Fallcrest

A small town built from the ruins of a larger city, Fallcrest is the crossroads of the Nentir Vale located in the southeastern portion of the Nether Mountains. It sits along the Nentir river, a small river that flows directly from the Talons into the River Delimbiyr. Pop ulation: 1,350; another 900 or so live in the countryside within a few miles of the town. The people of Fallcrest are mostly humans, halflings, and dwarves. No dragonborn or eladrin are permanent residents, but travelers of all races pass through on occasion. Gov ernment: The human noble Faren Markelhay is the Lord Warden (hereditary lord) of the town. He is in charge of the towns justice, defense, and laws. The Lord Warden appoints a town council to look after routine commerce and public projects. Def ense: The Fallcrest Guard numbers sixty warriors, who also serve as constables. Moonstone Keep is their barracks. The Lord Warden can call up 350 militia at need. Inn s: Nentir Inn; Silver Unicorn. The Silver Unicorn is pricier and offers better service; the Nentir Inn sees a more interesting clientele. Tav erns: Blue Moon Alehouse; Lucky Gnome Taphouse; Nentir Inn taproom. Sup plies: Halfmoon Trading House; Sandercot Provisioners. Tem ples: Temple of Gond; Moonsong Temple (Selune); House of the Sun (Amaunator).

Locations of Interest
1. T  ower of Waiting This old fortification was built on a small island in the Nentir to guard the city from any waterborne attack from the sea (which lies 15 miles to the north). It fell into ruin even before the sack of the old city, and now is little more than an empty shell overrun by mice and birds. 2. T  he Quays Boats arriving in fallcrest from upriver stop here and offload their cargo. A surly dwarf pugilist named Barstomun Strongbeard runs the porters guild, and he takes a cut of any wages paid to laborers carrying cargo. 3. F  ive-Arch Bridge Dwarf artisans from Hammerfast built a fine stone bridge over the Nentir River 200 years ago. Although the bridge was destroyed when Fallcrest fell, the great stone piers supporting it remained intact, so a few years back the people of the town laid a new timber trestle over the old stone footings. A small toll house guards the western side of the bridge. Five Fallcrest guards under the command of Sergeant Thurmina watch this post. They collect a toll of 1 cp per head (and 1 sp per mount) making use of the bridge in either direction. The river current begins to pick up on the south side of the bridge. Boats (or swimmers) venturing far from the banks are in danger of being carried over the falls. 4. O  ld Nentir Inn A fine new building constructed of fieldstone and strong timber, the Old Nentir Inn stands on the west bank of the river. A good room with two single beds goes for 5 sp per night. The Old Nentir Inn also boasts a lively taproom, which is popular with the folk who live in the vales on the west bank of the river. The proprietor is a charming half-elf named Erandil Zemoar who showed up in Fallcrest one day about two years ago, bought land, and built an inn. 5. T  he Frozen Gate Fallcrests northern city gate is known as the Frozen Gate, because it faces north, and in the past was

subject to completely freezing over during the winter. Local legend accounts this to a curse from Auril when a priest of hers had been denied access to the city after a night of drunken misbehaving. His subsequent departure and sudden winter storm led to his demise just outside of the gates. But this of course... is mere legend. The gate consists of strong outer doors of iron-reinforced timber and an inner portcullis between a pair of small stone towers. The portcullis is normally lowered at sunset, and the gates close only in times of danger. The gatehouse barracks accommodates five Fallcrest guards plus Sergeant Nereth, who commands this gate. 6.  Silver Unicorn Inn For many years, the Silver Unicorn has billed itself as the Pride of Fallcrest, charging high rates for its attentive service and well-appointed rooms. The recent opening of the Old Nentir Inn put a big dent in the Silver Unicorns business, and the owner, a stern halfling matriarch named Wisara Osterman, strongly disapproves. A room in the Silver Unicorn costs 2 gp per night. 7.  Halfmoon Trading House The Halfmoon family is a large, far-flung clan of halflings who run the Halfmoon Trading Coster a large trading concern based in Baldurs Gate, with tradehouses throughout Waterdeep, Evereska, and Arabel. The Fallcrest tradehouse is under the care of Selarund Halfmoon, a halfling of middling years and friendly disposition. The Halfmoon Trading House is an excellent place to buy any of the mundane tools, gear, supplies, or clothing mentioned in the Players Handbook. 8.  Moonstone Keep The seat of Lord Warden Faren Markelhay, Moonstone Keep is an old castle that sits atop a steep-sided hill overlooking the town. The outer bailey includes barracks housing 60 Fallcrest guards. At any given time about 20 or so are off-duty. Other buildings in the courtyard include a stable, an armory, a chapel to Sehanine, a smithy, and several storehouses. The keep is the large D-shaped building at the north end of the castle. 9.  The Tombwood Along the southern slopes of Moonstone Hill grows

a large thicket that has never been entirely cleared. Within its tangled paths lies the old castle cemetery (now heavily overgrown), as well as a battle-mound dating back centuries. Most folk avoid this place. 10.  House of the Sun When Fallcrest was a larger city, it supported several good-sized temples located in the Hightown district. With the towns depopulation, several of these were abandoned, including the House of the Sun, a temple dedicated to Amaunator. Six months ago, a zealous dwarf priest of Amaunator named Grundelmar came to Fallcrest from Hammerfast and reestablished this old temple. Grundelmar is loud and opinionated, a real fire-breather who goes on and on about smiting evil wherever it might lurk. The house of the Sun also includes shrines to Tempus and Bahamut. 11. H  ouse Azaer The Seven Moons Trading coster a small, well-off trading company based out of Cairnholdis owned by the tieflings of House Azaer. They import goods (including arms and armor) from Hammerfast, Silverymoon, Waterdeep, and Amn, and organize caravans to many of the smaller communities of eastern Luruar. House Azaer is an excellent place to purchase nearly any mundane equipment from the Players Handbook, although its prices are a little on the high side (add 10% to the cost of all items). The striking, ravenhaired Amara Azaer is in charge of the house business in Fallcrest. 12. N  entir Falls Here the Nentir River descends nearly 200 feet in three striking shelf-like drops. On the small island in the middle of the falls stands the statue of an ancient human hero named Vendar, holding up his hand as if to challenge enemies approaching from downriver. Local legend tells that Vendar slew a dragon whose lair was hidden in caverns beneath the falls. 13. T  emple of Gond This large, impressive stone temple is finished with Fallcrests native marble. Its chapel is a large rotunda with a 30-foot-tall dome. The temple of Gond is the largest and most influential temple in town. The

place also includes shrines to Oghma and Moradin. High Priestess Dirina Mornbrow oversees two lesser priests and several acolytes. Dirina is a woman of about sixty who is convinced of the superiority of Gonds dogma, and disappointed that more people in Fallcrest dont pay proper reverence to our citys patron god. 14.  The Bluffs Fallcrest is divided in half by a great cliff snaking northwest to southeast across the town. The bluffs average 150 to 250 feet in height. They are not strictly vertical, but are too tall and steep to be easily climbed. 15.  The Catacombs The limestone bluffs between Hightown and Lowtown hold a number of caves, which the folk of Fallcrest have used as burial crypts for centuries. As caves fill up, they are walled off and forgotten about. Naturally, stories abound in town about treasure hoards hidden away in the crypts, and the restless undead that guard them. 16.  Moonsong Temple The third of Fallcrests temples is devoted to Selune. The temple also includes shrines to Corellon, Silvanus, and Tymora. The Markelhays regard Selune as their special patron, and over the years they have given generously to the temple. The temple occupies a commanding position atop the bluffs, and its white minarets can be seen from any corner of Lowtown. The leader of the temple is High Priest Ressilmae Starlight, a wise and compassionate elf who finished adventuring decades ago and retired to a contemplative life. He is a musician of great skill who happily tutors the local children, even those who are poor and cant afford to pay for their lessons. 17.  Fallcrest Stables Lannar Thistleton owns this business, providing travelers with tack, harness, stabling, shoeing, wagons, and just about anything dealing with horses, mules, or ponies. He keeps a larger corral at his farm about a mile outside of town, and at any given time Lannar has several riding horses, draft horses, or mules in his paddock near Wizards Gate. The halfling is a friendly fellow of about 50, with a

large brood of children at his farm out in the countryside. 18. W  izards Gate Fallcrests eastern city gate is known as Wizards Gate, because its the gate most convenient to the Septarchs Tower (location 22). The road to the east travels a few miles into the surrounding hills, linking a number of outlying farms and homesteads with the town. The gate resembles Knights Gate in construction, and is similarly watched by a detachment of five guards and a sergeant. The leader of this detachment is Sergeant Murgeddin, a one-armed dwarf veteran who fought in the Bloodspear War and was present at the Battle of Gardbury, where Fallcrests army was defeated. 19. N  aerumars Imports Considered the finest of Fallcrests retail establishments, Naerumars Imports deals in gemstones, jewelry, art, and magic trinkets. The owner is Orest Naerumar, a tiefling who displays impeccable manners and discretion. Orest corresponds with relatives and colleagues in several towns and cities outside the Nentir Vale; given a few weeks, he can order in low-level magic items or other items of unusual value. Similarly, Orest purchases interesting items such as these, since other dealers in distant towns or cities might be looking for them. Orest doesnt ask questions about where characters in his store found the goods theyre selling to him, but he is not a fenceif he knows that something was obtained illegally, he declines to purchase it. 20. K  amroth Estate This is the home of the self-styled lord Armos Kamroth, a wealthy landowner who collects rents from scores of farmers and herders living in the countryside nearby. Armos is a brusque, balding man of about 50 who makes a show of loaning money in good faith and exacting only what the law allowsthough somehow he has quietly bought up dozens of free farms over the years and turned their owners into his tenants. 21. M  oonwash Falls A small, swift stream known as the Moonwash flows through Fallcrest to meet the Nentir River. The

stream is rarely more than 20 feet wide or 5 feet deep. The towns children love to play in the pool at the base of the falls in the summertime. 22.  Septarchs Tower This lonely structure is a tall, seven-sided spire of pale green stone that doesnt match anything else in the town. In the days before the Bloodspear War, this was the seat of Fallcrests mages guildan order of a dozen or so wizards and arcane scholars. Defensive enchantments prevented the orcs from sacking the tower, but the guilds members died fighting for the city or fled to safer lands. The tower is now the property of Nimozaran the Green, an elderly wizard who was once apprenticed to the last of the old guild mages. 23.  Blue Moon Alehouse This brewhouse on the banks of the Moonwash Stream is the best tavern in Fallcrest. The owner is a nervous, easily flustered fellow of fifty or so named Par Winnomer. The true genius behind the Blue Moon is the halfling brewmaster Kemara Brownbottle. She is happy to let Par fret about running the taphouse, while she spends her time perfecting her selection of ales and beers. The Blue Moon is popular with halfling traders whose boats tie up along the Lower Quay, well-off town merchants, and the farmers who live in the countryside. 24.  Teldorthans Arms The dwarf Teldorthan Ironhews is the towns weaponsmith and armorer. He is a garrulous old fellow who spends his time trading stories with his customers with a pipe clenched in his teeth, while his apprentices (two of whom are his sons) do the work. Make no mistakeTeldorthan is a master armorer, and under his supervision his apprentices turn out work of exceptional quality. Teldorthan has in stock (or can soon manufacture) just about any mundane weapon or armor found in the Players Handbook, although he advises beginners to try a hammer: If you can drive a nail, you can kill an orc! You can drive a nail, cant you? 25.  South Gate Fallcrests southern gate was destroyed in the attack that devastated the city long ago, and it still has

not been entirely rebuilt. One of the two paired towers is nothing but rubble, and several large gaps remain in the town walls south of the bluffs through which anyone could enter the city. Despite its lack of functionality, the South Gate is still used as a guardpost by the Fallcrest guards. Sergeant Gerdrand is in charge here; he is a tall, lanky man who doesnt say much, answering questions with a grunt or a shake of the head. 26.  The Market Green The majority of Fallcrests folk live above the bluffs in Hightown and walk down to do business on the streets of Lowtown, which bustle with commerce. This wide square is an open, grassy meadow where Fallcrests merchants and visiting traders do business in good weather. The towns children gather here for games of tag or kick-stones. 27. S  andercot Provisions The largest general store in Fallcrest, Sandercots deals in just about anythingfood, clothing, stores, rope, tools, gear, leather goods, and more. Compared to the Halfmoon Trading House, Sandercots has slightly cheaper prices but goods of somewhat lower quality (prices are 10% less, but are poor quality and tend to break easily). The owner is Nimena Sandercot, the widow of the late and unlamented Marken Sandercot. 28. L  ucky Gnome Taphouse The Lucky Gnome is widely regarded as the cheapest and coarsest of Fallcrests drinking establishments. It caters to the porters and laborers who work the nearby docks, and fistfights are a nightly occurrence. The owner of the Lucky Gnome is an unsavory character named Kelson who is rumored to have ties to the River Rats, a small street gang that plagues Lowtown. 29. T  enement Houses These four wooden, three-story buildings are home many of Lowtowns commonfolk. The apartments are small and rather squalid, but the rent is cheap (1 sp per month). All four are owned by Armos Kamroth.

30.  Harenvals Tower This former guard tower on the west bank of the Nentir River was claimed by the famous adventurersage Harenval some 30 years ago. Here the old sage passes his time writing his memoirs and raising spiretop drakesmuch to the dismay of neighboring farmers who complain the creatures raid their chicken coops on a regular basis. Though venerable and slightly senile, Harenval remains a friendly and whimsical personality.

Ela drin Eladrin are not often seen in Fallcrest. Some of the old manors in the Moon Hills and the nearby parts of the Vale were once the homes of well-off eladrin families; a player character eladrin might hold the title to an abandoned estate a mile or two out of town, which provides a good reason to call on Lord Markelhay. Elf Elves are also scarce in Fallcrest, but a small number reside in and around the town. Ressilmae Starlight of the temple of Selune might be a relative or an old friend of an elf character. Elves from outside Fallcrest might be from the High Forest or the Far Forest. Half-Elf A small number of half-elves reside in Fallcrest or the vicinity. Most are well-off farmers or herders living in the Moon Hills near the town; the rest are expert artisansjewelers, tailors, or woodworkersin the town. A half-elf player character can be the child or relative of a Fallcrest family. Halfling Halflings are the most numerous people in Fallcrest aside from humans, and they come from any walk of life. A Fallcrest native might be related to the Halfmoon family, the Ostermans of the Silver Unicorn, or the Thistletons of Fallcrest Stables. Halflings descended from the traders who pass through Fallcrest can be members of the Swiftwater clan. Human Most of Fallcrests people are human. Characters with rural backgrounds likely grew up on the farms in the nearby Moon Hills. Characters with an urban upbringing might be the children of well-off landowners such as the Kamroths, or ruffians and sellswords who had a hard childhood in Lowtown. Tiefling Two tiefling families and a few individuals live and thrive in Fallcrest, including the Azaers and the Naerumars. Bael Turath artifacts and remanants have started appearing more frequent in the past 100 years. Many believe with the rise of the Netheril Empire and the Spellplague to be the cause for the lost civilization to become more prominant.

PC Backgrounds
Just some material to chew on before the campaign begins. PC background can either be that you have lived at Fallcrest your whole, life or if you are of a special race such as Dragonborn or Eladrin then you have to make a backstory which shows you as a traveler or someone newly arrived since these races dont make permanent residence inside of Fallcrest. We will work your PCs stories so that you may know one another to create a good connection and reason to travel together. Before

RACES
Dra gonborn: No dragonborn are native to Fallcrest, but travelers occasionally pass through and take up work for a time, especially as bodyguards or caravan guards. The Halfmoon halflings, House Azaer, and the importer Naerumar have work available for a capable adventurer. Dwa rf A fair number of dwarves live in Fallcrest, so a dwarf character could easily be a native of the cityperhaps a relative of Teldorthan Irontooth. If not, the nearest dwarven homelands is Hammerfast, Mithral Hall, and while a predominantly human city, Sundabar; a weeks travel distant. Merchants and crafters from Hammerfast travel to Fallcrest to trade or work, lodging in one of the local inns for a few weeks.

Classes
Cleric Since there are temples of Gond, Amaunator, and Selune in town, a player character cleric devoted to one of these deities would naturally have allies and colleagues here. Fighter Fallcrest is a trading town, and merchants need bodyguards or caravan guards when they set out for distant towns. The Halfmoons or House Azaer might employ a fighter. Fighters from betteroff families might be retainers in the service of the Markelhaysyoung court blades who are a cut above the typical garrison guard. Paladin As with clerics, paladins devoted to Gond, Amaunator, or Selune have natural allies in the temples of Fallcrest. In addition, paladin characters might also be aspiring knights sworn to the service of the Markelhay family. Ranger Many of the countryside folk living around Fallcrest are foresters and hunters; a ranger character could easily belong to one of these families. Rangers who arent natives might hail from the High Forest, the Far Forest or the remote village of Nenlast to the northeast. Rogue Members of groups such as the porters guild or the River Rats are natural associates of a player character rogue. Capable people are in high demand anywhere, and a rogue might also fit in as an agent of a merchant house such as the Halfmoons or the Azaers. Warlock The folk of Fallcrest regard warlocks as they do wizardsmysterious figures to be treated cautiously. Well-off merchants or nobles often

retain a house mage to advise them in magical matters, so a warlock could easily work for the Markelhays, Amros Kamroth, or other wealthy individual. Warlord Like fighters or paladins, warlords might be attached to the Markelhay household. Those of lower stature can serve as sellswords or agents of merchant companies such as House Azaer. Wizard A player character wizard might be an apprentice to Nimozaran, of the Septarchs Tower. Lady Markelhay is also a skilled mage and might take a wizard character into her confidence.

ir Nent

Vale

Nen tir

Rive

Kobold Hall