Hillsfar

Hillsfar was a powerful city-state located on the southern coast of the Moonsea. The city was heavily involved in trade in the region, acting as a hub for cities and settlements in the surrounding area. A person from Hillsfar was known as a Hillfarian.

Laws
In the late 14th century DR, the city of Hillsfar was ruled by the iron fist of the wizard Maalthiir and there were two standing "great laws":
 * Great Law of Trade: Do not interfere with any legitimate trade;
 * Great Law of Humanity: Only humans are allowed within Hillsfar.

By the late 15th century DR, the city was ruled by a senate of thirty-one wealthy merchants and guildmasters. However, since the senate could rarely agree on anything, actual rule of the city fell to the First Lord Torin Nomerthal.

Defense


Although Hillsfar was a walled city, fortified with a steel gate, it was the military force of the Red Plumes who ensured the city's security from foreign forces in the 14th century DR. Although they technically operated autonomously, they were in fact another extension of Maalthiir's reach.

In the 15th century DR, the military was known as the Tower Guard and was supplemented by a powerful mages guild.

Trade
Although trade in the Moonsea was typically carried out through rivalries and competition, almost all the goods of the region passed through Hillsfar in the hands of middlemen and intermediary merchants. Hillsfar was a known exporter of velvet.

History
The settlement was founded in the by elves, half-elves, and humans on the western edge of Tailings Bay. It was originally named Hillsafar after a dwarf clan, but within a few decades, the name was simplified to Hillsfar. The city was ruled over by council of men and half-elves, as well as representatives of the Elven Court, giving the Elven Court a measure of control over Hillsfar.

In 1356 DR, during that year's Flight of dragons, the largest dragon of the flight attacked Hillsfar and, although slain by the city's defenders, fell into Hillsfar's harbor, blocking it from approaching ships until the corpse could be destroyed.

In 1357 DR Maalthiir overthrew the city's ruling council using blackmail and fear of violence. He then declared himself the First Lord, a position with absolute military power, which he retained through the violent mercenary group known as the Red Plumes. Extending his own xenophobic tendencies, Maalthiir then banned all non-humans from the city. The Red Plume mercenaries were especially hard on the halfling population, considering them all thieves. Every single halfling was thrown out of the city with extreme prejudice. The Mercenaries came for them in the middle of the night, forcing the halflings out without a chance to bring the valuables or sell their land and businesses. This event gave the Red Plumes the name of Red Death among the halfling folk.

In the, a pool of radiance emerged in Hillsfar's harbor, starting to aggressively consume lives of the city's residents. The spawn pool originated from the ruined city of Myth Drannor where it was corrupted and abused by the Cult of the Dragon. Kya Mordrayn's cult cell spread tentacles of her corrupted pool, feeding it in cities across the Moonsea, empowering it. Subsequently the Cult's plans were shattered and its leaders slain by the Veiled Ones. With the main pool of radiance gone, Hillsfar was saved.

The following summer, a secret alliance was exposed between Maalthiir and the Sembian government when Sembia was found to be propping up Hillsfar's independence from Zhentil Keep.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * Bane of the Tradeways &bull; Blood Above, Blood Below &bull; Death on the Wall &bull; Harried in Hillsfar &bull; Hillsfar Reclaimed &bull; Shackles of Blood &bull; The Waydown
 * Video Games
 * Curse of the Azure Bonds &bull; Hillsfar • Tyrants of the Moonsea
 * Card Games
 * AD&D Trading Cards