Elsher’s Height
An ancient stone keep on the northwestern shore of the New Sea, where the road meets the water and ships outnumber people.
Elsher’s Height is built around a keep that predates most of the towns in the region. The wall surrounding it is roughly rectangular, with openings at the north and south ends. The keep itself stands four levels above ground with a wine cellar below, and its kitchens occupy a separate external building in the northwestern corner of the courtyard.
Most travelers don’t come for the architecture. They come because ships do.
The Docks
A tent-style market runs along the docks, shifting with the traffic of whoever is currently in port. On any given day you might find fish stalls, traders selling off surplus cargo, a rough tavern under canvas, and a row of vessels tied up with no particular hurry to leave.
The atmosphere here is transactional. Nobody asks too many questions about where you came from or what you’re carrying.
Multiple ships pass through on a regular circuit. The blue-and-gold kraken-flagged vessel commanded by Barrish Stormwrap makes stops here regularly. When his ship enters port, it lowers its flag.
Recent Events
The party docked here during their voyage south. Barrish Stormwrap hosted them aboard his ship while in port.
Davriel Cane, a finely dressed collector, was encountered here — a paying passenger aboard Stormwrap’s vessel, seeking passage to the next port in order to acquire a specific ancient rare object before continuing on to Silvanesti.
Sir Jangle Merrigold deciphered the inscription on the Bronze Book while the party was docked here, identifying it as the work of Sir Corwin Ashford, a Knight of the Sword.
The party left their folding boat here and continued overland toward Westguard.
People
Barrish Stormwrap
A ship captain who uses Elsher’s Height as a regular port of call. He keeps a well-fed crew, has a cook worth eating for, and serves strong ale aboard that tastes remarkably like the kind you find in Eastguard. He is cautious with strangers but reasonable once trust is established. He warned the party about a massive shark near the southern ruins and noted that the mounted sea riders along the coast generally leave ships alone unless provoked.
Rumors
- Ships that lower their flags on entering port are said to be paying respects to whoever built the keep — or buying goodwill from whoever still watches it.
- A finely dressed collector was recently seen in the captain’s quarters of one of the ships at dock. Nobody saw him arrive. Nobody saw him leave.
- The tent tavern has no name, no sign, and no fixed location. It is simply wherever the barrels are.
- Sailors who overnight at Elsher’s Height sometimes report the sound of something large moving just below the surface near the dock pylons.