Hardbottle is a Halflings town located in the The Northern Reach. The town is relatively old and is the principle halfling settlement in the The Thousand Isles. The island on which the town lies is large, but mountainous with little arable land and a sparse population.
However the town possesses a fine natural harbor and the Halflings who live here have always turned to the sea for their sustenance.
A stubborn and independent lot, the natives of Hardbottle always chafed under the hegemony of the The Merchant Houses of Haven and have always been a major hub of smuggling and piracy. They were a major center of resistance during the The Pirate Crusade and suffered accordingly.
The settlement, as is the Halfling tradition, is mostly built underground, in burrows lining the cliffs of the Hardbottle Harbor, this geographical feature, plus the relatively mountainous terrain of the island in general made the area difficult for the The Inner Archipelago fleets to reduce or hold.
As a result, The Pirate Crusade never really ended for Hardbottle. Though the above ground parts of the island were quickly conquered, the halflings retreated into their extensive tunnels and burrows where they proved impossible to dislodge. In addition the rocky, mountainous island was a perfect have for guerilla fighters.
While House O'Brian has controlled the island on and off for last 75 years, and occasionally installed puppet governments they never really subdued the halflings entirely or broke their spirit. The island frequently irrupted in revolts, which were generally put down eventually in the surface at least. However the would be conquerors never dared venture down into the burrows except in great numbers and with violent consequences.
Finally, rather then be bogged down in a neverending guerilla war, about five years ago the O’Brien’s eventually gave up and signed a treaty with the Halflings, which promised there independence. I return Hardbottle agreed to assist with anti piracy operations and respect the rights the trade monopolies of the The Merchant Houses of Haven
Currently, Hardbottle is effectively independent and while they give lip service to the treaties that ended the The Pirate Crusade, they are once again a haven for Piracy, smuggling and anything and anyone that thumbs ity nose at the tyranny of the The Inner Archipelago
The current elected governor is a famous guerrilla called El Fusilado