Hammer Hold
Location
The Dwarven run "free town" of Hammer Hold is located at the borders of the Welcome Hills and the southernmost edge of the Hammer Peaks (the mountain range which runs down the centre of Thorast).
Population
As of the last census the town had a recorded population of just over 2,700 which about half that of Wayfarer's Rest but only around two-thirds of that number are permanent residents of the town itself. The other third live in nearby settlements scattered around the surrounding hills but close by (within a couple of kilometres) such as Stonehall and Flintstone. The town is predominantly made up of Dwarves (70%), Humans (10%), Orcs (10%) and a small number of the other major races (a half-dozen or so each of Ymirkin, Elves and Gnomes plus a few Goblins and Tieflings).
Description
Defences
Hammer Hold is nestled high in the hills leading to the Hammer Peaks and so has certain strategic value anyone who might be tempted to seize it. Luckily it has little real material wealth and, coupled with its high stone walls and "neutral" status, it is not a very appealing target to any of the local bandits. The town is defended by the "Armsmen" - its moderately well-funded Town Watch - run ably by Pauldrak Redblade. The number of Armsmen fluctuates but is typically three dozen Dwarves and Humans.
Additionally, Hammer Hold is also within the 'catchment' area for Fort Basilisk and so can call upon up to 4 Cohorts of the Imperial Army should matters get really out of hand. In order to ensure safety along the roads, Fort Basilisk stations 2 contubernia of legionnaires at Hammer Hold. These are rotated out every 30 days and are not permitted into the town itself, only in the garrison section. Despite the presence of these men the roads are not appreciably safer but it does mean that the town has a small force that they can quickly call upon should the need arise.
Inns and Taverns
For a town of its size, Hammer Hold has surprisingly few inns or taverns. This is because the town is not somewhere that travellers randomly come to, for obvious reasons. In total the town has just 2 inns (although both are of a fair size) and 3 taverns.
Inns:
Taverns:
Notable Places
The town consists primarily of mausoleums, tombs and temples. In town there are temples to:
Notable People
For a moderately small town, Hammer Hold has more than its fair share of notable people. The ones that visitors to the town are most likely to interact with are:
- Ulara Carawicz - Tavern Owner
- Kryll Flesheater - Tavern Owner
- Pauldrak Redblade - Master of Arms
- Ferris Rhodal - Innkeeper
- Norrick Steelmantle - Innkeeper
Acknowledgements
The design of the town of "Hammer Hold" is taken directly from the "Hammerfast" 4th Edition D&D supplement by Mike Mearls and hence the maps of the town are © WotC 2010. Hammer Hold's history, buildings, guilds and NPCs do deviate significantly from that "Adventure Site" (as it is called). Knowing the contents of the "Hammerfast" supplement will give players no readily usable information about "Hammer Hold".
