Caer-Konig

The white, snow-covered slopes of Kelvin's Cairn loom large behind this quiet lakeside town. Caer-Konig started as a camp for a group of mountaineers setting out to explore the Cairn. As the camp grew, a wooden palisade was added to discourage raiders and monsters from attacking the campers. Later came the stone castle of Caer-Konig. Alas, neither the palisade nor the caer fared well; both fell to orcs before falling to ruins.
Caer-Konig as it is known today consists of terraced rows of houses that recede from the shore of Lac Dinneshere like the tiers of an amphitheater. The harbor is frozen, its docks skewed and broken by the shifting ice. Buried under the snow behind the final row of houses are the ruins of the caer that gave the town its name - a reminder to the people of the town that nothing lasts in this corner of the world.
Travel to and from this remote town was once expedited by a ferry that ran from Easthaven, but with the ferry anchored, Caer-Konig is completely cut off by mountains, lake, and snow. Forced to live on what they can haul out of the frozen-over Lac, the people of Caer-Konig are bitter and angry. They believe that the rest of Ten-Towns have abandoned them. The only thing that keeps the townsfolk from leaving is the beer at the local tavern and the prospect of a hike to Easthaven or Bryn Shander.

Demographics

Majority. Humans
Minority. Dwarves
Individual. Dragonborn

Defences

Caer-Konig has no wall, no Caer, and not much in the way of anything, really. Trovus can call upon 20 militia and 2 veterans when the town is in dangers.

Points of interest

Hook, Line, and Sinker

The local tavern, Hook, Line, and Sinker is the most important establishment in town for one reason: free half-pints of dwarven gin. The owner, Eglendar "Glen" Korr runs the place and contracts with Jarthra Mashmusher to procure his spirits from the Dwarven valley in the shadow of Kelvin's Cairn.

Frozenfar Expeditions

Opened by a seasoned ranger who got tired of mounting rescue missions to the Cairn, Frozenfar Expeditions caters to explorers and adventurers. It stocks climbing gear, cold weather gear, and packs of rations. The owner, Atenas Swift, also keeps twelve sled dogs and two dog sleds available to be rented for expeditions. Jarthra Mashmusher, a dwarf from the Cairn, also helps the aging Atenas with orders and stocking.

The Northern Light

The local inn got its name from a magical lantern that once hung above the door. It has gone missing only recently, one of a slew of strange thefts in town. The inn is run by the Shorard sisters, Allie and Cori, and offers the scant few travelers a handful of bedrooms to rest. The sisters seem to get along in front of customers but more than one night's sleep has been interrupted by a shouting match.

Caer-Konig Ruins

The ruins of the old castle are still poking up from the snow. Local rumors persist of a hidden treasure beneath the cold bones, but not a single treasure hunter has found so much as a copper in decades.

Architecture

The houses of Caer-Konig stand a little taller than most in Icewind Dale, and feature more wood than one will find outside of Lonelywood. This particular quirk seems to have arisen from the townsfolk repairing their homes over the years with wood salvaged from the town's wall.

Population

150

Owner/Ruler

Speaker Torvus