Castin is a duchy in flux. It is second in wealth only to Shire itself. That is due to the massive numbers of guilds that called the region home. The current Duke, Soren Koranta has taken ill, and hasn’t been seen publicly in months. His wife, the Duchess Mira Koranta has taken to running the kingdom in his stead, with the assistance of his nephew the Baron Dar Rotgarr.
Also known as the duchy of guilds, Castin was the home to the headquarters of nearly every guild throughout the kingdom of Cheshire. I say was because the Baron recently decreed, with the Duke and Duchess favor apparently, that the guild system needed consolidating. He left it to the individual guilds to decide who stays and who goes. This of course has started a massive guild war throughout Castin, which has started spilling over to the rest of the kingdom. Ironically the guilds doing the best at the moment are the thief/assassin guilds, for obvious reasons.
Castin itself is a merchant city, and famed for its various districts. Castle Castin has a rich history that most of populace is even unaware of. Castin is as diverse and accepting, for the most part, as Shire is. All walks of life who seek to make a living has the best chance in Castin. Since there is a guild for every profession, even beggars, there is no reason one can’t find success in this duchy of guilds.
Castin’s Bowels, is a sewer kingdom under the city run by a wererat goblin named Fetcher. Particularly bright for a goblin, he takes great pride in ensuring the sewers run smoothly. For this reason, the authorities give it a wide berth, even paying Fetcher a monthly stipend for his and his minions work. The guilds also use the sewers for smuggling, and pay Fetcher quite handsomely for their use. And with good reason. Anyone trying to use his tunnels without permission is likely to come up against his gelatinous cube pet, or worse.
Castin is surrounded by Kastor to the north, Mir to the east, Bovi to the south east, Durk to the southwest, and Mola to the far southwest.
Mola is the only town among the cities of Castin as it was recently founded. They primarily make their living off fishing from Crystal Lake, as well as the Bloodmoon Carnival once a year.
Kastor, as a border city is a rough and tough city. It’s citizens, while accepting of “other” humanoids, tend to be wary of them. Only when that being has proved to not be a danger to the city does that tension ever relax. Easiest way for that to happen is to enlist in the Ironguards. Just wearing the armor tends to ease everyone’s fears, and the duty only lasts a year unless you reenlist. After a year, they will have either accepted you, or killed you.
Mir is named after the forest dragon that once lived in the forest to the east that bears his name too. The forest dragon was kind, unusual for its kind, and often aided the citizens of Mir. The dragon is long gone, but it’s lair lies hidden somewhere in the forest. It is considered a right of passage for young males of every race to go into the forest and try to find it. Most come back alive.
Bovi is a large city with an abundance of farmers. The land between Castin, Mir, Durk and Bovi is especially rich. Almost everyone who lives here has a profession related to farming, and they tend to keep to themselves. The Lori Woods lay to the south of Bovi, haunted by the banshee that gives the woods its name.
Durk is a bustling city, being the main entry point between Shire and Castin. Recently, the adventuring guild, Danger Magnet, here has been taken over by the mercenary band known as the Marauders. While they haven’t officially changed the name, the only way to join the guild is to join the Marauders. The Marauders are an exceptional band, led by the impressively sized Lord D’spaer. No one has seen the Lord without his helm, but most say he has giant blood in him.
A Darkness Rising 