The Region of Galdshire

Far to the north of Wexfold, is the region of Galdshire. Named for the Galdring river that flows into the Sea of Stars, the river acts as a natural defence against the horrors to the north while the southern bank's fertile soil supports a large community of farming families.

The setting for a campaign I'm currently running using my homebrewed world of Erdela, the information presented here gives a potential GM plenty of locations and potential conflicts to begin a game set in this region.

The Border Forts

Manned by the Board Guards, these three forts are the region's main defence against the constant incursions from Dol Alten. Locals often complain about the cost of training and equipping the soldiers but rarely when veterans can hear.

Rosehill

The main force of the Board Guards is housed in this much extended keep. Over the years many bold merchants have settled in the shadow of the keep looking to capitalize on the trade with soldiers, and following them came more and more civilians. Several new walls have been built in an attempt to protect the small town, but it continues to grow beyond the defences.

Skalfort

This rundown fort is seen as a punishment duty by the Border Guards. As well as constant work to repair the outer walls, and the dank surroundings, soldiers here see more combat than at any of the other forts. Added to that local legends tell of Commander Skal who became corrupted by the darkness of Dol Alten, often taking long walks in the forest alone, until one night he poisoned his men and fled into the forest forever. The legends also tell that the unquiet shades of his men still lurk in the mortar of the walls.

Irondale

Rumoured to originally have been the work of dwarves the solid iron walls of this watchtower are streaked with red and its strange architecture is imposing. On closer inspection the red is revealed to be rust and the surface of the tower oft patched. Despite this the tower’s appearance means its residents are rarely troubled and the Border Guard see this as an easy assignment.

Settlements

Glades Hollow

As the only true city in the region, the Daler of Dales Hollow reports to and advises the council in Gladhome on behalf of the region. Sprawling over many acres the city is almost exclusively composed of the single-story housing preferred by its halfling residents. Trade is the life’s blood of Glades Hollow with markets for everything from Bladesmore’s iron and metalworks, to Daltons Mill’s textiles to be found in its streets.

Bellburgh

Named after the bell tower on the hill to the north of the town, Bellburgh trades in ghostlight pearls, fish and cattle from the surrounding farms. It is also known as the home of the Evenstars, a famous adventuring group who retired here.

Balesford

While the elven-made Galdring Bridge to the east provides passage for those on horseback or afoot, for those moving heavy goods on wagons, the crossing at Balesford is the only option. Seeing plenty of military traffic to the forts and boasting the Explorers Guild Headquarters in the region, the town also sees a great many glory seekers and ne'er-do-wells seeking fame and fortune in Dol Alten, few are seen again.

Daltons Mill

While Galdspur cotton grows abundantly in the lands south of Pebble Lake it seems impossible to grow elsewhere. Almost everyone in the town is in some way connected to or reliant on the textile industry that is flourishing there. Five gnome families share the closely guarded secret of turning the plant’s fibres into Daltons Cloth and that secret has made those families politically powerful and extremely wealth.

Bladesmore

Surrounded by hills rich with iron, the landscape around Bladesmore is pitted with mining operations. The town itself contains the smelting pots and smithies to turn the extracted ore into useful items and is usually shrouded by the smoke created by this activity. The guards in Bladesmore are led by Durran Burrows a halfling and former captain in the Border Guard. He makes a point of hiring former soldiers, resulting in a well trained and militaristic watch.

Wellsbury

In Wellsbury trading in ghostlight pearls is limited by seasonal tides due to the shallow channels close to the shore and it relies heavily on the grains produced in the nearby farms. The natural springs that feed the small lake are said to have mystic properties and many healers, fortune tellers and seers (along with the charlatans that imitate them) are to be found here.

Other areas

The Meadowlands

The farms south of the river around Balesford, Bellburgh and Glades Hollow are considered part of the Meadowlands. The rich soil of this area has made the fortunes of many of its residents and some of the earliest settlers manage great swathes of farmland from houses as fine as any to be found in the region.

Pebble Lake

The hundreds of tiny islands are supposed to have been created during a giant’s game of skimming stones, or that’s at least what the children are told. Those islands however create a river that churns with narrow channels, unpredictable eddies and shifting waters. Only those with the coolest nerve, plenty of experience and a reckless disregard for the potential danger can navigate those channels, let alone do so while working their way upstream. Its perhaps why the barge workers of Balesford charge so much and why being called a “Balesford Barger” is a local insult that suggests its recipient has a suicidal confidence.

The Barrens

A wasteland of dry riverbeds and broken rock formations the Barrens are well named, with little water to be had and only by those with the right skills. In addition to this the Barrens are known to contain goblin tribes, bandits and those looking to hide from the authorities.