Perendale

Not many people take the road west into Perendale for the sake of pleasure. Few living things inhabit the rocky countryside save for silver miners, wyverns, and an astoundingly pugnacious breed of mountain goat. In far-off days, the mountains around the village were full of dragons, and perhaps this was what first brought it to the attention of the Pentaghasts.
Certainly, it was not the goats.
Although the region has belonged to Nevarra for the past thirty-or-so years, travelers here will find much that reminds them of a provincial Orlesian town. A great carving depicting a mighty lion slaying a dragon adorns Perendale's gate, and many Orlesian lions decorate the village's buildings. There are even some citizens who cling to the hope that the village will one day be restored to the Empire.
Perendale sits directly on the border between Nevarra and Orlais and has been annexed by both sides more times than can be counted. The most recent time, Nevarra was able to occupy it when Orlais committed to its war against Ferelden. The Orlesians ended up rallying a defense and drove the Nevarrans from Ghislain and Arlesans, but lost Perendale in the process.

History

"Historians mostly agree that it was not the dragons, nor the silver, that began centuries of warfare between Orlais and Nevarra around the village. Surprisingly, nor was it mostly even the rule of mad emperors or pompous Pentaghasts. Occasionally it was, but most often it was campaigns led by war-mongering generals against the wishes of their superiors. Interestingly, not in a way you might think.
Perendale has traded between the hands of the Nevarrans and the Orlesians over two dozen times. Many of these conflicts have been caused not by forces attacking the village, but instead by the soldiers occupying Perendale leading their own marches into enemy territory and getting themselves killed. Thus, Perendale is left without defenders and the side who did not have it previously have taken it.
Perhaps it has to do with the fact that if you climb high into the village's Chantry, you can see well into either side of the border. Maybe these soldiers go to make sure the Chantry brazier is still lit aflame, only to look out at all the could be their's and the conquests that could lead to them becoming acclaimed generals.
Maybe these conflicts occur because in some years it will rain two out of every three days in the entire year. It could be that these soldiers get all feisty because they hate the rain getting into their armor and feeling mud clinging to their every step.
Or perhaps it's something in the water. People here seem to snap at each other for every little reason. It's entirely common for swords to be drawn against one another for small slights, even when in other civilized places such aggressive acts would be deemed over-the-top. When inquiring for this book, the people of Perendale mostly seemed as though I was attempting to pry secrets from them that the Maker herself had declared explicitly for their eyes only.
Either way, Orlais and Nevarra are currently at peace. When you hear that they have declared war upon one another, don't be surprised if the root cause is a group of Perendale's soldiers charging head deep into enemy territory."

— In Pursuit of Knowledge: Travels of a Chantry Scholar, by Ferdinand Genitivi

Type

Village

Owning Organization

Nevarra