Highfolk
| Highfolk | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 The arms of Highfolk, as depicted in Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000). | |||||||||||||||||||
| General information | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other names: | Valley of the Velverdyva | ||||||||||||||||||
| Demonym: | the Highfolk | ||||||||||||||||||
| Region: | Old Ferrond | ||||||||||||||||||
| Government | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ruler: | 576 CY—Mayor Talisyr or Mayor Loftin Graystand 591 CY—Mayor Tavin Ersteader (Highfolk); Lord Kashafen Tamarel (Highvale) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Government: | Free city with mayor elected for life (Highfolk); hereditary monarchy (Highvale) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Demographics | |||||||||||||||||||
| Capital: | Highfolk (Highfolk); Flameflower (Highvale) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Major towns: | Highfolk, Verbeeg Hill, Flameflower | ||||||||||||||||||
| Provinces: | No strict provincial structure—city claims a patchwork of farm, fishing and forest communities along Velverdyva River valley (the Highvale region); elves of the Vesve have separate holdings | ||||||||||||||||||
| Population: | 46,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Races: |
| ||||||||||||||||||
| Languages: | Elven, Common, Sylvan | ||||||||||||||||||
| Groups | |||||||||||||||||||
| Religions: | The Seldarine, the Oeridian agricultural gods, Ehlonna, Phyton, Fharlanghn | ||||||||||||||||||
| Organizations: | Knights of the High Forest | ||||||||||||||||||
| Allies: | Furyondy, Veluna, Verbobonc, Dyvers, Duchy of Ulek | ||||||||||||||||||
| Enemies: | Iuz, independent Vesve nonhumans and monsters | ||||||||||||||||||
| Miscellaneous | |||||||||||||||||||
| Resources: | Gold, rare woods, gems, precious metals, livestock (sheep, goats), vegetables, wild game, timber | ||||||||||||||||||
| Coinage: | Solar (gp), great lunar (ep), small lunar (sp), wheat (cp) | ||||||||||||||||||
Highfolk, properly known as the Free Town of Highfolk, is a political city-state of the Flanaess. The region around the town is sometimes known as the Highvale or the Valley of the Velverdyva.
History
[edit | edit source]Æons ago, the olvenfolk resided in the region called the "Fairdells" in Elvish (the Highvale). When humans eventually came, there was no strife between them, and they came together to work and settle together in cooperation and peace.[1]
Geography
[edit | edit source]Modern Highfolk is generally located in the western-central portion of the Flanaess. Generally speaking, all the land along the Velverdyva River from its passage between the Clatspurs and the Yatil Mountains, to the plain between the southeastern spur of the Yatils and the Vesve Forest, can be said to belong to the Highvale. The city of Highfolk itself rests at the base of the Yatils, where the Velverdyva makes a broad eastern bend towards the plains of Furyondy.
People
[edit | edit source]Population
[edit | edit source]The capital city of Highfolk has only grown slowly over years (roughly pop. 8,000). The settlement has been variously called a "city" or a "town". It has mainly been called "Highfolk Town" as a colloquialism, because it denotes the woodsy, pastoral nature of the region's peaceful "beautiful dales along the banks of the river."[2][3]
In 576 CY the settlement has roughly 2,000[2]-2,500 humans[3] and more than 4,000[2]-5,000 high elves,[3] in addition to other species. There are additionally "some 10,000" high elves in the area, as well as more syvlan elves, gray elves, gnomes, halflings, and others; giving the valley has a total population of more than 20,000.[3]
In 591 CY, the population of Highfolk totals 46,000 persons, a significant majority (almost 80%) being elves (high elves outnumbering sylvan elves by about 3 to 2). Humans make up the next largest group (almost 10%), and are mainly of Oeridian descent. Half-elves, halflings (predominantly Tallfellows), gnomes, dwarves, and (surprisingly) half-orcs make up the remainder of the population.
The most populous towns in the area are Highfolk itself (pop. 8,700), Verbeeg Hill (pop. 1,200), and Flameflower within the Vesve (pop. 500, all high elves).[1]
Religion
[edit | edit source]The most popular deities among Highfolk's citizens are the Seldarine, the Oeridian agricultural gods, Ehlonna, Phyton, and Fharlanghn.
Languages
[edit | edit source]The most widely-spoken languages in Highfolk include Elven, Common, and Sylvan.
Government
[edit | edit source]Highfolk Town has long been a free city led by a mayor. The mayor is elected for life by popular vote of household leaders, though they may choose to retire from service. The elven leaders are hereditary monarchs who come from the noble families in the region.
In 576 CY, this is the Worthy Sir, Mayor Talisyr. Unbeknowst to almost all, Talisyr is a silver dragon who masquerades as an elf, living amongst them.[4] In earlier sources, also in 576 CY, this is Mayor Loftin Graystand.[5]
Later, in 591 CY, this is the Worthy Sir, Mayor Tavin Ersteader, Mayor of Highfolk Town, who is only 28 years old.[1]
Heraldry
[edit | edit source]Highfolk's coat of arms is blazoned thus: Barry of five, argent and vert, per pale counterchanged.
Economy
[edit | edit source]Resources
[edit | edit source]Highfolk is noted for producing gold, rare woods, low-quality gems, livestock (sheep, goats), vegetables, wild game, and timber harvested from the Vesve. Gnomes in the near edges of the Yatils are renown for producing both precious gems and precious metals.[1]
Currency
[edit | edit source]Highfolk's standard coinage consists of the gold solar (gp), electrum great lunar (ep), silver small lunar (sp), and copper wheat (cp).
In Legends of Greyhawk
[edit | edit source] | This section contains content from the "Legends of Greyhawk" organized-play campaign. While it is officially published, and is approved by WotC, this content is based on the DMG 2024, and may differ from earlier publications. |
The Highfolk region's premier event in the Legends of Greyhawk campaign was at the "Weekend in Highfolk" online convention, 7-9 November 2025, sponsored by Baldman Games in place of one of their "Virtual D&D Weekends" (VDDW). There were three connected adventures which were featured events—A Silent Echo[6], The Eldritch Inferno[7], and Trail of Corruption[8].
Description
[edit | edit source]The central theme of Highfolk in the Legends of Greyhawk campaign focus on the aspects independence of living life on the frontier, well-away from larger, more complicated kingdoms and states. It also focuses on the push-and-pull of civilization's "dominion" over stewardship of nature, sometimes referred to as "progress versus primeval."[9]
Geography
[edit | edit source]The city of Highfolk (or Highfolk Town) has been referred to variously as a city or a town for decades (in-setting). While mechanically (in game system rules) the settlement has always been a city (roughly 8,000+), it has colloquially always been known as Highfolk Town. This has been noted in the campaign, and the language is being clarified so that mechanically it is a city, and it is called a free city. [10]
Notable settlements
[edit | edit source]- Highfolk City—the capitol of the Highvale
- Lily's Crossing—barge port on the Velverdyva near the city; location in A Silent Echo[6]
- Eroldshurst—independent village; location in The Eldritch Inferno[7]
- Flameflower—olven village deep in the Vesve, location in Trail of Corruption[8]
References
[edit | edit source]Citations
[edit | edit source]- ↑ a b c d Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000), p.53.
- ↑ a b c The World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting (1980), p.11.
- ↑ a b c d World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting (1983), p.25, Guide.
- ↑ Dungeon Master's Guide (2024), p.163.
- ↑ World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting (1983), p.25.
- ↑ a b A Silent Echo (BMG, 2025)
- ↑ a b The Eldritch Inferno (BMG, 2025)
- ↑ a b Trail of Corruption (BMG, 2025)
- ↑ Welcome to Highfolk. legendsofgreyhawk.com. BMG. Retrieved on 9 November 2025.
- ↑ Dunn, Matt; (LoG Highfolk Ass't Lead Designer) (6 October 2025). I'll just jump in here quickly on that town size thing. Discord. Retrieved on 7 October 2025. "In LoG, it is the Free CITY of Highfolk. It was the Free TOWN of Highfolk until relatively recently when a census sponsored by interested parties in the settlement determined the population had juuuuust tipped over the line to make it now a city. A "Free City" the likes of Greyhawk and Dyvers. Those interested parties are, not surprisingly, the folks who'd like to see this frontier settlement continue its burgeoning growth. There are others, however, who may resent, even resist, all that commercialism and progress. (This little bit of lore also helps us bring some coherence re: why it's called Free City of Highfolk, Highfolk Town, and many other variations across the last 45 years.)"
Bibliography
[edit | edit source]- Gygax, Gary. The World of Greyhawk. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980.
- ———. World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.
- Holian, Gary, Erik Mona, Sean K. Reynolds, and Frederick Weining. Living Greyhawk Gazetteer. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
- Moore, Roger E. The Adventure Begins. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998.
- Sargent, Carl. Ivid the Undying. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1995. Published online. PDF by William Allman with maps. Original RTF archived:Wizards.com. WGR7 or WGRx
- ———. The Marklands. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1993.
Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index
The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.
| Topic | Type | Description | Product | Page/Card/Image
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Lunar - Electrum pieces (Highfolk) | Item | Coin, | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 53 |
| Highfolk Archery School | Building | College or School, | Dragon magazine #AN3 | 20 |
| Highfolk Archery School | Building | Dragon magazine #AN3 | 20 | |
| Highfolk, people of | People Group | People, | A1-4 Scourge of the Slave Lords | 6 |
| Highfolk, people of | People Group | People, | Come Endless Darkness | 38, 248 |
| Highfolk, people of | People Group | People, | The City of Greyhawk: Folks, Feuds and Factions | 70 |
| Highfolk, people of | People Group | People, | Dragon magazine #052 | 18, 19, 20 |
| Highfolk, people of | People Group | People, | Dragon magazine #056 | 19 |
| Highfolk, people of | People Group | People, | Dragon magazine #057 | 13 |
| Highfolk, people of | People Group | People, | Dragon magazine #271 | 75 |
| Highfolk, people of | People Group | People, | Greyhawk Adventures | 76 |
| Highfolk, people of | People Group | People, | Greyhawk Wars: Adventurer's Book | 10 |
| Highfolk, people of | People Group | People, | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | IC, 8, 33, 45, 46, 53, 54, 85, 102, 118, 142, 146, 158, 159 |
| Highfolk, people of | People Group | People, | Living Greyhawk Journal #1 | 4, 29, 32 |
| Highfolk, people of | People Group | People, | Living Greyhawk Journal #2 | 29 |
| Highfolk, people of | People Group | People, | Living Greyhawk Journal #3 | 27 |
| Highfolk, people of | People Group | People, | Player's Guide to Greyhawk | 4, 49 |
| Highfolk, people of | People Group | People, | The Adventure Begins | 38 |
| Highfolk, people of | People Group | People, | WGA4 Vecna Lives! | 93 |
| Highfolk, people of | People Group | People, | The World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting (Folio) | 2, 7, 18, 23, 24 |
| Highfolk, people of | People Group | People, | WGR4 The Marklands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 22, 27, 28, 29, 31, 37, 39, 41, 42, 44, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 59, 63 |
| Highfolk, people of | People Group | People, | WGR5 Iuz the Evil | 5, 21, 30, 32, 33, 55 |
| Highfolk, people of | People Group | People, | WGR6 City of Skulls | 31 |
| Highfolk, people of | People Group | People, | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 50, 52, 58, 79, 80 |
| Highfolk, people of | People Group | People, | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 4, 9, 32 |
| Highfolk, Town of | Settlement | Highfolk vale, Capital, Independent town, (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 8700), | Artifact of Evil | 7, 134, 190, 193, 218, 229, 230 |
| Highfolk, Town of | Settlement | Highfolk vale, Capital, Independent town, (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 8700), | The City of Greyhawk: Adventure Cards | 17 |
| Highfolk, Town of | Settlement | Highfolk vale, Capital, Independent town, (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 8700), | The City of Greyhawk: Folks, Feuds and Factions | 3, 70, 82 |
| Highfolk, Town of | Settlement | Highfolk vale, Capital, Independent town, (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 8700), | The City of Greyhawk: Gem of the Flanaess | 18 |
| Highfolk, Town of | Settlement | Highfolk vale, Capital, Independent town, (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 8700), | Dragon magazine #AN3 | 21 |
| Highfolk, Town of | Settlement | Highfolk vale, Capital, Independent town, (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 8700), | From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess | 11, 12, 15, 27, 45, 56 |
| Highfolk, Town of | Settlement | Highfolk vale, Capital, Independent town, (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 8700), | From the Ashes: Campaign Book | 69, 71 |
| Highfolk, Town of | Settlement | Highfolk vale, Capital, Independent town, (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 8700), | From the Ashes: References Card | #3 |
| Highfolk, Town of | Settlement | Highfolk vale, Capital, Independent town, (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 8700), | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 40, 52 |
| Highfolk, Town of | Settlement | Highfolk vale, Capital, Independent town, (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 8700), | Living Greyhawk Journal #3 | 28 |
| Highfolk, Town of | Settlement | Highfolk vale, Capital, Independent town, (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 8700), | Living Greyhawk Journal #4 | 29 |
| Highfolk, Town of | Settlement | Highfolk vale, Capital, Independent town, (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 8700), | Living Greyhawk Journal #5 | 29 |
| Highfolk, Town of | Settlement | Highfolk vale, Capital, Independent town, (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 8700), | Player's Guide to Greyhawk | 5, 37, 38, 56-58 |
| Highfolk, Town of | Settlement | Highfolk vale, Capital, Independent town, (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 8700), | The Adventure Begins | 16, 20, 36, 127 |
| Highfolk, Town of | Settlement | Highfolk vale, Capital, Independent town, (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 8700), | WG12 Vale of the Mage | 52 |
| Highfolk, Town of | Settlement | Highfolk vale, Capital, Independent town, (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 8700), | The World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting (Folio) | IC, 2, 11 |
| Highfolk, Town of | Settlement | Highfolk vale, Capital, Independent town, (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 8700), | WGR4 The Marklands | 13, 27, 47, 55 |
| Highfolk, Town of | Settlement | Highfolk vale, Capital, Independent town, (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 8700), | WGR5 Iuz the Evil | 33, 80, 88, 90 |
| Highfolk, Town of | Settlement | Highfolk vale, Capital, Independent town, (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 8700), | WGR6 City of Skulls | 31 |
| Highfolk, Town of | Settlement | Highfolk vale, Capital, Independent town, (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 8700), | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 12, 14, 25, 41, 58, IBC |
| Highfolk, Town of | Settlement | Highfolk vale, Capital, Independent town, (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 8700), | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 17, 29, IBC |
| Highfolk, vale of {High Vale} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 46000), | Dragon magazine #055 | 18 |
| Highfolk, vale of {High Vale} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 46000), | Dragon magazine #191 | 66 |
| Highfolk, vale of {High Vale} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 46000), | Dragon magazine #306 | 95 |
| Highfolk, vale of {High Vale} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 46000), | Dragon magazine #315 | 51, 53, 54 |
| Highfolk, vale of {High Vale} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 46000), | Dragon magazine #AN3 | 100 |
| Highfolk, vale of {High Vale} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 46000), | Dragon magazine #AN3 | 20, 96 |
| Highfolk, vale of {High Vale} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 46000), | Dragon magazine #AN3 | 20, 96 |
| Highfolk, vale of {High Vale} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 46000), | From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess | 10, 13, 16, 25, 29, 43, 45, 46, 54, 59, 64, 74, 79, 86, 92 |
| Highfolk, vale of {High Vale} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 46000), | From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess | 10, 13, 16, 25, 29, 43, 45, 46, 54, 59, 64, 74, 79, 86, 92 |
| Highfolk, vale of {High Vale} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 46000), | From the Ashes: Campaign Book | 11, 68, 70-72, 84, 85, 87 |
| Highfolk, vale of {High Vale} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 46000), | From the Ashes: References Card | #8 |
| Highfolk, vale of {High Vale} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 46000), | Greyhawk Adventures | 76 |
| Highfolk, vale of {High Vale} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 46000), | Greyhawk Wars: Adventurer's Book | 10 |
| Highfolk, vale of {High Vale} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 46000), | Greyhawk Wars: Adventurer's Book | 20 |
| Highfolk, vale of {High Vale} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 46000), | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 52, 53, 158 |
| Highfolk, vale of {High Vale} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 46000), | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | IC, 8, 33, 45, 46, 53, 54, 85, 102, 118, 142, 146, 158, 159 |
| Highfolk, vale of {High Vale} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 46000), | Living Greyhawk Journal #0 | 3, 10, 13 |
| Highfolk, vale of {High Vale} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 46000), | Living Greyhawk Journal #1 | 4, 29, 32 |
| Highfolk, vale of {High Vale} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 46000), | Living Greyhawk Journal #2 | 29 |
| Highfolk, vale of {High Vale} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 46000), | Living Greyhawk Journal #3 | 27 |
| Highfolk, vale of {High Vale} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 46000), | Living Greyhawk Journal #3 | 28 |
| Highfolk, vale of {High Vale} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 46000), | Player's Guide to Greyhawk | 4, 49 |
| Highfolk, vale of {High Vale} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 46000), | Restless Nights, D&D 3.5e Web Article | Web |
| Highfolk, vale of {High Vale} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 46000), | SJR6 Greyspace | 8 |
| Highfolk, vale of {High Vale} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 46000), | The Adventure Begins | 38 |
| Highfolk, vale of {High Vale} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 46000), | WGA4 Vecna Lives! | 94 |
| Highfolk, vale of {High Vale} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 46000), | WGR4 The Marklands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 22, 27, 28, 29, 31, 37, 39, 41, 42, 44, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 59, 63 |
| Highfolk, vale of {High Vale} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 46000), | WGR5 Iuz the Evil | 33, 80, 88, 90 |
| Highfolk, vale of {High Vale} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 46000), | WGR6 City of Skulls | 13 |
| Highfolk, vale of {High Vale} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 46000), | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 50, 52, 58, 79, 80 |
| Highfolk, vale of {High Vale} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 1740), (591 pop: 46000), | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 4, 9, 32 |
| Home Guard (Highfolk) | People Group | Army, | Living Greyhawk Journal #2 | 29 |
| Siege of the Highfolk | Adventure | Located in: Highfolk vale, | The City of Greyhawk: Adventure Cards | |
| Small Lunar coin - Silver pieces (Highfolk) | Item | Coin, | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 53 |
| Solar coin - Gold pieces (Highfolk) | Item | Coin, | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 53 |
| Temple District (Highfolk) | Place | District, | Living Greyhawk Journal #4 | 29 |
| Torik Red-Axesson of Highfolk | Non-player character | Male, Half-elf, [C12], | Living Greyhawk Journal #0 | 10 |
| Torik Red-Axesson of Highfolk | Non-player character | Male, Half-elf, [C12], | WGA4 Vecna Lives! | 14, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95 |
| Vesves Tankard (Highfolk) | Building | Inn, Tavern, Bar, or Restaurant , | Living Greyhawk Journal #4 | 29 |
| Wand of Highfolk | Item | Greyhawk Adventures | 76 | |
| Wheat coin - Copper piece (Highfolk) | Item | Coin, | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 53 |