Easthaven
Easthaven was one of the larger settlements that made up the collective Ten Towns of Icewind Dale. While it was once a small shanty town, Easthaven had a long a storied history that developed as it grew into a more and more prosperous trading community.
“The area of Easthaven is but one of many tiny, frigid villages clinging to survival. They endure, but it is a hard life, and the only war that comes to Easthaven is the battle against the elements.”
— Everard, Trusted Sword, Order of the Broken Blade, Eleint, 1281 DR.
Government
Like the other Ten Towns, Easthaven was governed by an elected Speaker, who was chosen by the town's local business leaders. Defense of the town was overseen by the captain of the Easthaven militia.
Law & Order
While the town was not truly lawless, the locals said that "anything goes in Easthaven." Pickpocketing was decidedly made legal throughout the town's history.Defences
“Easthaven isn't perfect, but it's home―and I won't give up a damn inch of it.”Circa the late 15th century, Easthaven could readily assemble a militia approximately 150 to 200 warriors strong. During that time it was led by the well-respected militia captain, Imdra Arlaggath.
— Captain Imdra Arlaggath.
Industry & Trade
Easthaven's docks supported one of the largest fleets of fishing ships in all of Icewind Dale, greater than those of Caer-Konig and Caer-Dineval. This was not always the case however. Various accords between the three settlements changed the dynamics of regional fishing industries, with each town taking it's place as leader of the three.
Fishing for knucklehead trout was easily the most lucrative and popular of the region's fishing industriues.
Despite their rivalries, each of the three towns on the lake supported ferries that allowed for easier travel between the settlements.
History
“I remember when the Eastway was naught but a couple o' ruts in the mud leadin' to some shaties on the south side o' the lac. Now look at the place! Seems like ye can't turn around without trippin' over a new bunch o' buildings, and the town just keeps getting' bigger―along with me profits.”Easthaven was originally founded by a group of thieves that fled the duchy of Cape Velen in Tethyr. In the Year of the Cold Soul, 1281 DR, Easthaven's leader Hrothgar assembled an expedition to Kuldahar following the arrival of a messenger. However, the expedition was ambushed by frost giants in Kuldahar Pass and the only survivors to reach Kuldahar were a newly arrived group of adventurers. Later that year, a powerful devil by the name of Belhifet―who had been masquerading as an Ilmatari priest―recovered an ancient evil artifact known as the Crenshinibon. The Fiend used the malevolent crystal to conjure a massive crystal tower over Easthaven as he attempted to open the portal to the Nine Hells that lay hidden beneath the local Tempuran chapel. The adventurers from Hrothgar's expedition managed to defeat Belhifet, but the crystal spire shattered as the fiend was cut down. While some of Easthaven was destroyed in the conflict, it was later rebuilt along with a new temple to Tempus the Foehammer. Following the fiend's defeat, the town of Easthaven created the powerful enchanted flail called the Defender of Easthaven. The weapon was meant to remain in the town as a symbol and a reminder of the time when Easthaven was almost destroyed.
— Beorne Steelstrike, master caravaneer.
14th Century
It was said that in a time before the Era of Upheaval, cities south of the Spine got "white gold fever", and people came it droves to the Ten Towns to find their own fortune fishing Knucklehead trout.[6] While other settlements of the Ten Towns grew larger and more prosperous, Easthaven's growth remained stunted for some time. It was not until around the mid–14th century DR that Easthaven saw great commercial success come their way. After the Eastway road was paved over, a great many traders, craftspeople, traveling warriors, and others set out for new lives in Icewind Dale, and often began their journeys in Easthaven. This prolific growth drew away prospectors and others from the neighboring Ten Towns, to the point where the council at Bryn Shander had to weigh in on the matter. Easthaven was the site where the evil Wizard Akar Kessell murdered his mentor Morkai the Red in the Year of the Crown, 1351 DR. When the Battle of Icewind Dale broke out near Bryn Shander in the Year of the Worm, 1356 DR, Easthaven's leader Glensather was among those that defended his people to the death. He was a respected and even-tempered councilman, who viewed the Ten Towns as "sturdy bulwarks against barbarism." Glensather waded into a group of orcs and managed to kill at least two of the invaders. But as Glensather made his way to the Barbarian hero Wulfgar, a spear was driven into his back and the town's leader was killed.15th Century
On Marpenoth 3 in the Year of the Iron Dwarf's Vengeance, 1485 DR, pirates aboard the Howling Fiend led by Derrick Gaffner launched a raid against Easthaven. They attempted to steal weaponry from Rurden's Armory. The attack was part of a greater plot by the returned Lich Akar Kessell to throw the Ten Towns into chaos.Points of interest
- Banrock's Mithril Pot, a cozy inn and tavern specializing in pottage.
- Big Fat Knucklehead, a lakeside tavern run by Flug the Blind (who lost an eye to a fish hook), catering to fishermen.
- Cairn's Crossing, one of the town's oldest inns.
- Town Hall, a two-story building that housed venues for gatherings, public records storage, the local library, and an enormous chardalyn figurehead depicting the demon Errtu.
- Rurden's Armory, a dwarven Smithy.
- Visiting Dignitaries House, set aside for pretty much anybody except the "lowliest wandering trapper or prospector."
- The Wet Trout, the largest and loudest of the town's taverns.
- White Lady Inn, named after a local Ghost on Lac Dinneshere.
Architecture
Originally just a small hamlet, the building of the Eastway trade road connecting Easthaven with the Bryn Shander―the largest settlement of the Ten Towns―proved to be a boon to the village. Over time it became fastest-growing community in the region with a fishing fleet rivaling that of its greatest competitor, Caer-Dineval.
It was considered among the most comfortable of the Ten Towns, with good amenities that were uncommon among the settlements of Icewind Dale. Its people were seen as fairly friendly in comparison to their neighbors.
A breakwater protected most of the piers that reached out into Lac Dinneshere.
Heraldry
The white tower of Easthaven's crest represented the town itself, flanked by a quarter field of azure for the lake upon which it was built and brown for the Eastway road.Geography
Easthaven was among the easternmost of the Ten Towns, situated on the shore of Lac Dinneshere, a short ways away from the Redwaters lake.
Easthaven was situated several hours' travel away from the other Ten Towns. Going overland on foot, the travel times to nearby settlements and landmarks were:
- Bryn Shander ― 7.5 hours via the Eastway.
- Caer-Dineval ― 9 hours across a snow-covered path.
- Good Mead ― 4.5 hours travel.
Maps
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Easthaven
Type
Town
Population
750
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