Triboar (TRY-bore)
Triboar, nicknamed the Town Where Only Gwaeron Sleeps, was a proud trading town in the North. It was a lively crossroads frontier town full of the hustle and bustle of roaming merchants, caravanners, and other travellers. Some locals called it "the Gateway to the North", but other towns claimed this title too.
Government
The town was ruled by a democratically elected Lord Protector, with elections held every seven years in winter. The lord protector swore an oath to protect Triboar. Their task was to command the town's militia and to settle disputes. The town's legal system was called the 'Lord's Decrees' and the lord protector had the power to make, amend, or remove decrees at will. The lord protector's banner displayed three black boars running toward its head, on a blood-red background. This commemorated the story of a traveler once killing three boars in one day, which gave Triboar its name. One hung over the entrance to the Tower of the Lord Protector. Its insignia showed three boars face-on as if charging the viewer. A 50-gp platinum badge was given to emissaries of the Lord Protector.
The veteran warrior Faurael Blackhammer served as lord protector during the mid-to-late 14th century DR. He'd held the role for three decades by 1357 DR, and was one of the most noteworthy leaders of the North, until he was killed in 1369 DR fighting the tanar'ri of Hellgate Keep. Following him was Jalimin Frindos, a retired adventurer and aide to Faurael.
In the late 15th century DR, the lord protector was a Harper and retired adventurer by the name of Darathra Shendrel, who held the role by the Year of the Scarlet Witch, 1491 DR.Her Harper connections were not public knowledge, but she had a reputation for fairness and sensible governance.
The veteran warrior Faurael Blackhammer served as lord protector during the mid-to-late 14th century DR. He'd held the role for three decades by 1357 DR, and was one of the most noteworthy leaders of the North, until he was killed in 1369 DR fighting the tanar'ri of Hellgate Keep. Following him was Jalimin Frindos, a retired adventurer and aide to Faurael.
In the late 15th century DR, the lord protector was a Harper and retired adventurer by the name of Darathra Shendrel, who held the role by the Year of the Scarlet Witch, 1491 DR.Her Harper connections were not public knowledge, but she had a reputation for fairness and sensible governance.
Defences
In the mid-to-late 14th century DR, the town maintained a well-armed militia. When pressed, they could quickly rally together some fifty fighters in a night and raise this to three hundred by highsun the following day. The regular militia served as part of the Twelve, a twelve-strong mounted patrol force, in tenday-long rotations. They guarded and policed the town, patrolled the roads around it, and enforced the Lord's Decrees. If many adventurers or caravan guards were present, they could bolster their defenders by up to twice as many, and the lord protector could draft them if they must. Under Lord Protector Faurael's leadership and training, the small Triboar militia was the equal of many a standing army.
Industry & Trade
The Triboar economy revolved around trade, by selling wagons and caravan services, as well as by farming and dealing in horses, cattle, and forged ironware. Bred on a number of ranches west of town, the well-trained riding horses, draft horses, pack mules, and mountain ponies were sold to travellers in Triboar, along with premade and bespoke harnesses and wagons. The ponies were not fast, but possessed astonishing fortitude. Triboar sold almost everything a caravanner could require. The surrounding farms harvested wild grains. Leather goods from Triboar were commonly traded up and down the Long Road.
Triboar was also home to a number of experienced and expert guides, all of whom were knowledgeable about destinations anywhere in the North. The top-rated guides offered their services for 7 gold pieces per day, plus the cost of food and other expenses, and they required a down payment of 77 gp before setting off. Most of these guides were retired or part-retired adventurers themselves, and could command their own henchmen, have various contacts and their own schemes, and stocks of magic items. They were well-equipped with magic items such as rings of invisibility and rings, belts, and earrings that would teleport them back to Triboar with a word the moment they faced betrayal, which they usually had a good eye for. They would try to stay out of any situation in which they could be ambushed or captured, and had habit of sneaking away or turning invisible, before spying on their former employers to find out what they were up to, particularly if they were adventurers exploring known ruins or Underdark-connecting caves. Noted guides of the mid–14th century DR included Borth Jhandelspar, Ilrin Sharadin, Morth Fartheen, and Zandever Eyredanus.
Triboar was also home to a number of experienced and expert guides, all of whom were knowledgeable about destinations anywhere in the North. The top-rated guides offered their services for 7 gold pieces per day, plus the cost of food and other expenses, and they required a down payment of 77 gp before setting off. Most of these guides were retired or part-retired adventurers themselves, and could command their own henchmen, have various contacts and their own schemes, and stocks of magic items. They were well-equipped with magic items such as rings of invisibility and rings, belts, and earrings that would teleport them back to Triboar with a word the moment they faced betrayal, which they usually had a good eye for. They would try to stay out of any situation in which they could be ambushed or captured, and had habit of sneaking away or turning invisible, before spying on their former employers to find out what they were up to, particularly if they were adventurers exploring known ruins or Underdark-connecting caves. Noted guides of the mid–14th century DR included Borth Jhandelspar, Ilrin Sharadin, Morth Fartheen, and Zandever Eyredanus.
History
Millennia before the Era of Upheaval, the giants and dragons of the North fought a great battle on the land upon which Triboar would be built. The giant-crafted relic known as the Vonindod was used during this conflict, and a piece broke off and became buried in the ground.
The combined armies of Phalorm, Uthtower, and others battled and finally destroyed the illithid-led orc army known as the Everhorde at the Battle of Firetears south of here in the Year of the Jester's Smile, 612 DR at great cost to their own ranks. But it was a pyrrhic victory—another orc horde routed the armies of Phalorm on the future site of Triboar just two years later, driving them into the place that would be named the Mere of Dead Men after them.
The Book of Fangs and Talons, a holy book of the Church of Malar, passed through Triboar in the mid–10th century DR.
The region was ravaged during the Orcfastings War of the Year of the Sky Riders, 936 DR, in which the orcs of Uruth Ukrypt drove many of the Dessarin Valley's inhabitants to flee to Nimoar's Hold for safety. By the Year of the Circling Vulture, 942 DR, there were almost no human settlements remaining in the area.
Triboar, along with Red Larch, Longsaddle, Secomber, Loudwater, Llorkh and others, was among the first places that were resettled in the Dessarin Valley after the city of Waterdeep grew to prominence around 1000 DR and the establishment of the Lords of Waterdeep there in 1032 DR. These pioneers were sponsored by noble and mercantile Waterdhavian families. The town's name was thought to be based on a mid–11th century DR tale of a traveller who killed three boars here on the same day.
Over the centuries, owing to its strategic location, the town was commonly used as a mustering point when human armies banded together against the orc hordes descending from the mountains in the north along the Surbrin River. It had seen a dozen such armies by 1370 DR, some of them in the last century put together in quite a hurry.
The Scepter of Mystra was sighted in Triboar some time in the 13th century DR.
During the First Dragonspear War of the Year of the Worm, 1356 DR, the devil-led armies of Dragonspear Castle ransacked Triboar. By the month of Mirtul, the inhabitants had fled north, as had many other people of towns in the area. The loss of the wild grain harvest around Triboar contributed to a general food shortage in the North.
In the mid-1360s DR, the traveler Volothamp Geddarm visited Triboar to write about the town for his guidebook, Volo's Guide to the North.
When the annis Tanta Hagara led a force of fiends from Hellgate Keep and allied Blue Bear tribesmen in an attack on the Citadel of the Mists in the Year of the Gauntlet, 1369 DR, Lord Protector Faurael Blackhammer of Triboar led a force to aid in its defense while the Mistmaster used the Gatekeeper's Crystal to obliterate Hellgate Keep. Faurael and his warriors were killed fighting the demons, but took no less than six of the tanari'ri down with them.
Some time after 1485 DR, the fire giants Ildmane and Okssort used a rod of the Vonindod to locate a piece of the Vonindod—buried beneath the caravan campgrounds in Triboar. To retrieve it, they launched a surprise assault on the town at highsun with a force of orogs, magmins, and axe beak–mounted orcs. First, they had orcs attack ranches in the southeast as a distraction, so Lord Protector Darathra sent the Twelve away to investigate. Then the fire giants hurled boulders that damaged and destroyed carts and businesses, while their magmins set fire to buildings, and the orcs and orogs battled town defenders, causing most people to flee or hide. It was left up to Darathra, heroic townsfolk, and a band of adventurers to defend Triboar.
In the Year of the Scarlet Witch, 1491 DR, a Zhentarim-protected caravan en route to Triboar was attacked by members of the Cult of the Howling Hatred. Aboard one of the wagons was Ascaleld Marurryn, a representative of the Rolling Wheel merchant coster. That same year, members of the Cult of the Eternal Flame came to attack Triboar with a devastation orb, but the town militia confronted them in the neighbouring hills and beat them there. They carried the devastation orb back to Triboar and placed it in the lord's protector's vault, but it was stolen by Nareen Dhest. When adventurers sought to recover it, the Harpers hoped for its safe return to Triboar.
During a Greengrass festival in the late 15th century DR, Triboar was assaulted by a group of githyanki that landed in the village with their astral brig. The true reason for their sudden appearance was to deal with an elder brain that lived underneath the village. Both the githyanki and the illithid were ultimately defeated by a group of adventurers.
The combined armies of Phalorm, Uthtower, and others battled and finally destroyed the illithid-led orc army known as the Everhorde at the Battle of Firetears south of here in the Year of the Jester's Smile, 612 DR at great cost to their own ranks. But it was a pyrrhic victory—another orc horde routed the armies of Phalorm on the future site of Triboar just two years later, driving them into the place that would be named the Mere of Dead Men after them.
The Book of Fangs and Talons, a holy book of the Church of Malar, passed through Triboar in the mid–10th century DR.
The region was ravaged during the Orcfastings War of the Year of the Sky Riders, 936 DR, in which the orcs of Uruth Ukrypt drove many of the Dessarin Valley's inhabitants to flee to Nimoar's Hold for safety. By the Year of the Circling Vulture, 942 DR, there were almost no human settlements remaining in the area.
Triboar, along with Red Larch, Longsaddle, Secomber, Loudwater, Llorkh and others, was among the first places that were resettled in the Dessarin Valley after the city of Waterdeep grew to prominence around 1000 DR and the establishment of the Lords of Waterdeep there in 1032 DR. These pioneers were sponsored by noble and mercantile Waterdhavian families. The town's name was thought to be based on a mid–11th century DR tale of a traveller who killed three boars here on the same day.
Over the centuries, owing to its strategic location, the town was commonly used as a mustering point when human armies banded together against the orc hordes descending from the mountains in the north along the Surbrin River. It had seen a dozen such armies by 1370 DR, some of them in the last century put together in quite a hurry.
The Scepter of Mystra was sighted in Triboar some time in the 13th century DR.
During the First Dragonspear War of the Year of the Worm, 1356 DR, the devil-led armies of Dragonspear Castle ransacked Triboar. By the month of Mirtul, the inhabitants had fled north, as had many other people of towns in the area. The loss of the wild grain harvest around Triboar contributed to a general food shortage in the North.
In the mid-1360s DR, the traveler Volothamp Geddarm visited Triboar to write about the town for his guidebook, Volo's Guide to the North.
When the annis Tanta Hagara led a force of fiends from Hellgate Keep and allied Blue Bear tribesmen in an attack on the Citadel of the Mists in the Year of the Gauntlet, 1369 DR, Lord Protector Faurael Blackhammer of Triboar led a force to aid in its defense while the Mistmaster used the Gatekeeper's Crystal to obliterate Hellgate Keep. Faurael and his warriors were killed fighting the demons, but took no less than six of the tanari'ri down with them.
Some time after 1485 DR, the fire giants Ildmane and Okssort used a rod of the Vonindod to locate a piece of the Vonindod—buried beneath the caravan campgrounds in Triboar. To retrieve it, they launched a surprise assault on the town at highsun with a force of orogs, magmins, and axe beak–mounted orcs. First, they had orcs attack ranches in the southeast as a distraction, so Lord Protector Darathra sent the Twelve away to investigate. Then the fire giants hurled boulders that damaged and destroyed carts and businesses, while their magmins set fire to buildings, and the orcs and orogs battled town defenders, causing most people to flee or hide. It was left up to Darathra, heroic townsfolk, and a band of adventurers to defend Triboar.
In the Year of the Scarlet Witch, 1491 DR, a Zhentarim-protected caravan en route to Triboar was attacked by members of the Cult of the Howling Hatred. Aboard one of the wagons was Ascaleld Marurryn, a representative of the Rolling Wheel merchant coster. That same year, members of the Cult of the Eternal Flame came to attack Triboar with a devastation orb, but the town militia confronted them in the neighbouring hills and beat them there. They carried the devastation orb back to Triboar and placed it in the lord's protector's vault, but it was stolen by Nareen Dhest. When adventurers sought to recover it, the Harpers hoped for its safe return to Triboar.
During a Greengrass festival in the late 15th century DR, Triboar was assaulted by a group of githyanki that landed in the village with their astral brig. The true reason for their sudden appearance was to deal with an elder brain that lived underneath the village. Both the githyanki and the illithid were ultimately defeated by a group of adventurers.
Geography
Triboar was nestled in the Dessarin Valley, strategically placed where the Evermoor Way intersected with the Long Road.
As a crossroads town, it was centrally located amidst a number of prominent settlements. Triboar was located about 225 miles (362.1 kilometers) east of Phandalin, if traveling along the Triboar Trail; 60 miles (95.6 kilometers) west of Yartar, as travelled along the Evermoor Way; 80 miles (128.7 kilometers) north of Westbridge, and 200 miles (321.9 kilometers) north of Red Larch, by way of the Long Road. In 1358 DR, a wagon from Waterdeep to Triboar along the Long Road took around 13 days and one from Triboar to Yartar took 2 days, to Everlund took 15 days, and to Silverymoon took around 20 days.
The landscape in and around the town was fairly flat, with only a few natural rises in some parts. It was also fertile, making it well-suited for farming.
As a crossroads town, it was centrally located amidst a number of prominent settlements. Triboar was located about 225 miles (362.1 kilometers) east of Phandalin, if traveling along the Triboar Trail; 60 miles (95.6 kilometers) west of Yartar, as travelled along the Evermoor Way; 80 miles (128.7 kilometers) north of Westbridge, and 200 miles (321.9 kilometers) north of Red Larch, by way of the Long Road. In 1358 DR, a wagon from Waterdeep to Triboar along the Long Road took around 13 days and one from Triboar to Yartar took 2 days, to Everlund took 15 days, and to Silverymoon took around 20 days.
The landscape in and around the town was fairly flat, with only a few natural rises in some parts. It was also fertile, making it well-suited for farming.
Maps
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Map of Triboar
Religions
Gwaeron Windstrom
Exports
Caravan supplies, horses, leatherwork, ironware, wagons
Gwaeron Windstrom
Alternative Name(s)
Town Where Only Gwaeron Sleeps
The Gateway to the North
The Gateway to the North
Type
Large town
Population
~2500
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Characters in Location
Caravan supplies, horses, leatherwork, ironware, wagons
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