Perched on a high plateau overlooking the western valleys of Hilltop, Kestrel’s Watch earns its name from the flocks of hunting birds that wheel and dive across its open skies. The town sits near the border shared with Jesthaen, directly east of Volvedorm, acting as both a frontier outpost and a trade crossing between the two nations. From its elevated position, one can see the distant glint of Jesthaen’s rivers and the faint shimmer of the western forests that mark the borderlands.

Built of pale stone and dark timber, Kestrel’s Watch carries the rugged charm of Hilltop’s craftsmanship. Its narrow streets wind between tiered terraces that cling to the cliffs, and its rooftops are lined with weather vanes shaped like birds of prey — an homage to the kestrels that nest in the surrounding crags. The town square is centered around the Hall of Wings, a wide circular structure where travelers, traders, and scouts gather. It serves as both a market hall and a watchpost for border patrols.

Despite its modest size, Kestrel’s Watch is alive with movement. Blacksmiths craft tools for caravans passing through the border, traders from Jesthaen barter for Hilltop steel, and messengers ride through carrying news between the two nations. The people here are practical and proud, known for their sharp eyes and sharper tongues — qualities expected of those who live on the edge of two realms.

At dawn, when the sun breaks over the mountains, the golden light sweeps across the town’s rooftops and the kestrels take flight in great spirals above the cliffs. To the people of Hilltop, Kestrel’s Watch is more than a border town — it’s a symbol of vigilance and balance, ever watchful, guarding the skies between stone and sea.