Loudwater

Loudwater was a city that sat on the confluence of the Delimbiyr and Greyflow rivers. It was a pleasant and thriving community home to humans and half-elves.

Early History
The area was originally settled by Netherese refugees fleeing the downfall of Netheril, sometime after its fall in the Year of Sundered Webs, −339 DR. Their communities were the progenitors of the city of Loudwater, as well as other cities of the North.

The area was once the site of a community of elves, part of the nation of Eaerlann. The great dwarven craftsman Iirkos Stoneshoulder (of Ammarindar) built an ornate bridge across the Delimbiyr River for some elven friends over a millennia before the mid–14th century DR,  in 149 DR. These elves, who were members of two moon elf families who followed Labelas Enoreth, built a school of philosophy on the north bank of the river. Constructing homes around the school, which they named the Velti'Enorethal, the site grew into a small town. The population grew again when Earlanni sun elves applied to join the school.

Later on, further settlement of the Loudwater and Llorkh region, as well as Longsaddle, Secomber, Triboar, and others, was undertaken by pioneers from Waterdeep after the establishment of the Lords of Waterdeep there in 1032 DR. These pioneers were sponsored by noble and mercantile Waterdhavian families.

Later, humans descended from the survivors of Netheril discovered the town and built their own houses, bringing human ideals to the expanding settlement. Though most of the humans lived separately from the elves on the south bank of the river, their influence still upset the elven natives and in 1100 DR, the elves began slowly leaving their homes for Evereska.

Fifty years later, a family of mages from Calimshan called the Renshas conquered the Delimbiyr Vale, centering their power in Loudwater. Though they made Loudwater a much more prosperous town by exploiting the Vale's natural resources and expanding its limits, they despoiled much of the pristine beauty of the area and the amoral Renshas also committed several atrocities in pursuit of their magic. The Renshas ruled for 165 years before a Nimbrali mercenary working for them named Nanathlor Greysword rebelled against their rule after receiving a message from Mielikki, who was angered at the Rensha's actions within the Vale, which she considered sacred. Nanathlor was a noble of Nimbral who'd desired to establish a realm of his own in the North.

Modern History
The two-year-long War of the Returned Regent freed the Vale from Rensha rule and Nanathlor was acclaimed as ruler of Loudwater. The start of Nanathlor's reign marked the official founding of Loudwater.

Nanathlor ruled in relative peace for 52 years until Malarite lycanthropes attacked the city after a blood-red moon appeared in the sky over the Vale. Nanathlor himself was on his deathbed but the citizenry, led by a young man named Stedd Rein saved the town when Stedd opened his father's stock of silvered weapons.

Kalahar Twohands, Gauntlet of the western marches, replaced Nanathlor, who didn't survive to see his city saved. Kalahar oversaw the most turbulent years in Loudwater's history since the war, including a mass migration of orcs, threats from a bandit army and their illithid allies, dragons and several attacks from the Zhentarim.

Along with Secomber, Loudwater was the only settlement of any size in the area to survive the effects of the Spellplague, though it was much reduced in size and had been almost completely abandoned by the elves. Still, it managed to resist the dangers of the surrounding area. What it struggled to cope with was internal troubles. There was barely enough trade to keep the town afloat and dangerous criminals replaced the small-time thieves guild that had been operating there. Many foundlings discovered on the shores of Highstar Lake came to live and grow up in the town, unknowingly the spawn of some fishlike creature who dwelt beneath the lake's waters.

By 1491 DR, a new High Lord had been chosen, but Telbor Zazrek, a northern wizard, was a corrupt puppet of the Zhentarim, who took hefty kickbacks in order to ensure Zhentarim trade goods were the only ones most folk could afford.

Government
The town was ruled by the High Lord of Loudwater. By 1370 DR, High Lord Nanathlor Greysword had reigned for a half-century and was loved by the people as a careful administrator and just ruler. Nanathlor resided in High Lord's Hall, the seat of power in the city. The half-elven Lady Moonfire was never documented as being referred to as High Lord, but her successor, Telbor Zazrek, was.

The High Lords were served by two Gauntlets who commanded the city's militia. Each Gauntlet was given the responsibility of protecting Loudwater's territory (known as the "marches"), either east or west of the city. In 1370 DR, the two Gauntlets were Harazos Thelbrimm and Kalahar Twohands. In 1372 DR, the Gauntlet of the eastern marches was Harazos Thelbrimm and the Gauntlet of the western marches was Isyan Kiy'sisnos, who succeeded Kalahar Twohands when he became High Lord. It is unknown whether High Lords were only chosen from among the Gauntlets.

The militia of Loudwater comprised 300 warriors, divided into patrols of 20.

Although they coexisted (relatively) peacefully with the humans south of the river and were ruled by the High Lord along with everyone else, the elves of Loudwater had a largely independent noble class before they abandoned the city.

The lands claimed by Loudwater stretched for two days' ride up and down the river. The army patrolled this domain.

Through the 1360s DR, Loudwater remained an independent settlement, but Zhentarim agents were scouting the place. By around 1372 DR, Zhentarim agents operating out of nearby Llorkh plotted to subvert Loudwater to their control.

Law & Order
It had a small thieves' guild.

Trade
The local people made a living through farming and fishing, as well as by providing services to caravans. They often ate szorp, a fish caught in the Delimbiyr. Hardwoods were also produced in the area; such woods were fine carved for the "Avatar" chess set sold by Aurora's Emporium in the 1360s DR.

In the mid–14th century DR, Loudwater was a significant stop on the trade route along the Delimbiyr. Formerly, most trade through Loudwater went north overland, past the Shining Falls, but in the 1360s DR, it went east to Llorkh, where caravans were assembled. From Loudwater to Llorkh, all trade was tightly controlled by the Zhentarim. Zhentish trade through Loudwater and neighboring Llorkh helped prominent local merchants grow rich. The city offered a safe place to rest to both caravans and riverboats; merchants and travelers often passed through the first two times but stayed on the third.

After the Spellplague, Loudwater took an entire century to cope with the loss of trade that followed and ironically, was saved by the Zhentarim, who came to control all of the trade through the town via unfavorable tax rates for their competition. Much reduced since its heyday, by 1479 DR, it was still a secure stop for merchants, despite the ruination of its neighbors after the Spellplague.

Population
From 1366 to 1370 DR, Loudwater was recorded as having a population of about 4,000. They were largely human but fully one-quarter were half-elves, arising mostly from the descendants of Eaerlann. Others were the descendants of wild elves. Few of the original elves remained. In 1372 DR, the population was recorded as 8,137, humans and half-elves still.

Description
It was a splendidly picturesque garden town, with every spare patch of ground and any available surface adorned with lovingly tended greenery and full gardens and bowers to be found all over town. The wooden buildings—of all shapes and sizes, no two of which were alike—were overgrown with vines and decorated with hanging plants, with plants both inside and on the roof. Even the streets were planted with tanglemoss (though it wore down to bare dirt on busy routes), and they curved and meandered to provide a good view or an interesting route. Giant ancient trees lined the green grassy banks of the river. The town didn't even have defensive walls, only a ditch and earthen rampart, both covered with planted flowers. Loudwater seemed to melt back into the forest or to have grown out of it. It was a gardener's joy.

Just like the meandering roads, life took a slow and measured pace here, where one preferred to enjoy the view than hurry.

Thanks to the spectacular arching stone bridge over the river, Loudwater spread out on both sides of the Delimbiyr. Part of the river flowed over upthrusting rocks, producing some noisy rapids that gave Loudwater its name. However, a wide pool was dug into the bank of the river, allowing boats to go around and providing an area for lading cargo, serving as the harbor. Barges, coracles, and flat-bottomed skiffs used for fishing and trade clustered here. The only ugly things in town were those left bare by practicality: four warehouses by the harbor and the cooperworks beside them on the west.

Religion
The local temple of Lathander ministered to the majority of matters of faith in the city, at least among its human population. The elven citizenry worshiped Labelas and the rest of the Seldarine at the Velti'Enorethal. As the chosen of Mielikki, the Green Regent was an important religious figure in the city, but the Regents and their Scions tended to provide practical aid, rather than acting as any kind of divine emissaries. During the late 15th century, Loudwater saw the rise of the faith of Silvanus and members of all good faiths came to congregate in Silvanus' temple.

As the people depended on the forest, they favored woodland gods like Silvanus, Mielikki, and even Shiallia.

Organizations
Zhentarim agents were known to scout out Loudwater in the 1360s DR.

A regional agent of the Moonstars was based in Loudwater around 1370 DR.

Legends
In the mid–14th century DR, it was told that old elven magic still lay hidden in the grassy burial mounds that Loudwater's oldest quarter had been built on. The cellars of some houses had secret doors connecting to the tombs. Both Harpers and Zhentarim hunted for this lost magic.

Notable Locations

 * Inns: Enchanter's Ecstasy • Scarlet Shield
 * Taverns: Merry Mer-She • Old Owl

Behind the Scenes
Loudwater was not particularly detailed in any sources until the Legacy of the Green Regent RPGA campaign began, the majority of which took place within the town and its environs. Loudwater then had an entire chapter dedicated to it in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, more than any other location in the 4th-edition campaign book.

The layout and structure of the city as written in this book was a significant departure from how it was presented in the Legacy of the Green Regent campaign and this fact was acknowledged a few times in the source. The next official mention of the settlement however, in Storm King's Thunder, paints it much more like it was before the release of the FRCG.

Appearances

 * Video games:
 * Gateway to the Savage Frontier (computer game)
 * Treasures of the Savage Frontier (computer game)