Twilight of Empires

Castlestein is a fortified town on the northern border of the Asterian Empire, bordering Thrall's Gate Hall, Elfland, and Gloamingdale Wraith. It's presence is not in fact to it's Elven and Dwarven neighbors, but rather to the horros 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”.

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!