Aldergrove
A prosperous farming town located approximately 50 miles south of Aran Dhabar. The settlement traces its origins back approximately 500 years when the noble Alder Family left the capital and built Alderkeep as a border defense in support of the crown and the realm's expansion
Over the years, the border pushed further south and the land became less wild and unruly. The settlement slowly expanded beyond the original keep to encompass the village at the base of the rise. The forest was pushed back and the land turned to farmland. The village became a town and the area grew prosperous as many travellers using the road from the capital stopped there on their travels south to Phandalin and eventually Tharos beyond.
The Alder family ruled the area from Graelin's Cross in the north to the silver mines of Phandalin to the south. While they ostensibly claimed the hill country to the west of Merrit's Rest, the country was wild and untamed and rarely saw a soul let alone a tax collector. They were in control of the area until roughly 100 years ago when the family's fortunes, and subsequently the region, took a turn for the worse.
A fire of unknown origins started in the Keep one night and ravaged through the building as well as most of the western part of the town before it was contained, leaving only ashes and the ruined tower in its wake. The family perished in the fire with only the youngest son, Hyram, and his family surviving, and only then because they had been in the capital at the time of the fire.
Hyram Alder was ill-suited and prepared to rule the lands of his fathers. Several poor business investments along with a years-long drought that the local druids said was unnatural drove the area further into decline. He died almost penniless, leaving only his title to his daughter, Alvirah Alder, who committed herself to rebuilding her family's fortunes.
While she held the title, Lady Alder had little control over the lands as she didn't have the funds to support her tennants. The land defaulted to the capital's administration and she remained a well-liked figurehead to the locals. Aldergrove slowly recovered and approximately ten years ago, the Crown Prince appointed two foreigners, Lord and Lady Prestor of Ilsara, as the new Lord and Lady of Aldergrove for "services rendered to the Crown".
The new Lord and Lady have been a great benefit to the region. They have rebuilt the town's fortunes and seem to genuinely care about its people. They are well-liked and are often seen in and around the town itself. Alderkeep itself still stands in ruin, the Prestors having built a sprawling Manor on the eastern edge of town. Rumours abound that they intend to rebuild the keep and that they've sent for stonemasons and architects from Merrit's Rest to assess the task.