Daggerford

Built on a hillside in the floodplain of the Delimbiyr River, the walled town of **Daggerford** is dominated by a three-story keep that belongs to its duchess, Morwen Daggerford. From atop Daggerford’s walls, dozens of farms and a scattering of hamlets are visible, all under the protection of the duchess and the Lords’ Alliance.

## History

### Founding

In 133 DR, on the precise spot of future Daggerford, the outlaw Artor Morlin built Morlin Castle and founded the Barony of Steeping Falls. The kingdom of Elembar was founded in the area in 146 DR by folk from nearby Tavaray, building the capital city of Delimbiyran north of the river. Over the following centuries, power was concentrated there as Tavaray was abandoned in 302 DR and Athalantar was destroyed by orcs in 342 DR, and the native Illuskans were largely supplanted by north-migrating Tethyrians.

The town took its name from a 10th century legend about a boy named Tyndal who protected his family and their trade wagon while crossing the Delimbiyr River. Tyndal's family was assaulted by lizardfolk raiders, and he slew six of the beasts armed with only a dagger. While the story grew into myth over the course of the next few hundreds of years, records stated that fabled event did actually occur, at the site of the future Ducal Castle, in the Year of the Penitent Rogue, 931 DR. All of the subsequent Dukes of Daggerford claimed to be descended from Tyndal.

### Recent history

Duke Maldwyn, the most recent ruler of Daggerford prior to his sister Lady Morwen, was murdered in the year 1485 DR by a group of adventurers seeking affection from his mistress Natyssa. He was succeeded by Lady Morwen, who currently plays both the Zhentarim and Lord's Alliance in an attempt to secure Daggerford's rise to eventually outshine the likes of Waterdeep.

Recently, hill giants ranging south of the Forlorn Hills have begun to encroach upon the farmlands and noble estates around Daggerford. The Duchess, hoping to appear benevolent, is readying the town to accommodate farmers looking for sanctuary, and the town’s outer walls bristle with lookouts. She has in the meantime raised taxes to pay for Zhentarim mercenaries to patrol the lands north of Daggerford.

## Places of Interest

### Farmer's Quarter

* **Caravan Gate:** The Caravan Gate, which opens from the caravan grounds, is the most imposing of the city gates, with a set of huge ironbound doors twenty feet wide and sixteen feet tall.
* **The Harvest House:** *Temple to Chauntea*. Large building with an open, garden courtyard in its center. Led by Hadeshah, a priestess who is served by three other priests.
* **Farmer's Gate:** This gate opens from the fields to the north and is so named because it is the gate that farmers use to bring in produce and livestock.
* **The Guildmasters' Hall:** *Mercantile Guilds*. The guilds of Daggerford are small, some of them consisting only of a single business.
* **The Happy Cow:** A homey inn run by the Hardcheese family of halflings, where the drink is cheap, the pace is slow, and the talk is about farming. The Hardcheeses own a large dairy operation, and sell many of their wares to patrons here – their beer-and-cheese soup is particularly tasty, warm, and filling.
* **The River Shining Tavern:** One of the oldest buildings in town, supposedly the first of them, predating even the ducal castle, run by Poliver Hubert Ningle Evrit. Most clientele have plenty of coin to spend, among them visiting and local nobles, wealthy merchants most recently it is the favoured haunt of Nelkin Danniker, halfling open agent of the Zhentarim.
* **Helmick's Herbs & Oddments:** *Herbs & Oddments*. A spice and herb shop owned by the half-elf Helmick Howager, who also tends to find strange oddments that many magicians find useful as material components.

### Caravan Quarter

* **The Decorated Man:** *Tailor*. A rock gnome illusionist named Ballick runs this tailory. He often uses his illusions to show customers what they might look like in his expensive garments. He lives above the shop with his large extended family.
* **The Lady Luck Tavern:** *Tavern* . A taproom dedicated to Tymora, and run by a human woman named Glenys, who encourages gambling in the tavern and has sponsored larger games of chance. A table in the corner holds *Tymora's Cup*, a ceremonial offering to the goddess should she want to stop by for a drink. Those who have had good luck frequently "buy a drink for the Lady," and Glenys switches out the cup in its place of prominence.
* **Fairfortune Hall.** *Shrine to Tymora*. A simple building dedicated to Lady Luck, recently restored by Ironeater dwarves in grand style thanks to its current caretaker, the halfling Curran Corvalin.
* **Miller's Dry Goods** *Household Wares*. Bess Miller owns this shop and three mills (one out of town to the north, another amid the farms west of the Floshin Estate, and a third in Bowshot, a village to the south). She is quite wealthy and eligible, although has shown no interest in her suitors. Her shop sells grain, flour, and various goods for the home.
* **The Shanties:** *Transient Housing*. One and two-room shacks, the shanties serve as long-term housing for as long as those in them care to pay to stay. Usually inhabited by merchants waiting out winter or by young families finding their footing. Owned by a human man named Benthil Hugman.

### Merchant's Quarter

* **Sword Coast Traders' Bank:** *Bank*. A bank run by the Waterdhavian House Anteos, allowing merchants to store profits and withdraw it from other branches (currently in Waterdeep and Baldur's Gate). Though Lady Belinda Anteos has managed to secure the trust of the merchants for that function, she would also like to come into the business of loans to the locals; unfortunately, they tend to go to the Hardcheese family for such.
* **The Lizard's Gizzard:** *Inn*. Offering neither food nor drink, the inn's sign depicts a young boy killing a lizardman with a dagger, a reference to local legend Tyndal. Owned and operated by a half-orc woman named Sasha, half the ground floor of the inn is also a laundry. Sasha has a soft spot for orphans and unfortunates, and Sasha takes in orphan girls and women in unfortunate situations, giving them work and the opportunity to get back on their feet. She has also been known to provide space for refugees for free before.
* **Trade of the Tools:** *Tools & Furnishings*. Buying and selling old tools and furniture that he has refurbished, the elderly and eccentric Old Ander is a well-loved local.

### Riverman's Quarter

* **Town Guard Barracks**
* **Jail & Constable's Office:** The jail building houses Sherlen Miller
* **The Clean Chin:** *Barber & Undertaker*. Run by the shield dwarf Hunnet Honestone.
* **Derval's Bright Blade:** *Smithy*. A smithy that dates back to the 1300s, run by Ignal Ironeater.
* **River Gate:** This gate is slightly larger than the Farmers’ Gate to allow boats to be carried and dragged through to and from Sullerton Shipbuilders.
* **Table of the Sword:** *Shrine to Tempus*. A small open-sided hall of thick wood pillars, with a sword permanently driven through the altar, overseen by Darrodar Gweth, a former soldier from Waterdeep.
* **Daggerthrust Ales:** *Brewery*. A booming brewery business owned by Sturgin and Halla Brewer specialising in Calishite ales.

### Dagger Hill

* **Cisterns:** The squat stone cisterns capture rainwater.
* **Castle Daggerford:** The ducal castle stands in the same spot as Tyndal’s original wood fortification, rebuilt in stone by the Ironeater clan when it came to Daggerford over a century ago. The dungeons that worm through the hill beneath it are even older. The ducal gate that leads to the town and is usually open. Inside the castle courtyard are the duke’s private parade grounds, herb and fruit gardens, and the duke’s fortified manor. The castle’s larder is well stocked with preserved food, providing for up to 50 in residence.
* **Delfen's Tower:** *Wizard Residence*. The residence of the wizard Delfen Ondabarl. Like the other towers, this one is three stories tall. The top story is Delfen’s living quarters. He uses the second story to meet guests, and teach and house students he takes on.
* **The Morninglow Tower:** *Temple to Lathander*. Standing on a hill overlooking the rest of the town, the stone side of the hill that faces the town is decorated with rosy stones and glittering quartz, creating the image of the shining sun. The eastern wall is open to the rising sun. Luc Sunbright, a blustery sort of high priest, oversees the temple.
* **Stables:** Visitors and locals can shelter livestock in the stables. A portly human male named Umbero Volin, originally from Turmish, runs the stables.
* **The Walls & Towers:** The walls of Daggerford are ten feet thick and twenty feet tall with a battlement walkway behind crenellations.
* **Sullerton Shipbuilders:** *Shipwrights*. Owned by the Sullertons, a family led by matriarch Wilma Sullerton, who is also leader of the Carpenters' Guild. They build riverboats.

### Outside the Walls

* **Caravan Grounds:** This muddy field is filled with wagons and tents in all seasons but winter. While caravan masters stay at the inns within the walls and do trade in the marketplace, their wagon drivers and guards camp in the field. This makes the caravan grounds a melting pot of people from up and down the Sword Coast.
* **Moat:** The steep-sided moat around Daggerford used to be the dumping place for the town’s trash and waste.
* **The Tannery:** *Leatherworks*. West of Daggerford, atop a low hill, stands the tannery.

## Notable People and Groups

### People

**Delfen Ondabarl** - Wizard and teacher in the Dagger Hill district, appears to secretly be a member of the Harpers.

**Lady Morwen** - The Duchess of Daggerford and Lords' Alliance member.

**Nelkin Danniker** - A male lightfoot halfling and open agent of the Zhentarim. Dealing in money lending, fencing and information, he is keen to understand the goings on of Daggerford.

### Groups

#### Council of Guilds

In an attempt to mimic the Masked Lords of Waterdeep, this group of tradesmen, merchants and other notable figures meet to discuss and agree on the business of Daggerford. They attempt to maintain anonymity but it is fairly easy to determine who is hiding under their cloaks and disguises.

#### Emerald Enclave

This group has very little influence in the city but representatives are given patronage, support and council when dealing with farmers, beasts and matters of environmental import such as famine, floods or drought.

#### The Harpers

There are no public known agents of the Harpers in Daggerford, but this is unsurprising due to their secretive nature. Delfen Ondabarl appears to be a member.

#### Lords' Alliance

The Lords' Alliance are the official representatives of Daggerford, while they are wary of the Zhentarim's influence growing in the township, there is little they can legitimately do to cull the spread of their influence. Most guards, merchants and scholars in Daggerford are related to the Lord's Alliance.

#### Zhentarim

The Zhentarim have a visible presence in the hiring of mercenaries as additional guards following the rumours that hill giants are attacking farming settlements for food. There has been reference to a "bastard snail" Zhentarim member in Daggerford.