In generations past, travelers to Caer-Dineval had to follow the rocky shore of Lac Dinneshere until after several hours they spied a small fortress (the “caer” for which the town is named) jutting up from the prominence where it overlooks the lake. A ferry out of Easthaven made the arduous trek unnecessary for merchants and other travelers, but the ferry was discontinued two months ago, cutting off Caer-Dineval (and its eastward neighbor, Caer-Konig) from the rest of Ten-Towns except by the overland route. Town residents are furious that the ferry service has stopped, mainly because they have not received deliveries of mead from the town of Good Mead, and the taverns have run dry.
As if things weren’t bad enough, the town’s harbor has frozen over, and the town’s speaker, Crannoc Siever, has taken to his bed and is apparently too sick to make public appearances or press the Council of Speakers to get the ferry from Easthaven running again.
This small castle was built over four hundred years ago by the Dinev family from Cormyr, before Ten-Towns existed as anything more than a few scattered camps of explorers living off the land. The Dinevs hoped to claim sovereignty over the unsettled lands of Icewind Dale. When the castle, dubbed Caer-Dineval, was completed, the workers and their families settled in the outbuildings they had constructed farther down the cliff, along with the families of the retainers the Dinevs had brought with them. Over the next few years, many explorers in the region came to see the Caer for themselves, and some built cottages in the shadow of its walls. No sooner had the small town taken hold than marauding orcs swept down from the tundra to put it to the torch. The town’s residents tried to take refuge in the castle, but the Dinevs, alarmed by the size of the orc horde, barred the gates and refused to open them. The orcs fell upon the stranded people and slaughtered them to the last one. The Dinevs survived the initial assault, but not the siege that followed. After three weeks of being confined in the Caer, the Dinevs were so weakened by hunger that they were unable to resist when the orcs scaled the castle walls. Thus, the Dinev family’s brief rule in Icewind Dale came to a bloody end. The Caer remained in the orcs’ possession for several years, until they were driven out by a small army of human settlers from other parts of the dale who banded together. The victors claimed the castle and its lands, and those with families brought them here to settle. Their descendants live here to this day and keep alive the memory of their ancestors’ deeds. Today, the keep is the residence of the town speaker, Crannoc Siever, who recently made the mistake of opening his doors to the Knights of the Black Sword. This group consists of people from all walks of life who owe their lives to the archdevil Levistus.
At the south end of town is Caer-Dineval’s inn, a drafty old building with boarded-up windows and a crooked weathervane shaped like a rearing dragon. The place has been out of business for almost a year. Six duergar hide inside the ramshackle inn and remain out of sight until Xardorok’s chardalyn dragon attacks the town.
This tavern is situated northwest of the Caer, where it offers a spectacular view of the lake and the frozen docks. The Climb serves hot chowder but is all out of beer and spirits, which might explain why locals don’t frequent the place as much as they used to. The proprietor, a rugged middle-aged man named Roark (lawful good human commoner), blames the cursed winter and the closing of the Easthaven ferry for his business woes. Although he has spare rooms with empty beds, he claims to have no available guest accommodations. If adventurers are looking for a place to rest, he suggests that they try the Caer. Roark can’t guarantee that Speaker Crannoc Siever’s attendants will welcome them with open arms, given how sick the speaker has been of late. Roark and some of his patrons know something is amiss in the castle, but they refrain from talking about it. Roark figures that if he steers adventurers toward the castle, they’ll figure out what’s going on by themselves.
Locations
Whether arriving “by land or by lac,” visitors are immediately confronted by the fortifications for which the town is famous: its clifftop fortress, known as the Caer, and the ruined watchtower at the mouth of the frozen harbor. Most of the town’s buildings, which date back to the town’s Cormyrean founders, line the path that winds down the steep slope from the Caer to the harbor, whose docks are perched on the rocky shore. The following locations are noteworthy places in town that the players may visit.The Caer
Castle Residence of the Town SpeakerThis small castle was built over four hundred years ago by the Dinev family from Cormyr, before Ten-Towns existed as anything more than a few scattered camps of explorers living off the land. The Dinevs hoped to claim sovereignty over the unsettled lands of Icewind Dale. When the castle, dubbed Caer-Dineval, was completed, the workers and their families settled in the outbuildings they had constructed farther down the cliff, along with the families of the retainers the Dinevs had brought with them. Over the next few years, many explorers in the region came to see the Caer for themselves, and some built cottages in the shadow of its walls. No sooner had the small town taken hold than marauding orcs swept down from the tundra to put it to the torch. The town’s residents tried to take refuge in the castle, but the Dinevs, alarmed by the size of the orc horde, barred the gates and refused to open them. The orcs fell upon the stranded people and slaughtered them to the last one. The Dinevs survived the initial assault, but not the siege that followed. After three weeks of being confined in the Caer, the Dinevs were so weakened by hunger that they were unable to resist when the orcs scaled the castle walls. Thus, the Dinev family’s brief rule in Icewind Dale came to a bloody end. The Caer remained in the orcs’ possession for several years, until they were driven out by a small army of human settlers from other parts of the dale who banded together. The victors claimed the castle and its lands, and those with families brought them here to settle. Their descendants live here to this day and keep alive the memory of their ancestors’ deeds. Today, the keep is the residence of the town speaker, Crannoc Siever, who recently made the mistake of opening his doors to the Knights of the Black Sword. This group consists of people from all walks of life who owe their lives to the archdevil Levistus.
Dinev's Rest
Closed InnAt the south end of town is Caer-Dineval’s inn, a drafty old building with boarded-up windows and a crooked weathervane shaped like a rearing dragon. The place has been out of business for almost a year. Six duergar hide inside the ramshackle inn and remain out of sight until Xardorok’s chardalyn dragon attacks the town.
The Uphill Climb
TavernThis tavern is situated northwest of the Caer, where it offers a spectacular view of the lake and the frozen docks. The Climb serves hot chowder but is all out of beer and spirits, which might explain why locals don’t frequent the place as much as they used to. The proprietor, a rugged middle-aged man named Roark (lawful good human commoner), blames the cursed winter and the closing of the Easthaven ferry for his business woes. Although he has spare rooms with empty beds, he claims to have no available guest accommodations. If adventurers are looking for a place to rest, he suggests that they try the Caer. Roark can’t guarantee that Speaker Crannoc Siever’s attendants will welcome them with open arms, given how sick the speaker has been of late. Roark and some of his patrons know something is amiss in the castle, but they refrain from talking about it. Roark figures that if he steers adventurers toward the castle, they’ll figure out what’s going on by themselves.
Friendliness.
❄❄
Services.
❄
Comfort.
❄
Population.
100
Leader.
Speaker Crannoc Siever (lawful neutral human commoner) speaks for the townsfolk. Known as a bully who shouts and uses theatrics to make his point, he has reportedly been ill for months and rarely makes public appearances nowadays.
Militia.
Caer-Dineval can muster up to 25 soldiers (use the tribal warrior stat block) and 2 veterans.
Heraldry.
A crenellated stone watchtower (three merlons, two crenellations) on a dark blue field, with a horizontal red fish facing right beneath the tower, representing the town’s vigilance, harbor, and proud fishing tradition.
Rivals.
Caer-Konig, Easthaven.
Sacrifice to Auril.
Food.
Available Quest.
Black Swords.
❄❄
Services.
❄
Comfort.
❄
Population.
100
Leader.
Speaker Crannoc Siever (lawful neutral human commoner) speaks for the townsfolk. Known as a bully who shouts and uses theatrics to make his point, he has reportedly been ill for months and rarely makes public appearances nowadays.
Militia.
Caer-Dineval can muster up to 25 soldiers (use the tribal warrior stat block) and 2 veterans.
Heraldry.
A crenellated stone watchtower (three merlons, two crenellations) on a dark blue field, with a horizontal red fish facing right beneath the tower, representing the town’s vigilance, harbor, and proud fishing tradition.
Rivals.
Caer-Konig, Easthaven.
Sacrifice to Auril.
Food.
Available Quest.
Black Swords.
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