Archendale
Archendale (pronounced: /ˈɑːrkhɛndeɪl/ ARK-hen-dale), one of the lands' trading Dales, was the most aggressive, influential and well-defended of the dales within the Dalelands. The large trading hub viewed themselves as the leader of the region, boasting the largest standing army and strong economy based on its self-reliance and abundance of rich natural resources such as game, crops and valuable minerals.
Structure
The most powerful of the Dales is ruled by the army's leaders, mysterious figures known as the Swords of Archendale. There are three Swords: a Black Sword, a Red Sword, and a Blue Sword. The Swords' identities are kept secret, and the Archendalesmen resent any inquiries about their leaders.
The Swords usually speak through the army's officers, but they rule with a very light hand. Their only concern is the Dale's defense, and they almost never intervene in civil matters such as trade. However, the Swords' definition of defending the Dale extends to matters of law and justice within Archendale, and the Swords are responsible for the laws of the land and their enforcement.
The Swords protect their identities with bracers of misdirection and various illusion spells. They also are in the habit of wearing hooded capes of their color over their armor and military dress. In all of Archendale, perhaps a dozen people are able to guess the identity of a Sword, but it is a high law of the Dale that no man may speak of a Sword's name.
Culture
Despite their warlike attitude, the dale owed its prosperity to mercantile success rather than military prowess. As such the life of a successful trader and businessman was highly valued.
Lawfulness and order were paramount to achieve continued prosperity in the eyes of the Archendalesmen, a view that was propagated by the Three Swords. As such, adventurers were not necessarily welcomed as they often brought uncertainty and chaos.
History
The capital city, Archenbridge, grew from a small settlement around a dwarven-built bridge on the River Arkhen in the 1100s DR.
The first major inter-dale war occurred in 1232 DR. Archendale marched against Sessrendale, claiming that foul necromancy and evil raiders had found a harbor within their neighbor's borders. Sessrendale's ruler was a mysterious person known as the Dusk Lord, and during the war that followed, the forces of Sessrendale were supported by powerful magic. After three weeks, the superior forces of Archendale broke the Dusk Lord's resistance, and the Dalelord was slain. The Swords of Archendale ordered the utter destruction of the vanquished land, burning the buildings and salting the earth to annihilate Sessrendale.
Despite its military focus, Archendale developed into a significant mercantile hub, enriched by its mines and orchards, and establishing a reputation as a haven for traders.
Territories
The Dale rested in the gorge of River Arkhen, a steep and rocky cliffside that offered natural protection on either side. The only routes into the Dale were the mouth of the valley at Archenbridge and a winding trail at White Ford leading to Highmoon.
Forests and woods
- Arch Wood, the forest that extended from the Forest of Cormanthor. It bordered the northern edge of Archendale between Deepingdale to the north and Tasseldale to the east.
Mountains & Valleys
- Arkhen Vale: This steep, rocky valley, formed by the river Arkhen, cradled the entirety of Archendale.
- Mount Thalagbror, the mountain overlooking the dale that was named after an ogre mage who formerly terrorized the region, but has since been slain.
Bodies of Water
- Arkhen Falls, the beautiful waterfall that flowed from a natural spring in Mount Thalagbror to the vale below.
- River Arkhen, a major river set into a deep gorge within the Arkhen vale.
Notable Locations
Temples
Most rural Archendalesman were followers of Chauntea, but there were also temples in devotion to Lathander and Tempus. There were also smaller shrines in the woods of the Dale, devoted to nature deities such as Silvanus, Eldath, Mielikki and Selune.
- Bounty of the Goddess, a prominent Chauntean temple that was a richly-painted, re-purposed barn, whose entrance was flanked by two pillars carved to look like enormous stalks of wheat.
- Glory of the Morning, built a bit before 1369 DR, is a sanctuary to the Morninglord.
Settlements
- Archenbridge, Archendale's capital and the largest city in the Dalelands. It was a bustling metropolis with a heavy influence from the Sembia, both in trading opportunities and fear of military action.
- Swordpoint, the capital building of Archendale was a massive, old fortress that served as a seat of power to both the Swords and Archenriders.
- Arch Wood, a tiny village hidden in the forest of the same name.
- White Ford, a sleepy town that was formed around a group of boulders that were dumped into the river
Military
Archendale was defended by an army known as the Archenriders, consisting of ten rides of 60 mounted soldiers. While half of the army was typically standing down, the other half would be active, stationed throughout the Dale. Three of them were always stationed at Swordpoint, a stone keep and the Dales' major garrison, one at White Ford and another would patrol the Dale in 10-man units. Rides would alternate between active and off-duty in two month rotations.
Regular militias were kept at a number of towns, comprising veterans and young men and women preparing for regular service. Due to its security, the region was a haven for merchants.
Laws
Military justice was prevalent in Archendale, and punishment for breaking the law was particularly harsh. Officers of the Ride had the power to charge or arrest lawbreakers, sentence minor offenders and bring major criminals to the Swords for judgement and sentencing.
Spying was severely punished in the Dale: usually by permanent exile and a confiscation of all goods, a sentence which couldn't be appealed. The isolationist Arkhenfolk tended to accuse strangers of spying to entertain themselves and to make outsiders fear them—this resulted in a variety of merchants visiting the Dale using false names and clumsy disguises, due to past suspicions.
In addition, the Dalesmen followed a couple atypical laws:
- No man could reveal the identities of the three Swords.
- The army patrols had strict orders to unearth anything buried by visitors, and confiscate it if it was of value.
Trade & Transport
Archendale was entirely self-sufficient, having scattered farmlands as well as apple and grus-grus orchards along the valley floor. The numerous streams were full of crawfish and fresh-water crabs. It also had a number of very profitable ore mines adding to the Dales overall exports.
Due to its self-sufficiency, only fancy, exotic or extravagant items were required to be imported. The wealthiest merchants in Archendale operated out of its largest city, Archenbridge. A number of trading costers operated out of the city. Among these were the Darkwater Brand, a merchant clan that traded ore from Archendale for finished goods from the Moonsea region; Jendalar's Fine Fruits, the company that exported the goods from Archendale's orchards and farms; and Mirksha, Mirksha and Mirksha, a company of three brothers that traded exotic goods from southern coast of the Sea of Fallen Stars.
Shellfish, fruits, produce, ores, timber
Exotic metalwork, silks, spices
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