Daggerford

Daggerford was a small but consequential town located in the Delimbiyr Vale within the greater Sword Coast. While it was primarily a farming community, the town had a collective desire to grow and be seen as an alternative to their northern neighbor of Waterdeep. As such, the town was able to attract scores of skilled craftsmen and artisans.

Despite its modest size and reputation as a mere stopover town, Daggerford had great ambitions and a long and storied history. It remained resilient through a number of conflicts that arose throughout the Sword Coast, a relic of a kingdom from ages past.

Description
It was a walled settlement with a population that by and large lived in the outlying hamlets, farms, and estates, rather than within the town proper. As such, the streets of Daggerford were not densely populated. In fact, Daggerford's roads were unpaved and the buildings were ramshackle in appearance for some time. The town was significantly refurbished during the 13 century however, when many of its wooden structures were remade in stone by the dwarves of Clan Ironeater.

Sitting atop a hill in the center of Daggerford was the Ducal Castle.

Geography
The town was strategically placed along the Trade Way on the southern bank of the Delimbiyr River. It was the largest settlement on the trade route located between Waterdeep to the north, and Baldur's Gate to the south.

There were a number of small but notable landmarks situated around Daggerford. The familial estate of Sir Elorfindar Floshin was about two days of travel away, and the home of his son Elorshin was approximately the same distance away to the east. Near Elorshin's home was the temple known as the Mosque of Tyr, which the younger elf maintained.

The Black Helm Tower was about a day's travel away from Daggerford.

Geographical Features
Castle Daggerford was built on a small hill that overlooking the rest of the town, that was built atop the surrounding flatlands.

Government
Since the founding of the Kingdom of Phalorm around the by Tyndal "Daggerford" (not his original last name), the town was governed by Dukes through Tyndal's family line until at least the end of the Second Sundering.

Around the, a town charter was granted by Duke Conan, leading to the creation of the anonymous ruling body known as the Council of Guilds. The council was modeled after the Masked Lords of Waterdeep, however Daggerford was too small a town to have such intrigue. It was commonly known that the local guildmasters sat on the council.

As of the mid–14 century, the town was ruled by Duke Pryden Daggerford. Unfortunately, the duke lost his life in the First Dragonspear War. He was succeeded by his son, Pwyll "Greatshout" Daggerford, so named for his magically booming voice.

Duke Maldwyn Daggerford received his title before the year 1485 DR because of the tradition of primogeniture (with the title passed to the eldest male child), despite clear town opinion being that his elder sister would be more suited to the role.

The Duchess of Daggerford as of 1486 DR was Lady Morwen Daggerford, inheriting the title from her younger brother Maldwyn when the practice of primogeniture was suspended in the town of Daggerford. She visibly looked as though she was in her 20s, but was just shy of middle-aged.

Although 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 the meetings of the Lords of Waterdeep despite their faces being publicly known.

Trade
Due to its key location, Daggerford was a vital mercantile hub for its region of the Sword Coast. It was the site where goods moving on ships traversing the Delimbiyr River could be transferred to caravans journeying along the Trade Way, or vice versa. The water was of the Delimbiyr at Daggerford was too shallow for ships to continue upriver into the rest of the Delimbiyr Vale.

While Daggerford emulated the grand, northern Metropolis of Waterdeep its trade services were somewhat limited. While it attracted its fair share of travelers, prices for local wares were often significantly marked up.

The people of Daggerford were largely self–sufficient.

Guilds
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.

Defenses
In addition to the Duke and his personal guard, Daggerford maintained a standing militia. It comprised the town's citizens who were healthy enough to serve, regardless of gender or race. Those were not required to serve were those were too young or too old, women who were pregnant, and women who were raising young children.

Newly–recruited militiamen were granted some training and given very rudimentary arms. Service was required three days out of every month, and typically consisted of fairly light duties, unless the town was in immediate peril.

Founding
In the centuries after the elves of Illefarn abandoned their kingdom for the isle of Evermeet, in the the Kingdom of Delimbiyran arose in the area. It was during this age that Daggerford became a duchy and grew significantly in power and influence.

The town took its name from a 10 century legend about a boy named Tyndal who fended off a tribe of lizardfolk armed with only a dagger. While the story grew into myth over the course of the next few hundreds of years, records stated that the melee did actually occur, at the ruins of Morlin Castle in the. All of the subsequent Dukes of Daggerford claimed to be descended from Tyndal.

After Tyndal became a man, he married the daughter of the local lord and assumed the title of duke. He ordered the construction of Daggerford's castle in the, after the duchy was relocated from the city of Delimbiyran to its current location atop the hill overlooking the Delimbiyran River. The previous Duke of Calandor and his court were killed by the crash landing of the dying white dragon Cortulorrulagalargath, and the new keep was built atop the ruined remnants of Morlin Castle. Over the course of the next hundred years, the people of Daggerford began to build a proper town outside of the new castle.

During the mid–13 century, Devral Ironeater and the rest of Clan Ironeater moved into town and began rebuilding many of its wooden structures out of stone.

14 Century
Daggerford was the site of a great battle, when it was assaulted by the hordes of fiends that poured out from Dragonspear Castle. The town was defended and its assailants defeated by combined forces of elves, dwarves and men.

In the, Daggerford's army lent 50 of their soldiers, one tenth of the town's population, to the Coalition army. They fought under the command of General Haither Stonehand who knew each of her soldiers personally.

15 Century
Around the, Duke Maldwyn became involved with a woman named Natyssa. She was in fact a succubus working for Tarul Var of Thay, both of whom sought the duke's death. The duke himself became possessed by the spirit of Baazka, the pit fiend who was the orchestrated of the Second Dragonspear War a century before.

Notable Locations
Despite its rather small size and modest population, Daggerford was divided into four different quarters:

Major Landmarks

 * Ducal Castle:


 * The Commons:

Town Quarters
This area of town held the city's docks and served those whose jobs revolved around ships and sea trade. Dock workers unloaded cargo from ships that was bound for transport along the Trade Way, while some skippers and rivermen transported people down the Delimbiyr River to Secomber and the surrounding settlements.
 * River Quarter:

Some of the landmarks within the River Quarter were the town's jail and constabulary, stables, and the militia's barracks; the Table of the Sword shrine; and next to the quarter, the massive Sullerton Shipbuilders.

Catering to those individuals passing through town on trade business, this area of Daggerford comprised several shops and businesses, guildhalls, as well as a number of boarding houses. As such it was nearly devoid of activity during the winter months, when caravan travel all but ceased.
 * Caravan Quarter:

Notable locations included the grand Lady Luck Tavern, Miller's Dry Goods, and Fairfortune Hall.

As the name suggested, many farmers and other folks that lived off the land made their home within this part of Daggerford. Animal pens and small livestock paddocks were a common sight throughout its streets.
 * Farmers' Quarter:

Found within this ward was the grand River Shining Tavern, Cromach's Smithy, and the Harvest House, the local temple to Chauntea.

Easily the most affluent region of town, this quarter comprised the grand buildings that were built nearest to the ducal castle. Located within was the Sword Coast Trader's Bank, the Lizard's Gizzard inn, and a number of private residences.
 * Money Quarter:

14 Century

 * Lady Bronwyn Daggerford, a skilled wizard that was rumored to be a member of the Harpers
 * Sir Llewellyn Longhand, the duke's master-at-arms
 * Gwydion pen Dafwyd, court wizard to Duke Pwyell
 * Delfen Ondabarl, a resident mage that often took on local apprentices

15 Century

 * Sir Istelval:

Appearances

 * Adventures:
 * Hordes of Dragonspear
 * Ghosts of Dragonspear Castle
 * Scourge of the Sword Coast