Starkpool

At the northern point of Newport Reach, a tribe of Hill Gnomes are in control of a broad stretch of hills with a narrow pass going through them. The North-South Road traces its way through the pass till it enters the Starkpool Reach and becomes known as the Kings Road. The hills are called the Gnomeburg Hills and the pass the Gnomeburg Pass. The pass is fertile and well watered, so the Gnomes have placed their two villages Gridley and Smunto in the hills directly adjacent to the pass. The chieftain of the Gnomes has a castle set some miles back from the pass itself but there is a tower in pass itself, originally placed there by the High King, but granted to the Gnomeburgers in exchange for them holding the pass against outlaws and the king's enemies and maintaining the road through the hills.

The chieftain of the Gnomeburgers is “Arch-Duke” Grabbo McBorris and he commands the military actions of the tribe and collects certain taxes and fees, established by long tradition, to fund the tribe's defense. He also presides at the monthly meeting of the Gnomeburger Assembly, where important questions, law suits, and criminal charges are decided. McBorris only keeps order and makes sure procedure is followed, he doesn't make any of the decisions.

The Gnomeburgers follow the Lawful Church, but their clergy are actually a pair of Halfling brothers from Tunburg.

The Toll to enter Gnomeburg Pass is 5cp per person, donkey, mule, ox or horse. Half of which is kept by McBorris and half sent to the King.