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Let’s talk about Waterdeep!
Also known as the City of Splendors or the Crown of the North it’s a huge influential
city in Faerun.
The city is a hub of trading from mineral-rich lands to the north, Amn and Calimshan to the
south, Inner kingdoms to the east and the far sea kingdoms of the west.
Waterdeep sits on an old elven kingdom called Aelinthaldaar.
Aelinthaldaar was destroyed and by -1088 DR the area became a trading site, or meetup
point between tribes and merchants.
It wasn’t until 52 DR that permanent farms arose in the area.
The area of Waterdeep was then founded by ship captains docking to trade at this site.
By 936 DR the “Town of Waterdeep” was founded after the locals went to war against
Orcs.
Known as the Orcfastings War when these battles finally ended the outpost known as Nimoar’s Hold
which then became known as Waterdeep to the ship captains sailing there.
The Name stuck and we now have the budding city of Waterdeep.
By 963 DR the construction of castle waterdeep begins and is completed by 974 DR.
At this point Waterdeep had a series of War Lords that rule the kingdom.
It was also in 974 DR that Waterdeep had its first female war lord.
The city wasn’t truly established until 1032 DR, when Ahgharion became the first Lord
of Waterdeep.
Ahgharion was a human mage who created the Lords of Waterdeep, the system in which Waterdeep
has been ruled ever since.
He got in a disagreement with the previous Warlord about how the city should be governed.
The Warlord attacked him but Ahgharion turned his sword into a snake that bit and poisoned
him.
Ahgharion assumed control and became the first Open Lord of Waterdeep, establishing the government
that involved the Masked Lords.
Which kept the rulers identities private.
Waterdeep is ruled by these masked lords, keeping membership a secret.
They hide behind magical masks and no-one knows their true identities.
I’m not sure why though?
Other than assassination attempts are probably more difficult if you don’t know who your
political figures are?
After Ahgharion’s death in 1256 DR the guildmasters took power over Waterdeep for 6 years.
They murdered most of the masked lords and by the end only two guild masters were left
alive.
These two agreed to share power and became the Lords Magister of Waterdeep.
It was soon after the Masked Ruling system was put back in place, and Waterdeep has been
ruled this way ever since.
The name Waterdeep comes from the natural deep-water harbor.
The city grew around this harbor and became a commercial crossroads of the northern realms.
Presently over 100,000 people make their homes here in Waterdeep.
They’ve built walls, wizard towers, a massive harbor, and temples to various deities.
By 1215 DR a massive temple to Mystra was dedicated called “The House of Wonder.”
Waterdeep has a huge variety of faiths, if there is a deity for it odds are there is
a place of worship in waterdeep.
The largest temples in the city are dedicated to Oghma, Tyr, Tempus, Selune, Mystra, Silvanus,
Mielikki, Lathander, Sune, and Tymora.
Many of the dark gods have hidden secret temples and shrines.
Such as Cyric, Umberlee, and Shar.
All creeds are respected as long as worship of a deity does not involve theft or destruction
of other beings (i.e. human or animal sacrifice) or the theft of their property.
Priesthoods that attempt to restrict trade are also looked at poorly, as that is the
name of the game in Waterdeep.
Any temple that expects large cash gifts to their deity will not be that popular.
The largest rivalry in Waterdeep has to be between the Guilds and the Ruling Lords.
Traditionally won by the Lords, the Guild merchants want to rule Waterdeep but the Masked
Lords in place keep them at bay.
Mostly though people are too busy making and spending money to really care about this power
struggle.
With only five to six masked lords of water deep and 42 recognized guilds the lack of
organization on the guild part keeps the Masked Lords in power.
Since 1035 DR Waterdeep has been roughly divided up into wards.
The sprawling city kept growing and needed to be organized.
Castle Ward is the first and encompassed Mount Waterdeep.
Much of the government is located here as well as Blackstaff Tower (created by Blackstaff
himself), which is the residence for the Archmage of Waterdeep.
City of the Dead is Waterdeep’s graveyard.
Before the spellplague this was often visited by citizens to pay respects to the dead.
However after the spellplague it fell into disrepair.
A relentless undead creature arose up in this area and the city guard’s option was to
lock it in the City of the Dead rather than remove the threat.
Dock Ward holds the harbor, the naturally sheltered deepwater basin that gives Waterdeep
it’s name.
It is a bustling place.
Underneath the water are mermen who are paid in food and medical supplies for patrolling
the harbor depths and keeping them clear of invaders, predators, and hazards to shipping.
South Ward is named because it was close to the South Gate.
Merchants and traders frequent this area.
Sea Ward is where the wealthiest live.
It contains many temples along with noble family houses.
North Ward is also home to nobility.
The rich of the rich make their homes here far removed from the docks and busy southern
ward.
Finally there is the Trades Ward, which is the commercial section of waterdeep.
Plenty to buy!
And that’s it for this episode.
If you want more information on Waterdeep I recommend “Waterdeep and the North”
as well as “Volos Guide to Waterdeep.”
Both can be found below, links in the doobly do.
Thanks again for watching everyone, hit a like button if you enjoyed this video every
bit helps out a channel like mine, and I’ll see you next wed.