Harrowdale Harrowdale ( formerly Velarsdale and Halvan ' s Dale ) was the oldest of the surviving Dalelands . It mainly consisted of human inhabitants , as well as some elven and half - elven people . Its main town was also known as Harrowdale . Name . Harrowdale was originally known as Velarsdale , after its founder . At some point before the 1180s DR , under the rule of Orimmon , it was renamed to Harrowdale and then , by Elmaer Oraun , back to Velarsdale . When ruled by Halvan the Dark in the 1180s DR , he renamed it to Halvan ' s Dale , but it was changed back to Harrowdale after the fall of Halvan . Geography . The dale comprises a river valley , although the river , as of 1372 DR , had long since disappeared , thought to have been lost during Underdark mining . The marshy areas in prior times had , by 1372 DR , mostly been consumed by irrigation of agricultural lands in the dale , although , at that time , many small creeks and ponds remained . The land of Harrowdale was suited to berries and vines . Although some wooden stump and rail fences existed as of 1374 DR , there was an abundance of hedgerows , which were generally pruned well , and some Harrans kept small lots for the growth of trees . These acted as ideal sites for the cultivation of mushrooms , shade for livestock and also for lumber if the need arose . Geographical features . Many farm plots in Harrowdale had a separate storage cellar which was constructed from stone and lined with mud . This was to store items for merchants working Harrowdale routes , in exchange for a fee to supplement the farmer ' s income . This ( and the felling of trees from the forests being forbidden ) led , by 1374 DR , to the area between the Velarwood and the edge of the forest of Cormanthor to be filled with smaller woodland plots . Most cottages in Harrowdale were sealed with mud cement and then whitewashed , with a thatched roof , sometimes covered in a layer of earth . Due to the fear of disease in Harrowdale following the second inter - dale war with Scardale in 1356 DR , paddocks and inns , around 1374 DR , typically had a horsepond , and all incoming animals had to be led through it before being allowed to stable overnight . Inns also typically had a bed of sand or mud that visitors must scrub in , before a pond in which they must wash , and sometimes local temples ( who also had such baths for their clergy and guests ) would cast purifying magic on these waters . Government . As of 1368 DR , Harrowdale was ruled by the Seven Burghers , who were the wealthiest people in Harrowdale , and each held his or her position until death or opting to step down . This system of burghers was introduced after Halvan the Dark ' s rule ended . The burghers levied a " small " tax upon the people and used this money for road and port maintenance as well as other community services . They were also bestowed with the power to pass new laws , although this was rare : as of 1368 DR , the dale was under the same rule of law used in Halvan ' s time . In 1368 DR , the council was made up of : Law . The Grey Riders ( also Gray Riders ) were a group of around 20 rangers on horseback who , around 1368 DR , were used to guard against bandits or monsters in the woods of the dale . In 1368 DR , the Riders had no authority to make arrests , but by 1374 DR , they had been granted the power of arrest , to keep prisoners in captivity , and transport them to Harrowdale Town for justice from the Council . The inhabitants of Harrowdale have always had the right to burn or bury the dead . This is in order to prevent the spread of disease , but has been used to cover up many murders . The felling of trees from the edge of the forest of Cormanthor or the Velarwood was forbidden as of 1374 DR . History . Between 1120 DR and the 1180s , the dale , then known as " Velarsdale " , was often invaded by adventurers and hireswords , often coming north from Sembia , who would proclaim themselves " Lord " of the dale . During these years , it was held by : In the 1180s , Halvan the Dark seized the dale , and renamed it " Halvan ' s Dale " . Halvan then hired Durl Halfaxe to construct a road from Harrowdale through the forest of Cormanthor and join up with the Moonsea Ride , known as the Halfaxe Trail , to attract trade from that major route , but in doing so , decided to attempt to loot Myth Drannor , and both Halvan and Halfaxe , as well as their work force , were killed by powerful magic from the ruins . In 1356 DR , Lord Lashan Aumersair of Scardale invaded and conquered Harrowdale in the second inter - dale war , but his forces were soon defeated . After the misfortunes of the neighboring Scardale , which was in a relative state of chaos after the war it started , Harrowdale started to strive and became one of the biggest ports into the Dales . Inhabitants . Inhabitants of Harrowdale were known as Harrans ( sometimes also Harrovans or Velarr ) , and , as of 1368 DR , were primarily farmers and foresters . Cormyr eans and Sembia ns would sometimes use the term Harrowdalesmen , but this was frowned upon by its inhabitants . As of 1374 DR , inhabitants were generally tolerant to outsiders . including new goods and ideas . They were usually tight - lipped around stangers , however , often giving outsiders the impression they were dim - witted . Inhabitants would use the phrases " up Green way " or " deep in the Green " to refer to someone who was in the newly wooden part of the dale between Velarwood and Cormanthor . Despite being invaded in the years prior to 1374 DR , by this time , the dale still mostly kept its " oldblood " farming families from its founding days , such as Brondas , Dyzur , Mumfyrd and Routhgaer .