Montaigne
The village of Montaine, near the Lataine/Ossitan border
Population: 916
Government: Mayor Adnot Bouvier
Barony: Lord Lupin, as granted by King Jean I
Religion: Shrine of St. Hercule
Notable Places: Inn of The Flatfooted Ogre (Prop. Remy), Savin's Sundries, Apothecary Therault
Regional Features: The River Nerites, Castle Lupin, Faerie Pool, Diove's Spring
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The village on Montaigne lies on the river Nerites, in verdant valley north of the Geryon Mountains and south of the Drakenspires.
The area is dominated by castle Lupin to the east, an ancient keep built upon the ruins of a Sallustrian fortress which itself was built upon the burnt husk of a Latainian hill-fort, which itself was in legend built upon a temple once commanded by the fearsome Saurians.
Whispers have spread that the owners of the castle forbid entrance to it's vast subterranean dungeons, fearing what horrors are rumored to lie beneath their feet.
This region was once the Duchy of Nerites, but when Lord Nerites and his vassals were slain in battle the keep was granted to newly raised Lord Arsine Lupin - who is said to be a former sometime housebreaker and adventurer from Port Kales. Renaming the castle after himself, Lupin seems determined to maintain his position of power by interfering as little as possible in the day-to-day affairs of the valley.
Surrounded by ancient old-growth forests, Montaigne is home to the Woodcutters Guild - all of whom, it seems, are to be found carousing at the local watering hole The Inn of The Flatfooted Ogre (Prop. Remy) at week's end. Although the village is nominally ruled over by Lord Mayor Adnot Bouvier, it is said that nothing transpires in town without Remy's implicit approval.
Notable places in Montaigne proper is Savin's Sundries (a general store and dry goods grocer), Apothecary Therault's Fine Curatives, and the Shrine of St. Hercule - which serves as the religious center of the region. To the west of the city is found the Holy Spring of Diove, whose waters are said to have a divine quality and is treasured for it's curious curative and restorative powers.