> What I'm really
> suggesting is that Apple Lane is quite a "new" settlement, taking
> advantage of the travellers along the road (which is how it
supports
> the Tin Inn and Gringle's Pawnshop) rather than an old clan
> settlement - and this is why it is not a "typical" village
I always figured that the reason Apple Lane exists is the temple to Uleria. It is the one thing that really distinguishes Apple Lane from anywhere else. After all, these are not common or encouraged in Heortland, so there must be some sort of natural holy place to Uleria there to have triggered the establishment of the temple. Most likely Apple Lane actually sits on the site of much older settlements which were also there due to the Uleria connection. The holy site was no doubt lost during the DragonKill, but somehow somebody eventually found it again (could be either before or after the road was built. In the former case this is why the road goes by there, in the latter the road may have also been following an ancient road).
Once the site was identified, Uleria worshippers set up residence. But since Heortling don't trust Uleria the Love Demon, none of the local clans wanted to claim that territory. Of course, the temple still drew traffic, which helped lead to the founding of the Inn, as well as drawing a few other to support travellers. Once the nucleus was there it drew others, but mostly people who were in some way misfits, who didn't want to stay in the clans (Gringle being a prime example of the mis-fit theory). Plus there wasn't enough available land to support a full clan anyway.
So eventually somebody had to take charge to keep basic law and order. It could be as you suggested that Jonstown took theoretical control and appointed a Sherrif, or it could have been the King (either tribal king or Great King), or it could be that the folk of the village agreed to appoint and support a Sherrif, or even that the priestesses of Uleria started up the tradition (law and order makes love easier).
Finally, I'd suggest that the famous apples are in some way tied in with the Uleria temple. I'm thinking a hero quest that helps the apple trees grow so well somehow involved Uleria. After all, the apple has been a symbol of love in some cultures. Perhaps after the destruction wrought by the Lunars a hero is needed to repeat that quest and bring the apples back to Apple Lane.....
Sorry for rambling on again.
--Bryan
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