Fishing Towns & Villages
Fishing towns & villages are small settlements where the primary occupation is fishing. Fictional fishing towns and villages come in many forms, from mysterious backwater places that harbor secrets to bustling and vibrant coastal communities. Often depicted as insular, the communities of fishing towns and villages may be wary of outsiders. These towns are located on or near a body of water that contains fish (often a lake, river, ocean, or swamp). Fantasy fishing villages may be raft towns or shipwreck towns. Fishing towns and villages are home to old fisherman with tall tales to tell.
| Synonyms: coastal towns, swamp towns |
| Example Mythonyms: Blackwater, Saltport, Cod Bay |
Designing Fictional Fishing Towns & Villages
Archetypes
Overview
When designing fishing villages consider both the water element they are located on (oceans, lakes, or rivers) as well as the land region or terrain they may be located on or near (islands, fjords, sea stacks, etc.). Also consider the types of boats used by the inhabitants of this place and how they are moored at the village or town.
While smaller villages may not feature them, larger towns may have their own lighthouse or one nearby. They may contain dock networks, fish shambles, and dock areas. They may feature giant skeletons of the fish or leviathans they have caught. The buildings of the town may be on stilts and they may have bridge systems or catwalks connecting the various buildings and locations of the town.
Local Legends
Every town has stories. Fictional fishing towns are often sites where people whisper of fearsome leviathans, lost shipwrecks, mermaid coves, hidden pirate treasure, or mysterious islands just off the coast. Of a less fantastic nature, local rumors may also be whispered – tales of the missing boy, what really happened the night the church burned down, or other dark secrets. These legends pervade the local culture often repeated by old fishermen at seaside taverns of gossiping widows over noontime tea.
Coastal Terrain
