Cliffside

Cliffside is a halfling enclave in western Pitchwood County on the shores of the Red River, the patron-village of Viscount Isadore Steelshod. It gets its name from its dramatic location on the edge of Aspbite Canyon. It is a days trip from the Crossroads, a day and a half from Dead Horse, and two days ride from Redwater. It is primarily of stone construction, with many of the second and third stories made of wooden and plaster construction, and most of the buildings are about two typical stories tall, despite the fact that they are three to four storues tall.

Cliffside is a settled, well-cared-for village. Before the Western Settlement Act, halflings from Arias had begun some limited settlement in the vicinity, and when the viscount had his choice of land in Pitchwood, he chose where his people were already settled. Unlike most patron-villages, Cliffside became a magnet for settlement, due to an early reputation for attentive patronage (the viscount offers low rent on his lands, and pays well for tenant-farmers) and halfling-specific construction, and it grew in leaps and bounds. Nearly two hundred individuals live within the sturdy stone walls of Cliffside as a result, and more than a thousand more in the near vicinity.

History

Arian halflings, in search of new lands to settle and resources to gather, began settling in the area where Cliffside was later established in 100 AA. A small fort was constructed to protect their interests, and the first smokeweed plantation west of the Westwall Mountains was planted nearby. When Steelshod arrived, he began to construct a walled village with imperial funds, so that the local regiment, the Dustdragon Musketeers, could establish a garrison there. The fort, Steelshod Fortress, was reinforced and expanded, and now acts as a keep within the walled village.

Places of Interest

A visitor to Cliffside passes the livery stables and through a large gate before entering proper. The broadstreet leads to Guildhall Square, where the city hall, guild hall, and temple dominate the scene, and where the ten-day markets take place. Along the broadstreet are some of the busiest companies in the village, including the Message Office, the local branch of the Steelshod Messaging Company, the apothecary, a storefront for the Westenbourgian Trading Company, and a dry goods shop, Krinski's Goods.

Off of Guildhall Square, down Steelshod Alley, is Steelshod Square, where Bellevue, Steelshod's home is. A clean and well-serviced tavern, the Bronze Scale, is next door, and across the street is the Hotel Noirda. Behind the temple and city hall is Garrison Park, a training green that doubles as a leisure space, that is bordered by the keep of Steelshod Fortress, and the local blacksmith and arms dealer, the Trumpeting Lion. On the wall street in the south-central portion is a rough tavern, The Black Elephant.