Bryn Shander
ryn Shander was the biggest of the Ten Towns and was known for being a trading center in Icewind Dale. It was the gateway to its fellow towns of the dale, as well as their lifeline to the rest of civilization to the south.
Geography
The city was the only one of the Ten Towns not located on the shores of either Maer Dualdon, Redwaters, or Lac Dinneshere. Instead, it was located on top of a hill south of Kelvin's Cairn.
The Eastway connected the city to the town of Easthaven in the east. An unnamed trail connected the city's North Gate to the village of Targos, and the Caravan Trail left the city to the southwest towards the Spine of the World, where it was called the Ten Trail.
Description
The circular walled town itself was placed upon a hill, with snowy plains stretching in all directions. There were three gates: north, south, and east. City Hill sat just outside the wall to the northeast of the city.Trade
Bryn Shander was considered the heart and mercantile hub of the Ten Towns. Folks from all around the surrounding settlements gathered in the Tenth Town to sell their goods, primarily consisting of scrimshaw made from the bones of knucklehead trout.
Merchants from the lands south of the Wall brought in goods that could not be found in the Frozenfar, such as spices, fruits, wines and hardwood lumber, from as far away as the Heartlands.
Defenses
Because of its defensive location, residents of cities east of Bryn Shander often took refuge within the city walls during wartime. The walls are a simple palisade that stand thirty feet high and are defined by two concentric rings of wooden poles, the gap between them filled with dirt and rubble. The outer ring of poles rises above the top of the wall, providing a rampart for defenders stationed on the wooden-planked walkway. The wall’s hinged gates are fifteen feet tall and can be barred from the inside with heavy wood beams banded with iron.
The town’s location plays a role in its ability to withstand assault. Built on one of the tallest foothills south of Kelvin’s Cairn, Bryn Shander has a commanding view of any approach from the north (the direction from which attacks on Ten-Towns usually come), and an attacking force must climb the hillside under fire from archers before it can assault the walls.
The town's security was overseen by Sheriff Markham Southwell and his deputy. They maintained a small town guard of twenty militiamen (typically equipped with longswords, daggers, and studded leather armor) and could rally a force of about 400, mostly townsfolk outfitted with spears and longbows in dire times of need. Additionally, the sheriff was granted powers to hire on adventurers to complete any tasks that ensured the safety of Bryn Shander's people and secured its trade interests.
History
Bryn Shander was last of the Ten Towns to be founded. Only single cabin stood in the town's location, used as a stopover by those traveling to the other settlements of the dale. At some point, craftsmen began to sell scrimshaw outside the cabin, and other scrimshanders from other towns followed their lead.
The town expanded rapidly, and new buildings and trading posts were built in succession to accommodate all the new businesses. The traders brought with them their long-standing rivalries and feuds from their hometowns, and violence erupted. Eventually the folks of Bryn Shander settled their differences, which led to the system of representation that continued for years after.
14th Century
In the Year of the Crown, 1351 DR, the Ten Towns were attacked by the barbarians of Icewind Dale. With the aid of Drizzt Do'Urden and Bruenor Battlehammer, the horde was defeated at the gates of Bryn Shander.
Some years later, the town was besieged by the forces of Akar Kessell, until a reinforcement of dwarf troops led by Bruenor as well as a unified horde of barbarians under Wulfgar arrived. Around Year of the Worm, 1356 DR, Bryn Shander was under the leadership of spokesman Cassius.
15th Century
In the fall of Year of the Mages in Amber, 1466 DR, the drow warrior Tiago Baenre defeated the returned demon Errtu on a plain outside Bryn Shander, endearing himself to the city. In commemoration of that event, a statue of him was erected on that spot, which consisted of a wide black circle. The statue depicted Tiago with a sword and shield. The plaque read:
"On this spot did Master Tiago slay the demon. And the snows will cover it nevermore."
In the late 15th century, sometime after the War of the Silver Marches of 1485 DR, Bryn Shander was attacked by a group of frost giants led by Drufi. The giants attacked the city looking for Artus Cimber expecting to acquire the Ring of Winter. The attack was thwarted by the city's inhabitants with the help of adventurers.
Notable Locations
Inns & Taverns
- Geldenstag's Rest - The longstanding inn that lacked a bit in the way of luxury and convenience. Run by Myrtle a gray-haired widow who took over the inn after her husband was killed in the crossfire of a dispute between two mercenary groups that had been staying there.
- Hooked Knucklehead - The inn preferred by craftsmen and business people alike. Run by Barton, who was a trader from Targos who stayed at the Hooked Knucklehead many times before offering to buy out the previous owner.
- Kelvin's Comfort - A tavern that was popular among caravanners. The proprietor is a dwarf named Ogden Flamebeard, who has a temper as fiery as his signature drink—a Mirabarian rotgut he gets for cheap and rebottles as Flamebeard’s Firebrandy (reselling it at a sizable markup). In his youth, Ogden worked in many of the famous northern mines, and he has contacts not only in Mirabar but also in Ironmaster and Mithral Hall.
- The Northlook - The inn that catered to sellswords and adventurers. Run by Scramsax, a retired sellsword. Knowing full well the cycles of an adventurer’s life, Scramsax often cuts a break for customers who are between jobs, allowing them to stay on credit.
Landmarks
- The Armory - Located at the edge of the Market Square.
- Council Hall - Near the southwest gate, is a warehouse where the speakers of Ten-Towns hold their meetings. The building is nondescript but identifiable by the heated discussions often overheard taking place inside.
- Market Square - A bustling marketplace located in the center of town and featuring knucklehead trout, scrimshaw, vegetables, reindeer meat, and handicrafts.
- Town Hall -The largest building bordering the central square. Most days, this long, open hall serves as an extension of the town square’s market, although it is reserved for feasting on various holy days and other notable events. The hall is also where refugees from other villages stay in times of emergency when they seek shelter in Bryn Shander.
Shops
- Blackiron Blades - A small shop and smithy north of the town square that made the cheapest weapons in Ten Towns. Run by Garn and his sister Elza. When she observed that Garn’s low prices were attracting fortune-seekers coming up Ten Trail whose pockets were thin after the cost of making the journey, and who were frequently illprepared for the hardships of life in Icewind Dale, Elza began selling adventuring supplies—rations, cold-weather gear, ice picks, and snowshoes—alongside her brother’s wares at the shop. Blackiron Blades is now well known as a one-stop shop for adventurers and other travelers.
- Rendaril's Emporium - The largest trade house in the city, famous for its fine merchandise that included dwarven weapons from Kelvin's Cairn and more. The owner, Rendaril, is a half-elf from Waterdeep. The shrewd business sense he developed in the City of Splendors has served him well in this remote corner of the world; more coin passes through his hands in a week than most other merchants in Bryn Shander see in a season.
Residences
- Speaker’s Palace - The private residence of the town speaker. Located on the south side, this is the only building in Bryn Shander that stands two stories high. (Most of the structures are sunk into the ground to avoid exposure to the winds, which are not entirely blocked by the city’s walls.) Fashioned by dwarves out of cut stone, with a pitched slate roof and a colonnade in front, the palace is so out of place among the squat, rough wood dwellings that it looks as if it had been magically transported here from some other region of Faerûn.
Temples
- The House of the Triad - Bryn Shander’s largest place of worship, and the only one that truly deserves to be called a temple. An impressive edifice built by the dwarves of Kelvin’s Cairn, the temple stands about halfway between the southwest gate and the central market. When it was first built, it honored the three gods known as the Triad: Tyr, the god of justice; Torm, the god of duty and loyalty; and Ilmater, the god of endurance in the face of suffering. Tyr is said to be dead, though he still has a handful of followers in town, and the holy days most commonly celebrated in the temple are those of Ilmater. The promise of divine aid for those who endure suffering appeals to the people of Ten-Towns, and visitors from other towns often stop in the House of the Triad before going about their other business.
- Shrine of Amaunator - Located near the small northeastern market square, is a converted house that serves as a modest gathering place for worshipers of the god of the sun. Considering that the sun vanishes for two months at a time every winter, it’s a wonder that Amaunator has any worshipers at all in Icewind Dale. The priest who established this shrine, a retired adventuring cleric from Cormyr named Mithann, has a strong personality and speaks a powerful message of hope and rebirth. She calls Amaunator by old names—the Morninglord and the Glory of Dawn—that evoke a different image from that of the stern, rigid sun god who is worshiped farther south. When the sun first rises from the long winter twilight late in the month of Hammer, Mithann leads the god’s most popular festival—a great feast in the town hall.
Inhabitants
All manner of folks. who sought to find a life for themselves, settled in Icewind Dale. From fishermen, fur-trappers and merchants, to mercenaries, criminals, and other less-reputable types.
What's Bryn Shander like, ye ask? It's sixy score humans, packed together like fish in a barrel an' smelling about as sweet. Its roads are paved with the muck o' the cart horses ye're constantly rubbing shoulders with, an' its alehouses are filled with scoundrels that no other city in Faerûn would have. An' after three weeks on Ten Trail. you'll swear there was no lovelier sight!
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