The southernmost settlement of the Edelrend of any significant size, Rivergate was once an outpost of the Aelfrinir elves, which was abandoned. When asked, the Elven conclave at Aelfrinir merely said, "It served its purpose", but when they left in 263 HR, several nasty things took hold. A group of adventurers cleared the land and maintained the Rivergate Keep for some time, but in 284, King Agus annexed it to ensure he had a foothold across the river.
Here the story varies, but apparently one of the adventurers had been very savvy politically, and it remained his charge to watch the keep. His family was of no particular importance, but he married into nobility (Marrying a Swansbreath) and started the Swanspeak line. The Swanspeaks no longer hold title to the land but have an estate and many interests in the region.
Currently the Rivergate itself is a bit of a novelty, still standing but no longer able to contain the mythic portal that led into other realms. The village around the keep is primarily focused on maintaining the family within, but there is a very healthy and burgeoning local market just SW of the Red Gate (the primary entrance into the village). Travelers will find it hard to find any other accommodation other than the expensive "Bronze Sculpin Inn", but sometimes farmers outside the Roundwater will allow folk to stay on their land for a small fee or a favor.
