Thunderstone

Thunderstone is a small settlement in eastern Cormyr. During the summer months merchants and caravans move through Thunderstone on their way to and from the Dales swelling the towns population to nearly thrice its usual size. Adventurers also flock to the town and use it as a base from which to launch their missions into the Thunder Peaks to the east, the Vast Swamp to the south, and the Hullack Forest to the north. All three regions are rumored to contain the ruins, treasures, and magic of lost civilizations.

Thunderstone gains its name from a mysterious boulder set deep into the center of town outside the shrine to Tempus. The Thunder Stone is about 3' in diameter and is composed of a strange rock not found for miles around and is rumored to have been magically transported to its current home when the land was nothing but wilderness. The stone itself has no known magical properties and otherwise appears to be just a strange rock. A superstition has arisen among adventuring groups that kissing the Thunder Stone before going on a mission means more treasure will be found and less comrades will die.

Thundertone boasts a 100 Dragoon garrison under the command of Oversword Faril Laheralson. He is an unruly but loyal crown "lord" but not of noble blood. He cares deeply for his men and makes sure their morale is high and constitutes the law in Thunderstone (such as it is). Faril gives lip service to the crown, respects King Azoun IV, but thinks little of the King's representatives. One Hurm Thiodor is the offical Crown clerk, and handles all of the record keeping and other bureaucratic paperwork. He sometimes joins bands of adventurers on their missions into the nearby forest and swamp to add a little flavor to his otherwise boring life.

Thunderstone has a relatively small economy, relying mostly on the caravans and travelers passing through. They do however have a small farming, forestry, and pelt trade, offset by prospectors in the Thunder Peaks and the lucky adventurers who return from the forest and swamp with relics of lost civilizations. Animal pelts from the Thunder Peaks and the Storm Horns did very good business in Thunderstone as of 1368 DR.