Town of Duvik's Pass

Nestled in the foothills of the Wyrmspine Mountain pass of the same name sits the small town of Duvik's Pass. While the settlement has existed along the banks of the Silver Claw since Duvik Doverspeak first established his ranching homestead 300 years ago, the discovery of silver deposits in the nearby northern Wyrmspine Mountains has led to exponential growth in the area over the last 5 years.

Demographics

92% human, 5% halfling, 2% dwarf, 1% other races

Government

Being that this region lies outside of the territory of the Sameliund Empire, the Pass Council is the governing body for the Sovereign State of Duvik's Pass, which encompasses all the towns and villages of the mountain pass region. The council meets three times a year in the municipal building at the center of the town of Duvik's Pass. The Councilman Prime (currently, Cristofar Sanders) resides in Duvik's Pass while the other council members come from the other settlements within The Pass.

The council hears all legal and civil disputes, as well as creates policy regarding trade and passage through The Pass. It grants permits for those who wish to come and set up permanent residence within the town's walls, as well as levy taxes on the businesses in order to fund the Pass Militia and other services.

Defences

The Pass Militia has been formed in order to defend from outside raiders, as well as to keep the peace within the region (and certainly within the town walls) of Duvik's Pass. The barracks and training area is located near the West Gate, next to the Temple of Heironeous, Duvik's Pass. The Blessed from the temple train alongside the Pass Militia and from time to time even help to fill out the ranks of the militia.

The town is surrounded by a large wall that has multiple gates that can be closed and fortified against raids. There are guards posted at each gate to loosely monitor the comings and goings of all who enter and leave. There are guards who police the streets daily to make sure that the general peace is kept.

History

The town of Duvik's Pass has a 300-year history, beginning with the small farming settlement of Duvik Doverspeak and his family, humans who emigrated out of the Sameliund Empire in order to make their own way. Duvik was a retired adventurer with a large horde of cash and an itch to invest in the future prosperity of his descendants. They sought to take advantage of the potential of the verdant land in the area to grow their food, as well as offer as a waypost for people traveling through the mountain pass between the human empire to the East and the elven protectorates to the West. The Golden Plains, as this region was once known, hadn't been settled in about 700 years, since the fall of the kingdom of King Helderoth.

Shortly after the family's homestead was established and began to prosper, the settlement was raided repeatedly by orcish hordes from the West. As a result, Duvik sent word to the Empire that any other potential humans with an entrepreneurial spirit should come to The Pass to seek their fortunes in exchange for helping to defend the area from orcs, hobgoblins, and kobolds. The call was soon answered, but not before the original settlers were forced up the mountain, taking a defensive position in a large mountain cave, using organized sorties and traps and rockfalls to defend themselves through the winter months.

The original settlement was razed to the ground. But when the winter snows melted, the spring brought more settlers and seekers of adventure and fortune to The Pass. Enough people with military and adventuring experience showed up that they were able to take an offensive rather than a defensive stance in the region. Eventually, they routed out the majority of the marauding orcs, trolls, and goblins. The remaining people were able to leave the cave and begin rebuilding a larger settlement at the base of the mountain, situated on the banks of the Silver Claw. The new and larger settlement was dubbed Duvik's Pass.

Natural Resources

The mountain pass is rich in natural resources. It has long been a farming and fishing community. The river is large and fast enough that waterwheels are set up for milling of grain, textiles, and lumber. There are multiple farms and livestock ranches that surround the town proper. And just recently, within the last five years, silver deposits have been found in the mountains above. This has caused a boom in both population and trade.

Maps

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  Duvik's Pass Map

  Overhead map of the town of Duvik's Pass, located in the Wyrmspine Mountain pass region of the same name.

Type

Town

Population

1,540

Inhabitant Demonym

Mixed

Included Locations

• Temple of Heironeous, Duvik's Pass

Owner/Ruler

Cristofar Sanders

Owning Organization

The Pass Council

Characters in Location

• Cristofar Sanders