Sharn

Sharn is the most populous city in all of Khorvaire and arguably all of Eberron. The city literally towers atop a cliff above the mouth of the Dagger River in southern Breland. Sharn is famously known as The City of Towers, but has also been called many other names, including The City of Knives, The City of Lost Souls, The City of a Thousand Eyes, the Gateway to Xen'drik, The Gateway to Perdition, or its ancient name Dracarius.

History

The city of Sharn predates the founding of the Kingdom of Galifar in 1 YK, and it is said that a divine silver dragon named Saphirithrix first appeared near the region and began working her magic to shape the land to her whim, such as creating a manifest zone linking Sharn to the Azure Skies of Siberys herself, enhancing flight and levitation magic allowing the city to have towers that rise nearly a mile in height, transformational flight, and even a section of the city that floats above the highest towers. The city now known as Sharn was built upon a foundation that dates back thousands of years before humans ever settled Khorvaire. During that time, the goblin Dhakaani Empire's greatest city was carved into the jagged cliffs that Sharn now towers over. This city was called Ja'Shaarat. This metropolis didn't rise toward the skies, like Sharn does. Instead, the architects of the Dhakaani built a vast number of chambers and tunnels into and under the ground. As the city grew in size, the Dhakaani eventually would build great monolithic buildings on the plateaus above the Dagger River that would later serve as the foundations for Sharn. When the demons of Khyber invaded Eberron during the Demon Wars, the city was devastated by the armies of Arkhosia and Bael Turath, and the goblins never had a chance to restore it to its greater glory. Thousands of years later when human settlers from Sarlona began to explore Khorvaire, the Dagger River was stumbled upon. The river led Malleon the Reaver and his explorers to the site where Ja'Shaarat once stood. There he enslaved what goblins still resided in the ruins and erected a fortress within the ruins. He sealed off the lower wards of the ancient hobgoblin city and named the city Shaarat, as a result of stories told by the goblins he enslaved. For 600 years, Shaarat prospered and grew into a powerful metropolis once again. Breggor Firstking, the first ruler of what would become Breland, eventually conquered Shaarat and renamed it Sharn. Over the course of the next 800 years, Sharn's towers began to rise and the city developed into something resembling Sharn today. Around this time, the Dragonmarked houses began to prosper and this helped cultivate Sharn into economic power. But the Dragonmarked Houses also brought with them the War of the Mark. The leader of those who bore the aberrant dragonmark, Tarkanan, took control of Sharn and turned it into a home for all who wore the destructive marks. Tarkanan couldn't hold the city for long, but in the end he used his terrible powers to destroy much of the city. For the next 500 years, the city was looked down upon and the city remained in ruins. Then, when Galifar I took control of the Five Nations he rebuilt Sharn. The metropolis felt the blessings of Galifar and would eventually develop into the center for trade, diplomacy, and intrigue that it is today.

Geography

Sharn looms atop the cliffs overlooking the Hilt, a bay at the mouth of the Dagger River in southern Breland. The city sits upon the foundation of an ancient goblin city. Below that, a rumored lake of molten lava rests, but its presence can be felt only in the lowest parts of Sharn, the Cogs. The inhospitable outcropping that Sharn sits on allows the city to grow only in vertical height. This might have been a problem for other cities, but Sharn is rumored to be located within a manifest zone linked to the the Azure Skies of Siberys herself. The manifest zone enhances magic that creates flight and levitation. This allows Sharn to have towers that rise nearly a mile in height, transportational flight, and even a section of the city that floats above the highest towers.

Cityscape

Sharn is a vertical city. It is divided up into five distinct plateaus (Central Plateau, Menthis Plateau, Northedge, Dura, and Tavick's Landing), as well as the Cliffside district built into the sides of the cliff near the Dagger River. While each plateau divides the city into districts, the city is also stratified vertically and divided into several sections. The lowest wards of the city are called The Cogs, and if you were to walk to the heights of Sharn you would pass through The Depths, the Lower City, Middle City, Upper City, and then finally you would need to find some method of travel to the highest section of Sharn, which is Skyway. Generally, the higher you are in Sharn, the wealthier the citizens are. Each section of the city is further divided into smaller districts. CENTRAL PLATEAU
§ Upper Central Plateau §
■ Highest Towers [Civic District] (p. 38)
— Council Hall
— City Archive
— Airship Docking Tower
■ Korranath [Finance District] (p. 39)
— The Korranath
— Varley Bank of Sharn
— The Vaults
— Riak Mansion
■ Korran-Thiven [Finance District] (p. 40)
— Wayfinder Foundation
■ Mithral Tower [Wealthy Residential] (p. 40)
— Tomollan Estate
■ Platinum Heights [Fine Shops] (p. 40)
— Aurora Gallery (magic item auction house)
— Gray Dragon Inn (luxurious inn)
— Sannid's Restaurant (fancy restaurant; spicy Brelish cuisine and extensive wine collection)
■ Skysedge Park [Park District] (p. 41)
— Skysedge Park
— The Gatehouse § Middle Central Plateau §
■ Ambassador Towers [Embassy District] (p. 42)
— The Brelish Museum of Fine Art (national museum)
— The Citadel (knight headquarters & city jail)
— Athania's Companions
■ Dava Gate [Professionals] (p. 44)
■ Dragon Towers [Guildhall District] (p. 44)
— Maurice Enclave (mercenaries)
— Gloucester Enclave (private investigators)
— Cannith Enclave (manufacturing)
— Desna Enclave (transportation)
— Aziz Enclave (security and protection)
■ Sovereign Towers [Temple District] (p. 45)
— Cathedral of the Cleansing Flame
■ Sword Point [Garrison] (p. 46)
— Sword Point Garrison (Sharn Watch)
— Aegir Enclave [special forces]
■ Tradefair [Marketplace] (p. 47)
— Tradefair Market § Lower Central Plateau §
■ Boldrei's Hearth [Inn District] (p. 47)
— Marquan's Rooms for Let
■ Granite Halls [Shops] (p. 47)
— Sava's Gallery (trendy art gallery)
■ Myshan Gardens [Average Residential] (p. 48)
■ North Towers - Shops (p. 48)
■ Olladra's Kitchen - Tavern district (p. 48)
— Ellfate's Eatery (famous for omletes)
■ Vallia's Towers - Average residential (p. 50) § Cliffside §
■ Grayflood [Waterfront District] (p. 50)
■ Mud Caves [Shantytown] (p. 50)
■ Sharn's Welcome [Red Light District] (p. 50)
■ Ship's Towers [Waterfront District] (p. 51) DURA
§ Upper Dura §
■ Clifftop [Adventurer's Quarter] (p. 52)
— The Augury (divination services)
— Clifftop Adventurer's Guild
— The Dragon's Hoard (magic item shop)
— The Drunken Dragon (famous adventurer's tavern)
— The Esoteric Order of Aureon (wizard's guild)
— Macuil Tower (litigation)
— Kavv's (best well-kept restaurant in Sharn)
— Noa Sanctuary (hospital)
— The Mystic Market (magic market)
■ Daggerwatch [Garrison] (p. 54)
— Daggerwatch Garrison (Sharn Watch garrison)
— The Gold & White (popular tavern for guards & veterans)
— Talain Garrison (Sharn Watch and Redcloak Battalion garrison)
■ Highhold [Dwarf Neighborhood] (p. 54)
— Clebdecher's Loom (high-end tailor)
— Moraggan's (high-end saloon)
■ Highwater [Average Residential] (p. 55)
— Pegasus Spire, enclave of House Daphnel (husbandry)
■ Hope's Peak [Temple District] (p. 55)
— The Citadel of the Stars (temple to Praetoril)
— Olladra's Arms (top 5 restaurant in the city; Brelish cuisine)
■ Overlook [Apartment Townhomes] (p. 56)
— The Gathering Light (community center for Adar and Kalashtar refugees)
— Hilatashka (delicious Adaran cuisine)
— The Shrine of il-Yannah (temple for the Path of Light)
■ Redstone [Shops] (p. 56) § Middle Dura §
■ The Bazaar [Marketplace and Shop for Illicit Goods and Services] (p. 57)
— Caerlyn's Blade (Valenar mercenary base of operations)
— The Shrine of the Keeper (large pawnshop)
— Vundry (special wares)
— Secondhand Strings
— Korryn's Quill (cartographer)
— Seven Leagues (cobbler)
— Borran's Blades (knives/dagger weapon smith)
— Hearty Scales (Talenta food establishment)
— Roll and Conquer (game shop)
— The Old Apothecary (potions and poisons)
— Illumination (ill-repute magic shop)
— The Magewright‘s Miscellany (spell components vendor)
— Sundry's Shop (pawn shop)
■ Broken Arch [Average Residential] (p. 58)
■ Hareth's Folly [Tavern District] (p. 58)
— The Hollow Tower (wind chase circuit)
— The King of Fire (gambling den/tavern)
■ Rattlestone [Poor Apartment Townhomes] (p. 59)
■ Stormhold [Average Residential] (p. 59)
■ Tumbledown [Tenement District] (p. 59)
■ Underlook [Inn District] (p. 59)
— Ghallanda Hall (famous inn)
— Information Acquisition (information broker) § Lower Dura §
■ Callestan [Inn District] (p. 61)
— The Broken Anvil Inn (small inn)
— The Cracked Mirror (seedy tavern)
— The Silvermist Theater (dreamlily parlor)
■ Fallen [Slum] (p. 62)
— The Ravers (poor, cursed souls)
— Blackstone Church (abandoned Church of Althaea)
■ Gate of Gold [Wretched Tenement District] (p. 63)
■ Malleon's Gate [Goblinoid Slum] (p. 63)
— Bloodstone Inn (goblin-run inn)
■ Oldkeep [Wretched Apartment Townhomes] (p. 64)
■ Precarious [Warehouse District] (p. 64)
— Dar San (small port)
— House Aziz (secure warehouse space)
■ The Stores [Warehouse District] (p. 65) MENTHIS
§ Upper Menthis Plateau §
■ Den'iyas [Gnome Neighborhood] (p. 66)
— Davandi Fine Tailoring (exceptional glamerweave tailor)
— Khavish Theater (upscale theater)
■ Ivy Towers [Average Residential] (p. 66)
■ Seventh Tower [Fine Shops] (p. 67)
— Galdin's Garden (exceptional restaurant)
— Little Xen'drik (antiquities dealer)
■ University District (p. 68)
— Art Temple (cutting-edge, avant-garde theater)
— Golden Horn (upscale inn)
— Grand Stage (excellent, more traditional theater)
— Kavarrah Concert Hall (grand musical auditorium)
— Haftak's Books and Binding (bookstore and bindery)
— Sharn Opera House (opera house)
— Stargazer Theater (upscale open-air theater)
■ Morgrave University (p. 70)
— The Bridge (student center)
— The Commons (open-air plaza for eating)
— Dezina Museum of Antiquities (mysterious museum)
— Great Hall of Aureon (temple to Persephone)
— Lareth Hall (administrative and faculty offices)
— Morgrave University Library (university library)
— Shava House (housing district for faculty) § Middle Menthis Plateau §
■ Cassan Bridge [Shops] (p. 73)
■ Everbright [Magic District] (p. 73)
— Shrine of the Shadow (temple to Dimir)
■ Little Plains [Halfling Encampment] (p. 74)
■ Smoky Towers [Theater District] (p. 74)
— The Atrium (recital hall)
— Classic Theater (traditional theater)
— Mizano Rupa's (dinner theater; better theater)
— Starfire Dragon (dinner theater; better food)
— Thovanic Hall (up-and-coming theater)
■ Warden Towers [Garrison] (p. 75)
— Thuranne d'Velderan's Investigative Services (personal investigator) § Lower Menthis Plateau §
■ Center Bridge [Average Residential] (p. 75)
■ Downstairs [Tavern District] (p. 75)
— Diamond Theater (hottest theater in town)
— Four Sails (best seafood in town)
■ Firelight [Red Light District] (p. 77)
— The Burning Ring (underground arena)
— Lucky Nines (extravagant casino)
— Savia's (bordello)
■ Forgelight Towers [Average Residential] (p. 78)
■ Torchfire [Theater District] (p. 78)
— Gailan's (lowbrow entertainment)
— Ten Torches Theater (even lower lowbrow entertainment) NORTHEDGE
§ Upper Northedge §
■ Shae Lias [Elf Neighborhood] (p. 79)
— The Gates of Passage (crypt, temple, & embassy of Aerenal)
— The House of Repose (crypt)
— The Oaks (amazing restaurant of exotic Aerenal cuisine)
— Nightshade (part apothecary, part tavern)
— The Silver Bough (carpentry)
— The Winding Root (art gallery)
— The Veil of Flesh (exotic tattoo parlor)
■ Crystal Bridge [Wealthy Residential] (p. 80)
— Haras Kant
— Ilia Merith
■ Oak Towers - Wealthy residential (p. 80)
— Stormwind Keep § Middle Northedge §
■ Holdfast [Dwarf Neighborhood] (p. 81)
■ High Hope [Temple District] (p. 81)
— Coldflame Keep (temple to Althaea)
— Daca's Watch (temple of Hera)
■ Oakbridge [Average Residential] (p. 82)
— Bright Wind § Lower Northedge §
■ North Market [Marketplace] (p. 84)
— The Shrine of Fathen the Martyr (temple to Althaea)
— The Bear's Rest (comfortable inn)
— The Horse & Hearth (reliable inn & tavern)
— The Rat's Nest (shifter tavern)
■ Stoneyard [Apartment Townhomes] (p. 85)
■ Longstairs [Apartment Townhomes] (p. 85) SKYWAY
■ Azure [Sky District] (p. 85)
— Azure Gateway Restaurant (#2 restaurant in Sharn)
— Celestial Vista Restaurant (#1 restaurant in Sharn; riding on its reputation)
— Cloudpool Park (magical park)
■ Brilliant [Sky District] (p. 86)
— Cloud Dragon Restaurant (#3 restaurant in Sharn)
— Gassedoff Manor TAVICK'S LANDING
§ Upper Tavick's Landing §
■ Copper Arch [Professionals] (p. 88)
— Magical Pigments (art gallery)
— Transmutation (beauty salon)
— Wyredd's Spirits (winery)
— House Aziz
■ Dalan's Refuge [Wealthy Residential] (p. 88)
■ Ocean View [Wealthy Residential] (p. 88)
— The Gray House
■ Pinnacle [Temple District] (p. 88)
■ Silvergate [Fine Shops] (p. 89)
■ Sunrise [Average Residential] (p. 89)
■ Twelve Pillars [Professionals] (p. 90)
— Twelve Pillars Courthouse § Middle Tavick's Landing §
■ Cornerstone [Tavern District] (p. 91)
— The Cornerstone (massive arena)
— Stone Trees (small arena)
— Tooth and Nail (rough and tumble tavern)
■ Dancing Shadows [Inn District] (p. 92)
■ Deathsgate [Adventurer's Quarter] (p. 92)
— House Lamine (medical office)
— House Maurice (mercenaries)
— House Charon (communication & scribing services)
— Deathsgate Guild (adventurer's guild)
— Karr'Aashta's Investigations (private investigator)
— The Guild of Starlight and Shadow (wizard circle)
— Redblade's (adventurer's tavern)
— Ancient Blades (magic forge)
— Dark Words (scroll dealer)
— Bottled Silver (potion merchant)
— Maynar's Menagerie (exotic pets and animal companions)
— The Labyrinth (magic shop)
■ Graywall [Average Residential, Karrn] (p. 93)
— The Bloody Mug (local inn)
— Slogar's (traditional Karrn peasant food)
— The House of Hazal
■ Kenton [Apartment Townhomes] (p. 94)
■ Little Barrington [Average Residential] (p. 95)
■ Tavick's Market [Marketplace] (p. 95) § Lower Tavick's Landing §
■ Black Arch [Garrison] (p. 96)
■ Cogsgate [Warehouse District] (p. 96)
— House Aziz
— House Aegir
■ Dragoneyes [Red Light District] (p. 97)
— Chance [upscale casino]
— The Shifting Hall
— Velvet's [shady and luxurious inn]
■ Foundation [Apartment Townhomes] (p. 98)
■ High Walls [Refugee Slum] (p. 98)
■ Terminus [Caravan District] (p. 98)
— Terminus Station (lightning rail station)
— House Charon
— House Aziz
— House Desna
— House Daphnel
■ Wroann's Gate [Caravan District] (p. 98) THE COGS
§ Upper Cogs §
■ Ashblack [Industry District] (p. 99)
— The Cannith Forgehold (artifice stronghold of Cannith South)
— Keldoran Forge (small, expert smith)
■ Blackbones [Industry District] (p. 100)
— The Pool of Onatar's Tears (temple to Alexander)
— The Red Hammer (warforged inn)
■ Khyber's Gate [Undercity] (p. 100)
— Shamukaar [largest and most successful tavern in southwest Breland)
— The Wounded Dragon (alchemical supplier)
— The Temple of the Six (temple to Baphomet)
— The Citadel of the Closed Circle
— The Workshop of Tyrial Dashar § The Sewers §
— The Quiet Folk (peaceful goblin clan)
— The Red Jackals (violent shifter gang)
— The Grave Diggers (defiant dwarf band)
— The Rats (feral halflings and gnomes) § The Depths §
— The Servants of Calderus CITY OF THE DEAD
■ Dragon Crypts [Necropolis] (p. 104)
— Warden Tower (temple to Althaea)
■ Halden's Tomb [Necropolis] (p. 104)
— Halden's Tomb (famous tomb)
— The Mausoleum of Gath (ancient temple)

Culture

With several hundred thousand people inhabiting Sharn, the City of Towers is one of the most culturally diverse cities in Khorvaire. From the lush red carpets of Upper City theaters to the dank taverns in the lower slums, Sharn's cultural offerings cater to needs of the wealthy to the very poor. Many districts are inhabited by particular races and offer many of the culinary and commercial offerings from nations abroad. Although Sharn may not have as much political or economic clout as Wroat, the capital of Breland, it is indeed one of the most important cities in the country due to its wide array of cultural offerings. Festivals and Diversions § Holy Days §

Sarenrae's Blessing (15 Thaliak)
Charon's Crown (26 Llamarn)
Bloodbowl (12 Oschon)
The Hunt (4 Rhalgar)
Fathen's Fall (25 Rhalgar)
Hera's Feast (9 Azeyma)
The Ascension (1 Nald’thal)
Wildnight (18-19 Nald’thal)
Long Shadows (26-28 Althyk)

§ Secular Festivals §

The Gassedoff Gala (first Far of each month)
Crystalfall (9 Menphina)
Day of Mourning (20 Menphina)
Race of Nine Winds (23 Byregot)
Thronehold (11 Nophica)

§ Sporting Events §

Quidditch
Dragon Ball
Six Stones

Leadership

Although the Lord Mayor appears to have the most power in the Sharn government, in actuality it's the City Council who appoints the Lord Mayor. The City Council also commands the Sharn Watch. The Council of Sharn is made up of a councilor from each ward in the city (although Cliffside is merged into Dura, and one councilor represents both Ashblack and Blackbones), to a total of 17 councilors. The City Council establishes laws, determines how to use resources (taxes), and also appoints high officers of the city. While the City Council holds the true power, the Lord Mayor does represent considerable influence in Sharn by being in direct contact with the Brelish Crown.

Power Groups

The Council of Sharn
The Lord Mayor
The King's Citadel
The Sixty Families of Sharn
House Cannith
House Maurice
House Varley
House Cethleann
House Desna

References

Sharn: City of Towers. Keith Baker & James Wyatt (2004). Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-3434-4.

Alternative Name(s)

The City of Towers, The City of Knives, The City of Lost Souls, The City of a Thousand Eyes, the Gateway to Xen'drik, The Gateway to Perdition

Type

Metropolis

Population

517,420 (33% human, 17% dwarf, 9% hobbit, 9% goblinoid, 8% gnome, 7% elf, 5% khoravar, 4% shifter, 3% changeling, 2% orc & half-orc, 1% warforged, 1% kalashtar, 1% other races)

Included Locations