Brindol

Overview
Brindol is a bustling metropolis in the heart of the Elsir Vale. Brindol is only second in size to the former capital city of Rhest. Merchants come from all corners of the Vale to do business inside the was of the river city. Not only is Brindol a hub of commerce, but it has historical intrest as well; for it was here the final battle of the Great Goblin Wars was fought. It was here where the agents of darkness were beaten back and defeated, for what all hoped was forever.

Population
6,700; another 1,000 live within a five mile radius. The people of Brindol are blend of all races of the land.

Government
The city has a council, two thirds of whom are hereditary landlords and the remainder of whom are guild masters from the city's important trade guilds.

Defense
The city has 200 soldiers under arms at all times, with about one-quarter on duty at any given time. The city also has a well-equipped, but poorly trained soldier's militia.

Economy
Brindol is well know for its production of fine wines and cheeses. The country side to the North yields olives and grapes. Along the river are many orchards of oranges and lemons. The South is rich with grain and wheat.

Tiefling caravans come to Brindol three or four times a year, bringing with them rare herbs collected throughout the year. It is this trade of herbs that has gained Tieflings a place of acceptance in an otherwise hostile social environment. It is these herbs that are the life blood of the city and the fuel of the economy.

Inns
Avandrian Hostel; Chatrenn and Sons; Pantashi Inn; The Red Door; The Silk and Spoon.

Taverns
The Antler and Thistle; The Blue Parrot; Brindol Gentlemen's Club; Cleftier's; Ilya's Cardhouse; The Marooned Schooner.

Major Guilds
Blacksmiths and Smelters; Prospectors; River Bargemen (Halfling Controlled); Teamsters and Farriers; Weavers.

Suppliers
Alchemy by Andronsuis (Currently Closed); Alpenglow Trading House; Gavriel Arms and Smithy; Staghunter Outfitters.

Temples
College of Ioun; Moondust Temple (Sehanine); Shrine of Bahamut (No Permanent Clergy); Shrine of the Open Door (Avandra); Shrine of the Sun (Pelor); Temple of Erathis.

Map Key

1. Town Gates
2. The Red Door
   
3. Pantashi Inn
   
4. Gavriel Arms and Smithy
   
5. Market Square
6. Teamsters and Farriers
   
7. River Bargemen
   
8. Avandrian Hostel
   
9. The Blue Parrot
   
10. The Silk and Spoon
    
11. House of Council
12. Chatrenn and Sons
13. Temple of Erathis
14. The Antler and Thistle
    
15. Staghunter Outfitters
16. Blacksmiths and Smelters
    
17. College of Ioun
    
18. Alpenglow Trading House
19. Eoffram Troyas Manor
20. Graveyard
21. Shrine of the Sun
    

The Elsir Vale

Overview

The Elsir Vale is a thinly populated human frontier. The vale stretches almost 250 miles east to west and averages about 70 miles north to south. Several small mountain ranges and dense forests form the vale’s borders. Major settlements in the valley are Dennovar, Brindol, and the Dwarven City Overlook.

Since the collapse of the empire, each community in Elsir Vale has acted relatively autonomous; several attempts to create a common government of the valley have failed.

History

The scattered human towns and villages of the area grew up along the Dawn Way, an important east-west trade road linking the heavily settled lands of the golden plains with the five cities and the coastal lands lying to the southwest. Much of the grain produced by the endless fields of the golden plain are moved towards the city of Ashtarlon. However, the presence of various monsters and raiders has impeded the traffic along the Dawn Way; fewer caravans dare the long and dangerous trek and those that do are heavily guarded.

Much of the Dawn Way was built by an ancient dwarf-kingdom that spanned the Wyrmsmoke and Giants Shield Mountains several thousand years ago. The Dwarves were driven out of this area by the advancing Orc hordes and only after the Second Orc War did they slowly repopulate the region accompanied by large numbers of human settlers. While the dwarven empire is long gone, its roads, bridges, and cisterns remain in use to this day.

Climate

The Elsir Vale has a temperate, midlatitude climate. It is surrounded by the Giantshield Mountain Range to the Northeast, the Wyvernwatch Mountains to the South and the Wyrmsmoke Mountains to the East. These mountain ranges tend to trap polar air in winter, making winters very cold and bitter; while summers are hot and dry, with the occasional intense thunderstorm. Annual precipitation is about 25 inches.

To the North and Northwest of the vale, lay vast plains populated by many marauding tribes of Orcs. These large stretches of land are quite arid, with an annual precipitation of 4 inches in the driest regions and 17 inches in the moister steppes. The vale has not seen an Orcish attack in several hundred years, mostly thanks to the Dwarven Fortress of Boridin’s Watch, Elsir vale has not seen an Orc attack in several hundred years.

It is currently mid-summer in the vale. Days are hot, with temperatures rising between 85° to 110° F. Nights warm with temperatures falling between 85° to 60° F. This is the dry season, with infrequent rainfall. When it does rain, it pours; flash thunderstorms and tornadoes are common when this happens.

Terrain

The borders of the vale are mostly, hills, mountains and forests, while the heart of the vale is a grassy plain. Every town in the vale is surrounded by numerous farms and hamlets. Beyond the civilized areas are vast rolling plains with infrequent hillocks and thickets of underwood and small trees.