Daggerford

Daggerford was a town that lay along the Shining River on the Sword Coast in the Western Heartlands. It was a walled town with a population of approximately 900, with a number of outlying hamlets, farms, and estates bringing the population to over 2,000. The town was strategically placed along the Trade Way and fortified by the local duke's dwarven-built castle. It was primarily a farming community, but a desire to grow and be seen as an alternative to the northern city Waterdeep caused the town to actively seek craftsmen and artisans. Its streets were unpaved and the buildings were ramshackle in appearance.

History
The town took its name from a 400-year-old legend about a boy named Tyndal who fended off a tribe of lizardfolk with only a dagger. The first community was built along the shores of the river at that spot. All the Dukes of Daggerford claimed to be descended from Tyndal. Construction of Castle Daggerford atop the ruined remnants of Morlin Castle began immediately after the fall of the previous Duke of Calandor and the ducal site was relocated from Delimbiyran to Daggerford.

After Illefarn, the Fallen Kingdom of the elves, retreated to Evermeet, the Kingdom of Man controlled the region and Daggerford's environs included all territory bordered on the north by Floshin, on the west by the Lizard Marsh, on the south by Dragonspear Castle, and on the east by the Misty Forest, although that territory was far reduced by the 14th century DR. After the Kingdom of Man was ended by dynastic feuding, the people of Daggerford built a proper town near the shores of Delimbiyr, the Shining River. Eventually, the town and castle were walled in.

Government
Since the founding of the Kingdom of Phalorm (approximately 523 DR), starting with Tyndal “Daggerford” (not original last name), the town was governed by Dukes through Tyndal's family line until at least the end of the Sundering.

In addition to the Duke status, there was a town militia as well as the castle/Duke's personal guard to maintain order in Daggerford. After the establishment of Guilds, each type of guild was maintained by a Guildmaster, even if it was only a single town representative, to ease trade between cities, eventually forming into the Council of Guilds, many amalgamating into fewer categories by 1485 DR.

Duke Maldwyn Daggerford had his title before the year 1485 DR due to primogeniture tradition, despite clear town opinion being that his elder sister would be more suited to the role.

The Duke/Duchess of Daggerford as of 1486 DR was Lady Morwen Daggerford, inheriting the title from her younger brother Maldwyn Daggerford when the practice of primogeniture (title passed to eldest male child) was suspended in the town of Daggerford. She visibly looked as though she was in her 20's, but was just shy of middle-aged.

Though there was an active Duke or Duchess, most day to day issues were handled by the Council of Guilds. The council felt they had more power than they truly did, meeting in concealing robes with faces covered to emulate meetings of the Lords of Waterdeep despite their faces being publicly known.

The dukes of Daggerford claimed all the lands from the Floshin Estates, south as far as Dragonspear Castle, east to the edge of the Misty Forest, and west to the verges of Lizard Marsh and the coast. They actually controlled far less, from about a half day's ride north of Daggerford, where their forces met up with road patrols from Waterdeep at a little pond called Waypost Water, east to the hills around the Laughing Hollow, and south to the hamlet of Bowshot. These lands took in about twenty farming hamlets.

Notable buildings

 * Inns and taverns:
 * The Dragonback Inn
 * The Happy Cow
 * River Shining Tavern
 * Lady Luck Tavern


 * Shops:
 * Derval's Bright Blade
 * Farrel's Fine Jewels and Apparel
 * Korbus's Jewels and Fine Ornaments


 * Temples and shrines:
 * The Harvest House, temple dedicated to Chauntea.
 * The Morninglow Tower, temple dedicated to Lathander.
 * Table of the Sword, shrine to Tempus
 * Fairfortune Hall, shrine to Tymora.