Fort Leilon

Military Bastion of the Sword Coast Frontier

Built on the bones of something older. And not everything down there is done stirring.

Overview

Perched on the Sword Coast between Neverwinter and Waterdeep, Fort Leilon was originally constructed as a military outpost to protect caravans, coastal trade routes, and the town of Leilon itself. Though recently restored, the fort bears deep scars from past conflicts, magical disasters, and long-forgotten foundations.

Much of the current fortification sits atop the collapsed remnants of a far older structure—a subterranean complex of ancient stone, arcane chambers, and sealed corridors whose true purpose has long been lost to history. The fort’s foundation is uneven, riddled with bricked-up passageways, buried staircases, and echoing chambers best left undisturbed.

While officially deemed “structurally sound,” most of the lower levels remain off-limits or unmapped. Rumors speak of undead, whispering walls, and strange magical echoes that persist beneath the keep.

Relation to Leilon

The fort overlooks and protects the rebuilt town of Leilon, now growing under the governance of Lord Darius Vexmoor . Though nominally separate from the town, the Fort’s guard, vaults, and armory make it the true center of power in the region. Some on the town council quietly resent this imbalance—especially given the Vexmoor family's increasingly assertive presence.

The Fort and Town maintain separate leadership in name, but in practice, they are deeply entwined.

Notable Features

• The Old Vaults – Sealed during the Spellplague, rumored to contain ancient relics
• Collapsed East Wing – Still partially buried in rubble; unexplored and unstable
• The Watch Hall – Center of military coordination and the quarters of Captain Jareth Thornwall
• The Shrine Below – An ancient stone altar deep beneath the foundations, predating the fort itself

Known History

• Founded during the expansion of Neverwinter’s frontier, centuries ago
• Damaged and abandoned during the eruption of Mount Hotenow
• Occupied by cult forces during the Tyranny of Dragons conflict
• Reclaimed and restored in recent years with aid from House Vexmoor and Neverwinter funding
• Built atop pre-Netherese ruins, according to some scholars

Rumors & Theories

• The fort was built to suppress something, not protect something
• The sealed eastern wing leads to a vault that predates all known maps
• Lord Darius’s refusal to excavate deeper isn’t about safety—it’s about fear
• Arcane interference is stronger at certain times of year, especially near the old shrine