Blackfalls

Blackfalls is a small town along the Ashflow River, where the Dwarf Roads split in three. It has been a river portage since time immemorial, where boats from further up river have to stop to be unloaded and reloaded onto boats below the falls.

Overview
Blackfalls was originally settled by Dwarves seeking to trade further down stream. The settlement was given to Geir mercenaries in the service of Surran, the Scorched Prince, for their service to him during the war. He wanted to keep them close enough by that he could call on them if needed, but far enough away that they couldn't stir up trouble in his city.The Geir took to their new home quickly. It was supposed to be the seat of their nascent growth in the region, but strife between the various tribes led to them quitting the town and settling elsewhere. Still, Blackfalls had a major strategic advantage because of its position, and the locals were able to prosper and even become sedentary compared to their more bellicose cousins.

Many would-be-kings have tried to conquer Blackfalls over the centuries, but only one has succeed. Hadring Fairhair and his band of soldiers briefly held the town during his attempt to conquer the Crucible. He had nearly succeeded in bringing the entire south under his banner when he and his horse were hit by a falling branch in the West Weald, throwing all of his conquests into anarchy. Blackfalls survived this by aligning with the Brician towns in the north.

Blackfalls has had good relations with Goldmead and Shield for a long time, but they have a strained relationship with the other Geir towns. Tallfellow and Pinehill, in particular, think of Blackfalls as a decadent and corrupt place of city-dwellers. Compared to the cosmopolitan Ashport or the cities of Arthandor, nothing could be further from the truth.

Blackfalls sees itself as integral to the future of Geir polity that might rise in the South. This is probably true. It has a position as a natural capital for any Geir nation that might form there.

The ruler of Blackfalls styles himself as Prince Valtus Swifthand. Valtus spends most of his time within his palace, spending little time with his people. He leaves most of the actual ruling to an appointed town council.