Highfolk Player Primer
The Great Frontier
The region of Highfolk clings to the western edge of the Vesve Forest, bordered by the Yatil Mountains and the Kingdom of Furyondy, with the Velverdyva River flowing through its heart. It is a rugged land of free folk who savor prosperity and endure hardship together. Life on the frontier is forged through survival, so communities are often tightly knit. Elves make up the majority, followed by humans, gnomes, and halflings.
Other peoples are rare but welcome. Only deep-forest elven clans and northern goblinoids still cling to any semblance of prejudice. Magic is scarce, ancient, hidden, and often dangerous. The Vesve holds secrets even elves will not name. But there is incredible opportunity here as well for those who seize it.
This is a land where heroic tales begin: where wilderness meets civilization, where unexpected heroes rise, and where the land itself may one day speak their name.
Themes
The Frontier. The Free Lands of Highfolk remain largely unspoiled. The Vesve (the largest forest in the Flanaess) is filled with ancient, unimpeded growth. The Yatil and Clatspur foothills spill gold into the Velverdyva River, and Highvale’s rolling hills offer sweeping, serene views.
But beauty here comes with isolation. Vast wilderness stretches between scattered settlements. Travel is dangerous and slow. Every resource matters. Remote outposts burn like faint lights in the dark. Far-off nations are too busy to care. No one is coming to rescue you.
Independence. The free peoples of Highfolk are used to handling their own problems. They govern loosely and resist strict laws, especially from outsiders. Leaders aren’t seen as essential. Communities manage themselves with simple, fair traditions. Most can handle wolves and bandits, but when fell magics stir or eldritch entities awaken, defenders emerge from the Free Peoples, and legends are born.
This spirit of independence has shaped local customs, self-rule, and a strong drive to succeed. Anyone willing to work is welcome, whether they wield a hammer or blade. The people guard their own interests and rarely unite, but when they do, they move with purpose and ferocity.
Progress and the Primeval. The Vesve is among the oldest forests in the Flanaess, and the Yatil Mountains conceal lost temples and deep caverns. Highfolk’s settlers are slowly pushing into lands older than memory. Old magic sleeps here; most of it is best left undisturbed.
Yet communities press outward, needing land and resources. Merchants and speculators chase trade goods, defenders seek power to match encroaching evil, and that same evil scours the region for its own gain. Adventurers hunt for glory in the ruins.
It is not a question of if, but when, one of them awakens something that does not wish to be found. When that happens, all of Highfolk may suffer the cost.
Ideals & Ideologies
They are called the “Free People” of Highfolk for a reason. Across the region, common values include personal agency, decentralized rule, and a firm rejection of mandates from distant lands or leaders. Unsurprisingly, other beliefs vary between communities, and even from person to person. The following values and philosophies reflect expressions of three themes woven throughout the region.
City vs Country. While the City of Highfolk represents civilization, the region is rural, and country folk resent outside interference. In the Vesve, resistance is absolute. City folk dismiss this intransigence as stubbornness, insisting they only want to share their success.
Individualism vs Collectivism. Some folk take individuality to an extreme, embracing complete personal autonomy. This self-reliance can lead to strain between individual welfare and communal interests, especially with those who see community as an essential unit of measure.
Preservation vs Stewardship vs Dominion. People debate how to live with nature. Should they leave it untouched, coexist with it, or bend it to their needs? Followers of the Old Ways say civilization has gone too far; some of the “Old Faith” fringe believe restoration requires action.
Areas & Communities
The City of Highfolk. Within the region of Highfolk lies the “Free City of Highfolk”, a fortified frontier town. Located at a crossroads near the Velverdyva River, it serves as the region’s trade and travel hub. Highfolk is a melting pot: some come to sell goods, others to start new lives or chase adventure. A mayor shares power with a spirited town council and a modest town guard.
Highvale. “Highvale” colloquially refers to hills and valleys not controlled by Highfolk nor covered by the Vesve Forest. Dozens of small communities thrive here, each with its own customs, stories, and festivals. Most are self-sufficient or trade-based and fiercely defend their right to govern themselves with minimal rules.
The Vesve. The High Forest is vast, ancient, and untamed. Its inhabitants live by nature’s rules, blending into the landscape and remaining highly mobile. Notable exceptions include Flameflower, ruled by a self-styled elven lord; a settlement founded by the legendary Quaal; and the secretive community at the Timeless Tree, which permits no outsiders.
In the north, goblinoids steadily deforest the land. In the east, servants of the demigod Iuz spread death and destruction. Though these threats remain confined to the forest’s fringes, their waxing presence has many on edge.
The Highlands. The Yatil Mountains rise to snowy peaks in the southwest, promising treasure and glory alongside great danger. The Clatspurs branch from them, with the Sepia Uplands trailing north. Settlements here are sparse, but rich mineral veins attract miners and prospectors.
Rooted in the Free Lands
When creating a player character for the Free Lands of Highfolk in Legends of Greyhawk, use the Highfolk Character Background Worksheet. It’s designed to help connect your character to the region. You can record your answers directly on the worksheet or in the “Background” section of your character sheet—and expand on them as your character’s heroic journey unfolds!Magic is scarce, ancient, hidden, and often dangerous. The Vesve holds secrets even elves will not name. But there is incredible opportunity here as well for those who seize it.
This is a land where heroic tales begin: where wilderness meets civilization, where unexpected heroes rise, and where the land itself may one day speak their name.