Traveller's Guide to the Sword Coast

Traveller's Guide to the Sword Coast was a many-volumed collection of travel guides dedicated to the Sword Coast area of Faerûn, published sometime before 1492 DR.

Volume IV: The Risen Road
The fourth section of the Traveller's Guide spoke of the Risen Road, the route that connected the cities of Baldur's Gate and Elturel, which ran parallel to the River Chionthar. It stated the road was a preferred alternative for those that did not wish to travel by river barge.

It highlighted some notable landmarks that could be found along the road, including the grand temple of Selûne, the nearby village of Moonhaven, and Moonrise Towers.

Volume IX: Inns and Guesthouses
The section of the tome that talked about travelers' accommodation in the city of Baldur's Gate mentioned several establishments of note. The Blade and Stars was one of the inns mentioned. The guide informed travelers of the inn's easy-to-spot signage depicting a wooden shield, with a curved blade against a background of stars. It was a welcoming and quite inn that served somewhat plain grub but offered clean lodgings.

Another inn in the guide was the famed Blushing Maiden Inn. The guide warned visitors of its boisterous atmosphere of revelry that lasted into the night. Its namesake was a large wooden mermaid displayed to the establishment's patrons. Lastly, Elfsong Tavern received a limited entry as a dimly-lit inn known for its ghostly singing elven maid and its proprietor named Alan.

History
By the late 15 century DR, some copies of these volumes were in heavy everyday use. Some of the copies found in the wild suffered damage from elements, rough use, and age. Some were missing covers and binding altogether and had hand-written notes by the books' previous owners.

Appearances

 * Video Games
 * Baldur's Gate III