Greenwards
The Fertile Region of Greenwards
Overview:
Greenwards is one of several major agricultural basins the circle the eastern edge of the Silversea, renowned for its golden fields, thriving towns, and vital role in regional trade. Bounded to the north by the formidable Hast River, to the east by the foothills of the Southern Iron Mountains, and to the west by the glimmering Silversea, Greenwards sits at a crossroads of prosperity and movement.
Greenwards thrives on the turning of seasons, the rhythm of the harvest, and the strength of its bonds—between villages, between traders, and between those who till the soil and those who walk the roads.
Geography & Environment:
- Hast River (North): A broad, deep-flowing river that marks a major natural boundary between Greenwards and the lands beyond. It is not easily crossed, with few bridges or fords due to its swift current, marshy banks, and seasonal flooding. The principal crossing is at Pemblebury, the last road bridge before the river empties into the Silversea. Pemblebury is a fortified riverside town that guards the crossing and controls trade and tolls, making it a strategic and political linchpin of the north.
- Silversea Coast (West): Calm waters, rocky headlands, and pebbled beaches line the coast. Villages along the sea rely on both agriculture and fishing, with coastal farms producing olives, lemons, and rare herbs adapted to the salt air. A growing fishery industry thrives in these waters, with fishing boats bringing in catches of herring, rockfish, and silverfin. Local smokehouses preserve the catch for trade inland. In recent years, the coastal fishery has expanded, including small-scale wharves and cooperatives that export salted fish and fish oil.
- Southern Iron Mountain Foothills (East): A landscape of terraced fields, vineyards, and grazing lands nestled against ancient hills. Springs and runoff from the mountains are captured through irrigation ditches, feeding the farms below. Trade with dwarves from the mountains brings iron tools and stone in exchange for food and livestock.
- Climate: Benefitting from the rich run-off to the snow capped Iron Mountains to the northeast and the wetter regions to the north, the area is well irrigated but is better placed than the drier regions to the south.
The Silkroad of the East:
The Silkroad of the East is the great landed north-south trade artery that passes through Greenwards as it starts to turn south as it circles the eastern flanks of the Silversea. It carries goods from the differing regions of Eastern Prukath, with smaller trails to the east and west, drawing goods from mountains and coast respectively, intertwined through a network of caravan stops and merchant towns.
Within Greenwards, at the heart of this network lies Goldmere Hold. Situated at a fork in the Silken Trail, the local name for the Silkroad through Greenwards.
- The north-western branch leads toward Old Hasthaven, a historic town on the southern flanks of the Hast Sound, but now a shadow of its former glory.
- The north-eastern branch heads to Pemblebury, the vital river crossing and gateway to the north.
Goldmere is a fortified trade town with tall stone granaries, sprawling markets, and the seat of several prominent merchant families. It is a hub of agricultural commerce and caravan coordination.
Culture & Society:
Greenwards is governed by a Council of Landwardens, composed of elected representatives from major farms, merchant houses, and religious orders. The region’s prosperity depends on good weather, smooth trade, and safe roads—so community cooperation is essential.
Devotion to Aureliane, goddess of the harvest and hearth, is widespread. Shrines dot the countryside, and Greenfire Festivals in spring and autumn celebrate the sowing and reaping with music, bonfires, and the blessing of tools and livestock.
Points of Interest:
- Goldmere Hold: The trade nerve centre of Greenwards, built where the Silken Trail forks toward Old Hasthaven and Pemblebury. Known for its windmills, markets, and caravan houses.
- Pemblebury: A fortified river town guarding the only major crossing of the Hast River before it reaches the sea. Its stone bridge is patrolled and taxed, making the town both wealthy and politically influential.
- Brinewatch: A coastal village known for salt harvesting, smoke-dried fish, and its lighthouse tower. A popular stop for sailors and a place where news often arrives from distant shores first.
- Greenhall Abbey: A druidic sanctuary on the eastern edge of Greenwards, near the foothills. Druids here perform seasonal rites and are said to keep ancient knowledge of the land’s deeper magic.
- The Wooden Spoon Inn: A famed roadside inn at a crossroads south of Goldmere. Offers warm hearths, bardic tales, and shelter for merchants, messengers, and adventurers alike.
Regional Produce:
Central Plains (Heartland around Goldmere Hold)
- Wheat, barley, and rye
- Sunroot tubers
- Hearth apples (used in cider)
- Honey and beeswax
- Canvas and linen from flax
Western Lowlands (Silversea Coast)
- Olives and lemonfruit
- Sea-salted cheese from goat’s milk
- Dried kelp and coastal herbs
- Salt from tidal pans
- Fish jerky and smoked eels
- Expanded coastal fishery: herring, rockfish, silverfin, salted fish, fish oil exports
Eastern Foothills (Iron Mountain Slopes)
- Hill grapes and wine
- Stone peaches and cherries
- Goat dairy: sharp cheeses and sweet curds
- Spring mint and goldenleaf herbs
- Wool from hill sheep
Northern Borderlands (Near the Hast River and Pemblebury)
- River reeds and flax
- Marshgrain for porridge
- Blue plum (for jams and syrup)
- Cress, leeks, and wetland herbs
- Riverfish and eel
- Cheese, dairy, and beef from pasture-fed cattle along the eastern borderlands
Northern Fringe (Farmland near Ellarwood’s southern reach)
- Mossberries and feyfruit
- Hazelnuts and slowroot
- Spring-fed mushrooms (veilcaps, stonegills)
- “Witchmilk” goat cheese with silvery rind
Summary Table:
| Region | Notable Produce |
| Central Plains | Grain, apples, honey, flax textiles |
| Western Lowlands | Olives, cheese, salt, smoked fish |
| Eastern Foothills | Wine grapes, stone fruits, mint, wool |
| Northern Borderlands | Marshgrain, flax, river herbs, eel |
| Northern Fringe | Mushrooms, hazelnuts, feyfruits, “witchmilk” cheese |
