Despite this dramatic history, Gladehap has grown into a lively and thriving community. It has become a refuge for skilled craftsmen seeking to escape the crowds, taxes, and noise of larger towns and cities. Wealthy shoppers from Suzail frequently travel here on buying excursions, and merchants moving between Cormyr and Sembia stop in the village to purchase goods.

Visitors commonly leave Gladehap with cleverly carved wooden toys, fine silverwork, aged cheeses, and well-crafted furniture, all produced locally by the village’s talented artisans.

Landmarks

The Lost Lake Dell

The homes and shops of Gladehap nestle among the trees along both sides of the valley. The floor of the dell is left open as a pleasant parkland crossed by the winding creek and a network of brick paths—which become dangerously slippery during winter.

When the weather is fair, villagers gather here for their highsun meals, picnicking on the grass and enjoying the peaceful setting.

Gladehap Rock

At the northern end of the valley rises Gladehap Rock, a raised plateau reached by sixty-seven stone steps climbing from the valley floor. The Rock serves as an open place of worship for all faiths, making it a rare shared religious space.

It is also the traditional location for duels and trials by arms. One famous duel saw two paladins of Tyr battling their way up and down every step before one finally hurled the other from the summit. The fallen knight plunged roughly eighty feet into the creek below.

His bones now rest in the Knight’s Tomb, a raised stone catafalque located midway along the valley where the various village paths converge.

Chansa’s Folly

At the southern end of the valley stand the decorative spires of Chansa’s Folly, a structure built to resemble an ancient ruin.

The Folly was commissioned by an eccentric wealthy widow named Chansa, who desired something interesting to look at each morning from her window. Though entirely artificial, the ruin has become a distinctive landmark of the village.

The Cord Lines

One of Gladehap’s most unusual features is the network of ropes strung across the narrow valley, running from pulley to pulley between buildings.

These cords serve several purposes:

• Laundry lines for shops and homes
• A simple message delivery system using greased wooden tubes carrying written notes
• A play structure for village children
• A secret means of travel for adventurous courting couples after dark

Combined with the colorful displays of toys and ornaments in shop windows, the constant motion of these cords gives Gladehap a lively and whimsical atmosphere.

Places of Interest in Gladehap

Shops

Barthemeir Needle & Nail Works

Steelsmiths

This smoky forge stands beside Gladehap Rock, positioned as far from the village’s other homes and shops as possible due to the noise and smell of the smithy.

The large Barthemeir family produces finely tempered steel goods of every size—from tiny sewing bodkins to belt knives and massive spikes meant for reinforcing castle gates.

Orders constantly outpace production, and visitors often have difficulty attracting attention unless they openly display coin.

During one visit, the smiths were assembling a remarkable articulated gown made of polished armor discs designed to resemble the scales of a serpent. The model for the piece was Shaltara Barthemeir, the striking youngest daughter of master smith Irgar Barthemeir.

The garment was destined for a temple in Mulhorand, and Shaltara noted that projects of such size usually require several thousand gold pieces to commission.

Wyrmkindler Sausage Works

Sausages

The Wyrmkindler family originally came from the northern island of Ruathym. Their distinctive accent often provokes friendly teasing from Cormyreans, though the family takes such mockery with good humor while continuing to produce their famous sausages.

Their products are widely exported across Cormyr and Sembia, and genuine Wyrmkindler sausages have even been seen for sale in Amn.

Popular varieties include:

1. Old Wolf
2. Best Hedgehog
3. Long-Simmered Snake

The names are intentionally misleading and do not indicate the actual ingredients.

The family patriarch, Aumagar Wyrmkindler, revealed only one genuine recipe: stag sausage. He dryly warned that anyone wishing to use the finest Cormyrean stags must first obtain royal permission to hunt from the Crown herds—though stags from Hullack Forest usually suffice.

Restaurants

Hot Highsun Handbreads

This unusual restaurant occupies a spacious house filled with high ceilings, wide fireplaces, and sunlit bay windows framed by creeping vines and shrubs.

Guests may wander through the rooms and sit wherever they please. The food is light but expertly prepared.

The main dishes consist of hot sliced bread topped with savory spreads, including drippings, cheeses, and spiced crab paste. Seasonal desserts include cream-and-fruit dishes, while butter tarts are available year-round.

The establishment serves an impressive selection of wines and liqueurs, though no beer is available.

The restaurant is run by the Hotbread halfling family, who are cheerful romantics and especially fond of hosting courting couples. Such guests are often surprised with complimentary flowers or wine.

Despite its name, the restaurant operates from dawn until dusk, and locals particularly enjoy visiting early in the morning when the smell of fresh bread fills the house.

Taverns

The Baron’s Bottle

This rustic tavern is known for its relaxed atmosphere and somewhat casual service. Its taproom sits on the upper floor, offering a fine view across the valley.

The tavern has always been owned by the Arcandle family, who control more than forty farms west of the village.

Originally called the Arcandle Arms, the tavern was renamed in honor of Baron Feredagh Obarskyr, a famous war leader during the reign of King Andilber Obarskyr.

Feredagh was known for his enormous red mustache, his fondness for brawling and drink, and his habit of personally leading his troops into battle. He was also said to have romanced many of the women of the village.

When the baron died, he left the tavern’s owners a golden bottle. When they opened it, they discovered it was filled with emeralds and rubies, a gift that secured the Arcandle family’s prosperity.

Inns

The Snowbound Hound

The Snowbound Hound resembles a well-kept manor house rather than a typical inn.

Its interior features carved wooden paneling, fine tapestries, tiled floors covered with luxurious rugs imported from Chessenta, Calimshan, and Mulhorand, and canopied beds.

Wardrobes are thoughtfully stocked with warm robes—and sometimes with discreet romantic company.

Though the inn provides excellent baths and fireplaces, it offers relatively little food, and guests usually dine elsewhere in the village.

The inn is frequently crowded, giving it the lively atmosphere of a never-ending house party.