Dessarin Valley

The Dessarin Valley was situated between the Sword Mountains and the High Forest. It was home to a diverse range of folk, although most inhabitants were either humans or halflings. The main industry of the Dessarin Valley was agriculture, and Goldenfields played a large part in the agricultural economy of the North.

Geography
The region of the Dessarin Valley was bordered on the east by the High Forest and the Forlorn Hills, and on the east by the Long Road.

Geographical Features

 * Mountains and hills:
 * Dessarin Hills: These rugged hills held a number of ancient dwarven ruins and were home to orcs, ogres, and other fearsome beasts.
 * Sumber Hills: The badlands located on either side of the River Dessarin held a number of notable locations, such as the Halls of the Hunting Axe ruins and the Feathergale Spire in the Sighing Valley.


 * Forests:

The valley was named for the great River Dessarin, that flowed from the Evermoors in the Savage Frontier, to the Sea of Swords just south of Waterdeep. It was fed by a number of tributaries, including the River Surbrin, Horn Stream, Gaustar's Creek.
 * Rivers and streams:


 * Bogs:
 * Black Maw Bog

History
In, the shield dwarf kingdom of Besilmer was founded. Besilmer was a very atypical dwarf kingdom, built above ground with fields and pastures to support it. For years, Besilmer flourished but then fell under attack by giants and trolls. This led to the construction of Tyar-Besil, an underground city. Besilmer fell a century after its construction. Ruins from the kingdom still stood in 1491 DR, most notably the Stone Bridge that spanned the Dessarin River; and, although in poor condition, the ruins known as the Halls of the Hunting Axe.

In the, the Knights of the Silver Horn discovered the ruins of Tyar-Besil. The knights set up strongholds in the ruins but came under attack by Uruth Ukrypt. This led to Dessarin Valley being dragged into the Orcfastings War, and the First and Second Trollwars.

Around the, following the expansion of Waterdeep, a few small villages started to develop. This led to the founding of Red Larch, Yartar, and Triboar.

Notable Locations

 * Settlements:
 * Amphail: The village of Amphail was well known for the quality horses that were bred within.
 * Bargewright Inn: Though it began as a single boarding his, this settlement grew large enough to be targeted by the Zhentarim and fall under their sway.
 * Beliard: This delightful little village served as a marketplace for cattle ranchers from the surrounding areas.
 * Calling Horns: Like several settlements found throughout the North, Calling Horns grew from a single building to a thriving community.


 * Goldenfields: Also known as the "Granary of the North", this massive temple-farm provided food for many settlements in the North.
 * Griffon's Nest: The ancestral mound of the Griffon tribe of Uthgardt barbarians was nestled within the northern Surbrin Hills.
 * Grunwald


 * Longsaddle: Home to the famed Harpell family, this small village fell under the protection of the Lords' Alliance.
 * Mornbryn's Shield: Located on the western edge of the Evermoors, this town was forced to regularly defend itself from the creatures of the swamp.
 * Nesmé: Though it was once a thriving town, Nesmé fell shortly after the War of the Silver Marches.
 * Noanar's Hold: The isolated village on the edge of the High Forest was located within the region patrolled by the undead Hunt Lords.


 * Red Larch
 * Triboar: This bustling crossroads town was the meeting place for many merchants that travelled along the Long Road or the Evermoor Way.
 * Westbridge
 * Womford
 * Xantharl's Keep
 * Yartar


 * Roads:
 * Dessarin Road
 * Long Road
 * Evermoor Way
 * Jundar's Pass
 * Stone Trail
 * Cairn Road
 * Kheldell Path
 * Iron Road
 * Larch Path


 * Ranches and farms:
 * Anderil Farm
 * Delmon Ranch
 * Nettlebee Ranch


 * Abbeys:
 * Summit Hall
 * Vale of Dancing Waters


 * Points of interest:
 * Feathergale Spire: Home to the dashing, aerial-mounted Feathergale Knights, this tower offered a commanding view of the entire valley.
 * Halls of the Hunting Axe: These ruins were a remnant of the great dwarven realm of Besilmer.


 * Ironford
 * Scarlet Moon Hall


 * Rivergard Keep: Locates on the banks of the River Dessarin, this stronghold house bandits that operated under the guise of well-meaning mercenaries.
 * Rundreth Manor: After it fell into ruin, this stone manse was taken over as the residence of "the Dark Lady".
 * Stone Bridge

Appearances

 * Princes of the Apocalypse