Port Llast, formerly Grath's Hold and Last Port,[1] was a town on the Sword Coast North that stood on the High Road north of Neverwinter.[2]
Description[]
It was 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. In Volo's estimation, the folk were tense and suspicious, being fearful of attack or other treachery by Luskan, and the village had little of interest about it.[2]
Government[]
Port Llast was ruled by a First Captain. Around 1365 DR, this was the retired stonemason Haeromos Dothwintyl.[2]
Relationships[]
The town was closely allied to Neverwinter.[2]
Luskan coveted Port Llast for its excellent harbor, as the City of Sails wished a southern base for its warships.[2]
Trade[]
A fishing fleet comprising twelve boats operated out of Port Llast's harbor circa 1365 DR, though two in poor condition.[2]
Port Llast's primary land-bound industry was cutting stone, with quarries situated on the coastal headlands just to the south.[2]
Defense[]
Defending Port Llast against bandit raids and potential Luskan attack or annexation were a local of militia of 50 people, backed up by 50 men-at-arms from Neverwinter and 30 more from the Lords' Alliance, hailing mostly from Baldur's Gate and Elturel. As a result, any attack on Port Llast by Luskan risked dragging it into a war with three powerful cities.[2]
Catapults that launched boulders were installed atop the cliffs overlooking the harbor.[2]
History[]
A map showing the location of Port Llast.
A Northman raider and explorer named Grath Erlkar built Grath's Hold in the Year of the Defiant Stone, 127 DR.[3] Some time after, the town was renamed to Last Port and it bore that name until roughly the late 1000s DR during the existence of the town's last noble line, the Adreum family,[1] after which it was called Port Llast.[4]
In the Year of the Black Boats, 175 DR, Port Llast was assailed and sacked by the orcs of the Severed Hand. Many of its inhabitants fled south and sought refuge in Eigersstor (which was later Neverwinter).[5]
In the Year of the Warrior's Rest, 806 DR, Port Llast was claimed by the Witch-Queen Laeral as the capitol of her realm of Stornanter.[6] In the Year of the Leaping Lion, 834 DR, the kraken Slarkrethel attacked Port Llast; though repelled by Laeral, it absconded with Stornanter's magical throne of state, the Soaring Throne of the Witch-Queen.[7] In the Year of the Hunted Elk, 841 DR, the Witch-Queen left Stornanter to travel the planes. Nobles of the realm descended into infighting and Stornanter was dissolved, though Port Llast remained.[8]
Sometime before the late 1000s DR, Port Llast's rulership was in the hands of the Adreum family. The last ruler of that clan was the infamous Coward Lord of Last, Lord Adreum VI, who was in power during the Orc Wars of the late 1000s DR. Lord Adreum faced the grave danger of an encroaching orcish horde and ordered Last Port to be abandoned. In fear of the unbeatable horde, Lord Adreum fled with his family, leaving his captain to organize the evacuation. However, predictions of the orc horde's speed were off, and Last Port was besieged before the evacuation was completed while Lord Adreum was safely away. He returned to find the city ablaze, and many of its defenders and commoners were slaughtered, drastically reducing its population. When the battles were over, the survivors of the siege became a furious mob who blamed Lord Adreum for the deaths of their friends and families. The mob murdered the entire Adreum line. The town was renamed from Last Port to Port Llast, and the last ruling family was remembered mainly for the "Adreum Curse" that was said to haunt the town for centuries to come. Lord Adreum VI was buried in Gothaladreum, a cemetery on the edge of the Neverwinter Wood, long abandoned and ruined by the late 14th century DR. His grave stood just to the east of the cemetery's entrance, decorated with a statue of a winged angelic being. However, despite being interred, Lord Adreum VI did not find peace in death. His oath to protect Port Llast was unfulfilled, and for the centuries that followed, when the town was in danger, Adreum rose from his ancient grave.[1]
In the Year of the Striking Falcon, 1333 DR, the Overwizard Glagorn and other wizards of the Arcane Brotherhood attacked the mage Llomnauvel "Firehands" Oloadhin of Port Llast. Llomnauvel ensured his and their destruction when he worked a mighty magic that hurled down his abode and burned away the lives of all within it.[9][10]
In the Year of Lightning Storms, 1374 DR, Port Llast was weakened by the War of Shadows, leaving its outskirts scarred by burned buildings, empty barns, and barren fields. With Neverwinter weakened as well, Port Llast became occupied by a Luskan army. The huge undead forces, led by ancient spirits of Port Llast's founders, tried to reclaim the city. It's not known whose side won the conflict.[1]
After the Spellplague of 1385 DR and the return of parts of Abeir, the transposition of Laerakond changed the tides surrounding Port Llast, filling the harbor with silt and making it effectively useless as a port. This ultimately made Neverwinter an easier harbor to reach. With the docks of Port Llast failing and trade dying off, many citizens fled the town or died at the hands of marauding bandits and sahuagin raids, leaving only a few stubborn holdouts remaining in residence.[11]
After decades of decline, both economically and through the loss of large portions of the city to invading sahuagin, Port Llast enjoyed renewed hope as those areas of the city were retaken in the Year of the Reborn Hero, 1463 DR, with help from Drizzt Do'Urden and companions, as well as an influx of peoples from the northern Neverwinter Wood and the farmland surrounding Luskan.[12]
In the Year of the Ageless One, 1479 DR, Port Llast was occupied by Tidescourge Pirates, who used it as a base of operations.[13]
Some time after the War of the Silver Marches of 1485/1486 DR, frost giants raided the town twice, killing any townsfolk who stood their ground.[14]
In the Year of the Awakened Sleepers, 1484 DR, a drow raiding party including driders assaulted the city searching for Drizzt Do'Urden. A number of inhabitants were killed and some others were abducted for slaves, including Artemis Entreri, Dahlia Sin'felle, Ambergris, and Afafrenfere. Ultimately Drizzt and the reborn Companions of the Hall succeeded in rescuing the majority of the lost citizens from Q'Xorlarrin.[15]
Notable Locations[]
- The Cracked Anvil: a smithy run by Haljal Throndor.[2]
- Whaelgund's Wheelrace Wagonworks: a wagonworks and repair shop operated by Whaelgund.[2]
- The Jack and Saber: the most typical tavern.[2]
- The Alliance Arms: the only inn in the town c. 1365 DR.[2]
- Stonecutter's Solace: the only inn and tavern c. 1463 DR. It rested along the eastern cliff and was a favored haunt of the local townspeople. Drizzt and his companions stayed at the inn while they cleared the city of sahuagin and helped revitalize the port town.[16]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
Adventures
Novels & Short Stories
Charon's Claw • Archmage • Maestro • Hero • The Companions • Timeless • Starlight Enclave
Video Games
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Obsidian Entertainment (November 2008). Designed by Tony Evans. Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir. Atari.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 Ed Greenwood (1993). Volo's Guide to the North. (TSR, Inc), pp. 144–145. ISBN 1-5607-6678-6.
- ↑ Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 63. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
- ↑ Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 63. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
- ↑ Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 66. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
- ↑ Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 103. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (January 2007). “Volo's Guide: Lost Regalia of the North: The Toppled Thrones”. In Erik Mona ed. Dragon #351 (Paizo Publishing, LLC), p. 75.
- ↑ Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 105. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (1993). Volo's Guide to the North. (TSR, Inc), p. 135. ISBN 1-5607-6678-6.
- ↑ slade, et al. (April 1996). “Cities & Civilization”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), p. 15. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
- ↑ Matt Sernett, Erik Scott de Bie, Ari Marmell (August 2011). Neverwinter Campaign Setting. Edited by Tanis O'Connor. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 8. ISBN 0-7869-5814-6.
- ↑ R.A. Salvatore (March 2013). The Last Threshold. (Wizards of the Coast), p. ?. ISBN 0-7869-6364-6.
- ↑ Logan Bonner, Christopher Perkins (December 2011). Talon of Umberlee. Edited by Christopher Perkins, Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 3–5.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 104. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
- ↑ R.A. Salvatore (March 2014). Night of the Hunter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. ?. ISBN 0-7869-6511-8.
- ↑ R.A. Salvatore (March 2013). The Last Threshold. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-6364-6.
Further Reading[]
- Ed Greenwood (1993). Volo's Guide to the North. (TSR, Inc). ISBN 1-5607-6678-6.
- R.A. Salvatore (March 2013). The Last Threshold. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-6364-6.
- R.A. Salvatore (September 2014). Night of the Hunter. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-6517-7.
- Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.