====Castlestein====
Castlestein is a fortified town on the northern border of the [[Asterian Empire]], bordering [[Thrall's Gate Hall]], [[elven principalities|Elfland]], and [[Gloamingdale Wraith]].  It's presence is not in fact to it's Elven and Dwarven neighbors, but rather to the (assumed) horrors of the Dales, and the high monster population of the southern [[Eastwall Mountains]].  As such, as much as one **tenth** of the town's population are what you might consider "adventurers".

===History===
Castlestein was founded in the fourth century, deliberately by the Emperor of the time as a vanguard against Gloamingdale Wraith.  Despite rampant folklore, paranoia, and, well, bardic exaggeration, nothing //major// in the following centuries has wandered out of the Dells, and the town has actually thrived.\\
Things did get more exciting about five hundred years ago, when High King Illustrious III shoved the Eastwalls closer, which stirred up the wild beasts that dwelt there, not to mention their Dwarven neighbors!  Still, the town stood, and over time, reclaimed some territory on the western side of the Whitewash river.
Territory which has slowly been abandoned in the general decay of the Empire over the last two centuries, but not to the extent of the rest of the Lost Territories.  Then, roughly forty years ago, a [[d|Dungeon]] opened up under the Bureaucratic Tower, and despite the strong mercenary population, was not exterminated.

===Population===
Castlestein supports a population of slightly more than a thousand people,  perhaps half of which are human, and ten percent can be categorized as Adventurers.  There is a good sized Warg pack, with attendant small-folk partner community, a substantial selection of dwarves, and comparatively recent influx of Salamandros-lineage half-elves.  Much of the remaining non-human population can be considered "furries": Gnolls, Pumakin, Wolven, and the like.  Aside from traders out of [[Corrin]], four-foots are rare.

===Economy===
Ignoring the adventurers, the bulk of the town's income is thanks to being on the crossroads connecting Thrall's Gate Hall to both the Empire south, and the Lost Territories east.  Most of the non-bulk foodstuffs the town needs is famed nearby, and the county supports an surplus of livestock, even accounting for the dietary habits of adventurers!
Taking into account the adventurers, additional wealth comes from the Dungeon's "drops", monster hunts in the Eastwalls, and exploring the abandoned noble properties across the river.  (And clearing them, **again**, of anti-social squatters.)

===Locations of Note===
  *Bridger: The heavily developed bridge across the Corrin river, the walled district on the north side, and the Count's cavalry base.  As the current generation of sheep-herders seems to be getting braver, there is talk about expansion.
  *Deepfold Dungeon: The servants of the Chaos goddess evidently thought the heroes of Castlestein were becoming complacent, and opened this up in the sub-basement of the Imperial Tower.  At present, believed to be five levels deep, and stable.  While the Theme is "highly attractive people with bonus tentacles", you are unlikely to see anything other than body //parts// wandering around on tentacle clusters on the first two levels.
  *High Temple: Main, ecumenical seat of worship for the town.  Current high priest serves Dawn, though Roads, Home, Muse, Herds, and Extinction have a presence here.  In addition, there are a number of small shrines around town.
  *Imperial Tower: Centralized location for all bureaucratic offices.  There are no longer any connections between the first floor and the basement levels.
  *Lord's Keep: Fully functional feudal military structure in the middle of town.  Home of Count Stein-Doujin and his family.
  *Shrine of Theian: The demigod of rebirth is well revered by the adventurers: they have an abiding interest in the certainty that things __stay__ dead.
  *Warren, The: Northern side of the main town, home to most of the furred folk.
  *Westron Gate: the heavily fortified outpost guarding the bridge across the Whitewash.  If the gate looks sturdy enough to survive a drake charging it, that is because the last one //wasn't//.