The Cogs

The Cogs lie deep beneath Sharn, below the sewers and Old Sharn (described later in this chapter). Streams of Fernian lava flow through this area, and over the centuries, House Cannith has helped Breland establish vast foundries that tap this mystic resource. Ashblack and Blackbones are industrial districts, largely inhabited by warforged laborers and miserable workers of other races. It is said that House Cannith maintains a forgehold in the Ashblack district, and that this is where Baron Merrix d’Cannith conducts his experiments.
The Sharn Watch maintains a presence in the Cogs, and overseers from House Cannith are stationed here to keep things in order. Beyond these industrial districts lies the deeper tunnels of Khyber’s Gate, a tenement district.
Blackbones has a number of remarkable locations. For example, the Pool of Onatar’s Tears is sacred to the Sovereign of the Forge. The current caretaker is a warforged priest named Smith, who believes that Onatar has plans for the warforged, and that the warforged and creatures of flesh are meant to live together.
Most of the citizens of Sharn have never been to the Cogs. The area does house the bulk of the city’s warforged population, and if you’re looking for a particular warforged, it’s the best place to start. Industrial espionage and labor struggles can add drama to adventures in the great foundries, not to mention the possibility of artificers with secret forges hidden in the Cogs.
Khyber’s Gate Beyond the Cogs lies Khyber’s Gate, a maze of tunnels and tenements carved into the stone. The Sharn Watch has no presence here, and the closest thing to an authority is the criminal organization known as Daask; if you’re seeking the leaders of this group, this is where you’ll find them. Many of the inhabitants of the Gate are goblins and immigrants from Droaam, but it’s also home to fugitives, war criminals, and other unsavory types.
Khyber’s Gate is part of the ruins of a goblin city that was abandoned thousands of years ago. No one knows how deep it goes. The monstrous inhabitants of the district have no love for treasure hunters or adventurers, and it’s a dangerous place to explore.
Shamukaar is the most successful tavern in Khyber’s Gate. The place is a safe haven for all within it, regardless of species or politics; once you make it through the door, you can breathe easy.
The Sewers The upper wards of Sharn use a network of chutes to funnel garbage down into the sewers. Refuse and filth is channeled into cavernous midden chambers, where it is left to rot or be devoured by the vermin and oozes that inhabit the sewers. Smaller tunnels channel wastewater into purification centers, where magewrights use magic to cleanse the water. A special unit of the Sharn Watch protects the purification chambers. Beyond these small, vital areas, the sewers are lawless.
Though the sewers were never intended to support a population, over the centuries a subculture has evolved in this region. A few tribes of people—mostly goblins, along with a few shifters, dwarves, and feral halflings—live in the sewers, rummaging through the midden heaps and selling their goods in the lower city. These sewer clans constantly battle over territory, as control of one or more midden chamber can be critical to survival. The sewer clans can pose a threat to adventurers, but they can also be valuable allies; there are no better guides to the sewers and what lies beneath them than one of the folk who live there.
Districts

District	Description	Location
Ashblack	The first foundries of Sharn were built here. The district is devoted to industry, and the environment here is sweltering and claustrophobic.	The Cogs
Blackbones	Blackbones is newer than Ashblack, and it shows. The district’s corridors are wider and better lit. The foundries are well maintained, and the district has a few thriving businesses. Most of the warforged that reside in Sharn work in Blackbones.	The Cogs

Noteworthy Locations

Location	Description	District
Keldoran Forge	Though most of the foundries in the Cogs are devoted to large-scale industry, the dwarf Antos Keldoran maintains a small forge and produces bespoke arms and armor.	Ashblack
The Pool of Onatar’s Tears	A small temple in the Blackbones district holds a pool said to be blessed by the god Onatar. Smiths come from across Khorvaire to dip their tools in the pool.	Blackbones
The Red Hammer	The Red Hammer is Sharn’s only inn maintained by and for warforged. It offers those who work in the Cogs opportunities to socialize, along with repair and cosmetic services.	Blackbones

Type

Ward

Location under

Sharn