Port Llast

Port Llast (formerly Grath's Hold) stands on the High Road some thirty-five miles north of Neverwinter. It is a small town of 700 folk mainly known for its skilled stonecutters and excellent harbor – a small bay sheltered by a high, rocky spit, with a fine beach and inlet. The port is overlooked by cliffs on which boulder-hurling siege engines have been placed. Port Llast is ruled by a First Captain, and is closely allied to Neverwinter (largely for protection from Luskan, who desires a more southerly harbor for its warships).

The harbor is home to a twelve-boat fishing fleet, but two of the ships are in very poor repair. The inland of Port Llast's prime mercantile enterprises are quarries on the coastal headlands just south of the village. Other than harborage or stonecutting, there is little else to recommend it to the traveler today, for it is a tense, suspicious place, always expecting treachery or attack from Luskan. The city is is ruled by First Captain Haeromos Dothwintyl, a retired stonemason.

Defense
Fifty men-at-arms from Neverwinter, also known as the City of Skilled Hands, bolstered by thirty of the Lords' Alliance troops, aid the fifty-person local militia in guarding the town from brigand raids and the harassment of Luskan. These troops are mainly from Elturel and Baldur's Gate, so that a Luskan attack would risk war with two economically powerful cities. It is rumored that Luskan desires the magnificent harbor as a more southerly base for its warships.

History
Port Llast was once of great importance to humans. When orc tribes and hostile duergar held the lands where Luskan now stands, it was the "Last Port" (hence its name) allowing access to the mineral riches of the North. Back then, it was home to 14,000 miners and explorers eager to find gold, gems, and all the rest of the fabled mineral wealth of the North. Much of the city walls were battered down by orcs and have since been plundered for use in repairing local homes, but the shattered remnants can still be seen circling around the town to the east, in lands now used as gardens and burial grounds or overgrown by scrub forest.

Notable Years:

 * 160 DR (Year of the Smirking Knaves) : Port Llast comes into common usage as the name for the swiftly growing settlement of Grath's Hold. The city becomes home to thousands of miners and explorers eager to find the mineral wealth of the Savage North.
 * 175 DR (Year of the Black Boats) : Port Llast is assailed and sacked by the orcs of the Severed Hand who devastate the surrounding countryside and bring fire to the nearby woodlands. Much of its population travels south to Eigersstor and safety.
 * 1333 DR (Year of the Striking Falcon) : The Overwizard Glagorn and other wizards of the Arcane Brotherhood attack the mage Llomnauvel "Firehands" Oloadhin of Port Llast. Llomnauvel ensures his and their destruction when he works a mighty magic that hurls down his abode and burns away the lives of all within it.


 * 1374 DR (Year of Lightning Storms) : Port Llast, weakened by the War of Shadows, is occupied by Luskan armies. The huge undead forces, led by ancient spirits of Port Llast founders, try to reclaim the city. It's not known whose side has won the conflict.

Notable locations

 * The Cracked Anvil: Blacksmith Haljal Throndor is the smith who runs this forge. He is quite skilled at all manner of ironmongery. The establishment is easily found by the cracked anvil displayed in front of it.
 * Whaelgund's Wheelrace Wagonworks: Port Llast is home to a competent wagonworks and repair shop run by the stout, jolly Whaelgund, who never stops talking, laughing, or cracking jokes. His attempts to sing are simply ghastly.
 * The Jack and Saber: The Jack is an average tavern in all respects, from its smoke-filled air to its low-beamed, dark taproom, to its furniture that has seen better days, to its patrons who have also seen better days. You can afford to miss this one.
 * The Alliance Arms: There is a single inn in Port Llast. It's well built, but rather dour&mdash;a no-nonsense place to sleep. Its ever-present mop-and-broom maids are a surprisingly rich source of local information (after a drink or two).