Elturel
A large, orderly city in the Sword Coast interior overlooking the River Chionthar, Elturel is filled with merchants, river traders, and farmers’ markets. Its most distinguishing feature is a brilliant magical light that hovers above it, illuminating it day and night. Elturel serves as the capital of the crusader state of Elturgard.
The city is ruled by the High Overseer of Torm, the god of courage and self-sacrifice. Many paladins call Elturel home, and the city itself is guarded by an elite unit of knights called the Hellriders. It is a major center of worship for Torm and other lawful good deities including Tyr and Ilmater.
This city is the farming center of the Fields of the Dead, and its Hellriders guard and police not only Elturel, but much of the farmed and settled portions of the Fields along the Skuldask Road, the Dusk Road, and both banks of the River Chionthar. The long patrols of the Hellriders, 30 riders strong, pass along the roads every four hours, night and day. The upkeep of the patrols is aided by lodges (stockaded outposts) placed strategically within their patrol area, where food, water, flammables, weapons, and fresh mounts are kept for them. These lodges are protected against arson and casual theft by strong wards.
Travellers can rejoice in the safety of Elturgard’s reach, which extends as far as Triel along the Dusk Road, as far as the intersection with Thundar’s Ride along the Skuldask Road to the north, as far as Scornubel along the Chionthar upstream, as far south toward Berdusk as Windstream Lodge (one of the Hellrider lodges), and as far downstream along the Chionthar as Stone Eagle Lodge (another Hellrider lodge). It is easy to tell these boundaries. Sheep and cattle wandered on all sides when you’re inside them, and brush is cut back, with hedged and stone-walled farms here and there. Outside Elturel’s sway, farms and livestock are gone, and scrub trees and shrubs aare everywhere.
Surrounding Area
There are many smaller towns, tiny hamlets, farmsteads, ranches, and open spaces that make up the city-state of Elturgard. Notable among these is Old Elturel, a small town to the south known for housing the Green Dragon Inn, the oldest continuously operating tavern in Elturgard. There is also Triel, a small gated village, the merchant city of Scornubel, Berdusk, also known as the Jewel of the Vale, and the ruined Fort Morninglord, to name a few.Areas
The High District of Elturel dominates the untidy, noisome Dock District below. The High District is built of stone, with narrow, twisting, steep cobbled streets that are crowded with spired and balcony-festooned tall narrow houses. High Hall is the residence of the High Overseer, and seat of local government and all large commercial meetings. The Garden stretches away from High Hall in a narrow cut amid the buildings, “like the blade of a naked sword” as Elminster put it. It is an open place of flowers, wooded paths, arched bridges, and a spring that rises under High Hall (ensuring the city a supply of fresh water), and winds the length of the Garden, to tumble down the hill in the cascades of Maidens’ Leap, and thence by canal to form a moat and bargeway for the eastern Dock District,w ere it joins the Chionthar. The Garden is a favorite meeting place for citizens of Elturel, and retains wild beauty in winter (Local songs and tales often call it “the Winter Garden”). The Dock District or Waltfolk is settled below the High District. The Dock District is all dirt, business, and utilitarian buildings, which is dominated by warehouses, markets, wagonmakers, and large stockyards. A Dragoneye Dealing Coster way-base is located in the Dock District and many other caravan-related concerns also have yards, or at least offices there. To the east, warehouses and hovels crowd together around the docks and the crammed stalls of Shiarra’s Market. Westerly is the more prosperous and orderly homes and shops west of the heights that are still part of Dock District. This area has been increasingly referred to as Westerly for separation to imply cleanliness and prosperous success or, to look at it from the other view, laziness, soft living, and pretentious arrogance. Adamantine Labrys/b] is reserved for those who trespass against the laws of Elturgard three times. This vast, subterranean maze lies deep beneath the streets of Elturel, and its population is constantly being replenished by new lawbreakers. Parts of the dungeon consist of natural caverns discovered during the excavation, and their full extents and final destinations have yet to be determined. Strange sounds infrequently echo from unknown cavities—sometimes rushing water is heard, other times the enraged roars of vicious behemoths ring out. From time to time, dungeon prisoners on mining detail escape their captors and dash into unexplored crevices and tunnels. They are never seen again, on or below Faerûn.Places of interest
Taverns and Inns
As a trading hub, Elturel has an overabundance of taverns and inns for weary travelers and locals alike. The Shepherd and Flagon: Located in a residential quarter, The Shepherd and Flagon is surrounded by narrow alleys and stone-walled homes, the inn is a single-story stone-walled building, with a small fenced yard. Accommodations consist of several large rooms with beds and straw mattresses. The innkeeper is a short female halfling named Eleth with a deep knowledge of vegetable markets. Her menu includes salted grouse and almond bread, as well as roasted turnips. A Pair of Black Antlers: Located in a market ward, surrounded by crowded streets and noisy inns, this tavern is a two-story timber and brick building, with a white tile roof.Temples, Churches and Shrines
Elturel is home to a shrine to Torm and three important temples, that give temporary shelter and aid to the devout. Each of these temples have much smaller shrines, and places of worship throughout the city, including ones to Ilmater, Tymora,Tempus. Helm’s Shieldhall is a large holy fortress ruled over by High Watcher Berelduin Shondar, also known as Bereld the Just, a stern paladin who leads as many Rider patrols as Lord Dhelt. The High Harvest Home, a temple to Chauntea, is presided over by High Harvestmaster Baulauvin Oregh one of the most goddess-favored servants of Chauntea in all Faerûn. The Workshop of Gond, which is a temple in the west of the city overseen by High Engineer Maurice Louvre.Demographics
68% Humans, 10% Halflings, 10% Elves, 2% Dwarves, 2% Half-Elves, 8% Others
Government
Theocratic Monarchy
Defences
A stout stone wall encircles the city, pierced by two gates, and open on the river side.
Type
Large city
Population
150,000
Included Locations
Characters in Location
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