Dalelands

Nestled in the lands between Feylan Wood and the Grey Peaks, the Dalelands is a temperate pastoral land. The region is known for it's numerous halfling settlements since they began settling the area during the Age of Tribes. It has grown to be an agricultural bread basket for most of regions around Feylan Wood. The Dalelands otherwise have a reputation as a peaceful and idyllic region with friendly natives and well traveled roads.

**People**

Most races happy to live in rural peace dwell among the settled areas of the Dalelands. However, halflings by and large make up the bulk of the population. (According to the Guild of Records, 92%) This population is made up of farmers, ranchers and craftsmen. Settlements are largely peaceful and friendly. In any given village/town of the region you can be sure that everyone knows everyone else. This can be a bit off putting to travelers and adventurers unfamiliar with the area, as the entire population knows your name and business often within an hour of arrival. As such the Dalefolk tend to come of as friendly, if a nosy group of gossips.

Dalefolk are a hard working and hard playing people. Whatever an individual does for work, you can be certain they will be doing it throughout the day from sun up till sundown. After work all but the most solitary of townsfolk generally find their way to the local tavern to eat and drink with their neighbors. Because of this, it's not unusual for taverns in the Dalelands to have live music every night. (Usually provided by the most talented locals.) Festivals and holidays are common and will gather the population for miles in every direction for a couple day to a week for games, food and partying. A similar atmosphere develops around hurling games. The favored sport of the local populations with a team in every settlement, playing for events throughout the spring and summer.

**Climate & Geography**

The Dalelands is a temperate area of mostly hilly meadows, rocky tors and broadleaf forests. Most of the natural landscape is very well preserved and has an abundance of sylvan areas. Societal factors contribute to this despite the areas long history. The locals are very respectful of nature and the fey. As such pollution is kept to a minimum and sustainable practices are used in industry in the area. As such areas of particular and between and mystical significance have been left untouched.

The region is loosely broken up into four parts, mostly as a sort of reference by locals. Each of these named for families which first settled the oldest towns in their respective areas, with the exception of Last Moor.

Stone Meadow includes the areas closest to the Grey Peaks stretching south east along the edge pf Last Moor. It is a bit rocky especially to the south where hills break into tors. Dragonmist falls tumbles out of the Grey Peaks to Froghop lake near Rosefiddle. From there the Dwindale River stretches south east past the town of the same name to Rock Bottom Lake near Elmshire.

Shepfield roughly includes everything east of Beltan and south of Polship up to the Feylan Wood. The tors of it's western edge dwindle out to gentler hills and forested lands known for producing much of the areas lumber.

Brice Girdle is the northern most region and much to the dismay of map makers is defined by locals as; "Everything north of the other two." This is despite the area including Colinshire, the largest settlement of the region. Lake Gourd is found to the west near the town of Macbur and is known for includes murky water being excellent for fishing. The Mountain King's Rest is the other major feature of the are and the impressive lake is rumored to hide the tomb of a great dwarven king.

Last Moor as a region is simply defined by the locals by the stretch of moors to the south west leading into Moorlund. The region is overgrown damp and foggy. The rough ground making for dangerous travel and has been left to the wolves and other things. Local's are particularly superstitious about the Witch Tree, said to grow twisted and hung with bones out on the moor.

**Economy**

The people of the Dalelands import very little, preferring to make, grow or raise everything themselves. They do however buy from merchants traveling through the area and export goods. Vegetables, fruits and animal products are some of the finest found and make there way all over the continent. The halfling population in particular are known for the superior quality of their cheeses and candies. Chocolate, one of the few major imports of the region, is crafted by halfling families with generations of traditions into confectionery treats known as the finest in the world. These chocolates are exported as far as Amato.

**Government**