Hulden Vale

The Hulden Vale is a fertile region of temperate rolling hills in which are found a cluster of small farming communities of Sylvans, Kians, and Hulderfolk. The Hulden Vale does not truly qualify as a political entity, but is simply a collection of small hamlets, farms, and individual homes spread over a valley several dozen miles long. A total of just over two thousand people live in the Vale -- mainly the "little people" along with some Vainites and Thurim. There is no official governing body for the region, just local town councils and mayors. The Marshals of the Greenwood Conclave oversee justice and defene of the vale. The largest towns are Bonetra and Barrelbur.
Since long ago, the land prospered under the care of the farmers that lived here in relative peace, protected by the Lunari fae of the Fal-Prasinas (Greenwood) forest lands. The people of the Vale produce their own food and sell their excess bigger folk in larger towns nearby. The primary export of the of the Hulden Vale is sheep wool, craft goods, and wine. They also sell cheese, cherries, and pears, along with fresh apples and cider.
Travelers along the East-West Merchant Road will see herds of sheep, goats, and cows wandering the grassy slopes of the Hulden Vale Downs that surround the northern portion of the valley. The Downs are rounded and grass-covered hills composed of chalk (the name comes dūn = “hill”). Because of the porous nature of chalk, the hills are dry in summer, and tree growth is normally slow. Just south of the great Greenwood Forest, the Hulden Vale Downs were formerly well-wooded, but now only scattered copses of beech, yew, juniper, and boxwood can be found there.

Bonetra

Description: Bonetra (pronounced: bow-NET-ra) is a medium-sized town composed almost entirely of Kians. It has no major buildings or fortifications, but is made up of small cottages, burrows, and shops. It is surrounded by vineyards and groves.
Colors: Blue, Yellow, Green
Standard/Emblem: none (three-striped flag)
Leading Figures:

• Berrasi (gem-cutter/merchant) - Vitrem's uncle
• Mayor Vitrem Blueboot

Character/Adventure History: Bonetra is Vitrem's hometown. As the largest Kian town, it has been mentioned many times in various adventures, even through no game ever took place there. After the original quest to the north-lands, Vitrem settled there again briefly, and became mayor. He did not remain long. Twillisar was also from this area, and was known by Vitrem.

Barrelbur

Description: merchant town, multi-cultural trade (Kian, Vainite, Fae, Thurim)
Colors: Blue & Yellow
Standard/Emblem: none (checkered flag)
Leading Figures:

• Largo - proprieter of Luthier Family Instruments (string-instrument-maker)
• the Luthier family: Cadence, Dulcet, Andante, Melody, Tempo, and Harmony)
• Marshall Picket - assigned to the Hulden Vale area
• Nebbin - Innkeeper at the Bedicoin Inn
• Other Merchants: Dallon, Melchar, & Hallem

Character/Adventure History: Characters have passed through Barrelbur on occasion (especially Vitrem & Reneslar). One campaign, "Bellami's Dungeon" was set in this area. Jovian, the Thurim mercenary and companion on the second mission against the Thrau, lived in Barrelbur. The campaign "Greenwood Shadow" started in town of Barrelbur , and the Bendicoin Inn, where Baldron and Andreu teamed up with Marshal Picket.
Outside of Game Time: Steve's first D&D campaign as Dungeon Master (c. 1980) was set in an unamed small town, not far from the edge of a mountain range to the east, where there was a dwarven outpost. Some scholars suggest that the map for this initial campaign actually shows an area in the southeastern portion of the Hulden Vale near the edge of the Barrier Mountians, known as "The Old Vale."

Type

Geopolitical, Country

Demonym

Hulder, Sylvan, or Kian

Location

Wessa

Related Ethnicities

• Hulder