Dwardle

From the Dwardleford mountain range, the Dwindle river falls through the alpine forests and winds through the canyons of Volfor, eventually emptying into the Great lake of Dwardle. Dwardle is the name of the merchant outpost on the shores of the lake.

The grand fishing in these parts must be seen to be believed; monstrous fish adorn the more piscine taverns, and uncanny tales of survival can be heard from many of the elderly fishermen of this town.

—Petra Humelin, Dwardleford and beyond: A wizard's rod and casting for fish.

History

The small fishing town of Dwardle sits astride the River Dwindle. Approximately 50 miles from Blademarket, Dwardle is one of the largest outposts of Volforian authority between Blademarket and the eastern border of the republic and The Frayll Wildlands.

Historically the area has been one that has thrived on the riches that the proximity to the fertile lands bordering the Dwindle river, the Dwardleford mountain ranges, and the great lake wainwards of the town. The river remains a reasonably safe and fast option of travel between Dwardle and Blademarket, allowing the flow of food, goods and merchandise east and west, from The Frayll Wildlands to Blademarket, Vol and beyond.

Settled many years before by pilgrims from Furangar, the Town has a storied history of pioneer spirit and adventure, tempered in recent decades by the protection offered by the new Republic. As the nearest town to the Great Lake, Dwardle occasionally lies witness to happenings and rumours at The Library of Tundmatusse and seekers of knowledge buried within the marble halls are sometimes seen, and warned, by the townsfolk of Dwardle.

Fully 600 years prior to present day, a rumour of a connection to the continent of Abbatchtka via the early formation of a network of merchants was created, and many traders blame poor luck on ill winds from the north.

Layout

The town is mostly situated south of the river, with two bridges fording across the Dwindle called Weft and Wain. Centrally, the town has a harbour district known as 'Quips which combines the political area and mercentile authority of the town, and the Mereton's building also functions as a harbour master and quartermaster's stores. South of the Quips quarter, a grey slate rooved area comprises the local residential district. A small Amahi guildhouse known by guildmembers as "The Swage" is situated in the Waterfens district to the south of the Wain bridge, and immediately west, or weftward of here is the "Shuffle", a common ground of fallow ground inside the town's limits. Whilst the 2nd Battalion of the Volforian Regiment commands a small garrison of troops in Dwardle, they remain quartered north of the river at an all too permanent camp known as Camp Dwell.

'Quips

The harbour district is the most developed area of the town, with the major landmark being the Harbourford House at which the quartermaster and the mereton of the town work. The busy district is one of quays and cranes, with reasonable road networks to and from the quayside. The Pureglee Trading Company retains a warehouse here for perishable goods that are required in other areas of the Republic, and several other merchants utilise storage warehouses for goods coming and going from the harbour. Of discernable landmarks in the Quips, the statue of "The Nameless Sailors" is the most noteworthy: a marble statue of a human, dwarf and elf standing on the prow of a ship, hauling a line and rescuing an unseen man overboard. Wainward of the quartermaster's office, the larger warehouses of the Pureglee Trading Company operate on the south banks of the Dwardle.

Waterfens

South of Quips, the Waterfens is a more business district of Dwardle. Here you will find the independent high street shops of Deckherdt Street and Pureglee Avenue where several stores and townhouses of note are found:

Pureglee Avenue:

• La Pharmacie Nautical, a famous apothecary and pharmacy.
• Prommes, a clothier.
• A franchise of Brewthan's International Original Dwarvish Forged Coffee Company.

Deckherdt Street:

• The Swage, The Amahi's townhouse and clocktower in Dwardle.
• Visti, a shop selling accoutrements of the magical persuasion.

The Shuffle

To the townsfolk of this settlement and for the edification of public health, it is expected that this hallowed land be henceforth protected by the codicils beneath. For it is just and right that the people must protect the land, and be allowed enjoyment in their recreations.

—Samantha Wadderslake, The Founding of Dwardle

An area of common ground which is left fallow as per writ of the founding of the settlement. An area of several town blocks that is a protected parkland in the middle of the town, with sparsely monumented areas and a lake. Maple trees grow in the park. The southern road outside of the parkland is known as the Royal Walk, historically the road that led to the old Kingdom's summer palace (now ruined) to the south of the town. Westward of the Shuffle, Market Drive is a larger thoroughfare that winds its way through the Dwardleford Mountains towards Blademarket.

The Riverside

The river Dwardle runs through the town, bisecting it into the larger southern section and the more esoteric and dangerous north. The banks of the river are locally known as Shamelegger's Walk (to the north) and Watchman's Shame (to the south). The latter is the road that leads to the old barracks of the town, which is now part granary, part bank and part prison.

Camp Dwell

The now more than temporary fortification for the 2nd Battalion of the Volforian Regiment that quarters outside of Dwardle. It has a tent and stone construction, with a central marquee with reinforced stone walls and wooden fortification walls around the outside of the fort. Volforian flags, and the regiment's insignia, fly from the towers that have been constructed here.

Taverns

• The Waterside Inn

Markets and Merchants

• The Quartermaster

La Pharmacie Nautical

Dwardle is famous for many things, and chief amongst them is its historical success in the fields of chemistry and agriculture. La Pharmacie, a famous apothecary and pharmacy, lies on the central Ruen Square of the town, and is notable for the large stained glass windows portraying the healing of the sick by one of the Abbatchtkan godtouched champions, Sera. Allegedly run by the descendants of this pilgrim, La Pharmacie is a family run venture which keeps a certain mystique around its business dealings. Mani Juste is the human owner of the business.

Prommes

Even the fishermen of Dwardle require clothes, and Prommes, despite its upmarket name and branding, is the go to shop for landlubber clothing in the town (the alternative being workwear from the Quartermaster's store.

Brewthan's International Original Dwarvish Forged Coffee Company

A recently closed down coffee shop selling substandard and expensive drinks purporting to be inspired by the finest coffees as grown in Abbatchtka is found Weftward of the Pharmacy.

Visti

Opani Sparo, a practicing wizard of the Library, operates a shop selling accoutrements of the magical persuasion.

Factions & Personages

Factions

• The Amahi
• The Concurrence
• The Obsca
• 2nd Battalion Volforian Regiment
• Tor Wessenir

Personages

• Mereton Goodmanner Littleswick
• Parthairn Tulli, Quartermaster of Dwardle
• Wintala Loramenor