Location
Beregost
Trade town on the Coast Way
A prosperous, unwalled trade town on the Coast Way, south of the Candlekeep junction and west of the haunted ruins of Ulcaster's school.
General description
Beregost grew from a farming village into an important caravan town. It contains roughly forty central structures and several outlying estates. Although unwalled, it maintains stability through trade, religious authority, and a pragmatic approach to passing armies.
Reference details
- Region
- Sword Coast
- Route
- Coast Way
- Settlement Type
- Trade town
- Ruler
- Kelddath Ormlyr
- Central Structures
- Approximately 40
Key facts
- The town grew under the protection of a wizardry school founded by the conjurer Ulcaster.
- Calishite mages destroyed Ulcaster's school in a spell-battle in 1106 DR, eighty years after its founding.
- The haunted remains of Ulcaster's tower stand on a hill east of town.
- Beregost has no walls.
- The temple militia of the Song of the Morning acts as the town guard.
- Fear of Ulcaster's ruins and the temple's control of the eastern grazing land have encouraged the town to grow west of the Coast Way.
History
Beregost began as a farming village under the protection of the conjurer Ulcaster's school. Ulcaster founded the academy in 1026 DR. Calishite mages destroyed it eighty years later because they feared both its growing influence and its pursuit of genie-binding secrets. Ulcaster vanished in the final spell-battle. The scorched ruins remain on a hill east of town, and stories of hauntings have encouraged later development toward the west.
Governance
Governor Kelddath Ormlyr, High Priest of Lathander, rules Beregost. A five-member council exists, but Ormlyr's decision is final. A former merchant, he promotes new businesses and agricultural expansion. Beregost remains unwalled because attempts to fortify the settlement have historically attracted attacks.
Pragmatic neutrality
Beregost preserves its independence by serving the needs of armies powerful enough to occupy it rather than provoking them. The town supplies such forces and waits for military events elsewhere to remove the threat.
The Song of the Morning
This fortified temple of Lathander stands on the east side of the Coast Way near the center of town. Its rose-red spires are visible for miles. The compound includes stables, refectories, guesthouses, and working outbuildings. A lay militia of roughly two hundred men-at-arms serves as Beregost's town guard.
Ulcaster's Ruins
The ruined wizardry school east of town is widely believed to be haunted. A wizshade is said to cast unpredictable spells at intruders, while a second spirit lures victims toward the cellars and attempts possession. Damaged wards, hidden chambers, and at least one magical gate may remain beneath the burned foundations.
High Hedge
High Hedge is a dark, turreted stone house northwest of Beregost belonging to the reclusive conjurer Thalantyr. A mated pair of griffons guards the grounds, and an unseen servant carries out errands and watches unwelcome visitors.
Thunderhammer Smithy
Taerom "Thunderhammer" Fuiruim operates this smithy with more than a dozen apprentices. He is a master armorer capable of forging plate armor and working weapons from unusual and exotic ores. He has also made fine metalwork for Thalantyr to enchant.
The Red Sheaf
The largest inn in Beregost caters to merchants who prefer quiet accommodations and private meeting rooms. It provides no entertainment and admits minstrels only as paying guests. Rumors place spyholes behind the meeting rooms and an abandoned smugglers' warehouse below.
The Burning Wizard
This fieldstone tavern occupies the rebuilt base of an old round tower north of Wizards' Doom Creek. It has no signboard and is commonly recognized by its crowded hitching rail. The tavern serves drink but relies on runners from Beregost's inns to fetch meals.
Key personnel
Kelddath Ormlyr is Beregost's governor and High Priest of Lathander. Thalantyr is a reclusive conjurer living at High Hedge. Taerom "Thunderhammer" Fuiruim is a master smith known for working rare ores.
Secrets and rumors
A secret passage in the Red Sheaf is said to lead to a smugglers' warehouse. Local stories claim Thalantyr once cleared drow from caverns beneath the area and sealed them with magic. The ruins of Ulcaster's school are rumored to contain dangerous phantoms and magical passages. The Craumerdaun merchant family of Amn breeds prized horses on an estate near the town.