Sterngate

According to the Book:

The fortress of Sterngate protects Breland from Darguun invaders. It sits at the end of Marguul Pass, and for more than six hundred years it has defended the nation from marauding goblinoids and other threats from the Seawall Mountains. Today, the militia assigned to Sterngate watches for Darguun warbands and sometimes has to drive such bands back into the mountains from which they emerge. The frequency of such incursions, despite the Treaty of Thronehold, demonstrates the fragile nature of the current Darguun government.
Most of the six hundred residents are human, with a sizable minority of halflings and a scattering of other races. They are simple folk who fish the river and farm the countryside. The local mine employs most of the townspeople that aren't soldiers, and is the primary source of income for the town. The recent attacks by the Gears of War on the local mine forced the town to seek outside help from Jerem Shamer’s adventuring party, the Moonbend Riders.

Significant locations in and around Sterngate, and the important people that can be found there, include the following:

Town Hall. The seat of government in Sterngate is filled by the halfling Mayor Kella Tenblossom, a chatty noble who likes her town to remain quiet and straightforward. The recent troubles have made her extremely anxious.

The Stormy Peacock is the local favorite watering hole and is owned and operated by Mica Acargrim, a surly human veteran who opened the place after retiring from the army. He serves quality food and drinks, and the attached inn has a few rooms for rent for 2 gp a night.
Brim’s Sundries is run by the eponymous Brim Merriweather, a cheerful halfling commoner who provides the town with supplies. Although Brim does not stock weapons or armor, characters can purchase all other adventuring gear worth 25 gp or less here.
Shrine. A small temple in the center of town holds a non-denominational shrine. The building and shrine are maintained by Ashton Cuthacar, a solemn human priest of the Sovereign Host. He provides advice, information, and healing services to those in need and can afford the cost. Ashton has access to the raise dead spell for 1,250 gp.

Blacksmith. Nellie Casagar, a human commoner, is Sterngate’s quiet blacksmith. She provides repairs and has a small stock of simple weapons and mundane light and medium armor for sale.

Copper Mine. Outside of town and in the nearby foothills is the mine owned by the anxious Martin Littlefinger, a halfling commoner. The Gears of War have mainly targeted the lumberjacks and other workers, forcing Martin to shut down the mine until they are sure it is safe. He’s frantic to get operations back up and running.

Captain Toris (female changeling), a veteran of the Last War, distinguished herself as a goblin fighter to be reckoned with. Her hatred for goblinoids sometimes clouds her judgment, but King Boranel rests easier with Sterngate under Toris’s command. The militia also keeps an eye on the Zilargo border, but relations with the gnome nation are so good as to make strict vigilance there unnecessary.
Ukrugul Naz is the grizzled half-orc veteran sheriff of Sterngate that serves as Captain Toris' second-in-command and has a dozen human guards under his command. While a competent force used to the occasional bandit, they are no match for the hardened Gears of War. Being forced to rely on outside help has frustrated Ukrugal to no end, but he does not risk his guards’ lives needlessly.

Rumors in Sterngate

The characters can learn the following additional information by spending time in the tavern or through conversation and asking the right questions of the locals.
• A band of monsters led by a one-eyed warforged attacked the town, and the Moonbend Riders tried to defeat them but failed. The monsters came back with the bloodsoaked clothing of the Riders and demanded a ransom to have them returned to the town.

• Jerem Shamer, leader of the Riders, is a hero that is well known in the local area. He’s resting in the Stormy Peacock after barely escaping with his life.

• Nellie Casagar heard one of the Moonbend Riders—a hotheaded sorcerer—arguing with Jerem the day before they were captured. She wasn’t close enough to listen to what the argument was about but could see they were not happy.

• The warforged appeared more intelligent than the average bandits and very organized. They attacked the mine with almost military precision but didn’t kill many before disappearing back into the woods.

• Mayor Kella Tenblossom is anxious to take care of the monster problem and get the lumberyard up and running again. She’s disappointed in the Moonbend Riders’ performance, but she’s open to suggestions and is offering an eye-watering amount of gold to any who can finish the job.

Type

Fortress