The river is the source of the town of Lodban, and it is there that the buildings huddle – all seemingly eager to lean over the sluggish currents. The marketplace is the centre of the town, and though the buntings and the many carts seem to encourage crowds of flocking people, it seems dead and empty. The docks, too, are a barren expanse of wood and pier: there are only a handful of boats, all small rowboats or ferries, where there should be an armada of traders and travellers.

Lodban is a large town with a small population: it specialises in the industry that characterises the north of Endon. Away from the monopoly established by the dwarven cities in the south, Lodban is host to many of the factories and warehouses that create and transport goods across the kingdom, from Riverbend to Endon's Pass.

The Town of Lodd's Ban

Lodban was founded at the very beginning of the Kingdom's history, when the Sunderking was forging his empire. Originally a fortification, the Sunderking placed a lieutenant in charge of the area, operating from the settlement.

The lieutenant, one Lodd, was paranoid about traded goods coming through the settlement to the outposts and cities of the new kingdom, and soon the merchants began to refer to it by a new name: Lodd's Ban.

A Town of Industry

Lodban is also the major layover for the forces of the king: the Captain of the Guard in Lodban is the commander of all forces in northern Endon, and any large military force dispatched in the north comes from the military base at Lodban.

Ifri's Pottery. One of the large factories that dominates the northern bank of Lodban, the Pottery takes in the majority of the clay that comes from the quarry further upriver, and churns out the majority of the ceramics used in the northern kingdom.

The Pottery has been run by the Ifri family for generations, but the latest in the line boasts an education from the Academy at Endon’s Pass, and hosts a special market for enchanted and magical ceramics, from containers that keep food hot or cold to effigies that come to life with a word.

River Market. On the river docks during the week, one can find a great many market stalls, selling to the traders that pass through the town.

The Locals of Lodban

As a rule, Lodbanites are known for being very welcoming: they are loud and boistrous, delighting in group games and activities, and hold several festivals annually. Perhaps this is a side-effect of their industry - for the harder they work, the harder they play.

The Bell. The inn on the northern gate of Lodban is a small, friendly place, run by the widow Ged-Riduth. It is often host to travellers, as opposed to the local crowd that gathers at the Dawnbreak on the southwestern gate. The Bell Inn is run by Gertie, who inherited one of two inns from her mother years ago, and now competes with her sister, Matild of the Dawnbreak Inn.

The Dawnbreak. This tavern is a much rowdier, much more boisterous tavern, with a host of regulars, and is an excellent place to plumb for local information and gossip. The prices are also cheaper than they are at the Bell. It is run by Matild.

The Low Water Church. This church is the local place of worship, run by the Abbot of Lodban of the Order of the White Robes. It is always open to travellers who need a place to sleep, though not nearly as comfortable as either of the inns. Succour and healing may be offered to adventurers who are respectful to the church on the south wall of the town. Run by a white-robed man known only as the Abbot, it is a peaceful oasis in a chaotic world.

Lodban Schoolhouse. In a town populated by miners and labourers, it is perhaps a little surprising that Lodban is also home to one of Endon’s few boarding schools. While most of the population is educated at home – or in one of the training schools for specific professions, such as the Hall of the Minstrel, or the Academy of Endon's Pass – this establishment is for the young children of the wealthy and established in Endon.