Longforge

Ruler: Duke Illuratum Idin Stryrkar Longforge Economy: Furs, Tanners, Smiths, trade in horses, cattle and the manufacture of chest and crates Militia: Standing force of 50 though in times of need 950, all able-bodied people will answer the call. Points of interest: Castle Longforge, Harvest House, Morninglow Tower, Witwer’s Bright Blade Smithy, Farrah’s Fine Jewels and Apparel, Korbenian's Jewels and Fine Ornaments, with three taverns worthy of a visit, The Lady Luck by far being the most well known followed by The Happy Manticore, The Junior Prince Tavern, The Ford, Hamlet of Bowshot, Waywaters, Lizard Marsh, Guildmasters Hall, Gélio Hollows, Estate of Hafgrim
Situated in the floodplains of the Delimbiyr River, Longforge is a small, walled, community of 40 stone buildings, dominated by the small caslte of the Duke. Sometimes confused with Longrun, another small community to the north, the resulting ditty of "Going to the forge or going to the run" has long been a local idiom in the same as "Watch where you are going" or "Watch your step" in other places. The town is situated on the south side of the ford. After the elves began their retreat from the North as the Ancient Noble Houses controlled the region and those who followed Hvall began to settle the lands. The First Duke Longforge, a former general of House Kinn, made his claim on the area and all territory bordering it. The First Duke was thought to lead by example and gained his ducal rights over 500 years ago during the events of the Godswar when he defeated The Great Murderous Manticore. Since his death of natural causes at the age of 102, his legacy and title have passed unbroken by the law of birth down through the centuries to the present day. The people of Longforge have ensured the safety of this sparsely inhabited, but strategic junction where the main route from Freehaven to the south crosses the Alfaios River, and it is the first truly civil sight for caravans and travellers emerging from the wild lands of the southern Long Road on their northern journeys since Bardusk. Today this self-styled city, really a town of about 300 folks, stands in the shadow of the castle of the Duke. The current Duke continues to claim his family’s traditional lands from the estate of Hafgrim south as far as the Kiboreia Mountains and the lands of Xenophon Tor, east to the edge of the Fells of the Forgotten, and west to the coast. Longforge forces actually control far less from about a half-day's ride north of Longforge, where their forces meet up with road patrols from Freehold at a small watering hole known as the Waywaters, east to the hills around the Gélio Hollows and south to the hamlet of Bowshot. These lands take in about 20 farming hamlets. The ducal lands are home to about 1,000 folk in all. The walled town, the largest stop on the way between Freehold and Ebonbed, is largely wooden buildings huddled in the lee of a hill crowned by The Duke’s Castle surrounded by grassy commons guarding the only bridge across the Alfaios River though the old ford can still be seen there, beside the bridge. It is home to human craftfolk, a few halflings, and a handful of folk who are surprisingly friendly and open to other races. The townsfolk have a charter from the duke that allows their own Council of Guilds, a masked council styled after the Lords of Freehaven, to govern the town. All able-bodied townsfolk must serve in the militia, although only a small number are normally on duty, spending most of their time on road patrols and ensuring a close watch is kept on the nearby Lizard Marsh. Longforge has temples to Chauntea and Anulil, and shrines to Tempus and Tymora. Chauntea’s temple is called the Harvest House and is governed by Lady Priestess Merovyna while the temple of Anulil, Morninglow Tower is under the supervision of Lightlord Liam Sunmist. The Ford is the busiest and closest of all the hamlets near Longforge, doing a lot of trade in horses, cattle, and repacking for merchants and drovers who don’t wish to enter Freehaven. Caravans are allowed to camp across the road from the town next to the aromatic tannery. Most merchants going into town to escape the smells and will find the hamlet ordinary indeed. The most splendid building of note there is undoubtedly the Guildmasters Hall. It is surrounded by the no-nonsense homes and shops of folk who work hard every day. Few seem to look for more in life than the next silver piece, with carpenters working busily making chests and crates, from lumber brought in from the Hamlet of Bowshot, and no less than three smiths who turn out everything from intricate locks to broad axes. There are also several jewelers who can’t hope to compete with the great cutters of Freehaven but will eagerly buy any decent stones they can get from passing merchants or adventurers. The local militia, under the stone-faced Thorgrima Ankidottir, is always hiring fighting folk as it is said the best swords are always being hired away by caravan masters, going off to the mercenary hiring fairs of Freehaven, or trying their hands at adventuring. The militia is always busy patrolling the claimed ducal lands and many youths and adventurers down on their luck have spent at least a season fighting brigands and the occasional predatory monster. Longforge is also home to a retired adventurer-mage, Bur-Suen, who dwells in a tower on the town wall and always has at least a trio of apprentices. He’s content to make a good living tutoring every wealthy Freehavian youngster who dreams of becoming a great mage. The youthful duke, Illuratum Idin Stryrkar Longforge, is seldom seen in town. He’s either out hunting or in the castle planning how to defend the land he has and enrich his family and his people by shrewd investments. There are recurring plans to dredge the river and make Longforge an important harbor but many suspect the duke thinks there’s no point in trying to compete with nearby Freehaven. A lot of travelers stop in Longforge at one time or another, many a tale has been told where it is used as a base to explore Freeport or launch on grand adventures from. These songs and tales tend to mentions a few local establishments including Witwer’s Bright Blade Smithy, Farrah’s Fine Jewels and Apparel, Korbenian's Jewels and Fine Ornaments, with three taverns worthy of a visit, The Lady Luck by far being the most well known followed by The Happy Manticore, The Junior Prince Tavern.

Type

Village

Location under

Ethigoviel