Ardev

Population: 18,000

Overview: County seat, largest town on the Western Frontier

Key NPCs:

• Count Thavius ir’Blis (male human noble),
• Mason Trembo (male human mayor),
• Nirra Tayne (female dwarf sheriff),
• Cantor Devir (male half-elf priest),
• Rustav Gant (male human businessman),
• Voryla Halamar (female halfling criminal),
• Mesa (female stone giant sculptor)

General Information:

Ardev is the largest town in western Breland and the county seat of the ir’Blis line. If you’re afraid to go to Graywall, Ardev is the best source for the types of goods and services you simply can’t find in smaller towns and villages. It’s got a general mercantile, a church of the Sovereign Host, a Gold Dragon Inn— but you can find all of those things in Quickstone or Shavalant. What you can’t find in those places is a wizard’s circle, a church of the Silver Flame, or a candy store—all of which are present in Ardev. Looking for the latest fashions from Fairhaven? Want to browse a library with more than a dozen books? Well, welcome to Ardev, where the library has two dozen books. It’s not much when you set it next to Sharn, but on the Western Frontier it’s the seat of justice and trade.

Ardev marks the eastern edge of the frontier. It’s not as close to the action as Quickstone, Orcbone, or Graywall, making it a safe haven, far from minotaur reavers and the Company of the Black Crown. There’s a strong, honest city watch that will actively intervene in dangerous situations in order to keep the peace—a far cry from Quickstone (where the sheriff only has a few deputies) or Graywall (where the Flayer Guard will take bets on who’s going to win a street brawl). On the other hand, this also means that there’s less opportunity for adventure. There are no ancient ruins hidden beneath Ardev. The city watch can solve most problems without your help, thank you. As a result, it’s a great place to visit when you need to consult with an expert or demand an audience with the count. With that said, the very fact that Ardev is the largest, richest, and most stable city in the region also means that it’s an inviting target for anyone who wants to make a statement, such as the Swords of Liberty. The streets of Ardev are safer than Graywall… but when something bad does happen, it’s likely to be very bad.

Old maps of Breland often omit an important detail about Ardev: It’s adjacent to Chalice Lake. The Copper River isn’t large enough to support galleons or other large boats, but there are a number of hamlets along the river and small boats travel to and from Ardev.