Penhaligon - A local guide

Local area map

The Barony of Penhaligon is located in the north of the Grand Duchy of  Karamekois. North through the mountains is the trade route to Selenica in the Republic of Darokin.  To the East is the Barony of Moorwood and Alfheim home of the Sylvan Elves. South is the Barony of Kelvin while West are the mountains full of Orcs and few stubborn Dwarfs.

Locations of note in the region

City of Penhaligon

Capital of the region ruled by a council of Lady Arteris Penhaligon and four senior knights.  Population is about 85% human with the rest being a mix of Dwarves, Half-Orcs, Half-Elfs, some Hin traders and a small delegation of Sylvan Elves.
The city is the last large population center heading north on the Duke’s Road, which actually bisects Penhaligon from north to south.  Although Penhaligon has some rough neighborhoods most of the population is what the modern world would consider “working poor,” there are no desperate slums.  Penhaligon is famous for two things: the magnificent Castle of the Three Suns; and the rowdy, raunchy strip of bars known as “Hell’s Half-Mile.”  It’s here that a veritable army of lumberjacks, teamsters, fur-traders, and soldiers descend every spring to fritter away the pay earned during the long winter months.  Merchants and visitors must pay a toll to enter Penhaligon or travel past it on the Hillfollow River.  Warriors or adventurers pay 1sp per person, with an additional 5 sp fee if they wish to bring weapons inside the city.  Nobles are exempt.

Stallanford

Small Fortified Town ruled by Lord Mayor Brogan Manning.Population 300 mostly human.
The town is built where a natural rock formations make the river crossing easy.  Further north you will be wadding waist deep and south of the town you need a boat or to swim.  Orcs assault the place a bit more often than Penhaligon, but that is only because the town is smaller and is seen as an easier target. That is not the case as fresh rotations of troops from the Duke’s Road Keep constantly come in to man the walls of the town and to keep the peace within.  The major products of the village are: goat-cheese, leather goods and strong dark beer called Stallan’s. 

Black Hills

To the east of Penhaligon are the foreboding Black Hills, a series of tall, rocky outcroppings and harsh terrain that dominates the region between the Hillfollow and Castellan Rivers. The Black Hills are dotted with caves, crypts, and ruins, and infested with undead and bugbears, a legacy of ancient times when an Elven queen recruited necromancers and humanoids to her banner.

 

Pinecrest Manor

A fortified manor and hunting lodge. Nearby are the villages of Barrel Haven, known for its cow races, and Dale.

Icespire Mountains

To the west of Penhaligon, across the Highfollow River, are the Icespire Peaks. These mountains are known to be populated by orcs, ogres, and Ettins. They also contain many Dwarven holds, now mostly abandoned, either mined out or overrun by monsters.  Fireguard Hold, Sorland Falls Hold and the Mountain Toe Goldmine are still occupied by Dwarfs.

Moonwillow Woods

Ancient woods to the NE of Penhaligon.  Much of the local logging industry is based here.  Home to Owlbears and deer as well as a few ancient ruins. Numerous small lumber camps are spread through the woods around Pinecrest Manor.

Bitterbark Forest

This spooky and overgrown forest is said to be enchanted.  Across the Hillfollow River is small village of the Tarnow clan.  West of Tarnow village is a narrow logging path that leads through the woods and provides a tenuous connection to the barony of Threshold in the west.

Nearby a wooden palisade surrounds the small Riverwatch Fort that keeps an eye on the forest and helps secure the river.  Kranik’s Ferry which takes people back and forth across the river in exchange for a few coppers is also located here.

Duke's Keep

Duke’s Road Keep guards the all-important trade route to Selenica.  The garrison protects the pass through the Alten Tepes Mountains, collects tariffs, and provides a rest stop for merchant caravans.  Commanded by Captain Devlin Armstrong who had an ingenious idea of rotating out one-quarter of his garrison to Stallanford for guard and watch duty every three months. This means boredom does not set in, and there are enough sights and distractions in town to keep his men occupied and happy.

Castellan’s Keep

Castellan’s Keep was built to defend against the giants that raid dawn from the mountains every winter. The Keep can send patrols to track down giantish raiders that might bypass the Keep.

Blackhawk Keep

Recently constructed keep to try and clear monsters from the Black Hills and open up trade routes east to Alfheim and the Empire of Thyatis

Laurel Hill

The village of Laurel Hill is about a half-day’s ride south of Penhaligon and part of the estate of Sir Marin “Trollbreaker” Rothswayne.  He and his men are responsible for patrolling Duke’s Road between Penhaligon and Kelvin, and protecting the small settlements in this area.  His coat of arms is a flaming hammer which it is said Rothswayne carries into battle.