- This article is for the town. For the song, see Errold's Grove (song).
Errold’s Grove is a town located in the north west of Valdemar along the Londell River. It was founded during the Mage Wars. Shortly before the Cataclysm the founders were evacuated by Gate from Urtho's tower to an unknown land. After arrival they saw a bright flash on the western horizon and assumed it was the destruction of Urtho's Tower. In fact, it was the destruction of Ma'ar’s headquarters in the Royal Palace of Tantara they witnessed. (The resulting crater is now Lake Evendim.)
Errold's Grove was named after one of the founders, a young man named Errold, an apprentice to the mage Master Thomas. Errold had a negotiated a treaty with a catlike creature, Proouw, one of the creatures changed by the Mage Storms. Proouw directed him to a suitable location for a town. Errold guided the refugees to the site where they established the village named Errold's Grove in his honor.
In present-day Valdemar, Errold's Grove is a thriving village. Its initial prosperity was based on the dye components residents gathered in the surrounding forest, many of which are unique to the Pelagirs region. During the more recent Mage Storms, the residents became terrified of the forest, and refused to venture beyond the borders of their own fields. As a result, the village was greatly diminished and slowly dying by the time the Blood Bear Clan invaded.
After driving off Blood Bear, the village found itself in sudden possession of a large number of trained warhorses, armor and other supplies. These were sold for a large profit, allowing the residents to rebuild and improve on their existing village. The establishment of k'Valdemar Vale nearby, and increased trade with both the k'Valdemar Tayledras and Lord Breon of nearby Kelmskeep, brought an influx of new settlers. Though the original villagers were still afraid to venture into the forest, the new arrivals did not share this fear. With other to hunt for dye components, furs and other goods, Errold's Grove became a bustling trade center once again, larger and more prosperous than ever.
In the series[]
Errold's Grove is a significant location in the following works:
- "Errold's Journey" by Catherine S. McMullen, Sun in Glory and Other Tales of Valdemar, Valdemar Anthology, volume 2
- Owlflight, Darian's Tale, volume 1
- Owlsight, Darian's Tale, volume 2
- Owlknight, Darian's Tale, volume 3