Lorcastle
| settlement name | duchy | district/province | type | population | founding year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lorcastle | Toreen | Province of Qidra | village | 2,757 | 4541 |
Lorcastle is a small but fascinating settlement in south-central Toreen, within Duskwood, near the border between the Duchies of Toreen and Kirvan. The village lies on the Hebdin River.
Town elder Gayel Nutt and her husband, first councillor Chyrles Rich, run the little settlement. Their home has a Qidranian fane attached.
The village is nestled amongst the trees of the Duskwood; the only large open space is the central market, which extends down to the riverbank.
The settlement has always had close ties with the Druids of Duskwood. Since before the time of Leal the Younger (the Great Druid of the Circle of Guardians), the druids have created unique living houses and other buildings for the inhabitants. Unlike everywhere else in Kalderesh, there is no prinwork on these structures; instead, the Druids have created a method of applying prinwork markings on the trees, without carving into the wood. This druidic-inspired prinwork is certainly worth the long travel to this remote settlement to see it first-hand. Readers of this Guide will find a coupon in the Appendix which can be presented to the Niuewe Coerier Incorporation for a 40% discount on a guided tour from Donnalaich to Lorcastle to witness this marvel.
The settlement also produces apples, peaches and pears, but in a highly unconventional manner. The korbon trees in the vicinity of Lorcastle have had fruit tree branches grafted on, yielding a rich fruit harvest without disturbing the growth of Duskwood.
Fish pens are located upstream of the village centre; eels, kamcho, and blue nosed maklo are wild-caught and reared in pens.
Under guidance of the Qidranians, the entire village celebrates coming-of-age ceremonies, usually with a druid in attendance.
The Grand Wizard Zachar Yardly has settled in Lorcastle; he is a scholar affiliated with the Guild of Dyers & Weavers and is working on novel dyes for textiles.
The retired cavalier warrior Ianus Seasalt has been working with the druids to develop a variety of tree wheat.
Rumours persist of an ancient dungeon just outside the settlement, that was once the demesne of a Malanthean wizard. This is possibly just a legend based on a real artefact: the ruins of a small fortified keep, the original Lorcastle, built here long ago by the first settler.