Page 49 - D&D - Player's Handbook

those whose businesses are considered too trouble- knows precisely who the council members are, and no
some, noisy, or foul-smelling to operate within the walls, magic disguises the forms, voices, or mannerisms of the
so tanners, smiths, masons, dyers, and other tradesfolk guild leaders, and a trained spy can learn which guild-
abound. The city does woefully little to help the folk master is which after only an evening or two of proper
here, and charitable souls (myself included) sometimes observation.
start at one end of the road with a full purse, only to see The largest and oldest building in Daggerford is the
it empty by the time they reach the other end. ducal castle, a three-level keep enclosed by a two-story
The lack of laws in the Outer City has led to two wall that contains its own smithy, a wide parade ground,
strange phenomena, unrelated to one another. A walled and stabling for a large number of animals. The dukes of
Calishite district has grown up to the east of the city Daggerford have always kept a well-stocked larder, capa-
proper, known by Baldurians as Little Calimshan. ble of feeding the castle's inhabitants and any citizens
Within the district, neighborhoods are divided by walls, that might shelter inside during a siege.
but these walls have walkways atop them so that foot Three gates lead into the town of Daggerford: River
traffic can proceed unimpeded by the gates that slow Gate, which provides access to the river, and through
carts and mounts. Here, refugees from Calimshan which shipping cargo is carted into the town proper;
have found a home away from that southern nation, Caravan Gate, which handles most landgoing traffic,
and largely depend on themselves for trade, culture, including land-based trade; and Farmers' Gate, which
and defense. remains open at nearly all times, but is wide enough
Buildings have also been constructed along Wyrm's only to let one wagon or cart pass at a time.
Crossing over the Chionthar. Shops, taverns, and tene- A militia guards Daggerford. Militia service is manda-
ments choke the bridge, hanging from both spans, and tory for all able-bodied adults, and lasts for twenty years.
even in some cases built to hang from the supports that All citizens living within the town receive instruction
hold it up. Folk must pay a toll to cross on foot or by cart from the duchess's own soldiers in the use of spears and
or wagon, but many swear they would pay yet more to be other weapons, and must spend at least one day a month
able to use the bridge without having to dodge the hawk- in defense of the town, standing sentry on its walls or
ers and urchins that infest the area. patrolling the nearby roads. Their training means that
the common citizens of Daggerford aren't easily cowed
DAGGERFORD by armed folk demanding goods, coin, or passage, and
are slightly more likely to take up work as mercenaries,
Built against the side of a low hill on the floodplains of
the Delimbiyr, this small, walled town is dominated by caravan guards, or adventurers.
the keep of the local duchess, Lady Morwen Dagger- Although she is less amiable than her brother was,
ford. Counting the town itself and the nearby hamlets Lady Morwen is acknowledged as more capable of
ruling Daggerford than Duke Maldwyn had been. She
and farms that look to it for protection and guidance,
is well liked by the people, who understand that she has
some twelve hundred people call the area home. Lady
an honorable heart, and wishes what is best for Dagger-
Morwen is the sister of the previous duke, Maldwyn
Daggerford, and she seems a capable and charismatic ford. She regularly trains with the militia, and is seen in
leader. The Daggerford family's authority over the area the town wearing armor just as often as she is adorned
dates back to the ancient Kingdom of'Man that suc- in the finery befitting her station. She often visits the
ceeded Phalorm in the region. Though that realm has local shrine to Tempus, which only enhances her rep-
been dust for centuries, there are those that see Dagger- utation as a pious woman. Lady Morwen's features are
ford as the last bastion of a better time of peace, wealth, only now starting to age, as though catching up with her
and influence- a time that, given the right leadership, white hair.
has the smallest of chances of being restored. Most folk of Daggerford know one another, at least
Daggerford is a pastoral haven. Wide, sprawling hills casually, by sight. Strangers are usually welcome,
nearby offer peaceful vistas, but are sometimes overrun especially if they have coin to spend, unless such folk
by raiding ores or goblins. The frequent caravans head- come armed and belligerent through the town. Guards
stationed at each gate make note of new faces, but don't
ing north to Waterdeep or south to Baldur's Gate need
take action against those they don't recognize unless
escort or guarding, and can offer news of both of those
they are given reason to do so.
cities (and the settlements between them). Several inns
The largest of the town's inns, the River Shining
stand ready to accept visitors, except in the busiest of
Tavern, is the second biggest building in Daggerford,
trade or festival periods, when they fill swiftly, and many
and the site of many local celebrations and gatherings.
locals open up their homes to lodgers. Warriors in need
Here, the wealthy come to eat and relax. The inn is
of coin can help their purses by offering their services as
old- many locals claim it to be older even than the ducal
trainers for the local militia, or accompanying the town
castle- and to many, is the very soul of Daggerford. The
guard on its patrols.
Silver Flood Inn and Lizard's Gizzard also offer rooms,
Daily rulership is in the hands of the Council of
though the latter has no food to provide its guests,
Guilds, composed of the heads of the town's informal
only beds.
trade groups. These guildmasters believe themselves
One of Daggerford's most unusual businesses is the
more powerful and influential than they truly are,
Sword Coast Traders' Bank, which accepts deposits
imitating the Lords ofWaterdeep by going robed and
from traveling merchants and enables them to receive
masked to council meetings. This charade, in the eyes
these funds at a similar location in either Waterdeep
of most, borders on farce, as everyone in Daggerford
CHAPTER 2 I THE SWORD COAST AND THE NORTH