Daggerford

It is a walled settlement with a population that by and large lived in the outlying hamlets, farms, and estates, rather than within the town proper. As such, the streets of Daggerford are not densely populated. The town was significantly refurbished during the 13th century when many of its 40-odd wooden structures were remade in stone by the dwarves of Clan Ironeater. Even after this improvement, Daggerford's roads remained unpaved and several of its buildings were ramshackle in appearance even a century later. Surrounding the town wall was a modest moat, with three crossing points at each of the town's three gates — the Farmer's Gate in the north, the Caravan Gate in the west, and the River Gate in the south. For many years the moat was a dumping place for the town's refuse. Thankfully, this unfortunate and long-standing tradition ceased in the late 15th century.

Sitting atop a hill in the center of Daggerford is the grand Ducal Castle, which is technically older than the town itself.

For hundreds of years, the duke of Daggerford still controlled the town, but it was given its own charter by Duke Conan 50 years ago. The current dutchess, young Lady Morwen, sister of a diseased Duke Maldwyn seems to have no inclination to revoke the charter. The town itself is run by the Council of Guilds.

In a self-conscious imitation of the Lords of Waterdeep, the members of the Council of Guilds attend meetings in masks and never reveal their identities to the populace. However, the population of the town is too small for true secrecy. Everyone knows that the guildmasters are members of the Council of Guilds.

The guilds of Daggerford are not as formal as those of larger cities. There is the Smith’s Guild, Merchant’s Guild, Tanner’s Guild, Farmer’s Guild, Waterman’s Guild, Riverman’s Guild, and Taverner’s Guild, among others. The chief priests of the town’s three main religions (Chauntea, Lathander, and Tymora) are also members of the Council of Guilds. By the wording of the town charter, the duke is not a member, but the head of the militia, who happens to be the duke’s master at arms, is a member.

Economy

Due to its key location, Daggerford is a vital mercantile hub for its region of the Sword Coast. It is the site where goods moving on ships traversing the Delimbiyr River could be transferred to caravans journeying along the Trade Way or vice versa. The waterways of the Delimbiyr at Daggerford are too shallow for ships to continue upriver into the rest of the Delimbiyr Vale. While people of Daggerford are largely self–sufficient, they do import lumber from Andalor's Mill in Bowshot.

The town of Daggerford emulated the grand, northern Metropolis of Waterdeep but its trade services are quite limited. While it attracted its fair share of travelers, prices for local wares were often significantly marked up. The Waterdhavian phrase "gone to Daggerford" referred to someone who was hiding out beyond Waterdeep's walls.

Population

About 300 residents live in the town and in the duke’s castle. Most of them till the fields outside the town walls. There are about 20 farming hamlets within a day’s walk of Daggerford (15-20 miles), each of which has about five families of around 20 people. Each hamlet has a fortified town house to which the residents can retreat in case of a raid. There are also some isolated farms and a few estates of minor nobility.

In all, there are about 1,000 people dependent on the Daggerford market for goods they cannot make themselves, and who would retreat to Daggerford in case of an invasion.