DUNGEON MASTERMIND

New and interesting locals and hot spots dotted about Faerun!

LOCALS AND HOT SPOTS

BHELFALAS'S ODDITIES AND INSIDE JOKES: (Selgaunt, Sembia) A small shop located down an ally, around a corner and down two sets of stairs, Bhelfalas's shop is usually closed when visitors arrive. For a select few choosen customers it is open, however. Bhelfalas is a diviner and a so called 'Seer of Savras' and knows who needs and will be coming. He sells and hold items that seem to have little or no value to most people of Faerun but to a precise few the shop offers exactly what they've been looking for. Some examples are as follows: the stone head of the half-ogre, Griddon - a flask of Josh, the jaw of Dyrwyn - a set of brown bear jammies - Kal Duran's conscience (in a jar) - a photonic de-frogulator - a goblins head (curbed) in a jar - the old left hand of John the Marks with a gauntlet of Titan Strength over it - Fagsbane (longsword +1, +4 against Fags) - the head of Orom the dwarf in a jar - a large silver gong once belonging to Rung the half-orc - a barrel of Ship in a Bottle - the only known copy of Kal Duran's unfinished 12th level spell 'Kal Duran's Campaign Take Over' - a portable hole that reportably contains Flunaken Flanaken and a half eaten plate of greasy chicken (reportly unfinished by Randal Buckman, the day was slain by an orc).

BLACK HILL: (Albroach, Cormyr) Deep in the Storm Horn Mountains, nine miles south of Skull Crag, lies the hamlet of Albroach. It was here that the Lord of Shade Liches, Kal Duran, once made his abode on a small hill. The hill once held a silver tower that was later torn down and the spot burned black by peasants twelve years back and has remained black till this day. Clerics of Kal Duran consider this holy ground and a shrine has been built here in his honor.

BLUFFING CRAG: Little more than a tent town a days ride west of New Tilverton, Bluffing Crag sits under the lone mountain of the same name. It is a lawless place, full of Zhent's, mercinaries, Bedine traders, the occasional Shade wizard and often a contingent of Purple Dragons, which usually come as the closest thing to law and order in town. Bluffing Crag has no periment buildingsor any person who'se known to stay there longer than a few tendays. In winter times the Bluff may even disappear until groups of travelers once again begin to converge around the Crag in spring.

BUSTY BITCH TAVERN AND BOARDING HOUSE: (Busty Bitch, Western Heartlands) A small waystop three days ride northwest of Soubar, the Busty Bitch is run by an equally busty bitch, Sarah the Sharp, a mad knife obsessed woman who claims to be from the land of Aise (pronounce A-ya-ass). The tavern is dark and danky with a fine selection of ales, burnt food, a dusty old boarding room to stay the night in and is visited often by a number of half-orcs. Unlike many taverns, Sara the Sharp seems to encourage violence and allows figthing in the bar, as long as she pockets 25% of what they have on them!

CHATEU KAERASTIA: (Kaerast, Cormanthor) A large elvan keep over the junction of several road in the Cormanthor, Chateu Kaerastia was built by an adventuring band who sought to found a town near the Standing Stone. The chateu is a beautiful stone structure of many arches and towers built over the junction with hanging garden all over it. A seven story wizards tower, once belonging to the slain necromancer, Thryzzt the Drow, is built inside. The keep is owned by an elvan lord named Katal Hyrenparth, who has since left the keep to wanderlust. The keep is currently a travelers stop and is the home of a fighting academy called the Swords of the Moon.

CITY OF FROST: (Icewind Dale) A former Netheresse flying city that survived the fall by crashing into a Lac in Icewind Dale, Frost is occupied by one remaining resident, the archmage (lich) Frost, who'se gone mad with isolation and believes he is a small child. However, if threatened Frost can once again become a powerful opponent.

CLENCHING GAUNTLET: (North Ward, Waterdeep) A fine shop of smithy of exotic armors and helms. The Clenching Gauntlet carries medium to heavy armors made mostly of Mythril and Adamantite and a few magical wears as well. The prices aren't cheap and the shop is protection by several constructs for theives must be weary.

DUELIST ACADEMY OF JALANTHAR: (Jalanthar, Silver Marches) Built by the famed, Benjamin McGregor, greatest duelist in all 'the land', the Duelist Academy of Jalanthar was established in late 1372 DR after being liberated from the clutches of a hag trio and a legion of bugbears. Such Duelists as Earl of Earl and Mike the Rogue (in need of a more clever name) have trained here.

FLAMING TEMPLE OF KOSSUTH: (Jalanthar, Silver Marches) A small temple to the diety of flame is anything but ordinary. The temple cleric once held a similiar temple at Kaerestia, which was destroyed by angry water clerics. Hearing of the blight of the Jalanthar rangers against trolls, her cleric traveled across Faerun and established a new flaming temple with great regard!

FLYING LION INN AND TAVERN: (Trade Ward, Waterdeep) A fine tavern and inn by all standards but recently known as a dueling ring for Baltar Quickblade.

GARP ZINGLEDORFS FINE NOTHINGS: (Soubar, the Western Heartlands) A small shop on the main road run by a gnome named GArp Zingledorf which sells... nothing! Nothing sells for 1-10gp an ounce, an outrageous price for... well... nothing.

GORDON'S FINE TRINKETS AND TOYS: (Ashabenford, Mistledale) Visitors to Ashabenford can find this quaint littel shop nestled inbetween to larger, newer and more noticable shops in town. Gordon's offers a fine selection of unique childrens toys as well as a few magically inhanced toys like mobile illusions, flashing devices and self reading books for a good price! The shop is own and run by Gordan the Not so Great Spellcaster, respectavly.

JOE-NANS: (the Slums, Iraebor) A dark and danky dive of a bar and grill located in the slums of Iraebor, Joe-Nan's is run by the brother of the infamous CoNan the Barbarian! The small but smeltering bar is run by Joe-Nan; a short, fat and balding half-orc cleric of Yutrus. For a low price visitors can get thick oily slab of meat, a frothy beer or a low cost mug of Bitter Black Ale!

MARKS CASTLE: (Albroach, Cormyr) A multi-towered castle surrounded by three rings of walls over looking the hamlet of Albroach in the Storm Horns mountains, Marks Castle was built by the paladin, Sir John the Marks. With John's absence on a holy crusade for the last six years the castle has come under the protection of the Marks family, of Tilverton. Due to the destruction of Tilverton most the clan were killed by the Shades.

MORTIMER'S USED ZOMBIE EMPIRIUM: (City of the Dead, Waterdeep) A small shop once located in Undermountain now occupies an old tomb in the City of the Dead, in Waterdeep. The proprietor, Mortimer Cof, sells zombies that have suffered wear and tear for a low price! NOTE; many zombies here are armless, legless and even headless but as Mortimer proclaims. 'THEY'RE STILL ZOMBIES!'

QUAYLE'S DRY CLEANING - QUAYLE'S QUILL'S - QUAYLE'S QUAYLES: (Scornubel, the Western Heartlands) A block of three stores owned by Quayle the Really Smart (of Baldur's Gate fame) that offer moderatally price services to those in need.

RAMSHACKLE: (Two Goblins, Battledale) Across the road from the Tent in Two Goblins, Battledale, is the Thorp's only shop, the Ramshackle. The Ramshackle is owned and opporated by a strange seedy Mulhorani fellow who never blinks, shows emotion and always moves in a stiff posture. He sells used adventuring gear at a fraction of the price it would cost in a large town like Essembra.

SMOKING DRAGON INN AND TAVERN: (Smoking Dragon, Waterdeep region) Two days ride east of Waterdeep and another west from Amphail Village, the Smoking Dragon is one of the finest inns in all of Faerun! A long two storied building with a drooping roof of green dragon scales as shingles, matching walls and a curls stone chimney that 'smoke' with a dragons head gargoyle head on it. Visitors can find all the comforts of Waterdeep here, a few fine noble rooms and a good selection of ales and wines for a higher than average price. A small stables and blacksmith shop are adjacent to the Inn.

SHRINE OF TORM, TARG: (Targ, Moonsea) Seemingly just a small shrine of Targ a days ride southwest of Elventree, the Shrine of Torm is run by a full orc cleric of Torm named Targ. Origonally the shrine was started in Elventree but the elves and half-elves of the town protested of an orc cleric but allowed him to build the shrine a days ride away from their town. In that time a party of adventures settled here, building a few small cottages around it to create the thorp of Targ.

TORCH TOWER OF BERDUSK: (Berdusk, Western Heartlands) A seven story tower that stands over Berdusk with brilliant flame on top, the Torch Tower of Berdusk is the symbol and home base of the Torches of Berdusk!

TWO GOBLINS; TENT ON THE ROAD: (Two Goblins, Battledale) Nothing more than a large hide tent, purchased at Hap Hill, in a small clearing a days ride south of Aencar, the Two Goblins; Tent of the Road is an inexpensive albiet seedy rest stop for travelers in Battledale. Set up by two goblin brothers who got tired of raiding and ransacking, the tent was set up as a get rich quick scheme and ramshackle inn but quickly gained popularity as a dry shelter and a safe place. The goblins themselves, Jerkbrain and Snotguts, are brothers who amuse their guests with slapstick comedy and constant bickering. Staying at the tent costs 3cp a night which comes with a pot of slightly warm gruel, the meat of the month and what may or may not be bread. Visitors should be warned though that Jerkbrain and Snotguts are trained rogues and can handle themselves well in a fight.
In recent times the Tent has seen such famed visitors as Chad Jones, the wizard named Steve and a man who claims to be a chicken (polymorphed into a man). Across the road from the Tent a seedy, Mulhorandi fellow has set up a shop called the Ramsackle.

UNRELIABLE MAGICAL ITEMS AND SUCH NOTS: (Daggerford, Waterdeep region) A small shop that sprung up in town recently, were magical items that work only 5% of the time are sold for a 95% discounted price from the origonal price! The most interesting item here, says one Marco Volo, is an elvan longsword called the Sword of Slumber (Elvan longsword +3, 5% of the time the sword is sleeping, if chance calls when drawn or if it hits anything in combat the sword awakens. Once awoken the sword can use deep slumber as a 12th level sorcerer at will but under no control of the wielder. It is for sale for 25,000gp.)

WIZARD'S MARK INN AND TAVERN: (Albroach, Cormyr) A two storied log inn and tavern deep in the Storm Horn mountains in the hamlet of Albroach. The Wizard's Mark was built fifty years back, origonally called the Fiery Fighter but after a brawl left the proprietor dead the inn became the property of several adventurers, the Party of John the Marks. In time these adventurers dead or passed on to other forms, as in the case of Kal Duran, demi-power of Shade Liches and the inn is now owned by the Marks Family, who also hold the deed on Marks Castle nearby.

ZOOK GARRET'S MUSEUM OF THE HISTORY OF RADISHES: (Scornubel, Cormyr) A cobblestone structure, over shadowed by a giant balloon covered in thousands of patches and loose arrows shot by adventures, Zook Garret's Museum of the History of Radishes is an odd but interesting (if you're a gnome) attraction on the streets of Scornubel.