Need help - kingdom building with very little official info (Lastwall)


Homebrew and House Rules


So I'm looking at the kingdom of Lastwall in Avistan (Golarion) and there is very little published information on it. I'm very interested in fleshing out this area but have little idea on how to detail such a large area that so far appears to be a largely flat open plain field according to the maps we have so far.

Would a easy way to start such a project just be to assume the maps are wrong and re-write the geography however I like (mountains, rivers, etc etc) in order to have more diversity to work with?

Secondly I'm considering strongly implementing a medieval feudal system in the area with one king and the territory governed by hereditary Lords, each of which would rule over large areas of land. Within such sub-kingdoms secondary keeps are handed out to lesser Lords to help administer and guard the lands and their inhabitants.

Any suggestions which would help to further flesh this out would be appreciated. If any one is particularly good at making maps I'd REALLY appreciate such assistance.

Grand Lodge Contributor

It seems like 2 books of the imminent Tyrant's Grasp AP take place in Lastwall. I'd expect to see some fleshing out of the nation then :-)


Yeah, spotted those a little earlier. Looks like I'll be waiting another 6 mo for it.


For maps try the the Pathfinder Campaign Setting forum, I know there's mapmakers that hang out there.


I found a simply stunning map mentioned somewhere on the forums (my apology but I don't recall where or by whom) found here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IdvsoBYgkxTFdQBN-BXZ9FTgPYw2deSh/view

Not only is it gorgeous but has better detail for Lastwall and surrounding areas than what I've seen before. So much better that I feel obligated in saying I can't vouch for how "cannon" it is, but due to the detail offered I will be using it as the gold standard in my personal campaign.


Your best sources for information about Lastwall and Vigil are the Inner Sea World guide and Cities of Golarion. You've probably already perused those. The geography is largely flat plain, as you indicate, but it is bordered by rough wilderlands (or coastal areas) and it has a large expanse of forest. Government is headed by Watcher-Lord Ulthun II who has support from the military's Precentors Martial and civil Tribunes. Then there are the fort commanders out in the field. So the arrangement is feudal-like but based on elections and promotions rather than families. Lastwall is an interesting place in my opinion, and I would love to see it fleshed out even more. Good luck!


Yeah, I've seen the materials you are referring to. I was honestly hoping someone one would weigh in on this who has over hauled the setting and either done some custom work on it, or who simply decided to drop and drop an existing setting (real or fantasy) into the vacant space of the area.

For example if someone was like, "I set up Lastwall like the kingdom of X from the Crusades around the year of 1502" or "I drew from Kalamar, Forgotten Realms, Greyhawk and felt that the area was a close parallel to the kingdom of (example) Cormyr to simply port it into the vacant space as a direct over lay."

Unfortunately the materials which have been published for the area so far really aren't enough to establish a long running campaign without a lot of additional work.

Grand Lodge Contributor

Lazlo.Arcadia wrote:

I found a simply stunning map mentioned somewhere on the forums (my apology but I don't recall where or by whom) found here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IdvsoBYgkxTFdQBN-BXZ9FTgPYw2deSh/view

Not only is it gorgeous but has better detail for Lastwall and surrounding areas than what I've seen before. So much better that I feel obligated in saying I can't vouch for how "cannon" it is, but due to the detail offered I will be using it as the gold standard in my personal campaign.

I love that map and use it in my own campaigns. Pretty sure that it includes areas from PFS and other sources not shown on the main 'official' maps of the Inner Sea Region.

However, there are a few other places to get info.

Castle Everstand is featured in Castles of the Inner Sea.
Arwyll Stead is featured in Daughters of Fury.
And this PFS scenario is also part-set in Lastwall, but I don't own it so don't have details.


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Holy cow! I just took a look at that map and fell instantly in love with it. Thanks!

Lazlo, I don't know if it's at all helpful, but you might consider having Lastwall be akin to Jerusalem during the crusades. The main point of Lastwall is to keep watch over Gallowspire and be a hedge against invaders. Think of it as a focal point for crusaders intent on coming in to either take the fight to Belkzen (or Virlych), with a rich tapestry of competing religions vying for control. Something like that. Good luck!


@Dosgamer
Thanks for the suggestion. I'll definitely have to give that a look.

So far I'm actually leaning towards doing more of a medieval / feudal campaign setting with Lastwall where the territory is broken up into various Holds ruled by local Lords, all of whom owe loyalty to the King.

The King's primary responsibility (aside from ruling Lastwall as a Kingdom) is to guard the Temple of Elemental / Ravenloft / Gallowspire against the rise of the Lich King...umm, I mean the White Walkers...no that isnt it either....the Whispering Tyrant! That's the one!

As for an "over lay" I'm looking at other campaign settings from Forgotten Realms (Cormyr), Skyrim, and Greyhawk for ideas on how to remap the area and fill in the enormous gaping holes in the map.

I'm focusing the campaign just on the events taking place in Lastwall and it's neighbors, thus other events happening in Golarion are not being taken into consideration. For example the World Wound draining resources, etc.

Secondly Lastwall has a Game of Thrones / Castle Black sorta vibe to it where crusaders go to "man the wall" against the Whispering Tyrant. Ustalav is watched VERY cautiously as Lastwall basically feels they are under the influence of the WT, and the orcs of Belkzen are seen as the WT's minions (similar to the Orc from LOTR and how they served Sauron).

One thing that would really help me with all of this is if I found a real world area that was similar to the geography of Lastwall which would inspire some idea of how to lay out the area. Such as if Italy were a good comparison for the weather, terrain, etc. Still looking for something like that however.


So for anyone who is interested I took a look at Cormyr from the Forgotten Realms and noticed that if you rotate it about 90* counter clock wise and back up a few feet (while squinting) it sorta resembles Lastwall. There are mountains on the left, ocean on the right, troubles with the neighbors, and even a big forest in the middle. Best of all Cormyr has a lot of already pregenerated materials on different cities already laid out.

Does this mean I've opted for a direct port? No, but I do appreciate the idea of using that area as a rough lay for how to design the area better. Between that and the amazing interactive map I posted earlier and I think I have a solid starting point at least. At least until Paizo releases something more significant for Lastwall as a campaign setting (maps mostly).

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