Helvenblade House
Type: Manor house — former noble hunting lodge; now party base of operations Region: Dessarin Valley, ~5 miles north of Westbridge ruins, on the edge of the Kryptgarden Forest and Sword Mountains foothills Affiliation: House Silmerhelve (deeded to party use — Session 059) Status: Party possession — overgrown but structurally sound; renovation/repurposing underway as of Session 066 First Reference: Session 059 First Visit: Session 066
What the Party Knows
- A manor house on a cliff/ridge above Westbridge, overlooking the whole Dessarin Valley below. Originally the Silmerhelve family's ancestral home before they relocated to Waterdeep; later used as a summer home and hunting lodge.
- History: The Silmerhelves were originally from Westbridge and built this house as they grew prosperous. When they moved to Waterdeep, the house became a seasonal retreat. The family used it as a hunting lodge for expeditions into the Kryptgarden Forest. When Westbridge was destroyed ~80 years ago, the family ceased visiting entirely. Umsheryoth has instinctually guarded the site through the blight — no creatures have moved in.
- Location: ~5 miles north of Westbridge, positioned on a cliff at the edge of the Sword Mountains and Kryptgarden Forest. Elevated above the valley floor, with a clear view down to Westbridge from the main overlook.
- Structure — Session 066 survey:
- Stone bones throughout — structurally sound despite decades of neglect.
- Old timber (good quality; heavy old-growth wood from the Kryptgarden era).
- Vegetation has overtaken surfaces — overgrown but not collapsed.
- A main estate hall, staff outbuildings, and grounds with a low perimeter wall.
- Cliffside mews cut into the rock face at the rear — the Silmerhelves used griffins for hunting and stabled them here. Now suitable for Falkor, Aurelion, and other flying mounts.
- Natural spring/well fed by mountain snowmelt runoff — clean cold water; the original reason the site was chosen.
- Access:
- Switchback trail from the valley below — primary foot/horse approach. Two or three switchbacks up the cliff face from the direction of Westbridge.
- Forest trails along the Kryptgarden edge and around the mountain flank — secondary access routes, originally used for hunting.
- Aerial approach directly to the mews — primary approach for the party.
- Grant: Olref Silmerhelve granted the party full use of the manor and surrounding lands (Session 059). Intended as the operational base for the Westbridge refugee settlement.
- Bronze dragon history. The house was cared for by Umsheryoth in his healthy years — Olref Silmerhelve remembers him from childhood. Umsheryoth is now cured and recovering in the Westbridge crater pond. Once healed, he is expected to resume a guardian role.
Session 066 — Taking Possession
- Party first surveyed the house on Kythorn 14, Day 1 of the 4-day window before the caravan arrives.
- No clearing required. Umsheryoth's lingering guardianship kept the site free of monsters and squatters. No dungeon crawl.
- Renovation plans established:
- Brick's Wall of Stone loop will reinforce the perimeter and add barracks/stable structures.
- Cliffside mews to be cleared and expanded for Falkor and Aurelion.
- Crowley/AC intends to establish a smithy in one of the outbuildings.
- Main hall to serve as command post and operations center for the Westbridge resettlement.
- Open design elements:
- Possible taxidermy/hunting trophy collection inside (period appropriate; Vlokgar reference — Greg's joke).
- Hot springs may be accessible higher in the mountain foothills above the house (possible amenity/trade good).