Travelling the Dalelands in 5th Edition
The Dalelands in 5th Edition
There are many Dalelands each with its own unique history and culture. On the whole, Dalelanders are distrustful of strangers. They have long been surrounded by enemies, with drow raiding from the north and Sembians marching from the south.
The recent loss of Myth Drannor has had a roll on effect amongst the Dales. Trade that once came through the Dales towards the city has dried up. The goods produced by the Dales most travel further afield, with far greater risk, than before. A weakened Sembia, which controlled many of the southern dales for decades, is still rebuilding and few merchants take their caravans this way. Trade has turned instead to the East Way, into Cormyr.
The various passes leading into Cormyr have become flush with caravaneers - and bandits. Men and women whose livelihoods have been destroyed now turn to banditry to survive. A good place for an adventurer to make money.
Diving into the Dalelands
Scardale
Population: 90,000 (mostly humans)
One of the few coastal dales, most of Scardale's people live with the large valley from which the dale gets its names: the Scar.
At the top of the valley lies Feather Falls. This beautiful natural feature marks the westermost reach of Scarsdale.
Following the valley you will find several towns including: Chandlerscross, Scarsdeep and Scardale Town.
About five thousand people live in Chandlerscross. In the 1370s DR, some hundred years before 5th edition, a plague wracked Scardale Town further down the valley and wiped out many of its people. In the chaos, Chandlercross was set up as the new place of goverance.
In 1421 DR, however, Sembia swept through the area and took control of the little town - and thus Scardale itself.
Much like Chandlerscross, Scarsdeep flourished in the fallout of the plague as many moved out of the devastated city. Scarsdeep was capture by Sembians with the rest of the dale.
Scardale Town, a prosperous if unruly port. The town lies at the end of the River Ashaba, thus connecting Scardale to the rest of the dales and much of Cormanthor. In 1421 DR, with the conquest of the dale, Sembia reestablished Scardale Town as a provincial capital.
Harrowdale
Population: 44,000 (mostly human)
Protected to the south by the Cold Field, Harrowdale is the other coastal dale. It borders the eastern forests of Cormanthor, sometimes spilling into the woodlands. Velarswood grows at the heart of the Harrowdale.
The marshy hills of the dale are criss-crossed by hedgerows, irrigation channels, and lined with orchards of apple, pear or grus-grus. Berries and vines grow plentiful in this region.
The largest city in the dale, New Velar, sits on the coast (population 9,000). For many years it had flourished with trade along the Harrow Ride but the destruction of Myth Drannor has put a serious wrench in those activities.
A temple to Eilistraee works out of the Velarswood, accepting all who would worship the goddess but primarily run by drow priestesses. These drow have little association with the drow operating in Cormanthor.
Featherdale
Population: 18,000 (humans and halflings)
Featherdale stretches out due south of the River Ashaba. It is technically not a dale itself, but instead sandwiched between two others. It's northern boundary is marked by the Feather Falls to the east and Blackfeather Bridge to the west.
Featherdale has no clear southern border with Sembia. In 1418 DR, it was annexed by the expanding empire, before being freed once more in 1489 DR due to international pressures. Only a few years on, the dale is still recovering from these decades of foreign rule.
Featherdale is patchwork of gently rolling farms. Waist-high fieldstone walls and haphazard lines of evergreen planted levees guard against flooding.
Tasseldale
Population: 10,000 (mostly human)
Situated in the valley east of the Dun Hills, Tasseldale is dotted with many halmets and small towns known as "tassels". Flat plains reach out towards the East Way and Rauthauvyr's Road.
After failing to peacefully take Tasseldale, as it had Featherdale, Sembia launched an attack on the dale in 1420 DR. The Tassadran resistence fell and Tasseldale was taken by the empire. In recent years it has been released due to international pressure.
The largest town in Tasseldale houses some fifteen hundred people. It lays a few miles off Rauthauvyr's Road and sees plenty of traffic headed towards the East Way. The picturesque town is set between two wooded hills, surrounded by lush gardens.
Battledale
Population: 30,000 (human and half-elf)
Bordered by the Dun Hills to the east, the River Ashaba to the west and south, and the Vale of Lost Voices to the north, Battledale - despite its name - is one of the most peaceful dales. Its people are spread far and wide, rather than congregating into large towns.
The most fertile region lies to the south, around the Pool of Yeven, but due to the large number of monsters and beasts, it has little in the way of farms.
Deepingdale
Population: 50,000 (humans, elves and half-elves)
A long, winding region, Deepingdale reaches as far as Glaun Bog in the east all the way to Winterhaven in the west. It skirts Semberholme, though in recent years certain elven settlements have sworn allegiance to Deepingdale, rather than Retreat to Evermeet. A good example of this is Bristar, near Lake Eredruie, and Moonrise Hill, on the Lake Sember.
The Ykslarin River and Glaemril (aka Deeping Stream) are the traditional northern border of Deepingdale, though that doesn't tell you much on the farer reaches.
Highmoon is the most significant town in Deepingdale, with a population of 8,000. The Lord of Highmoon serves as the de facto ruler of Deepingdale. It sits along the East Way, bustling with trade, either coming out of Cormyr or leading to Ordulin.
Outside of the occasional drow raid, Deepingdale has been relatively peaceful.
Archendale
Population: 90,000 (mostly human)
Sitting in the foothills of the Stormfangs, Archenfolk mostly reside in the easily fortified valley formed by the River Arkhen. The main way into the valley come through the south, by Archenbridge.
At the height of this valley is a small village known as White Ford. It you make it there, you'll find a winding mountain trail leading to Highmoon. Its not the sort of place you march an army, but certain enterprising merchants brave the trial every year and are willing to pay good coin to anyone who can make their journey easier and faster.
The valley itself, while defensible, could not maintain the large population that resides there. Arkhenvale is lush with apple and grus-grus orchards, but its rocky terrain makes farming difficult. Grain is imported from the neighbouring dales, as well as grown in the grasslands between the valley and the Archwood.
Archendale owes much of its wealth to ores they mine. These are sent down the valley to Archenbridge, where they are turned into valued metalwork by the local craftsmen and exported far and wide. There are about 8,000 people in Archenbridge these days.
The 1400s have proven to be tumultuous time for Archendale. The old rulers, a trivumvirate of skills soldiers known as the Swords, were discovered to be corrupt - serving the expansitionist Sembia. In the 1440s, they were otherthrown. There government has been struggling to land on anything solid since. As they say, instability breeds brigands, so keep one hand on your sword hilt and an eye on the cliffs.
Mistledale
Population: 34,000 (human and dwarf)
Mistledale is a long stretch of plains leading down from the Heartwood, over the River Ashaba, across miles of open grassland, all the way to Tilver's Gap in the Thunder Peaks
Most of the population of Mistledale lies to the north, along the River Ashaba. Ashabenford is the capital city of the dale, with many smaller towns scattering the lowlands nearby.
The only other significant holding in the south is Peldan's Helm, a hamlet of 80 or so, mostly human.
Shadowdale
Population: 16,000 (human, half-elf and elf)
Shadowdale is one of the largest of the dales. It extends from Voonlar beyond the Greentree, across the River Ashaba, passed the Spiderhaunt Woods, through to the Shadow Gap in the Thunder Peaks.
It's primary settlement, however, is likewise known as Shadowdale. It is surrounded by light woods and sits on the banks of the River Ashaba.
These large swath of land is speckled with many ruins: from ancient drow inhabitants to towers once belonging to power wizards.
For all the grand heros born in Shadowdale, the region is mostly peaceful. The hubbub of previous centuries has long since past.
Daggerdale
Population: 15,000 (human and dwarf)
Long ago known as Merrydale, it has rightfully lost this misleading name. Daggerdale sits in the Dagger Hills along the edge of the Desertmouth Mountains, reaching down into the Tarkhen Hills. The dale is known for its dark forest and rocky outcrops.
The seat of the Lord of Daggerdale, lies at Dagger Falls in the northern reaches of the region. Dagger Falls sits high along the River Tesh. A large castle stands tall at Dagger Falls, with a surrounded settlement of 2,000 people.
Everyone else lives in small, isolated halmets who don't take kindly to strangers. Bandits, monsters, raiders and miscreants are common in the area, so naturally folk are distrusting of any face they don't find familiar. And sometimes even then.
You're as likely to find a dagger in his back as make a handsome deal in these parts.
Castle Daggerdale has recently been rebuilt, establishing a tad more law and order in the southern belts for a time. However in the last decade and a half the Cormaeril family that funded those operations have been dealing with a lycanthrope problem and haven't been all that occupied with the common folk.
High Dale & Cormyr
Unlike the other dales, High Dale is found on the southern side of the Thunder Peaks.
From the northern Dales, the best access is through the Thunder Gap along the East Way. If coming from the southern Dales, you are best to cross the River Arkhen and makes your way through Saerb along the Dawnpost, then turn north.
Due to their location, High Dale has long been faced with different issues than the other dales. For this reason, they've come to align themselves with Cormyr in recent years. Purple Dragon Knights have been operating in the region for seventy years now.
If you're hoping for civilisation in this area, you best strike out for High Castle and its surrounding town.