Yartar
"Everyone in Yartar is after money or power—preferably both—in as short a time as possible." - VoloAt the intersection of the River Surbin and the Dessarin River and the Evermoor Way, Yartar serves as a fortified crossroads waypoint for caravans and merchants of all sorts. Yartar is also renowned for its expertise in river barge construction, their fine craftsmanship seen from Silverymoon to Waterdeep and along riverbanks between the two. The city has seen an influx in population lately with more and more merchants choosing to stay and setup their wares at the Fishyard rather than continuing on their way. With the increased population has come a steady rise in crime and shadowy business dealings as well. While the Waterbaron works alongside the Lord's Alliance to try and preserve the peace, the Hand of Yartar and other less well-intentioned factions continue to swell in membership and prominence as well. With the brewing tensions, the city's prominence as a whole has always been diminished and tarnished by vicious infighting and subterfuge. Since the Waterbaron serves for life, those who desire power often find means of disenfranchising the position's influence within the city. With conflicts and schemes constantly undermining the city from speaking with one unified voice, the Waterbaron is forced to rely on outside connections with other Lord's Alliance members to implement any meaningful change. And with some much competition between merchants, business is often loss and won by rumors, sabotage, or other underhanded means of hindering the competition. The Shields of Yartar, a coalition of 150 mounted guards work to keep the peace within the city and protect it from the threats of the wilderness and reside in Shield Tower, the massive keep to the west of Yartar.
Government
The Waterbarron is an appointed by vote position and the chosen individual serves for life. The current Waterbaron is Nestra Ruthiol.
Waterbaron's Hall: The Hall is the residence and court of the the Waterbaron. For petty non-violent crimes, a pair of stone stocks shaped like lions sit in the central courtyard on a raised wooden stage.
Defences
Shield Tower: Residing on the West Bank of the Surbin River, the barracks of the 150 Shields of Yartar, their mounted police and guard force. Often docks the Waterbaron's barge in their private covered docks.
The city is also surrounded by large stone walls with five well-guarded entrances into the city proper.
Industry & Trade
Yartar's main industry is the construction of barges which serve to transport goods along the River Surbin and Dessarin River. They also export agriculture, seafood, caravan services, and cheese. As such a pivotal point between the northern Sword Coast settlements of Silverymoon and Mirabar and southern cities like Waterdeep and Daggerford, a variety of goods of all kinds are constantly moving through Yartar.
Assets
Points of Interest
- The Grand Dame: A gambling riverboat with three decks owned by Lord Khaspare Drylund. Frequented by the nobles of Yartar and employing nearly 80 locals on any given night as cooks, servers, rowers, and crew.
Shops & Stores
- Eskilindrar's Maps, Books, & Folios: Operated by by the sage Eskilndrar, the shop is often dusty and disorganized with rare tomes and interesting finds to be discovered by those willing to delve into the haphazard piles and stacks.
- Firelast's Fabrics & Tailoring: A multi-generational tailor's workshop operated by the Firelast family. Sabien Firelast is the youngest tailor who runs the front of shop while his mother, grandfather, and aunts and uncles work in the back.
- Halassa's Waterwell & Fine Wines: Offering local and imported vintages and spirits, this shope specializes in elven and dwarvish imports. The cellars are a multi-leveled labyrinth and are secured with numerous locked gates. Halassa is a gnomish woman with rosy cheeks and a cheery demeanor.
- Hasklar's Arms & Armor: A standard armor and weapons resale shop rumored to be guarded by ghosts. Hasklar is a stout halfling perpetually in search of gossip.
- Lionshield Trading Coster: The franchised trading shop dealing with most standard general store offerings. Other locations in Triboar, Neverwinter, and most recently Phandalin. This branch is operated by Nort, an older human male who is hard of hearing.
- The Fishyard: An open air market with dozens of vendors offering all sorts of imported goods as well as local catches and delicacies. Beyond the menu of river fish from the Three Rivers available, one can also find Calimshan perfume in crystal bottles, home remedy potions, luxurious fabrics, and more unique magical components.
- Winter Winds: An expensive, but high quality clothing shop run by a pair of brother's from Baldur's Gate. Brothers are half-elves named Jarsariph and Jamelaeron Valmaris.
- Dannath's Pickles, Nuts, & Food: A high-end food supplies shop with homemade snack-sized delicacies and preserved goods perfect for travel. Dannath is a paternal elf.
- Gateway Bakery: Near the One Foot in the Boat tavern, a highly-recommended and increasingly popular lunch stop for sandwiches made with fresh breads and local catches. One of the only bakeries which specializes in thin flour and corn rounds for wrapping around the fish in a sort of open sandwich.
Inns & Taverns
- One Foot in the Boat: A mid-tier tavern frequented by adventurers looking for work or travelers between jobs.
- The Pearl-Handled Pipe: The best inn found within Yartar's walls. A massive structure that can hold up to 600 guests in the drinking hall. Lavish decorations included antique furniture, tapestries on each wall, and works of art throughout the halls and each private room. Operated by Elladuth Myristar.
- The Three Rivers Festhall: At the crook of where the River Surbin and Dessarin River meet, this festhall that's seen better days. The festhall is frequented by individuals from all walks of life who each have their own secrets. The bar is kept by Galsha, a female half-orc of imposing size with greying hair.
- The Cointoss: The local's rowdy gossip hall with some of the best food in the city. Anyone who could toss a coin through the eye slit of a rusty helm won their next drink free. Run by Tanataskar Moonwind.
- Wink and Kiss: A large tavern with its interior designed as a dizzying maze. Known to be under the influence and protection of the Hands of Yartar where their clandestine business dealings take place.
- The White-Winged Griffon: A creaking, run-down hostel known as Whitewings locally. Operated by a mumbling human man named Mavren.
Guilds and Factions
As a member of the Lord's Alliance, the Waterbaron frequently welcomes guests from other city-states to discuss ongoing trade deals and defensive measures.
The Zhentarim and the Harpers are both known to have a presence within the city as well.
Unique to Yarbar is the Hand of Yartar, which is a local thieves guild known to operate out of the Wink and Kiss tavern.
The Happy Hall of Fortuitous Happenings: A temple to Tymora. The temple frequently sponsors adventurers on reckless journies as it is considered honor to the goddess of good fortune to take risks and "trust in her luck to break one's fall." Adventurers can often stay at the temple free of charge with food provided for up to a tenday if they agree to take up a contract. Despite the chipper mood of many followers, their inherited building is rather dreary, more like a grim fortress sitting atop a small hill than a shining temple to luck. The architecture features a set of twin rising towers of dark stone with arched windows and is often called the Two Hap Fort hall or simply The Two.
Type
Large town
Population
6000
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