Elturel

Elturel was a city-state lying on the River Chionthar in the Western Heartlands. It was a center for agriculture and trade in the region, and was renowned for its elite mounted defenders, the Hellriders. It was the capital of the realm of Elturgard, a theocracy of Torm the True and defended by its paladin knighthood, the Order of the Companion. While it remained an independent city, it was a firm member of the Lords' Alliance. Circa 1370 DR, a 30-strong squad of Lords' Alliance troops, contributed to mainly by Elturel and Baldur's Gate, were garrisoned in Port Llast to guard against attack from the growing threat of Luskan.   The hellriders led a charge into Avernus alongside a celestial army, many years ago. Unfortunately, they were scattered, and unable to defeat the devils within. Those that escaped swore an oath to protect Elturel, and formed the band of paladins which would ultimately come to be known as the Hellriders.   After the 1430s DR, a shining orb known as the Companion or "Amaunator's Gift" hung directly over the center of the city, never setting.    It disappeared in 1621, and it's location has been unknown since.