Daggerford

Daggerford is a town that lies along the Shining River on the Sword Coast in the Western Heartlands. It is a walled town with a population of approximately 900, with a number of outlying hamlets, farms and estates bringing the population to over 2,000. The town is strategically placed along the Trade Way and fortified by the local duke's dwarven-crafted castle. It is primarily a farming community, but a desire to grow and be seen as an alternative to the northern city Waterdeep has caused the town to actively seek craftsmen and artisans. Its streets are unpaved and the buildings are ramshackle in appearance.

Government

The town of Daggerford has a oligarchic goverment. Since the founding of the Kingdom of Phalorm around the Year of Trials Arcane, 523 DR by Tyndal "Daggerford", the town has been governed by Dukes through Tyndal's family line until at least the end of the Second Sundering.
Morwen Daggerford assumed the title of Duchess of Daggerford in the year 1486 DR and has been governing the town ever since.

Defences

In addition to the Dutchess and her personal guard, Daggerford maintains a standing militia. It comprises the town's citizens who are healthy enough to serve, regardless of gender or race. Those who are not required to serve are those who are too young or too old, women who are pregnant, and women who are raising young children. As of the Year of the Banner, 1368 DR, the militia comprised only 50 individuals – though that was one-tenth of the town's citizens back then.
Newly–recruited militiamen are granted some training and given very rudimentary arms. Service is required three days out of every month and typically consists of fairly light duties, unless the town was in immediate peril.

Industry & Trade

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 can 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 Daggerford emulates the grad, northern metropolis of Waterdeep, but its trade services are quite limited. While it attracts its fair share of travelers, prices for local wares are often significantly marked up. The Waterdhavian phrase "gone to Daggerford" refers to someone who is hiding out beyond Waterdeep's walls.

History

The town takes its name from a 400-year-old legend about a boy named Tyndalwho fended off a tribe of lizardmen with only a dagger. The first community was built along the shores of the river at that spot.

Geography

Throughout its storied history, Daggerford's dukes claimed the lands from as far away as Floshin Estates to the north and Dragonspear Castle. In truth, the duchy comprised the town proper and the surrounding farmsteads that numbered around a score or more. Daggerford town is strategically placed along the Trade Way, within the idyllic countryside that encompasses the northern bank of the Delimbiyr River. It is the largest settlement located between the metropolises of Waterdeep, 150 miles (241.4 km) to the north, and Baldur's Gate to the south.
There are a number of small but notable landmarks situated around Daggerford. The familial estate of Sir Elorfindar Floshin is about two days of travel away, and the home of his son Elorshin is approximately the same distance away to the east. Near Elorshin's home is the temple known as the Mosque of Tyr, which the younger elf maintained.
On a small hill near the town is an entrance to a nearby song path, a network of portals that are connected to works of oratorical works of art, such as songs and epic poems. The song path near Daggerford is referred to as the Voices of the Lost, named for the song that was required for its opening.
Gillian's Hill, Liam's Hold, and Black Helm Tower are each within a day's travel away from Daggerford.

Type

Town

Population

300 (1000 counting the nearby farming hamlets and minor noble estates.)