Loudwater

Loudwater was a city that sat on the confluence of the Delimbiyr and Greyflow rivers. Much reduced since its heyday, by 1479 DR, it still offered a well-defended rest stop for caravans and riverboats despite the ruination of its neighbors after the Spellplague.

History
The great dwarven craftsman Iirikos Stoneshoulder of Ammarindar built an ornate bridge across the Delimbiyr River in 149 DR for some elven friends of his. 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, 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.

The two-year long War of the Returned Regent freed the Vale from Rensha rule and Nanathlor was acclaimed as ruler of Loudwater. He 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
Nanathlor was accorded the title of High Lord, residing in High Lord's Hall, the seat of power in the city.

The High Lords were aided by two Gauntlets. Each Gauntlet was given the responsibility of protecting Loudwater's territory (known as the "marches"), either east or west of the city. 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. The half-elven Lady Moonfire was never documented as being referred to as High Lord, but her successor, Telbor Zazrek, was.

It is unknown whether High Lords were only chosen from among the Gauntlets.

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.

Trade
Before the Spellplague, Loudwater was a significant stop on the trade route along the Delimbiyr, as beyond its influence, all trade was tightly controlled by the Zhentarim. 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.

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.

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)