. Fireflies emerge at twilight, lending the streets a lantern glow long before real lamps are lit.  GOVERNANCE   While the Veiled Council sets broad laws—no harming humans, no inter-town poaching of resources—day-to-day leadership belongs to the town’s Keeper (Monster equivalent of a Mayor), currently Alaric Dawnwood. Alaric, a soft-spoken half-elf magus, maintains the ward’s sigils, mediates disputes, and acts as Crescent Valley’s voice at Council assemblies. He wears a simple crystal pendant attuned to the ward; when its pulse falters, every resident knows to lend their magic—or their muscle—to shore up the barrier.

  COMMUNITY SPACES   Silver Spruce B&B welcomes traveling monsters with ivy-covered balconies and gargoyle hostess Thalia Hawthorne. At the western edge sits the Community Garden & Orchard—a volunteer patch where dryads coax tomatoes the size of pumpkins and kids learn enchant-safe beekeeping. The combined School & Library adapts lessons to the accelerated Valley Flow calendar and houses a hidden archive of monster genealogy.  DAILY LIFE & ECONOMY   Crescent Valley’s economy is a patchwork of small businesses and barter: enchanted carpentry from a minotaur woodworker, lumber and building stone hauled by the half-giant Elliott Brooks, glass blown in searing elemental kilns, and seasonal produce traded at the riverside market. Gold coins stamped with the Council’s sigil are accepted, but favors—ward repairs, babysitting, a basket of moon-plums—often settle debts faster.  TRAVEL & COMMUNICATION   A forest road winds to the ward’s edge, where stone pillars double as a shimmer-gate for allowed visitors. Mail arrives via Moon-Wing Couriers, a guild of nocturnal harpies and mothfolk who flit between haven-towns under the Council’s charter. If you’re human? All you see is dense forest and a faint chill that nudges you to turn back.

NEIGHBORHOODS

  • Evergreen Meadows: Flower-trimmed cottages and picket fences where fae families and kinderfolk raise children who play tag with fire sprites.

  • Riverside Lane: Shingled homes with boat docks and river stairs—ideal for merfolk, kappa, and otter shifters. Lanterns bob on the water each dusk.

  • Forest Edge: Wide plots and rustic cabins for werewolf packs, centaur ranchers, and anyone who needs room to roam.

MAINSTREET

  • Moonrise Diner—run by Callie Pierce, a pie-obsessed werewolf who calls every patron “hon.”

  • Starfall Books & Oddities—Rowan the vampire’s labyrinthine bookstore, where first editions share shelves with moon-blessed trinkets.

  • Dewdrop CafĂ© & Patisserie—Pollux Bloomfield’s fae-infused pastries sparkle (literally) in the sun. Try the honey-lavender cruffin.

  • Willow & Wisp Apothecary—Celeste Lang brews heart-mending tonics and bottled starlight.

  • Evening Ember Tavern—Cinder Montoya’s low-lit bar, famous for blood-orange old fashioneds and Friday night folk jams.

WARDRUN

  đŸ—ș Overview   Wardrun is the most popular sport across hidden monster havens worldwide. A magical-physical hybrid game, Wardrun combines territory control, strength, and strategic energy manipulation. Each match simulates breaching or defending a "warded" zone, mimicking the ancient practice of magical warfare and protection—but as a competitive, organized sport.Played in multi-tiered outdoor arenas called Crucibles, the sport features two teams of 8, who attempt to either "breach" or "fortify" a central wardstone using magical energy, brute strength, and complex maneuvering. It's high-impact, high-speed, and deeply respected in monster culture, especially among warriors, elementals, and shifters.  📅 Annual Event: The Break Bowl   Held once a year at a neutral mega-haven (like Hollowreach or Thornmere), the Break Bowl is the monster equivalent of the Super Bowl. Teams from each region—North America, Europe, South America, Asia, and the “Wildcard” Circuits (smaller havens like Crescent Valley)—compete in elimination-style rounds leading up to the final match.Break Bowl week is a holiday in many havens. Towns like Crescent Valley throw watch parties, paint ward sigils on faces, and serve themed snacks tied to team mascots.

⚙ How It’s Played

  • The Wardstone: A magical core placed at the center of the Crucible. It shifts in tone and color based on magical input. Defenders must keep it stable, while attackers try to destabilize and “break” it.

  Game Objective  

  • Attackers: Must charge the wardstone with unstable magical signatures.

  • Defenders: Must intercept attackers and cleanse or counter their signatures.

  • A full breach (3 sigil-breaks in one match) ends the game early.

  Time  

  • Played in 4 quarters, 15 minutes each.

  • Magic cooldowns and physical contact are regulated by ancient “bloodglass” timers.

  Roles  

  • Breaker: Primary attacker, uses burst magic or brute force.

  • Binder: Stabilizer role, often defensive casters or elemental types.

  • Crushers: Tank-class players (shifters, trolls, minotaurs) who focus on clearing a path.

  • Wings: Fast, aerial, or teleporting players (vampires, mothfolk, harpies).

  🌍 League Acronyms for Reference  

  • NAHL — North American Haven League

  • EHL — European Haven League

  • AHL — Atlantic/African/Asian Haven League (varies by region)

  • SHL — South Haven League (South America-based teams)

  • OHL — Oceania Haven League

🧹 Crescent Valley’s Team

Haven League Wardrun Team | Established 1993 Valley Time

  Home Arena:   The Hollow Field, Crescent Valley
  Mascot:   The Iron Warden
  Team Colors:   Deep Red, Charcoal Black, and Gold
  Affiliation:   North American Haven League (NAHL)The Crescent Sentinels are Crescent Valley’s official Wardrun team, competing in the North American Haven League (NAHL) and holding a reputation for methodical playmaking, elite defense, and unmatched magical coordination. Originally established in 1993 Valley Time as a recreational team of volunteer wardmages, shifters, and elemental trainees, the Sentinels have evolved into a high-level competitive squad that regularly punches above its weight class against teams from far larger havens.While the team struggled to break into league playoffs during its early years, the Sentinels became a force to be reckoned with after a full rebuild in 2015, when current coach Halvik Reed and team strategist Rhea Calderon overhauled their training and recruitment structure. Since then, the Sentinels have appeared in four straight playoff seasons and are currently on a record-breaking undefeated run heading into this year’s Break Bowl circuit.Known for their hybrid style, the Sentinels prioritize tactical shielding, structured advancement, and controlled bursts of magic rather than raw aggression. This makes them unpredictable opponents, especially against teams who rely heavily on fast Breakers or brute-force Crushers.The team motto—“Guard. Break. Endure.”—reflects Crescent Valley’s own values of protection, resilience, and community strength.

  đŸ›Ąïž Major League Wardrun Teams  

(Top-tier teams competing in international Break Bowl qualifiers. These are well-funded, professional, and often have sponsorships and training academies.)

Team NameHome HavenHome LocationLeague Affiliation
Crescent SentinelsCrescent ValleyOregon, USANAHL
Hollowreach HowlersHollowreachAlberta, CanadaNAHL
Blackmoor WardsBlackmoor ValeYorkshire, UKEHL
Skystag RidersHighfall HollowUppsala, SwedenEHL
Ironjaw TitansRedfang BastionBavaria, GermanyEHL
Obsidian TideGlassdeep HavenKyoto Prefecture, JapanAHL
Starblood EchoesNew ThessalyThessaloniki, GreeceEHL
Veilfire ArbitersSolari HeightsBuenos Aires, ArgentinaSHL
Stormbranch SurgeMangrove RefugeQueensland, AustraliaOHL
Duskforge ManticoresEmberline DistrictJohannesburg, South AfricaAHL

  đŸŒ± Minor Circuit Wardrun Teams  

(Semi-professional or rising teams, often from smaller havens. These teams feed talent into major leagues and compete in regional qualifiers.)

Team NameHome HavenHome LocationLeague Affiliation
Silver Pine StridersWillowrunVermont, USANAHL – East Regional Subdivision
Ghostrock RunnersSpecter’s BluffArizona, USANAHL – Southwest Subdivision
Moonfen DriftersMistfen HollowWales, UKEHL – Isles Minor Division
Brimstone BreakersCindercragSicily, ItalyEHL – South Division
Windthorn VulturesSirocco ValeCasablanca, MoroccoAHL – Coastal Minor Division
Thundermoss BloomEmerald BayNew ZealandOHL – South Haven Division
Golden Ash HoundsHollowfernTexas Hill Country, USANAHL – South Central Subdivision
Tideveil SpiresCoralshade CoveThe PhilippinesAHL – Eastern Island Division
Frostmarch WolvesColdreachNunavut, CanadaNAHL – North Arctic Division
Briarline SentriesThornhill HavenMaine, USANAHL – Northeast Division

carrd template by rcsea

🗿 Gargoyles

  COURTSHIP & TRADITIONS   Gargoyles court intensely but respectfully. Once they’ve chosen someone, they begin a "Stone Offering" phase—bringing small tokens made of natural materials (smoothed pebbles, carved wood, hand-sculpted clay). They also cook elaborate meals to bring to the potential mate’s home, offering servings to their family or found-family group first. Gargoyles have a deep respect for family structure and believe that love must be shared, not stolen.  MATING/BONDONG   When a gargoyle fully bonds with a mate, their heart begins to beat for the first time, as they're otherwise functionally "stone still" inside. This moment is profound—often accompanied by an emotional flood and heightened strength.  INTIMACY/KINKS  

  • Tend to be possessive in physical touch: holding, anchoring, pinning.

  • Love being “worshipped” physically—their bodies are often sculpted and sensitive.

  • Weight/size kink is common, as is a near reverent focus on their mate’s voice or praise.

  • Bonus Detail: During arousal, subtle glowing cracks appear in their skin, like magma in stone.

đŸȘš Trolls

  COURTSHIP & TRADITIONS   Trolls value honesty above all. Courtship begins with a “Stone Truth,” where the troll gives a carved rock with their deepest fear or flaw engraved. If accepted, they begin a playful back-and-forth of teasing banter and gift-giving. They're surprisingly humorous and often bond through inside jokes or shared meals.  MATING/BONDONG   Once mated, trolls undergo a “softening”—not physically, but emotionally. Traditionally gruff trolls become almost tender around their mate. They like to build things together: stonework patios, fences, garden walls.  INTIMACY/KINKS  

  • trong hands mean they're very into pressure: choking (with care), firm grips, restraint.

  • They grunt or growl in bed, and are highly scent-oriented—love natural smells and musk.

  • Enjoy endurance sessions, seeing how long they can tease or pleasure their mate.

  • Bonus Detail: Their skin gets warmer and smoother around someone they love.

đŸ›Ąïž Orcs & Half-Orcs

  COURTSHIP & TRADITIONS   Orcs show affection through defense and challenge. A courting orc might challenge others (symbolically) for attention, but never overstep. They often spar with their potential mate as a form of bonding. Gifts are functional—custom blades, armor, or survival gear. A Half-Orc may soften this by including emotional care: fixing your fence and showing up with soup.  MATING/BONDONG   Once bonded, orcs are fiercely monogamous and extremely protective. They brand themselves with a personal mark, often incorporating something that represents their mate. Family is deeply important—they want to raise strong, emotionally secure children (biological or adopted).  INTIMACY/KINKS  

  • Roughness with care—biting, light bruising, hair pulling.

  • Love hearing submission or acceptance (“You’re mine” / “I belong to you”).

  • Growl-talkers—gruff, commanding dirty talk that becomes unexpectedly soft post-orgasm.

  • Bonus DetailRoughness with care—biting, light bruising, hair pulling.

🐂 Minotaurs

  COURTSHIP & TRADITIONS   Quiet and devoted, minotaurs court through action. A courting minotaur will renovate your house, build your bookshelves, and fix your door before saying a word about love. They leave behind small carved tokens—a sign of interest. Cooking is huge: traditional minotaurs make massive, hearty meals to share.  MATING/BONDONG   Bonding involves a “Burden Share” ritual—symbolically taking on a literal or emotional burden from their mate, like hauling water or sitting with them through grief. Their loyalty is lifelong and unshakable.  INTIMACY/KINKS  

  • Bondage (ropes, restraints) is common—they love the feeling of being in charge or being entrusted with your body.

  • Horn-touching is intimate. Letting someone polish or hold their horns is extremely vulnerable.

  • They grumble in bed—deep, chesty sounds that soothe and arouse.

  • Bonus Detail: Minotaurs are scent-driven—deeply aroused by the scent of sweat, arousal, or pheromones.

đŸ©ž Vampires

  COURTSHIP & TRADITIONS   Vampires are old-school: slow, respectful, full of romantic gestures. Flowers, handwritten notes, invitations to long walks under the stars. The true sign of a courting vampire? Offering their blood—a powerful symbol of trust and craving.  MATING/BONDONG   Bonded vampires can “taste” emotions through their mate’s blood. Some bite only during intimacy, others more regularly as a comfort gesture. Bonding is often non-verbal, finalized in a mutual feeding and the sharing of a "nest"—a private place to rest.  INTIMACY/KINKS  

  • Biting, blood play (if consensual), control-exchange.

  • Sensory play—blindfolds, silk restraints, deep focus on pleasure.

  • Very possessive and territorial when aroused.

  • Bonus Detail: Vampires' bodies can mimic temperature after feeding—cold or warm, depending on mood/partner's preference.

đŸȘ” Giants & Half-Giants

  COURTSHIP & TRADITIONS   Tend to fall slowly but deeply. Express affection through acts of service: building things for their mate, lifting heavy objects without being asked, or creating custom furniture (because most normal chairs are too small). Gifts are always practical: hand-whittled spoons, blankets woven from scratch, a repainted porch swing.  MATING/BONDONG   Often involve “nesting”—creating a large, safe, cozy space to share with their mate. A bonded Giant will instinctively create a physical place of comfort (even converting part of their home into a literal den). Touch is constant—gentle cradling, wrapping arms around their partner, or resting their chin atop their mate's head.  INTIMACY/KINKS  

  • Size kink is very common. They adore smaller partners.

  • Praise and reassurance are big turn-ons—they can be self-conscious.

  • Love slow, strong physical touch—deep massages, spooning, being allowed to hold their mate for hours.

  • Bonus Detail: Their heartbeat is so strong their bonded mate can feel it during intimacy like a drum under the skin.

🌊 Merfolk

  COURTSHIP & TRADITIONS   Merfolk court through song and shimmer. Males sing to potential mates—low, trance-like humming that can be both seductive and soothing. Courtship includes exchanging seashells or river stones, each infused with magical vibrations from the giver’s song. Freshwater merfolk bring gifts from their underwater gardens (lotus roots, aquatic crystals, rare reeds).  MATING/BONDONG   Bonding happens during water-based rituals, often private swims under moonlight. Merfolk wrap their tails with their mate’s in a symbolic gesture of unity. A fully bonded merfolk can sense their mate’s emotional state across long distances through water.  INTIMACY/KINKS  

  • Wet play, obviously—baths, showers, hot springs.

  • Temperature play—some love warm water, others cooler streams.

  • They enjoy long, drawn-out foreplay—tracing the body with fins or hair.

  • Bonus Detail: Their scales shift color based on arousal/emotion.

🐎 Centaurs

  COURTSHIP & TRADITIONS   Centaurs are highly formal in relationships. They offer "Path-Gifts"—small offerings left along trails their crush frequently walks. When ready to court seriously, they invite the potential mate to ride bareback during a sunset gallop (an intimate act among centaurs). Family approval is also significant.  MATING/BONDONG   Bonding is celebrated with a private “circle-run,” where the centaur runs a pattern with their mate clinging to their back—symbolizing support and trust. Afterward, they’ll braid their mate’s hair (or mane if applicable) as a lasting sign of connection.  INTIMACY/KINKS  

  • Strength and stamina are a turn-on—expect marathon sessions.

  • Subtle dom tendencies—very in control, very attentive.

  • Body worship, especially of legs/thighs and chest.

  • Bonus Detail: Can pulse the muscles along their back and flanks during intimacy for stimulation.

đŸș Shifters (General)

  COURTSHIP & TRADITIONS   Shifters follow instinctual pair-bonding, often developing crushes before they fully understand why. Courtship can begin with protectiveness, bringing food or gifts, or hovering nearby in shifted form. Eye contact is huge—if a shifter keeps returning to your gaze, they’re courting.  MATING/BONDONG   Pair bonding includes scent-marking (gentle rubbing or nuzzling), co-sleeping in shifted form, and bringing their mate into their pack or circle. Full bonds heighten senses: they can often hear or smell when their mate is in distress—even across town.  INTIMACY/KINKS  

  • Biting, scratching, scent exchange.

  • Ruts/heat cycles can occur—intense, consensual, driven intimacy spikes.

  • Enjoy pinning, chasing, and claiming positions.

  • Bonus Detail: Their pupils dilate and voices grow raspy when fully aroused.

đŸ”„â„ïžđŸŒȘïžđŸŒż Elementals

  COURTSHIP & TRADITIONS   Elementals are intensely loyal, deeply instinctive, and often unaware of how intimidating their affection can be. Once one sets their sights on a potential mate, their energy becomes highly attuned to that person. Courtship typically begins subtly:Environmental Influence: Their magic unconsciously reacts to their emotions—room temperatures fluctuate, candles flicker, breezes stir.Gift-Giving: They create tangible manifestations of their element to offer—flame-carved glass, smooth river stones, vials of captured stormlight, pressed flowers encased in hardened mud.Territorial Softness: They bring their mate into their space and make it safe—like controlling the climate inside their home to always suit the other’s comfort, reinforcing protective wards, or enchanting the bed to always stay warm.  MATING/BONDONG   When an Elemental bonds, the connection is both magical and biological. A subtle resonance between them and their mate is established—emotional, sensory, and often spiritual. Once bonded their magic “locks on” to their mate’s presence, becoming stronger and more responsive near them. Elementals become fiercely defensive—any inconvenience, perceived disrespect, or harm toward their mate is taken personally and may provoke intense reactions (even if it's just someone cutting in line at the cafĂ©). They prefer constant low-level contact—a hand on the back, thigh, or shoulder. It keeps their energy “grounded.” Breaking a bond is possible but extremely rare and emotionally devastating—most Elementals would rather withdraw permanently than bond again.  INTIMACY/KINKS  

  • Elemental Play: Using their element in intimacy (warmth, cooling breezes, slick water, vibrating earth). Often intuitive rather than planned.

  • Possessiveness: They like leaving marks—visible or magical. Expect hickeys, hand-shaped bruises, or glowing fingerprints.

  • Intensity: They often don’t realize how intense they’re being. Consent is essential—they will back off and feel guilty if they get too rough.

  • Protective Aftercare: They go full caretaker after sex—heating blankets, enchanted baths, feeding their mate.

  • Voice/Mood Sensitivity: Many are highly aroused by emotional reactions—hearing their partner beg, praise, or cry out shifts their energy drastically.

  • Bed-Sharing Compulsion: Sleeping apart feels wrong once bonded. Even a nap without touching feels “off.”

TOWN DIRECTORY

  DORIAN VANCE  
gargoyle  |  30s  |  town protector

  CYNDER MONTOYA  
fire elemntal  |  20s  |  town protector/wardrun star

  JONAS GRANGER  
half-orc  |  35  |  single-dad/ward contractor & builder

  JUDE BASSELT  
half-giant  |  33  |  owner of basselt's flowers

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