Longsaddle
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The tiny agricultural village of Longsaddle includes 130 residences, surrounded by miles of ranches and farms. It's a quiet haven between the Crags and the Evermoors. Depending on the time of year, Longsaddle is either sleepy and nearly deserted or dusty and crowded, crawling with livestock and folk eager to buy them. Either way, Longsaddle is little more than a farmers' market and waystables for 1,000 or so folk who live in the area. The buildings line both sides of the Long Road, the only street in the village. Longriders (ranch-hands) from nearby estates can be summoned to form a 100-man militia who fight with spear, bow, or lariat.
For miles around, ranchers claim the grasslands. They usually include a fortified house, a stockade, and stables. Most ranchers hire and house longriders, more to fight orc and barbarian raiders than to tend stock. Cattle are the predominant livestock, but horses and sheep are reared as well. Each grows its own vegetables and sells any surplus at the Longsaddle market. The ranchers send those who are temporarily disabled by injuries or illness to Longsaddle, so someone is always available to report the arrival of buyers back to the ranch. These shipping masters come from the port cities, especially Luskan and Waterdeep, to compete furiously for the trade.
Meat intended for local consumption travels to its destination as livestock. Meat ending up in a ship's hold is usually brought to the Harpell Hill Farm. There the meat is sealed in a magic shell that fades after 10 days (akin to a preservation spell). In the meantime, the meat is kept cool and sealed from air. The sealed meat is transported to a boat and dumped in a hold of ice; for long voyages south the meat is set in salt before the magic fails.
Because of the ranching trade, the ranchers would control Longsaddle, were it not for the capricious, magically mighty Harpell clan. For generations, the Harpells have brought Longsaddle an importance in the North far greater than its size and purpose would warrant. The Harpells are mages and members of the Lord's Alliance. This tradition began with mighty Authrar Harpell, who was famous in the North an age ago for single-handedly destroying an onrushing orc horde with spells. More recently, Malchor Harpell, along with his Company of Crazed Venturers, supposedly fought off a demigod. On another occasion, fighting alone, he destroyed two Red Wizards of Thay and the undead beholders under their command. These days, Malchor keeps to the comparative peace of his Tower of Twilight and is rarely seen in Longsaddle.
Folk who travel the North think Longsaddle is a place where extra care must be taken because magic is hurled about everywhere. The Harpells aren't the only danger here: Local stories say griffons dwelling in the nearby hills are bothering Longsaddle, preying upon cattle, horses, travelers on the road, and longriders who stray too far from local ranches.