Trofimstead

Trofimstead is a small mining community in the Storm Horn Mountains in western Cormyr. It is notable for being by the largest and most prosperous of the mining settlements in the demesne of the House of Lev, and is essentially the centre of the House’s lucrative gem-mining industry.

History

Trofimstead was founded by Baron Nikolay Levev in 1405 DR as one of several mining communities established to bring economic stimulation to the devastated Storm Horn Mountains following the Goblin War of 1370-71 DR. The war had seen a majority of communities in the region evacuated, abandoned, or razed, leaving little to no remaining settlements in the territory of the fledging House Lev. Following his accession to the Barony in 1398 DR, Nikolay hired several scouts and surveyors to find sources of gems and metals within his new realm, and used these signs of mineral wealth to attract displaced settlers to his territory. Trofimstead was one of the most distant settlements founded in this period, both from the House’s base at Lev’s Keep and from any other infrastructure, but soon became an attractive location owing to the size and quality of the gemstones uncovered there. As of 1494 DR, Trofimstead is a relatively thriving community, while remaining small, rugged, and remote.
Trofimstead was named after Trofim Levev, youngest son of Lev the Axe, who Nikolay sent as the town’s first administrator – a relatively powerless position during Nikolay’s reign owing to the Baron’s micromanaging tendencies. Following Trofim’s tenure, the Baron Levev has traditionally appointed a Trofimstead resident to act as a local administrator and envoy to the House, although visits and interference by the Baron or other House members are common.

Geography

Trofimstead sits at the foot of the Storm Horn Mountains, the source of its mineral wealth. The nearest major village is Espar to the southeast, although the settlement is closer to the famed Cormyrean fortification of High Horn to the north. The only road connecting the settlement to the rest of Cormyr is the small Old Bear’s Track, which eventually attaches to the much larger Way of the Dragon. A small mountain spring provides ample water for the settlement, and building materials can be quarried or transported from the nearby King’s Forest. Most food is imported from other settlements, however.

Economy

Mining makes up the lion’s share of Trofimstead’s economy. It is renowned for the size and quality of its plentiful gem deposits, that make a tidy profit for the town’s miners and their feudal lords. A vast majority of the settlement’s permanent residents are miners or their families. Trofimstead also employs a small local guard to defend the settlement and the Old Bear’s Track from bandits or other potential incursions, owing to its remote location and the reduced activity of Cormyr’s Purple Dragon troops in the region. The settlement also boasts a general store as well as a small tavern, The Dancing Bear, whose few beds are the only temporary accommodation available in the area. The occasional merchants who stop by the remote community are usually welcomed with open arms, and can make a substantial profit selling supplies and luxuries to the isolated miners.

Founding Date

1405 DR

Founders

• Nikolay Levev

Type

Village

Population

163

Inhabitant Demonym

Trofimsteader

Owning Organization

House Lev