Reach Proper
Highgarden rises from a wide green hill above the banks of the Mander, the greatest river in Kingdom of the Reach. The castle itself is ringed by three tall curtain walls of pale stone, each taller and stronger than the last. Between two of those walls lies a hedge maze of thorn and bloom—both a noble amusement and a trap for invaders. The oldest parts of the fortress date back to the Age of Heroes, low and thick-walled, built for endurance rather than elegance. [1]
In the heart of the castle’s godswood stand three massive weirwoods, so tightly grown together that they seem as one. Known as the Three Singers, they are said to have been planted by Garth Greenhand himself. Beneath their pale branches lies a still black pool, reflecting bark and sky alike. [1]
The lands around Highgarden are some of the richest and most beautiful in the Reach. Orchards and vineyards cover the slopes, and fields of golden roses stretch for miles. The air is thick with the scent of ripening fruit—melons, fireplums, and peaches too sweet to keep long off the branch. [2]
Bordering the heart of Highgarden are the domains of Darkstone, Orchard Way, Darkdell, and the famed Rose Road. These lands are dotted with prosperous villages, vineyards, and groves. The region is fertile, warm, and wealthy—one of the true hearts of the Reach. [1]