The High District occupies a gentle rise overlooking the Shad’li crossing. At its center stands Valentien’s Fortress, originally built to defend the river and now serving as the royal palace of Valmark. Its commanding position and proximity to the crown have made the district the preferred home of the city’s nobility.
Broad streets divide imposing townhouses, walled gardens, government offices, and the residences of wealthy courtiers. Unlike the grey cobblestones found elsewhere in Valmark, the High District’s roads are paved with distinctive red brick quarried and fired near Valfort to the east. The streets are also wider, cleaner, and more heavily patrolled than those of most other districts, reflecting both the wealth of its residents and the importance of protecting the palace.
