Highfolk
Encyclopedia
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting
for the Dungeons & Dragons
role-playing game
, Highfolk, properly known as the Free Town of Highfolk, is a political city-state
of the Flanaess
. The region around the town is sometimes known as the Highvale or the Valley of the Velverdyva.
, to the plain between the southeastern spur of the Yatils and the Vesve Forest, can be said to belong to the Highvale. The city of Highfolk itself rests at the base of the Yatils, where the Velverdyva makes a broad eastern bend towards the plains of Furyondy
.
As of 591 CY, the most populous towns in the area are Highfolk itself (pop. 8,700), Verbeeg Hill (pop. 1,200), and Flameflower, within the Vesve (pop. 500, all high elves).
(high elves outnumbering sylvan elves by about 3-to 2). Humans make up the next largest group (almost 10%), and are mainly of Oeridian descent. Half-elves, halflings
(predominantly Tallfellows), gnomes
, dwarves
, and (surprisingly) half-orc
s make up the remainder of the population.
, Ehlonna
, Phyton
, and Fharlanghn
.
led by a mayor
, currently The Worthy Sir, Tavin Ersteader, Mayor of Highfolk Town, while the elven communities are led by His Most Excellent Highness, Kashafen Tamarel of Flameflower, Lord of the High Elves of the Vesve.
The mayor is elected for life by popular vote of household leaders, though he or she may choose to retire from service. The elven leaders are hereditary monarchs who come from the noble families in the region.
is blazoned thus: Barry of five, argent and vert, per pale counterchanged.
consists of the gold
solar (gp), electrum
great lunar (ep), silver
small lunar (sp), and copper
wheat (cp).
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
for the Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
, Highfolk, properly known as the Free Town of Highfolk, is a political city-state
City-state
A city-state is an independent or autonomous entity whose territory consists of a city which is not administered as a part of another local government.-Historical city-states:...
of the Flanaess
Flanaess
The Flanaess is the eastern part of the continent of Oerik, one of the four continents of the fictional world of Oerth in the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game. The Flanaess has been the setting of dozens of adventures published between the 1970s...
. The region around the town is sometimes known as the Highvale or the Valley of the Velverdyva.
Geography
Modern Highfolk is generally located in the western-central portion of the Flanaess. Generally speaking, all the land along the Velverdyva River from its passage between the Clatspurs and the Yatil MountainsYatil Mountains
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, the Yatil Mountains are a mountain chain located in the western part of the Flanaess.-Ecology:...
, to the plain between the southeastern spur of the Yatils and the Vesve Forest, can be said to belong to the Highvale. The city of Highfolk itself rests at the base of the Yatils, where the Velverdyva makes a broad eastern bend towards the plains of Furyondy
Furyondy
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Furyondy, properly known as the Kingdom of Furyondy, is a feudal kingdom of the Flanaess, and a successor state of Ferrond.-History:...
.
As of 591 CY, the most populous towns in the area are Highfolk itself (pop. 8,700), Verbeeg Hill (pop. 1,200), and Flameflower, within the Vesve (pop. 500, all high elves).
Population
As of 591 CY, the population of Highfolk totaled 46,000 persons, a significant majority (almost 80%) being elvesElf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, elves are a fictional humanoid race that is one of the primary races available for play as player characters. Elves are renowned for their grace and mastery of magic and weapons such as the sword and bow...
(high elves outnumbering sylvan elves by about 3-to 2). Humans make up the next largest group (almost 10%), and are mainly of Oeridian descent. Half-elves, halflings
Halfling (Dungeons & Dragons)
The halfling is a fictional race found in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Halflings are similar to humans except about half the size...
(predominantly Tallfellows), gnomes
Gnome (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, gnomes are one of the core races available for play as player characters. Some speculate that they are closely related to dwarves; however, gnomes are more tolerant of other races and of magic, and are skilled with illusions...
, dwarves
Dwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, dwarves are a humanoid race, one of the primary races available for play as player characters...
, and (surprisingly) half-orc
Half-orc
The half-orc is a creature born to mixed orc and human parentage in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. The half-orc is a playable race for D&D player characters. Half-orcs are typically born in wild frontiers where human and orc tribes come into contact. Half-orcs are between six and seven...
s make up the remainder of the population.
Religion
The most popular deities among Highfolk's citizens are the Seldarine, the Oeridian agricultural godsOeridian agricultural gods
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, the Oeridian agricultural gods are five particular deities usually worshiped as a group: Velnius , Telchur , Atroa , Sotillion , and Wenta...
, Ehlonna
Ehlonna
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting and in the default pantheon of deities for the third edition of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Ehlonna is the goddess of Forests, Woodlands, Flora, Fauna, and Fertility...
, Phyton
Phyton (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Phyton is the Suel god of Nature, Beauty, and Farming. Phyton's symbol is a scimitar in front of an oak tree.-Publication history:...
, and Fharlanghn
Fharlanghn
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting and the default pantheon of deities for the third edition of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Fharlanghn, the Dweller on the Horizon, is the Oeridian god of Horizons, Distance, Travel, and Roads. He is a well-known deity on the world of Oerth...
.
Government
Highfolk is a free cityFree city
Free city may refer to:* City-state, region controlled exclusively by a sovereign city* Free city a self-governed city during the Hellenistic and Roman Imperial eras* Free City , album by the St...
led by a mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
, currently The Worthy Sir, Tavin Ersteader, Mayor of Highfolk Town, while the elven communities are led by His Most Excellent Highness, Kashafen Tamarel of Flameflower, Lord of the High Elves of the Vesve.
The mayor is elected for life by popular vote of household leaders, though he or she may choose to retire from service. The elven leaders are hereditary monarchs who come from the noble families in the region.
Heraldry
Highfolk's coat of armsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
is blazoned thus: Barry of five, argent and vert, per pale counterchanged.
Resources
Highfolk is noted for producing gold, rare woods, low-quality gems, livestock (sheep, goats), vegetables, wild game, and timber.Currency
Highfolk's standard coinageCoin
A coin is a piece of hard material that is standardized in weight, is produced in large quantities in order to facilitate trade, and primarily can be used as a legal tender token for commerce in the designated country, region, or territory....
consists of the gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
solar (gp), electrum
Electrum
Electrum is a naturally occurring alloy of gold and silver, with trace amounts of copper and other metals. It has also been produced artificially. The ancient Greeks called it 'gold' or 'white gold', as opposed to 'refined gold'. Its color ranges from pale to bright yellow, depending on the...
great lunar (ep), silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
small lunar (sp), and copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
wheat (cp).