@TheEdVerse I hope your recovery is going well! 🙂 I have a couple questions if you don't mind: (1) is Velen still an independent duchy and (2) while Athkatla seems a reasonable place to restock/refresh while traveling via ship from Waterdeep to Port Nyranzaru, is Velen? Thanks!
— Elisabeth (@ElisabethADixon) October 7, 2019
Hi! Yes, Velen is still an independent duchy, ruled by a Duke, but it now enjoys friendly relations with Tethyr (the two realms are staunch allies, cooperating against pirates and mercenary forays sponsored by ambitious 2)
…satraps of Calimshan seeking to annex territory). Within Velen, many Tethyrian loyalists work to overthrow Velen’s ruling duke and courtiers, but they work quietly (if you want things to become violent in your campaign, …#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 8, 2019
3)
…there’s a DM’s Guild adventure, MURDER IN VELEN, that covers such events).
Regardless of how much unrest and tumult you want to have in Velen itself, it has always been a stronghold resisting the pirates of the Nelanther, 4)
…meaning it’s well-defended (with ballistae and trebuchets stationed on heights, a harbour chain and harbor defense ships bristling with ballistae that can launch fiery missiles to set ships aflame, and a well-equipped… #Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 8, 2019
5)
…fighting force of defenders, the Stalwart Shields or just “Stalwarts,” who know how to swim), well-equipped (full drydocks for ship repairs, several sailmakers and ropers { =ropemakers} and outfitters who can swiftly turn a… 6)
…ship from a damaged hulk into a seaworthy vessel), and well-provisioned (not only does it have coopers and warehouses galore, it’s endured pirate sieges in the past and so by local law has food-stores “laid by” as well as a…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 8, 2019
7)
…lot of edible goods warehoused for trading. Sailors on the Sword Coast know that Velen is a reliable source for casks of salted meat and biscuits, wheels of cheese, and pickles, all in bulk sufficient to fill the cargo holds 8)
…of any large Sword Coast cogs.
Which is a long-winded way of saying to your questions: 1. Yes. And 2. Yes. ;}#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 8, 2019