Ideas about Penhaligon

 This town on the Hillfollow river in Karameikos has a short writeup in Gaz1. 

Penhaligon
Ruler: Lady Arteris Penhaligon. She is a 9th level fighter; age 29, brown hair and eyes.
Population: 3750
Laws: None in addition to the Duke's Law.
Notes: This is a fortified town half-way between Kelvin and the border pass leading to Selenica. It was founded 30 years ago by Lord Arturus Penhaligon, a friend of Duke Stefan's. It is now ruled by his daughter, Lady Arteris, who was confirmed in her father's title upon his death 4 years ago. Penhaligon village acts as a way-station for travellers coming to and from Selenica. It suffers its share of non-human attacks but trade and travel revenues are brisk and Penhaligon is not in any immediate danger of falling. 

It is strategically situated on the Duke's Road heading north along the Hillfollow River to the Altan Tepes mountains and then into Darokin and the trading town of Selenica. As such there is much mercantile traffic passing through, as well as soldiers heading to and from Duke's Road Keep. 

I was going to try my own map of the town but then found this rather nice one by Robert Sampson on the Vaults of Pandius: 

And I also found this document by Brian Caraway in the Vaults as well. Rather than replacing or repeating it, I'm going to add to his description. His description is, however, for another edition of D&D (I suspect 2nd Edition AD&D as clerics are described as priests). 

Some ideas I have for the town: 

The Selenica Co-operative are a group of Darokinian merchants (use the Merchant class from Gaz11: The Republic of Darokin if you have it) who are stretching their influence and business beyond their homeland and into Ylaraum, Rockhome and Karameikos. They have banded together to share information, caravan security and negotiating power. They are currently establishing a regular flow of trade from their home in Selenica down the Duke's Road through Penhaligon and Kelvin to Specularum. In Penhaligon there are 2 members: Beltorphix (Dw2/Mer2, al N, male) and Maddrasso (MU4//Mer2, al L, female) who buy and sell both within the town and peaceful natives in the nearby hills (dwarves, gnomes and a few humans). As well as buying loot from adventures (as long as it was obtained lawfully), they can introduce adventurers to other merchants within the Co-operative. 

The Order of the Green Claw: Following the events a few years ago when a green dragon tried to take over the town, the bravest warriors have formed an order of knights whose specific purpose is to hunt down and kill particularly dangerous monsters, such as dragons, that might threaten Penhaligon and its citizens. Although not officially part of Penhaligon's military, Lady Arteris has allowed them to establish a base in the town. The knights are all lawful and neutral human fighters, but assistant members can be of any class (including demihumans) as long as they are not chaotic. All members are expected to be of at least some competence in their class (3rd level or higher). There are currently 15 knights and 10 assistant members, led by Darrius Swordslice (F8, al L, male). 

The town has a problem with lycanthropy, There is a pack of 3 wererats in the river quarter - they have been restrained because they don't want to attract attention but they will take the occasional bargeman, beggar or solo traveller. They are based in the Three Legged Goblin pub. Equally disquieting are the reports of a big bristling pig that attacked and killed a housewife and also a goatherd in one of the outlying villages before mysteriously disappearing. People suspect a wereboar but it is in fact a devilswine who has set up as a local butcher in Tarnow Village.

There is a cell of chaos worshippers in Penhaligon but rather than causing havoc, they keep a low profile. Their main aims are to gather information and to raise money. When they do kill, it is usually to protect their covers. They keep an eye on troop movements, powerful adventurers and other potential threats - one of them is a sergeant in the local garrison (Sergeant Berrisforth, F3, al C, male). They also do what they can to raise funds - this includes blackmail, burglary and embezzelment. The leader is Perrion Letterer (C3, al C, male), who is the assistant to the town treasurer and has become quite skilled at skimming off money from the town coffers. The money and the information go to their superiors outside Penhaligon, somewhere in the hills.