Anathar's Dell

The dell is settled by the Brightblade dwarven clan, two old humans families - Blacklock and Talop - and two halfelven families - Snowgold and Winterwood. The dwarves mine silver and emeralds, the humans and half-elves farm and are worshippers of Chauntea who support and are supported by the druids in the area. Members of the four families take care of the Chauntea Temple (No. 8 on the map) and run the brewery there. This village operates basically as a commune.

Map of Anathar's Dell

1 - The Brightblade Mines. Visible for the most part are only tailings and the massive, ornate stone entrance to the halls and mines of the Brightblade Clan. The Brightblade Clan, which founded Anathar's Dell, mines mainly silver and emeralds here. The clan also produces silver bars with a value of 25 gold lions that will be accepted almost anywhere in the Realms at face value.

2 - Stronghouse. This is a heavily fortified barn the Brightblade Dwarves built for the human and halfelven residents of Anathar's Dell. The families of the village graze large herds of beef cattle on the higher hills to the east of the village from late Tarsakh until mid-Eleint, weather permitting. The barn gives these herds shelter in the winter. But the huge walled barn also serves as a defensive fortress the residents can flee to in time of attack. A deep and bountiful well provides sufficient water, and the village's food cellars are beneath the stronghouse, with easily enough provisions stored there to endure a two-year-siege. In ancient times, the tower of the mage Anathar stood on this site. Anathar had an agreement with the Brightblade Clan to defend the village. He and a dragon killed one another when the dragon attacked the village.

3 - Dell Smithy and Stables. This business is run by the master dwarf smith Njolding (dm, fighter lvl 5, AL: LG), but his interest goes only as far as the smithy. An employee of his, the retired ranger Londa Warrin runs the stable and takes care of the horse trade for him.

4 - Guest cottages. See No. 5.

5 - Anathar's Hall. This friendly inn is run by a dwarf wife named Kharva. Food and mood are quite good in the inn. The main guest room still serves from time to time as the impromptu headquarters for Randal Morn's Freedom Fighters, and the rooms on the 2^nd story (European 1^st floor) serve as a barracks for the eight Freedom Fighters permanently stationed here. This inn is a communal operation. All food in the inn is provided by the local agriculture, including the beer, which is brewed in the temple brewery. The guest cottages surrounding the hall belong to Kharva's inn operation. A cottage can house up to two persons and costs two gold lions a day. These give the guests the right to eat and drink all they wish in the hall. No money changes hands in the hall. It is open to all local residents and to guest cottage visitors, all of whom eat and drink all they wish at no charge.

6. Dell Drawbridge. The bridge usually is down, but it is raised when trouble is expected and at night. One of the village's residents always is on duty in the small guardhouse at the bridge.

7. Valley Mill. Grain is milled and vegetable oil is pressed by the local worshippers of Chauntea. The mill belongs to the temple.

8 - Temple to Chauntea: Most of this temple actually serves as storage for grain and other produce, however, the druids of the area do lead services to Chauntea at the two solstices and the two equinoxes. Local worshippers of Chauntea maintain the temple and run its brewery.

9. Treehouse Family Snowgold: This tree is by far the largest oak in Anathar's Dell. The PCs may or may not notice a large treehouse high in this oak. Some members of the halfelven Snowgold family live in the treehouse and maintain a constant lookout from there, sounding an alarm, if needed. The Snowgolds also take care of the tigers who patrol the village perimeter.