Targos

Targos was the second-largest city of the Ten Towns of Icewind Dale.

"The folks in Targos are as hard-headed as the trout in their lake. They'd rather stay shut up behind their walls than admit they need help from anyone. Stubborn an' proud, the lot of'em. Makes a dwarf feel right at home."

- Beorne Steelstrike

Geography
The city sits on the southernmost shore of the Maer Dualdon along a series of high cliff walls that shelter its port from the savage winter winds. The harbor's deep water allow the construction of vessels which were large for the area, and the sheltering cliffs permit construction to continue through much of the year. As a result, the town is amongst the top towns of the region for dominance of the knucklehead trout industry. The city itself, and much of the harbor, is surrounded by a city wall.

Targos was a sprawling town with uncluttered streets. Buildings had breathing space, separated by wide avenues. The inhabitants were used to the privacy of these spacious accommodations. These wide streets gave off the feeling of solitude for those not used to the town's life. This, however changed by the 15 century. Targos became abuzz with commerce and industry. Unlike Bryn Shander, Targos nights were quiet as the fishers went to bed early, ready for the early rise.

The 15 century also brought city's expansion. The newer inhabitants constructed shacks beyond the city's wooden walls.

The merchant caravan travel time between Luskan and Targos was approximately twenty-one days via the Ten Trail.

History
Circa 1351 DR, the councilman of Targos was Kemp, who protected the town from a Tribe of the Bear barbarians' invasion in 1351 DR and the magical light beam sent by Akar Kessell in 1356 DR. During the historic Battle of Icewind Dale, Akar Kessell's forces seized Targos. Many inhabitants of the town barricaded themselves within their homes, preferring the elements and hunger to take their lives rather than savage invaders. Few took up arms and actively fought Kessell's minions. One of these defenders was Pilot Demitrick. He, along with three others, performed guerrilla strikes on the Crystal Shard's forces. To find out who was responsible, Akar Kessell tortured the citizens of Targos, eventually capturing Pilot's parents and killing them as an example of his tyrannical will. Eventually, the siege was broken by the Companions of the Hall who slew the evil wizard and destroyed the Crystal Tower. The Battle of Icewind Dale left Targos with an entire district of the city incinerated and blackened by Kessell's tower. The area was later known as the "Ash Quarter." The scorching ray destroyed most major structures and left several hundred people dead. The first winter that followed the war, was a strenuous one. But Targos was rebuilt with the collective effort of the Ten Towns and the newfound alliance with Reghedman barbarians.

During his term as the Speaker, Kemp was distrustful of outsiders and guarded his town's interests greedily. Kemp still remained the Speaker of Targos as of 1364 DR.

By 1359 DR, Giandro Holfast was holding the Speaker's seat. During his reign, Targos, along with the Ten Towns, faced with an attempt of Luskan's Arcane Brotherhood to take political power via Vaelish Gant. An influx of items crafted out of black ice that corrupted their owners, and the increasing powers of the cultists of Auril.

By 1489 DR, the Speaker of Targos was Naerth Maxildanarr, a rogue from Luskan who arrived to Targos circa 1487 DR and bought influence among the town's fisherfolk with coin. Member of the Zhentarim, Naerth's goal was to turn the town into a hub of the Black Network in the north. Under his leadership, the town implemented monthly lotteries to determine who of the inhabitants was to be sacrificed to Auril, who descended onto Icewind Dale, spreading her unending rime. Under the tyranny of the goddess' winter, Targos faced the harshest of winters. The bigger boats of the fleet were frozen in the docks leaving fishing to be done by smaller boats, limiting food supply dramatically. The period of strife eventually culminated in the attack by a rampaging chardalyn dragon, a creature forged out of black ice by Xardorok Sunblight and unleashed to decimate the Ten Towns. The creature was defeated by a group of adventurers and joined the efforts of the cities' militia.

Trade
Like most of the Ten Towns, Targos specializes in trading knucklehead trout. Its hundred-boat fleet takes in a larger catch than the other three towns on Maer Dualdon combined. Some of the town's biggest vessels were two-masted schooners. Targos' fleet was twice the size of Termalaine's. Built on the same lake, Targos and Termalaine were fishing competitors, oftentimes bitter, with fishers exchanging rude remarks and nasty glares when passing each other in the water.

Notable Locations
The city's "Ash Quarter" is a neighborhood that was blackened and destroyed by one of Akar Kessell's attacks using Crenshinibon.

Inns and Taverns

 * The Luskan Arms: the oldest inn in Targos that dated back to the days when Bryn Shander was nothing but a lone cabin. The innkeeper was a man named Owenn circa 1485 DR.
 * Salty Dog Tavern: the tavern located in the cove at the base of the cliffs.
 * Three Flags Sailing: one of the tavern ny the docks that served fishermen, ran by Ethen, lovingly referred as "Ma" by the locals circa 1485 DR.
 * The Trip and Shuffle: a rough tavern located near the gate and run by Russell, a former Purple Dragon knight fleeing from a death sentence in Cormyr.
 * Weeping Widow Inn
 * Wind Gate
 * Wolf's Pelt Inn: a cozy inn and tavern, ran by Kalas Winters and his family circa 1369 DR.

Shops

 * Gallaway Trade Depot: the general store located in the main town at the top of the cliffs.
 * Graendel's Fine Dwarven Craft: the dwarven smithy ran by Graendel Granitefist, one of the original inhabitants of Mithral Hall before its fall and reclamation.
 * Market Square: the square located in the center of town.
 * Triglio: the general store named after a local fisher chantey, ran by Jestin circa 1369 DR.

Other

 * Kemp's House, home to Spokesman Kemp, located in the northern part of the town.

Notable Inhabitants

 * Dockworker's Guild of Targos was active circa 1485 DR.

Rumors & Legends

 * In 1485 DR, during Isarr Kronenstrom's murderous rampage, some inhabitants of the Ten Towns believed that the murders were orchestrated by the speakers of Bryn Shander and Targos to sow chaos and accumulate an army. Another rumor placed the responsibility on the Dockworker's Guild of Targos, claiming that all the murdered people had crossed the guild in some way. These rumors were, of course, false.

Appearances

 * Adventures:
 * The Accursed Tower &bull; Legacy of the Crystal Shard &bull; Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
 * King of the Wolves &bull; Storm King's Thunder
 * Novels
 * The Crystal Shard &bull; The Silent Blade
 * Passage to Dawn &bull; Sea of Swords
 * Video Games:
 * Icewind Dale II
 * Video Games:
 * Icewind Dale II

Connections
Targos