Bleachbone Pass

The Overland City Ruler: Lord Bron and the Council of Forty Two Merchants Economy: Horses, kegs and barges, beer, and bread Militia: The Shield, is 8,000 warriors strong Points of interest: The Avenue, The Stables, The Stockyards, The Caravan Paddock, The Warehouse Sprawl
This city is sometimes called the Overland City because it is the easternmost outpost and last stop before caravan traders embark on the trail over the rapids and cataracts of the Black Waters. Barges cannot get any farther upriver than its lower docks. Built atop a defensible ridge long ago, Bleachbone Pass today is a cramped city of many tall, crumbling towers leaning on each other or standing close together, joined by bridges and bristling with balconies so that most of the narrow, winding streets are left permanently in shadow. The stables, stockyards, caravan paddocks, and warehouses sprawl across the farmland around the ridge. Aside from an open market where the road enters the city, there are no open spaces left within the walls. Travelers are advised to beware the constant, many-layered, often violent intrigues between the many merchant houses, families, and cabals of the city. Like Freehaven went mad when it comes to merchant manipulations, chicanery, and backdoor maneuverings. Zhentarim machinations achieved the brief but iron-hard rule of the Zhentarim sorceress Lord Ravendas over the city. She attempted to unearth some sort of dangerous Shadowking and his shadow magic from beneath the city. Since that time, the Harpers of Bardusk have kept a close watch on Bleachbone Pass. The city is presently ruled by Bron. He was the peoples choice for his principles of fairness above all. He serves as the city’s judge and appoints and dismisses members of a 42-person advisory council. Lord Bron’s control is also aided behind the scenes in one way by the Harpers and in another by the official local thieves’ guild. The Lord of the Overland City manages to keep bitter merchant rivals from erupting in bloodshed from one wall to another. Visitors are advised to beware all the rivalries. Even experienced traders are regularly fleeced, though the dark days of throat-slitting and all your goods Zhentarim confiscations are gone, at least for now. Bron sacrificed his own position and most of the money of the time he headed at the time to buy mercenaries enough to slaughter the private armies that rival merchants were hurling at each other. The hatreds that fuelled the open warfare then, still simmer behind closed faces today, await any chance to come boiling bloodily out. The Overland City’s location and strong army make it a base or destination sought by many. The army, the Shield, is 8,000 warriors strong. For those who must deal in this den of commerce, there are numerous prominent places, shops, companies, and fashion-favored places to visit but those wishing to set up shop be warned as competition is strong and it is common to see the shop names change with every tenday.

Type

City

Location under

Ethigoviel