Waterdeep
Quick Reference
Type Major City Region Sword Coast Significance Largest city in the region Hidden Undermountain beneath
Geography & Atmosphere
Waterdeep assaults the senses long before one passes through its massive gates; it is a chaotic, magnificent cacophony of life that drowns out the quiet of the wild. The air is thick and heavy, a complex perfume of the Sea of Swords’ brine mingled with the woodsmoke of ten thousand chimneys, the roasting meats of street vendors, and the underlying, metallic tang of unwashed humanity and raw magic. Towers of stone and slate pierce the sky, a sprawling, vertical labyrinth of wealth and ambition that stretches to the horizon, dominated by the Griffon Cavalry circling the peaks of Mount Waterdeep like distant specks of ash against the sun.
Down in the streets, the City of Splendors reveals its true texture—a crushing tide of people from every corner of Faerûn. The cobblestones are slick with sea mist and the refuse of the day, vibrating under the iron-shod wheels of merchant wains and the boots of adventurers seeking glory. As twilight descends, the city transforms into a galaxy of lantern-light and magical driftglobes, but the shadows in the alleyways deepen, hinting at the vast, complex criminal underbelly that churns beneath the gilded surface. To arrive here is to step into a living, breathing machine of commerce and intrigue, where every corner holds the potential for a king’s ransom or a sudden, violent end.
Party’s Experiences
Session 3: Awakening
Elric arrived in Waterdeep via time-delayed portal from Undermountain, stepping out onto the busy streets at the session’s end. This marks his departure from his old life in Goldenfields.
Session 4: New Beginnings
Elric explored the Market Ward, saved Chris Evergreen from bullies, befriended Douglas Rightguard, and visited the temples of Maestra and Helm. He met Titania in the City Garden and received his mother’s Mythic Mithril Bracelet. He defeated Patrick Allen Pricefield in a duel.
DM Notes
- Elric’s new base of operations
- Undermountain (Progenitor sanctuary) is beneath the city
- Lazarus’s lieutenants may be here