Daggerford

The castle town of Daggerford is the capital of the Duchy of Daggerford and the largest settlement along the Trade Way between the City-state’s of the Moonsea and The Kingdom of Cormyr. Situated as it is upon the the Anduin River (also called the Long River or the Shining River), the walled town serves as an important way station for both major merchant guilds and river barges carrying goods from the northern uplands to the major cities of the Savage Frontier and beyond.
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. It is said that taxes has been raised significantly to pay for Zhentarim mercenaries to help with the Giant threat.

History

The modern town of Daggerford owes its name to a mythologized incident that happened about 400 years ago. While fleeing the Second Occupation of Marienburg, an imperial caravan master sent his son ahead of the family wagon one evening to locate a safe passage across the Shining River. The boy located a large hill by the water, but was surprised and attacked by a party of Hobgoblins. The lad slew six of the creatures with his only weapon, a dagger, and held off the rest until reinforcements from the caravan arrived.
This may be pure fancy or exact truth or something in between. The dukes of Daggerford claim to be direct descendents of that boy on the hill. The coat of arms of the duke are represented by a bloody silver dagger on a blue field.

Architecture

Most of the buildings are made of wood and thatch, but since the arrival of the Ironeater Clan of dwarves over a century ago, a number of buildings have either been built or rebuilt in stone quarried from the Forlorn Hills or the Sword Hills or, in some instances, recovered from the ancient and forgotten ruined structures of Daggerford's past. Many of the cobblestones of the town's streets bear the rune marks of the dwarves or the legacies of forgotten kings. Over all looms Castle Daggerford, a forbidding arched stone fortress built upon the ruins of long-forgotten Morlin Castle.

Geography

Situated upon the flood plains of the Shining River and built against the side of a low hill, Daggerford is a walled town dominated by the castle of the local duchess. The town is strategically located at the mouth if the river which leads to a lot of trade and tolls from ships seeking access to the vast trade network of the Long River.
Daggerford has four major geographical divisions and is built in the same modern imperial style as was the custom of their ancestors. The first area is the town itself, which fills the western half of the walls. The second region is somewhat higher than the town and is known as the Commons, a large pasture used for the common grazing of local sheep, cattle, and horses. The third area, located at the center of the Commons is the castle of Duke of Daggerford. The fourth is the Daggerford Docks, east of the town walls, which is bustling with trade throughout the year.

Alternative Name(s)

New Marienburg

Type

Town

Population

3000-5000