Waterdeep

A city apart. Once, a military garrison, the reach of Het Varen to the north, the vital artery to wage their war of conquest on the scattered, but fiercely independent kingdoms.
But, the merchants and workmen of Waterdeep rose up, seeing weakness as the reach of Het Varen exceeded it's grasp, and a council calling themselves the Masked Lords using cunning and coin to turn the soldiers stationed there to their cause.
This, among the other problems occupying the sprawling southern kingdom, meant that they had few men and fewer ships available to try and recover the valuable port. It took months to muster forces to attempt to recover their city, but the soldiers and ships of Het Varen met walls, raised and reinforced in the time they'd been gone, the harbor blocked by great chains strung across the mouth of the deep harbor.

Demographics

The majority of the citizenry of Waterdeep are human, a holdover from the time when Het Varen established it, drawing tradesmen and workers to it.
Dwarves from the Starmetal Hills and Cometpeak Mountains came next, as it grew. They brought metals, stone and skilled tradesman to the garrison. They are the second most common group in the city, as the bond between Waterdeep and the dwarven cities has only deepened since the formation of the Republic.
Halflings, whose folk had been scattered across the fields and hills surrounding Waterdeep, also found that their foodstuffs and crafts were welcome in Waterdeep. They have a sizable contingent of population among the citizenry as well.
Elves, mainly from Caalaresti in the far east, also travel here, although they are less common, and fewer still choose to live there permanently.
Tieflings, Dragonborn, Gnomes and other races are also present, but not in significant numbers.

Government

The Masked Lords, a council chosen by the people and the merchant class, still are the ruling class of the city. Tradition, started when Waterdeep broke free of the yoke of Het Varen, holds that the Lords remain anonymous to protect them from retribution or corruption.
The city is run in an egalitarian manner, with the needs of the city put first. Taxes are relatively high within Waterdeep, but due to this, the city's services are excellent. Roads, buildings, police, and health care are all considerably better within Waterdeep than without it.
Little crime is accepted within the walls, with any criminal activity harshly dealt with immediately.
Trade and neutrality are the heart of Waterdeep. Without both, the city and Republic's tenuous safety would be in question, with the often warring kingdoms to the north, and the lawless land of orcs and goblinkind to the south.
The Marshals are an extension of this desire for security and neutrality. Dispatched from Waterdeep with the full support of the Masked Lords, they have nearly absolute power to enact justice within their domain, answering only to the Masked Lords themselves.

Type

Capital

Population

40,000

Characters in Location

• Eschelia Luminar