Phlan was the first great city of the Moonsea, reaching its peak some thousand years ago. In those days, the Moonsea was better known as the Dragon Sea, named for the large number of great Wyrms that inhabited that are and the regions to the north. The Barren River was then called the Stojanow, a dwarvish word meaning "Trade Route," for it was down this passage the ore-laden barged floated, bound for the south. Early Phlan was a trading outpost on the north shore of the Moonsea, set up to facilitate trade between the Elves of Myth Drannor (the most powerful elven capital of the time) and the tribes of Thar, Vaasa, and the Ride, as well as the Dragonspine Dwarves.