Post by gamedave on Aug 29, 2014 14:55:52 GMT -5
CITIES OF THE SWORD COAST
The Sword Coast is rough and largely unsettled area. Still, even here, humans, dwarves, elves and halflings have established a handful of cities, carved out of a monster-infested wilderness.
The Court of Thorns and Flowers
The Court of Thorns and Flowers, the largest elven court of the Sword Coast, lies in the High Forest, the largest forest of the Sword Coast, in the foothills north of the Ironback Mountains. This court claims dominion over the entire High Forest, but exercises effective control over only a fluctuating portion of it, with the rest being overrun by goblins and other monsters. The Court of Thorns and Flowers itself is unusually open for an elven court, and humans, dwarves, halflings, and others all reside here, alongside the high elf aristocracy and the wood elf commoners. The Court produces the finest woodwork on the Sword Coast, and seedlings of its beautiful flowers and tough thornwood are highly sought after.
Cutlass Pointe
Cutlass Pointe is less of a city than it is a teeming hive of scum and villainy. It is built in and around a rocky promontory, which is itself surrounded by razor sharp, semi-submerged shoals. The landward edge of the promontory is rocky and all but impassible. The Sword Shoals around Cutlass Pointe are virtually unnavigable without either intimate knowledge or an extremely detailed map, but they also form a natural breakwater. The result is a terrible port for trade - but a terrific port for pirates. As a result, Cutlass Pointe is a haven for pirates, brigands, cut-throats, and rogues of all descriptions from throughout the Sword Coast and beyond. It is said that you can find anything you are looking for in Cutlass Pointe - for a price.
Karak Thrawn
Karak Thrawn is the largest Dwarfhold on the Sword Coast. It is located in the northern reach of the Ironback Mountains, and is well placed to trade with both the Court of Thorns and Flowers and the free city of Nerekhal. Technically, the dwarfhold of Karak Thrawn itself is largely closed to non-dwarves, but dwarves, elves, humans and halflings have built a substantial trade city just outside its gates.
Nerekhal
Nerekhal is the largest inland city on the Sword Coast. Situated in the forested foothills of the Ironback Mountains, it is built on minerals and timber - and dark magics. The current city is built on top of the ruins of an ancient city, rumored to have been part of a long-lost tiefling empire. Whether due to the influence of these ruins or mere coincidence, Nerekhal is infamous throughout the Sword Coast for its magic workers, who often specialize in necromancy, demonology, and diabolism. On occasion, the other cities of the Sword Coast (even the anarchic Cutlass Pointe) have banded together to put down an evil that was raised in Nerekhal.
Neverwinter
Neverwinter is the largest and richest city of the Sword Coast. It sits on one of only two natural harbors along the coast which are deep enough to receive cargo ships. Moreover, it is built upon a large field of hot springs, which keeps the city warm and the harbor largely ice free even in the depths of the coldest winters. This makes it the hub of trade for the entire Sword Coast. However, the city was devastated by a volcanic eruption twenty years ago, which nearly destroyed the city. It is has only recently been rebuilt to something approaching its former glory, and large sections of the city are still being rebuilt, and some areas are still in ruins.
Old Umber
The ruined city of Old Umber lies around the largest natural harbor on the Sword Coast. However, over the course of a century or so, it lost trade and population to the city of Neverwinter, which boasts hot springs that keep its harbor ice free even in deepest winter. It has now been abandoned for over a century, and has become the abode of brigands, cultists, and all manner of foul creatures.
The Sword Coast is rough and largely unsettled area. Still, even here, humans, dwarves, elves and halflings have established a handful of cities, carved out of a monster-infested wilderness.
The Court of Thorns and Flowers
The Court of Thorns and Flowers, the largest elven court of the Sword Coast, lies in the High Forest, the largest forest of the Sword Coast, in the foothills north of the Ironback Mountains. This court claims dominion over the entire High Forest, but exercises effective control over only a fluctuating portion of it, with the rest being overrun by goblins and other monsters. The Court of Thorns and Flowers itself is unusually open for an elven court, and humans, dwarves, halflings, and others all reside here, alongside the high elf aristocracy and the wood elf commoners. The Court produces the finest woodwork on the Sword Coast, and seedlings of its beautiful flowers and tough thornwood are highly sought after.
Cutlass Pointe
Cutlass Pointe is less of a city than it is a teeming hive of scum and villainy. It is built in and around a rocky promontory, which is itself surrounded by razor sharp, semi-submerged shoals. The landward edge of the promontory is rocky and all but impassible. The Sword Shoals around Cutlass Pointe are virtually unnavigable without either intimate knowledge or an extremely detailed map, but they also form a natural breakwater. The result is a terrible port for trade - but a terrific port for pirates. As a result, Cutlass Pointe is a haven for pirates, brigands, cut-throats, and rogues of all descriptions from throughout the Sword Coast and beyond. It is said that you can find anything you are looking for in Cutlass Pointe - for a price.
Karak Thrawn
Karak Thrawn is the largest Dwarfhold on the Sword Coast. It is located in the northern reach of the Ironback Mountains, and is well placed to trade with both the Court of Thorns and Flowers and the free city of Nerekhal. Technically, the dwarfhold of Karak Thrawn itself is largely closed to non-dwarves, but dwarves, elves, humans and halflings have built a substantial trade city just outside its gates.
Nerekhal
Nerekhal is the largest inland city on the Sword Coast. Situated in the forested foothills of the Ironback Mountains, it is built on minerals and timber - and dark magics. The current city is built on top of the ruins of an ancient city, rumored to have been part of a long-lost tiefling empire. Whether due to the influence of these ruins or mere coincidence, Nerekhal is infamous throughout the Sword Coast for its magic workers, who often specialize in necromancy, demonology, and diabolism. On occasion, the other cities of the Sword Coast (even the anarchic Cutlass Pointe) have banded together to put down an evil that was raised in Nerekhal.
Neverwinter
Neverwinter is the largest and richest city of the Sword Coast. It sits on one of only two natural harbors along the coast which are deep enough to receive cargo ships. Moreover, it is built upon a large field of hot springs, which keeps the city warm and the harbor largely ice free even in the depths of the coldest winters. This makes it the hub of trade for the entire Sword Coast. However, the city was devastated by a volcanic eruption twenty years ago, which nearly destroyed the city. It is has only recently been rebuilt to something approaching its former glory, and large sections of the city are still being rebuilt, and some areas are still in ruins.
Old Umber
The ruined city of Old Umber lies around the largest natural harbor on the Sword Coast. However, over the course of a century or so, it lost trade and population to the city of Neverwinter, which boasts hot springs that keep its harbor ice free even in deepest winter. It has now been abandoned for over a century, and has become the abode of brigands, cultists, and all manner of foul creatures.