Westbridge The Time of Troubles & Era of Upheaval Inspired By Ed Greenwood

Westbridge is a farming village located within the Dessarin Valley, situated along the Long Road in the Savage Frontier. It earns its name, fittingly enough, for its location on the west side of the Stone Bridge. The settlement is located at the intersection where the Long Road intersects with the Stone Trail.

Westbridge is mainly a farming village situated within the Dessarin Valley near the eastern region of the Kryptgarden Forest. It earned its name, fittingly enough, for its location on the west side of the Stone Bridge which stretches across the Dessarin River to the east of Westbridge.

The settlement lies off the main road, located along the "Stone Trail" stretching from as far south of the settlement of Red Larch, Triboar to the north and Beliard to the east. Westbridge is comprised of a few businesses, mostly owned by the Halfling named Ghaliver Longstocking, a central tavern and a small community of homes of this small population of around 350 people. The residents of Westbridge often hunt game in the nearby Kryptgarden Forest.

Several mercantile families moved to Westbridge last year which has greatly helped the economy of the settlement. These families moving to the settlement haven't really brought in more business from outside the region, mostly, they have just raised the standard of living in Westbridge by putting money into the community. Nestled quietly in the center of the Dessarin Valley, the settlement is populated "mostly" by human farmers and laborers who toil the earth and live out a quiet peaceful existence, free of the turmoil in the less populated regions of the region.

The settlement sees "some" traffic from travelers "who usually stop at the Happy Halfling for a meal and a room for the night but shortly after are moving on", and is used more as a crossroads for those traveling through the valley. Westbridge is a farming settlement located in a regions of hills, leading to the dwarven landmark of the Stone Bridge. Westbridge gets its name from its position near the bridge. Lying to the east of the Kryptgarden Forest.

Farmland and houses surround the village. Notable locations in the settlement include the the Happy Halfling, a brewery situated near the edge of the settlement, the local wainwright, and The Homestead Mercantile which is the general store and several other local businesses.

Recently, orc & hobgoblin warbands have been raiding farms and attacking travellers on the Long Road north of the village, some say a more powerful entity drives these humanoids to raiding. Dark and sinister creatures have been coming from the forest’s edge and snatching up unguarded livestock. A giant creature has attacked and demolished the logging camp. Some secretive figures have been seen exploring ancient ruins within the forest. There are also rumours of a black dragon deep within the forest.

Notable Locations
• Hammer & Nail Smithy
• The Homestead Mercantile
• Amberfoot Patisserie Shoppe
• The Happy Halfling
• Thistlebranch Tonics
• Market
• Stables
• Merrygold's Table
• Chapel
• Temple of Chauntea
• Tenements
• Woodworker Shop
• The Rolling Wheel
• Speaker's Residence
• Golden Grain Inn
• Shrine of Chauntea
• Stitchcloak's Spectacular Supplies
• Moneychanger's Shop

Notable People
• Vaerion Sylharis
• Sylvester Stitchcloak
• Ghaliver Longstocking
• Mara Wescott
• Luth Merrygold
• Byrony Thistlebranch
• Harlan Raskin
• Father Lomas

The settlement is governed by a middle-aged halfling named Ghaliver Longstocking "the Speaker of Westbridge". The settlement has no actual miltia, only a few towns guard that maintains security inside the settlement as best they can, and Westbridge has seen no trouble in a very long time—that is, until recently.

As mentioned before, their are a few shops and stores located here as well as the Happy Halfling "which serves some of the finest food in the region". Farming and fishing are the primary source of income for Westbridge although the location does have a smithy and a few other small shops which sometimes trades with outside settlements. Westbridge also has a small temple devoted to the worship of Lathander.

At the Midsummer Solstice, Westbridge holds a festival that runs all week, during which all forms of traditional entertainment are found. People come from all over the region and sometimes beyond "within traveling distance of course" with the pretext of sampling the good food, buying fancy clothes but above all to participate in the auction at the close of the festivities. In recent years past, several "more wealthier" families have moved into Westbridge and set up shops, most of these families came from larger cities along the Sword Coast. This has greatly helped the economy of Westbridge and assisted it with even more people coming to the region to settle. Like many small settlements across region, Westbridge has autonomy in how it governs itself, electing its own officials and imparting its own brand of justice. Only when issues go outside their expertise or infringe upon another jurisdiction are they prone to ask for aid or upscale the matter to outside sources. Westbridge is a small, tightly packed town with only a select few important locations. It is a community where everyone knows one another and everyone is friends.

The Dessarin River flows softly past the settlement to the west. Low hanging clouds give this region a cozy feel. Several smaller streams flow around the region of Westbridge, supplying the Dessarin River with fresh water for the much need fishing that is done in its waters.