The Silverpeak cities of Highreach and Halefjord are shielded from wars and monsters by unassailable geography and grow wealthy on the products of their mines. Isolated from threat, the two mountain cities of the Republic of Silverhold have developed a unique culture that indulges in extravagant, exuberant athletic competitions as a way of life. Children born in these mountain cities often train daily from youth in traditional athletic events such as archery, footraces, throwing, wrestling, tumbling, or woodsplitting! Rivalry between the two cities is fierce, with seasonal and annual youth and adult championships held at large open-gymnasiums in either city. The competition is taken so seriously that marriages are often arranged between champions so as to produce future champions! After training or a competition, athletes in Halefjord have the luxury of relaxing in hotspring-fed thermal baths - in Highreach, they must heat the baths with wood-stoves and masonry flues piped beneath.
Characters who grew up in Halefjord include Lorren Truesong (competes in everything), Geoff (used to compete in wrestling), Samantha Mead (competed in archery), Katarina Mead (competed in acrobatic tumbling), and Balon Steelarm (competed in wrestling). Characters who grew up in Highreach include Grorin (competed in woodsplitting, wrestling, and footraces) and Theodore (competed in throwing, footraces, and wrestling).