Elmshire

Life in Elmshire moves at a slow, comfortable pace. Halflings here value good food, good stories, and good neighbors. Days begin with the smell of baking bread and end with music played on flutes and fiddles beneath the stars. Hospitality is sacred, and visitors are always offered a seat by the fire and something sweet to eat.

• Festivals: The Day of Leaves (mid-autumn) is the most celebrated holiday, with leaf-dancing competitions, roasted chestnuts, and storytelling contests.
• Local Lore: While not martial by nature, Elmshire folk are surprisingly capable with slings and stealth, having traditions passed down from legendary scouts who aided larger forces in times of war.

Governed by a Council of Elders, chaired by a matronly figure known as the Hearthwarden, a title passed down through consensus among the elder families. While politically autonomous, Elmshire maintains a peaceful relationship with the Free City of Greyhawk and pays a modest tribute in exchange for protection and trade rights.

• Brindlewick’s Pipe & Leaf: A renowned pipeweed shop run by the Brindlewick family, suppliers to pipe-smokers as far as Greyhawk.
• Wavesight Rock: A small promontory overlooking the lake, said to be a place where druids once communed with water spirits. On moonlit nights, strange lights are said to flicker just beneath the surface.
• Mother Corla’s Bakery: The heart of the town, known for her honeycakes, seasonal pies, and uncanny ability to know everyone’s favorite treat.

Elmshire lies where rolling green hills meet the rocky shores of the Nyr Dyv. The town is made up of tidy hill-homes and cozy cottages, often with round doors and windows, nestled into grassy mounds. Stone-paved walking paths crisscross the settlement, connecting communal gardens, open-air kitchens, and gathering greens.

• The Harbor: A modest but well-kept pier accommodates fishing boats and occasional trading vessels. The halflings are wary of the lake’s deeper mysteries but take advantage of the abundant fish and clean waters near shore.
• Fields and Orchards: Surrounding the town are sprawling farmlands and fruit orchards, meticulously maintained. Halflings of Elmshire are renowned for their pipeweed, honeyed mead, and sun-dried apples.
• The Hearthhill: A gentle hill at the town's center, crowned by the communal hall—a long, low building with warm hearths, bookshelves, and a large stone fireplace carved with scenes from halfling lore.