Phandever

Nestled in the rolling hills along the northern border of Southwestern Argyle, the former mining town of Phandever is becoming popular with traders and fortune-seekers.

History of Phandever

Original Outpost

A settlement was established in the Phandever area as far back as the early 2nd Age. While never a thriving metropolis or trading post, the area is well protected from storms, and surrounded by fertile land. During the late Caelian Empire, the area all along the Triboar Trail was known as a breadbasket of sorts, and served as the "sleepy pastoral community" that heroes in bards' tales started out from when seeking adventure out in the world.

Gold Rush & Phandever Pact

In 1921 AR (2nd Age), prospectors found rich gold veins in the hills north of Phandever. The nearby forests and established trading post helped supply the explosion of interest in the area. Quickly exploding from a mere outpost to a growing village, a member of the Tressendar family was granted a Barony, founding a new estate and overseeing the construction of a defensive wall around Phandever.
While still distant from any population centers in the Caelian Empire, news soon spread that Arcanum was discovered within one of the mines. Arcanists from Sharbhazar on the Silt Sea made investigations of the strange phenomena reported in Wave Echo Cave; their presence in turn drawing the attention of the gnomes at Meiseberg. Tensions began to escalate as both factions confirmed that a font of natural magic existed within the mine.

To head off any hostilities, Baron Tressendar brokered a partnership with the elves and gnomes to help construct a mana forge deep within the mine, in exchange for their protection if ever needed. Believing that secrecy was their best defense, the Baron barred any citizens from settling near the mine, while the visiting arcanists strictly limited the number of items produced at the forge.

Destruction and Domination

The uneasy peace between all three factions persisted for several decades until the entire region was invaded. In 1974 AR (2nd Age; 210 years before Menim's War) a warband from the orc Kingdom of Many Arrows washed over the area. Led by their legendary warchief Urath, the Many Arrows orcs conquered and burned several settlements in the area over the course of a few weeks, wiping out Phandever entirely, and cutting off access to the mines in the north.
After the orcish invasion, there are no recorded attempts to recover the area. At some point after Uruth's death, in-fighting causes the orcs in the region to split up, some settling in the mountains near Icespire Peak while the majority migrated north to an area that is now Sirastir.

Around the end of Menim's War, the green dragon overlord Beryllinthranox is first spotted by citizens fleeing Robert's End. It is assumed that as the great beast grew and asserted its dominance over the region, the remaining orcs left Icespire Peak and joined the now peaceful Many Arrows nation in the north. The region remained as part of Beryl's domain until Luctor's intervention in 283 YR.

Argyle Resurgence

In 287 YR, Duchess Amakler and Duke Khalid founded their regional seats of power at Smallston House and the Shadow Bastion, respectively. As Khalid set about hunting down the more monsterous beasts of the region, Amakler oversaw the rejuvenation of the Triboar Trail and encouraged settlements where safety could be found. Phandever was a natural choice given the existing wells, fertile land, and remnants of a defensive wall that could be repaired and augmented, but it was a hard sell to find anyone who'd want to risk it all on a town so far from the capital and any promise of aid.
As spring came in 295 YR, Harbin Wester and his brother had an idea to open a logging business in the woods north of Robert's End. After a season of work, Harbin decided that logging was too laborious for him, but did see all the services and materials that frontier businesses would need, and petitioned both Duke Khalid and Duchess Amakler to stake him as Townmaster in the re-founding of Phandever.
Once the town was somewhat livable, Wester sent word to the cryers of Badum that the pastoral existence along the Triboar Trail was available to anyone wiling to work for it. By the next Spring, Phandever was a small but growing community and common waypoint for anyone traveling between Smallston House, Badum, and Dawngarden far to the West.

Industry & Trade

Formerly mining, now trading.

History

Centuries ago, Phandever was fed by a prosperous mine in the hills nearby. Even before Beryl's reign in the area, a roaming horde had wiped out the mining operation and multiple towns in the area. With the relative safety along the western portions of Argyle, ambitious citizens have started to scout for the lost mines in hopes of staking a claim.

Geography

Rolling hills to the north and woods to the south and west with decent enough roads heading south, west and east interesting in the town. To the east of Phandever, Icespire Peak and the foothills around it form a natural barrier.

Natural Resources

wood from the nearby forests, plentiful crops from fields and orchards near town.  Hunters may find furs and pelts, especially in the areas along the rivers east of town. Gold and silver have been found in the hills north of town.

Maps

• 

  Argyle - Phandever Regional Map

  Map of the area around the mining settlement of Phandever and portions of the Triboar Trail

Alternative Name(s)

Phandellin

Type

Village

Population

< 200

Inhabitant Demonym

Phannies

Owning Organization

Principality of Argyle

Characters in Location

• Bev Moon
• Sildar Hallwinter